1 = Baseline lightweight AR with standard barrel and perhaps a RDS
2 = Precision rifle with longer heavier barrel, magnified optic, may or may not be AR
1.5 = Hybrid design with midweight barrel, midrange optic
When you configure your rifles, do you prefer a set of specialized rifles (case 1 & 2) or one general-purpose rifles (1.5)?
For argument’s sake, let’s say you can onlt have one case or another. So, which seems more proper to you: to have a couple of rifles that are distictly configured to a set use, or just one that you would use for all circumstances?
For instance: an M4 type carbine for close range stuff, plus an SPR or bolt gun for long range shooting, or a 16" carbine with good barrel and optic, for use across the spectrum?
1: 14.5" DD build with Vltor A5 stock and Eotech
2: 20" frankenbuild with Magpul PRS and Leupold 4x14.5
I like to shoot prone with slow precise fire (as well as just devastate sage rats every spring in eastern oregon). Its what is the most fun for me. I have a geissele trigger on it and a rigged setup on the PRS to add 2 more inches of pull. The long gun is what i put the most money into.
The short gun has a stock DD trigger and serves two purposes: general fun shooting (its also the one i let my friends shoot/do mag dumps) and its also the gun that sits in my bedroom with a light and a full mag at the ready.
These two guns cover mostly everything i want to do with an AR. Each is built for its purpose. I also have a nordic NC22 upper that is a cinch to throw on either gun to introduce new shooters to guns (on the DD build) or to practice trigger control with (on the long gun lower).
With my size (I am 6’11") to get a good ar15 prone setup it would be difficult to have one AR to meet all my needs. At least thats how I explained it to my lady
My general purpose is a 14.5" with an Aimpoint and a magnifier. This covers most of my needs but then I have a number of rifles for more specific roles.
If i had to, I’d be more than content with nothing more than my 14.5" with a RIS II, an Aimpoint & magnifier and an extra ACOG or other optic that’s a little more precise.
Everything I need for home defense, hunting, classes, range time, etc. is in the first pic below. More than I need but still use quite a bit is in the second pic, excluding the 20" which is I really don’t shoot much. Then there’s the “way more than I need” group but I’m not going to go posting all those pics.
My first build was an 18" white oak SPR barrel, 13" TRX extreme, ACE stock, with a Meopta 1-4. I built it as a kind of a jack of all trades, but mainly for 3-gun. I just started my 2nd build which is a 14.5" BCM lightweight with an aimpoint micro and ace ultralight stock for home defense and close range hoser matches. The next build is going to be a dedicated 3 gun rifle a bit lighter than the current one. I’m thinking all the JP goodies for that one. If I do that, I may put a bipod, PRS stock, and higher mag optic on the 18".
my 1 is currently being re-built. Previously it had a 16" Operator midlength midweight barrel; it was a good 1.5, but I decided to go the two rifle paradigm. So it will be getting a DD 14.5" midlength lightweight barrel, and will now be lighter and smaller.
Well, again the rifle itself must be a 1, 1.5, or 2. When you get right down to it, you might be able to do it all with a 1 and the two QD optics, like you say.
Yes! If I do a 2, I’m thinking of doing an Afghan.
WWW you have been thinking about this for awhile. In reality specialization does offer some benefits. I would rather run CQB with a Mk18 than a Mk12 and conversely I would rather shoot at longer ranges with a Mk12 than a Mk18. If I have the budget available a specialized weapon for each scenario makes sense, that said I have found the the compromise weapon which I still call a “Recce Concept” rifle for want of a better term, is actually so close to each that it may be a moot point.
I literally run my 16" mid length with a match barrel and a 1.5-5 optic within a couple thousandths of a seconds from my Mk18 inspired build and I also shoot it at longer ranges just as well as my Mk12 inspired build. So much so that I actually just sold my 18" SPR because it was so close to the 16".
Specialization, is fantastic if you can afford the time and expense…
0.5-10.5" 1.0-14.5" 1.5-16" 2.0-18"
but if I could keep/take/buy only one, then I would certainly opt for the 1.5 a 16" match barrel with a low range variable optic.
My favourite two? I think of them as my “inside” and “outside” rifles.
Weapons are tools. When I pick a tool, I want it to be made for the purpose it’s being used. Most tools, weapons or wrenches, are good at what they were designed for. When you get that tool that is supposed to be a “one size fits all”, it usually doesn’t. It may do many things, but not one thing really well. You see this with all those “as seen on TV” tools that are supposed to replace your whole tool box.
So that’s the why. My choice should be obvious now. I buy weapons to fit each niche of what I’m doing.
I would say a 1.0 and then maybe a 2.0 if you do that kind of shooting. A 1.0 type AR as you define it is optimized for an actual defensive shooting that you may encounter: 0-100m and fast. In my mind that should be the priority. The more I shoot the more I realize a 14.5-16" lightweight or mid-weight barrel, a good RDS, a light free float rail, good light, and good sling are all I need for 99% of my rifle shooting. I have an SPR build but the cost to benefit ratio was way higher than anything else I own. You can turn a good 1.0 into a good 1.5 with just an optics change.
I’ve built some (1) type rifles for my wife, and the three I’ve accumulated are actually the most sensible rifles I own.
All are 11-12" LW Middy units with just an X300, DD Sights, and Aimpoint Micro, with a KAC IWS Lower and CTR stock.
From there, I lean towards the 1.6-1.8 category. A 14.5" w/ ACOG and UBR, a 16" Recce with a TR24 and a UBR, an 18" Mk12 upper with Leupold TS30 and ACS.
If I could do it all over again, I’d have three rifles:
A type 1.0 KISS rifle, 16", X300 and Aimpoint
A very similar suppressed SBR, same handguard/light/optic
A 16" Recce type precision rig, with a Short Dot
The specialists; a Mk12 and Mk18 inspired builds on either side of the Recce…
After shooting all three, I am seeing the increased utility of the Recce Concept. In reality, it doesn’t really matter if the barrel is 14.5" or 15" or 16" or 17" the optic typically will determine the range and performance. It is interesting that the practical shooters like the 3-gun guys seem to have a commonality on specs that fall into the Recce concept 16-17" barrel low mag variable etc.
One precision rifle (bolt or semi-auto) with 3x-9x scope (or similar) with illuminated reticle capability for medium to long range & dim light shots and hunting big game. I like 308 due to easy ammo resupply.
One general purpose 5.56 Patrol Carbine with 1x RDS for close to medium range fast action self-defense shots in any light.
