| Author | Message | ||
     Sifo |
There was a follow up to the Tac-Con review I posted earlier. Sounds like after some practice it can function well. Still not what I would want in a weapon. If someone understands what it is and feels the desire, it makes sense i guess. Just not my cup-o-tea... http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2014/03/27/tac- con-media-event-part-2-range-familiarization/ | ||
| Aesquire |
While some dislike them I liked my Bushmaster match trigger. 2 stage, about 3 1/2 pounds set ( DCM legal ) 1 pound release. I see it's discontinued on Midway, and the reviews range from "finest" to "couldn't make it work". For me, it was fine, the "click" as it set went right through my cheek bones into my head, and every time I saw the scene from "Quick And The Dead"........ Which is just me. Didn't even notice the 2 stage part while practicing drills for 3 gun. Some hate 2 stage triggers, some like them. http://www.midwayusa.com/product/947200/bushmaster -competition-trigger-kit-ar-15-matte Timney, Giselle, JP, all make fine products, and each and every one has someone who hated it. YMMV Caveat Emptor yadda yadda. | ||
| Blake |
Thanks Rick. That's great info for a prospective AR kit shopper. | ||
| Rick_a |
Sure Blake. That PSA trigger I'm using has lightened springs, so the occasional hard primer may not ignite. So far, it been about 99% for ignition reliability with 22lr or 5.56. Unacceptable for a hard use gun, but fine for a plinker. | ||
| Rick_a |
This is how the hammer starts out:  This is what was needed to get it to work when re-sprung:   You could purchase a JP speed hammer to do the same, but I'm all about using what I've got. (Message edited by Rick_a on April 08, 2014) | ||
| Macbuell |
Question for the AR experts on the board ... I bought a M&P Sport a few years ago. I love it but am thinking I want the forward assist and the dust cover that are not part of the Sport model. Can I just buy a new Upper Receiver to accomplish this? Is that a waste of time and money? | ||
| Sifo |
BTW, I got the new plinker this week! It will get some changes done, but it's a nice starting point.  Macbuell, I asked that question about the M&P back when I was first looking at AR's close to two years ago. I didn't get a precise answer from the LGS back then. The folks behind the counter weren't in total agreement. It kind of came down to "if the upper fits, it should work". My impression of what the M&P lower is supposed to be, is that it should fit a standard upper. Personally I wouldn't bother for the forward assist. If you feel better with the dust cover, then it might be worth while. I'm not sure either feature is that big of a deal for many users though. You can decide best for yourself though. | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
Might as well buy a new barrel too, the Sporter is made by Thompson Center (owned by S&W) and isn't chrome lined. If you're going to upgrade, upgrade. | ||
| Macbuell |
Thanks for the input. Is a Chrome Lined barrel that important? I think the Sport is melanite or something like that. | ||
| Sifo |
It will last longer. Very important for those using them for combat and combat training, especially with tracer rounds. The bench rest shooters, as I understand it don't want them though. I would worry about replacing the barrel when you wear it out unless there's another need pressing need. | ||
| Macbuell |
Good advice. Thanks, Sifo. Maybe I'll just buy another AR!  | ||
| Sifo |
Or build one! | ||
| Rick_a |
The Sport is melonite plated. It's as durable as chrome and they tend to be more accurate due to the thinner, more uniform plating. Upgrade is not necessary unless you geek about "mil spec" features. Only one of my barrels are chrome lined. The difference in lifespan is not known until tens of thousands of rounds are fired. Benchrest and match shooters use specialty stainless barrels and they're definitely not concerned with barrel life. The biggest thing to eat up a barrel is heat. Unless you're crawling through the dirt or often in sandy conditions I wouldn't worry about the dust cover. Any standard upper works. I only use the forward assist for press checks. If a round doesn't chamber, don't shoot it...unless it's an issued rifle. | ||
| Macbuell |
Thanks Rick. That is what I had heard and read about the Dust Cover and Forward Assist and why I made my decision. I had read some other stuff recently that gave me pause. | ||
| Aesquire |
The easiest way is to build or buy a new upper with features you want. Then you can swap them at whim. The dust cover is nice but not needed as said above. The forward assist is for when your gun is so crapped up and/or ammo so crappy that you need to slam the bolt home on a possibly defective round to keep shooting when the hordes are over running your spider hole. Unless it's slam-hope-fire-hope it functions or die........ I do not slam a possibly out of spec round into the chamber. It might jam in there and that takes longer to fix than cleaning with solvent and a chamber brush. I'd suggest building a different style of upper than the one you have. If you have a rifle build a carbine or vice versa. Ditto handguard, rails etc. There's nothing wrong with what you own. No sense in duplicating it exactly except for a dust cover. I wouldn't take your upper apart to change the receiver for that reason if it runs. | ||
