This gun makes me drool and my heart race. I need one ever so badly!
Full size bench. I like all my guns to be 20:1 scale.
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AR-15 Lesson: What is your Jack of All Trades?
- Thread starter Deleted member 931
- Start date
Far be it from me to question a veteran and thank you for your service. However, my experience with the AR15 differs from yours. I've actually found the "Jack of all trades" AR's to be the worst at everything instead of a good compromise. I find that many folks tend to put too much glass on their rifles, and thus take a hit on performance when things are close, fast, and moving (arguably, the most critical time). Everyone seems to love the romantic notion of being the sniper. Taking the time to line up the shot perfectly, dialing the dope, squeezing off that perfect shot. Unfortunately, especially in the Southeast US, that's not much of a reality. It would be difficult to even find a shot over 200 yds, much less, the need to take one where it wouldn't be more advantageous to either escape/evade or move closer for a better shot.
I've owned dozens of different AR barrel/optic/rail configurations and for me, a MK18 with an Aimpoint is the 95% solution. The rifle is short, light, easy to carry and conceal if necessary. COM hits are very do-able out to 200, maybe 300. Head shots out to 100. It's size and weight also give it an advantage indoors and/or from a vehicle.
I'm also of the opinion that if I need to shoot something beyond 300 (where I would need higher magnification) I'd also prefer to throw a bigger bullet. Hence, I have a .308 AR with a Nightforce 2.5-10 and an offset Docter MRDS. However, I feel that I could get by with just the MK18 and if I had to grab one gun and run, it would be the MK18.
On a different note, I do wonder about the quality of some of the gear you've chosen for your "ultimate AR15":
FAB Defense and Primary Arms make budget-friendly stuff for sure, but their long-term durability is not something I would bank on. Primary Arms even tells you this about their product. Also, you might find you'll be better served with an adjustable 2 point sling vs a 3-point, especially if you're carrying anything on your chest. That extra loop of webbing on a 3pt has a tendency to grab all the wrong things at the wrong time.
And, since everyone loves pics, here are my current setups followed by some of the past ones that didn't work as well:
I've owned dozens of different AR barrel/optic/rail configurations and for me, a MK18 with an Aimpoint is the 95% solution. The rifle is short, light, easy to carry and conceal if necessary. COM hits are very do-able out to 200, maybe 300. Head shots out to 100. It's size and weight also give it an advantage indoors and/or from a vehicle.
I'm also of the opinion that if I need to shoot something beyond 300 (where I would need higher magnification) I'd also prefer to throw a bigger bullet. Hence, I have a .308 AR with a Nightforce 2.5-10 and an offset Docter MRDS. However, I feel that I could get by with just the MK18 and if I had to grab one gun and run, it would be the MK18.
On a different note, I do wonder about the quality of some of the gear you've chosen for your "ultimate AR15":
FAB Defense and Primary Arms make budget-friendly stuff for sure, but their long-term durability is not something I would bank on. Primary Arms even tells you this about their product. Also, you might find you'll be better served with an adjustable 2 point sling vs a 3-point, especially if you're carrying anything on your chest. That extra loop of webbing on a 3pt has a tendency to grab all the wrong things at the wrong time.
And, since everyone loves pics, here are my current setups followed by some of the past ones that didn't work as well:
God bless you Ash!
don't let it fool you. That was my first NFA toy and now it just lives at the back and bottom of my safe. I haven't touched it in months. Not as fun as I thought it would be.
Some good points ASH556 and very nice guns. My 10-12" AR choice is a compromise. It does everthing ok but nothing perfect. If my budget would allow, I would have my SBR with a shorter silencer for CQB, M&P 10 for intermediate distances, and a good supressed bolt gun for long range.
Sorry, I didn't realize this place has turned into ARF.com. There is nothing wrong with the "quality" of either of these products. Have you personally used them? I have, I also used millet, vortex, Trijicon, and other more "quality" optics. You do realize that the only thing that is different from a PA 1-4x and a Millet DMS is the sight reticle, right? Which I prefer the crosshairs over the donut which is why I bought PA's scope. I also bought it because I had several others just like it for previous firearms.. Ive dropped it... fell in mud, water, snow you name it... This is a working AR15... It's not the one I use for taking pretty pictures of. Since it is my working AR15 I can just easily scratch up, dent up, and bang upt the scope and when I can't use it anymore.. replace it. I dont have to gasp every time I put a little scratch on the finish.
Also, as for FAB Defense, if it's good enough for the Israel army then why isn't it good enough for you? Sure, I could have went with a Free floated rail system but that's not what I was looking for. I wanted to keep this particulate carbine module.. What if I wanted to put my MOE handgaurds back on for weight reduction? FAB Defense is the only quality manufacturer that has a drop-in extended rail system. Free float does make less strain on your barrel but I am not looking to be a "sniper" or to have tight groups. Have you even used any of FAB Defense's products or are you just going off of what you've read on the internet?
The decisions I made were not for budget purposes. I made them for the purpose of me knowing exactly what suits me and what suits this carbine's role. I didn't ask your opinion about my carbine or otherwise I would have posted a thread about that.
It hasn't. That place is way worse than this one. I mean, I didn't mention Spike's Tactical or use the word "milspec" even once!
Yes, I have personally owned several Primary Arms products including their 1-4. It is mediocre at best. Good value for the money spent, but not a serious-use item. Tons of fisheye on the "1x", blue tinted glass, etc.
I have not owned any FAB products, but I've seen enough of them fail firsthand to know I never will. Just because the Israeli military supposedly uses something doesn't make it quality. They also supposedly use CAA and MAKO, which are equally crap. Putting your MOE handguards back on would be a good choice and probably much lighter weight than the FAB. Then again, you would loose some of your handguard length, which I understand and appreciate as valuable.
You posted a thread in a public open forum presumably teaching an "AR-15 Lesson" and then asking "what is your jack of all trades" to which I replied based on my experiences. Broadly you've accused me of simply repeating things I read on the internet instead of firsthand experience. You are mistaken in this assumption. I'm glad you like your rifle and if it works for you, hey man, roll on. Just sharing that if you get out and run it as I have mine, you might find some changes to be beneficial.
FAB Defense has a lot of Chinese clones out there. FAB is one of the top suppliers for Israel's military and police. You have to be sure to get the products from MAKO or FAB. A lot of PXs supply Chinese knockoffs and not the real thing. Also, I don't know how you've seen MAKO products fail because MAKO is only a distributor. There is a lot of talk about FAB being crap but it just isn't true at all. It's simply internet hype. You also need to understand that their products are made specifically for Israel Military. Compatibility issues can occur with some products.
The MAKO Rep explains everything here. http://www.zombiehunters.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=109&t=98752
I've spent a TON of time looking at IDF AR15s while doing research for my IDF clone. Outside of their flashlight mount and magazine holder, I have never seen a FAB Defense part on any IDF guns.
