Stupid AR-15 questions

MostWanted

I used to be JustInCase
Supporting Member
Multi-Factor Enabled
Joined
Dec 31, 2016
Messages
2,306
Location
Wake County
Rating - 100%
3   0   0
I have a DPMS Oracle with a cheap red dot scope that my buddy desperately needed to trade for a house payment. I bought it more as a favor for a friend who needed the cash. My second is much nicer, a Sig M400 Patrol Enhanced that I just bought on impulse one day from a guy who was selling it, a month after he bought it, for a whole lot less than he paid for it. It has a folding rear sight, fixed iron front sight, and no scope.

So when a guy makes an informed purchase of an AR-15, are there sort of broad categories? I mean, like there are racing bikes, touring bikes, trail bikes, stunt bikes, etc. If I go into a gun store and say I want an AR-15 for home defense, or 200+ yard shooting, or a varmint gun, what features would define each?

I started thinking about this last Fall, when I failed to harvest a couple of deer because they popped out of dense growth at less than 50 yards, and I couldn't get crosshairs on him with my bolt action rifle and 3-9 scope quickly enough. I started wondering if the right AR-15, with proper scope and ammo, would be better for those CQB deer encounters. And when I'm not up a tree, I'd be shooting targets at 50 yards or less.

My most fun rifle isn't even a true AR-15, it's a M&P 15-22 with FDE Magpul furniture and a Sparc II red dot, the Assault Rifle that strikes fear in the hearts of tin cans everywhere. When I take the kids from church shooting, they can't put it down. If I was going to get another AR-15, I think it would have to look as badass as that one. So what do I need in my next AR-15?
 
What makes ARs so fun and cool is they can be all those things, depending on how you set it up.

So I’d say yeah they can be like bikes. Probably tend to the sporty side of things.

But you got PDW’s (short defense guns), you got SPR (special purpose rifle) for designated marksman type role, you got yer varmint gas guns, you got your competition rifles in several categories, etc etc.

All based on same simple gun. Don’t you think yer chances of banging that deer would have been better with, say, a red dot? Where you could throw gun up with both eyes open and just superimpose dot over deer and squeeze?
 
The world of ar15s is a huge one. Rather than define every possible build, it would probably be easier for you to state your use and then ask for recommendations.

I think some broad categories would be:

Cqb
Long range shooter
3gun/competition

I see no reason why your sig would not be up to the task of killing a deer at 50 yards with a decent hunting bullet.
 
I've owned over a dozen AR 15s and not one was store bought (except those issued to me). Been building them since 87'. Used pretty much the same setup for decades ie 14.5" collapsible stock, and just change the sights for the intended purpose ie iron (service rifle competitions), red dot (hunting/HD), ACOG (hunting).

CD
 
Last edited:
Yeah as it was stated above if you already have “plinking” ARs but you want another one, ask yourself what you plan on doing with the rifle, for instance I have 3 5.56 ARs, 2 with RDS optics and 1 with a 1-6 Strike Eagle (it’s the wife’s gun), and a PSA .308 AR.

My next build is going to be a pistol and a big bore fun gun, I haven’t decided if I’m going to build the pistol in 300blk or something silly like a .50 Beowulf.

My whole reasoning behind the next two builds are simply for non standard caliber fun guns, no rhyme or reason for the builds other than wanting something out of the norm, I have a beginners reloading kit that I haven’t set up yet, but since I plan on reloading that is the only reason I would even fathom getting a caliber that could run upwards of $3 a shot.
 
best thing about the platform is that it can be what you make of it. Easily. Rather affordably, and rather reliably.

I am with @Combat Diver in that I have never had a store-bought AR because I could never find one that didn't have parts I wouldn't take off and change. And I pay enough into the Pittman-Roberson Act
so my conscience is clean without paying that 11% excise fee on firearms.

BTW there are no stupid AR questions. ARFCOM has gotten so darn big it's almost unsearchable (which btw they have limited search function for non-paying members....) that I almost quit using it.

Now as far as which one you need next, may I suggest something with a free float tube, 18-20" barrel, good trigger, and good glass? I built one for next to nothing from scratch this past fall-winter and it's rapidly becoming my favorite. That extra barrel length gives the 5.56 what it needs, and that is SPEED.

If you are wanting to kill a deer at 50-175 yards, may I suggest something other than 55gr FMJ or SPs?

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1...-grain-bonded-solid-base-soft-point-box-of-20

Those will put any 175lb deer or man right on his gluteous maximus with the quickness.
 
Last edited:
If specialized to me the categories you lay out would be defined by these characteristics

HD/CQB type: short as legal, pinned at 16", SBR, or even pistol; lightweight; Red dot; BUIS; sling; probably a light;

LR shooting: good med/heavy barrel, longer for velocity, 1/7 twist; free float handguard; good trigger; mag optic;

Varmint: good heavy barrel, long for velocity, slower twist; free float handguard; good trigger; high power mag optic; consider smaller bores and wildcats;

If not specialized my preference would be a lighter weight build with a 16" 1/8 twist barrel, free float handguard, decent trigger, low power variable optic, sling, way to attach a light.

For a deer gun I'd go the same as my GP, could care less about the light mounting, and might be inclined to look at 6.5/6.8 and maybe 18"
 
My fav is my lightweight 14.5" with Steiner 1-4x24.
Just seems to do it all, and has kinda made my other rifle a closet queen. It's super handy. Doesn't really need to be shorter, or longer, or heavier, or lighter. Just hits the sweet spot it seems.
 
My fav is my lightweight 14.5" with Steiner 1-4x24.
Just seems to do it all, and has kinda made my other rifle a closet queen. It's super handy. Doesn't really need to be shorter, or longer, or heavier, or lighter. Just hits the sweet spot it seems.
The LW 14.5 middy I built my wife only wears irons by her choice, but it's pretty much the only one that ever comes out anymore unless we're shooting drills at the same time or something.
Someday I'll probably reconfigure my 16" similarly, or build another upper.
 
I want a basic 5.56 pistol with a 10.5" barrel and carbine gas system. That way I can swap back and forth with my .300BLK pistol and it's excellent trigger
 
I've owned over a dozen AR 15s and not one was store bought (except those issued to me). Been building them since 87'. Used pretty much the same setup for decades ie 14.5" collapsible stock, and just change the sights for the intended purpose ie iron (service rifle competitions), red dot (hunting/HD), ACOG (hunting).

CD
ACOG for hunting? I would never have guessed, but I read up on it, and I get what you are saying. Do you find the iron sights get in the way?
 
I've used the TA01NSN 4x ACOG since 95' and TA31 4x since 05'. I've taken two whitetails (14.5", Black Hills 77 gr OTM) in NC with the TA31 and bunch of prairie dogs (20", 55gr JSP made from .22LR cases) last year and both barrels had 1:7 twist. I use the ACOG since I've got tons of experience with them.
aab0d1e9-463b-428c-8e7e-b5278d3620cf.jpg


As far as the FSB, it washes out. This is a crap cell phone picture of a TA01NSN on a mule deer in New Mexico during 07'. Try balancing a M4 on a fence post while holding a Razor flip phone to ACOG! Muley was about 100yds away for the picture (not hunting but patrolling)
Mule_deer_NM_Dec_07.jpg


CD
 
Last edited:
My fav is my lightweight 14.5" with Steiner 1-4x24.
Just seems to do it all, and has kinda made my other rifle a closet queen. It's super handy. Doesn't really need to be shorter, or longer, or heavier, or lighter. Just hits the sweet spot it seems.
Steiner makes good glass. Got a Steiner m332 on my colt ar15.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top Bottom