| Swampy |
When I am on the range and I see someone using the forward assist after a misfire I always whistle it off and then go over and talk to them. If it was a bad round, for what ever a myriad of reasons, I don't want to see someone blow up their gun just cause they think that the forward assist is a cure all. Just youtube "AR blow up" and you will see why a forward assist is a false sense of need. And if you are going to be throwing dirt in your firearm action...you really need to get an AK | ||
| Aesquire |
rant on.. I like the AR mechanism. I don't mind that it's dirty, since it's still cleaner than a lot of .22 rimfires, and the accuracy with a good barrel, free floated, gives it an edge over the vast majority of guns for the varmint & target shooting I enjoy. Because there's no piston slamming back and forth attached to the barrel, the vibrations are far less and simpler. There are a few features I do not like. In no order. The firing pin can get soo crudded up it can cause slam fires. There isn't a firing pin spring to keep that from happening either. It can easily slam fire with just a congealed drop of lubricant. Worse, the "one in a million" muzzle strike accident can ( doesn't usually, but CAN ) use the inertia of the spring less firing pin to set off the round in the chamber. It would take extensive redesign to make them with firing pin blocks, but it would be relatively easy to have a 3rd gen bolt with a freaking spring on the pin. Moral of the story? Clean your bolt once in a while. Also I may just be a curmudgeon about it. And completely wrong. My main complaint is the stupid charging handle. While it may make sense to slingshot the bolt home, the ergonomics are horrible. The rifle must be taken from the shoulder to charge, & the system won't let you gently press the bolt home. So you then "need" a forward assist to do so. You also can't charge it quietly without special techniques. That is not good for hunting. Also the stupid thing has a slot that spits burning gunpowder & gases right in your face. I thought that went away with cartridge firearms and us stopping the issue of flintlocks. ( and even flintlocks don't actually AIM the fire at your face. ) Yes, training can make the technique of operating the charging handle second nature, but a non reciprocating side mounted handle works on other rifles, and is so much smarter. I also have to blame this on the Army. The Original AR-10 had the charging handle as an ambidextrous lever inside the carry handle. While this would have to be changed for the top railed "flat top" version, it wouldn't be a major training issue. end rant. Swampy, yes. "you wanted to slam a round that didn't fit into your gun....why?" | ||
| Rick_a |
I've never had that problem, not even with the little 7." I did get water squirted in my eye qualifying in the rain with an M16A2, but it didn't stop me from shooting expert. There is a "gas buster" charging handle available for those that have an overgassed or suppressed gun with that issue. Sometimes you just don't jive with the gun. The Remington 700 is one of the most popular bolt actions ever, yet I could never get along with mine. Mine wasn't as accurate as expected and it wasn't very fun to shoot. I've never seen an AR slamfire, but have seen one blown by overcharged ammo. I haven't noticed the firing pin getting very dirty, not even after a high volume of nasty blanks. The tail of the bolt is a different story. | ||
| Puddlepirate |
The forward assist is for when your gun is so crapped up and/or ammo so crappy that you need to slam the bolt home on a possibly defective round to keep shooting when the hordes are over running your spider hole. I make no claim to be an expert in anything, but the forward assist is also useful for quietly loading a round when you don't want to spook your prey or alert others to your presence. All of my personal ARs have them, as well as the work rifles (obviously). I keep my stuff clean, and have only ever used it to chamber when hunting. Is it needed? Rarely. I personally wouldn't buy a new upper reciever just to put a forward assist and/or dust cover on. Chrome lined barrels can actually hurt your accuracy if you're looking for a target gun. In many cases on lower quality barrels the chrome is not perfectly uniform, which can reduce accuracy. I own one chrome lined barrel, and that is only because it came on a pre-ban gun I bought years ago. I will not shoot corrosive ammo in my guns, and don't shoot tracers through my home ARs, so I have absolutely no need for chrome lined barrel, bolt, BCG, etc. (Message edited by puddlepirate on April 12, 2014) | ||
| Aesquire |
I bow to those more experienced. ( no sarcasm ) Yes the forward assist lets you quietly close the action. It's amazing how humans can overcome funky machine design and make it work anyway. By using 2 different controls and your brain you can accomplish what a Browning shotgun owner in 1920 could do with one hand & one handle. Yes. I freely admit this is a picky complaint by someone who doesn't fit the ergonomics & training as well as hundreds of thousands of soldiers & civilians have over half a century. Mea culpa. Still..... how many extra parts are in the charging handle and forward assist vs. A side mounted non reciprocating charging handle? Plus a design that cannot be cycled while held to the shoulder pointed at the target? Then again......... a lever action used to be a far "better" choice for a military arm.........except for 2 critical issues. Prone shooting and use as a club. A gun you can't hug the ground with is a deal breaker. The AR series sucks as a club too. I'm not going to complain about that. .......  | ||
| Rick_a |
As long as it's used in an in-line motion for butt strokes, they work well. They handle bayonet use just fine as well. For prone shooting, even a 30rd mag is only as long as most forearms are thick. Can't get much lower than that. I like not having a charging handle sticking out the side. Almost hurt myself holding the PSL as if it was my AR once. | ||
| Aesquire |
Sounds like a training issue.  I can understand why a reciprocating charging handle is a disadvantage. It was the normal set up for a century, but there's always room for improvement. http://www.americanspiritarms.com/upper-receivers/ asa-ar-15-m4-side-charger-upper-receiver-without-c arrier/ Opinion? http://www.gunsinternational.com/WINCHESTER-MODEL- 95-MUSKET-IN-30-40-KRAG.cfm?gun_id=100421796 The "Assault Rifle" of yesteryear. Bayonet mount and all. Some of the .30-06 models were set up for stripper clips. | ||
| Puddlepirate |
Plus a design that cannot be cycled while held to the shoulder pointed at the target? Ideally there is already one in the chamber when you bring the rifle up on target.  If not, you're likely doing something wrong, lol. I've always been intrigued by the side chargers, but not enough to want to pay the money for one. | ||
| Rick_a |
I'm not a fan of anything hanging off the side of an AR-15. The charging handle is only used for initial loading, anyway. After that the bolt release can be used. On the PSL, it is a matter of what I'm accustomed to. The controls on that rifle are big and clunky, with what must be the loudest and most difficult to operate safety in existence. Everything has pros and cons. It has excellent ergonomics and a long slender forend. | ||
| Macbuell |
I don't think I hardly ever use the charging handle. I keep my bolt open and then when needed, insert the magazine and hit the bolt release ... repeat when mag is empty. Now, if you have to eject a bad round or something the charging handle can be awkward to manage but hopefully that situation isn't needed. | ||
| Sifo |
Again, for those who might consider looking at the Remington R51, it just isn't getting any better... | ||
| Aesquire |
Darn. Hope Remington fixes that. Back to the LC9 for prettiest carry gun  ( there.........that will start a fight!) Kimber Solo? Sorry..... off topic. Ah admit mah peeve wid de milspec charging handle may be petty, ah say petty, of me. (Read as Foghorn Leghorn please ) True. There are nice aftermarket handles that deflect any hot gases. The Pentagon hasn't bothered. On my old Varminter I looked like an owl after a long range session. Not as bad as shooting a flintlock. I get just as dirty with some rimfire rifles. Ymmv. Love to try the PSL and I agree the AK style switches are crude. I much prefer the SKS switch setup. I get the point about not liking moving charging handles. I also think it good to be able to work the action shouldered........I think that's may be a training issue on my part. What I should do is get a sidecharging upper and build up a single shot lower for paper punching. | ||
| Chauly |
Ringing endorsement: "It fires more often than not..." | ||
| Rick_a |
Nearly every pistol I've seen debut in the last decade has had some kind of glaring issue/issues and/or massive recall of some sort. Not surprised. They'll get it sorted in a year or two... Most noteworthy was S&W's Bodyguard .380 which had several revisions to fix problems large and small. It's remained popular despite. Maybe designs need to take a step back from all the computer analysis and rely more real world testing. It seems like there are always issues when going from prototype to production models that aren't anticipated. | ||
| Just_ziptab |
Guys were falling all over themselves a year ago to pay double retail for these stupid things. USFA-Zip22 Can't hardly give them away now.(read POS)  |
