Larry Vickers wrote an article for Guns & Ammo Tactical Guns and Gear. At eight bucks for the magazine, I read it in WalMart and then copied it on the grocer’s dime-a-copy machine (fair use for educational purposes only). Has anyone else read it? Comments? Should I post very brief, in context extracts? Some of his comments are at odds with views found here.
Larry is a combat vet, as stated on his website, so he speaks from experience. I agree with his views on weapon, keep it simple and basic, less things to go wrong, less things to break. His comments are no different from his former coworker (Paul Howe). Take a class from LAV and PH and you’ll hear similar comments as in the magazine article. Look at Paul’s M4 he use to teach with, it’s a no frill beat up stick, but it runs and he can nail a 6" x 10" plate at 100 yd with iron sights on demand.
I like toys and that’s all an AR is to most of us. I do have a couple of things that LAV is down on, but I’ve already spent the money and it’s too late to undo those mods. I also have a “slick” backup carbine sans optics/rail/light/vfg.
submariner;
that was good thinking. can you fax it? thanks.
Sub,
I found the article interesting to gain another professional’s perspective on the carbine. I found some of his points quite interesting. For instance, IIRC he stated that because he is left-eye-dominant, he shoots long guns lefty, but he advocates not installing ambi controls, because the vast majority of the ARs out there are not set up with them (and who says you’re going to fight with your gun?).
You cheap bastard! 
Please post whatever you think is interesting.
C4
Definitely post some exerpts…
Thanks!
Larry addresses flash supressors, chrome-lined vs SS barrels, gas blocks, railed forends, and hooded front sights, as well as other topics. While many will not like what he has to say, I don’t think it’s really at odds with what is normally accepted here.
I think the issues that will irk the most people are his views on gas blocks and hooded front sights. To put it lightly, pinned gas blocks are preferred. As for hooded front sights, the Troy is extremely popular, especially on civilian guns where it is primarily a decorative hood ornament. Allow me this one generalization: Those very same guns will usually be sporting a high-end optic, so no one realizes the sight picture is not ideal because few actually zero backup iron sights, much less shoot with them. (No offense to my recent training partner. :D)
I would love to read the article. If G&A paid LAV then I’ll support them by buying the magazine. Maybe they will sell a boat load, the press run goes through the roof and they ask him for more articles.
I believe that unprotect gas blocks should be pinned for sure (especially on FA weapons). If I can hide a GB under a rail (protected) I am not as concerned about it.
This members that hang out in this forum tend to be some of the most highly trained LE/Civy shooters on planet so it is not surprising that LAV’s comments would line up with the popular beliefs shared on here.
C4
Thank you for the insight Vinh! I’m going to head out tomorrow morning and find a copy for myself 
I completely agree with M4arc.
We should be supporting any magazine that takes the time to search out experts like LAV for its articles. Too be perfectly honest I had stopped buying certain magazines because of the seriously low quality of the articles. It seemed 95% of the magazine was geared towards new shooters or airsoft kids who don’t know any better. Or they were just trying to sell me some more junk I don’t need.
Larry’s straightforward / no BS article was like a breath of fresh air.
Grant, I’m so cheap that I have almost saved enough to place an order with you. 
Any Christmas deals this year?
OK. Here’s one:
Unless you are going to be shooting a very large volume of ammo in a short period of time, the standard weight barrel is just fine, Current mil-spec barrels are more than adequately accurate with good ammunition. Chrome-moly with a chrome-lined bore and chamber is the only way to fly. With the gas direct operating system you are inviting disaster if you use a barrel that is not chrome-lined, period. Forget stainless steel barrels for most use. It’s not durable enough in terms of barrel life. Remember what the intended use of the rifle is; it is not a target or varmint gun.
ETA: We should be spending our money on bullets and practice, too.
Geez, I paid the $8.00 just for the Vickers article. While I don’t always agree 100% with Larry’s stuff, I do respect where his opinion comes from, and its nice to see people writing with this level of credentials. I always prefer stuff from guys like Pat Rogers, Larry Vickers, Scott Reitz, Ken Hackathorn, clint Smith, etc…They don’t always see eye to eye, but they all have great experience levels that are earned the hard way.
That is exactly what I’ll end up doing; paying $8.00 to read Vicker’s article. But that’s fine by me because the more magazines they sell the more they’ll want Vickers (and other professionals) to write articles.
Living in Europe, where various companies (not Hk) think they can improve on the Ar15 system with tight tolerances and stainless barrels, I would love to read that article, but special editions of gun magazines don’t make it over here.
The Bible says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” It would be nice if Denny Hansen or Guns & Ammo could get all these gentlemen together in one publication and publish it every month. It just ain’t gonna happen. The market for truth is too small .
Magazines, like newspapers, make most of their their money off advertising. I’m glad you folks got the magazine and like the article. Here’s my favorite excerpt:
I am a believer that every adult male in this country should be able to effectively use the standard-issue service rifle (M16) and service pistol (M9). I know this is a pipe dream, but my reasons are infallible; the patriots of this country should be able to defend her at a moment’s notice. We should take a page out of the Swiss book in this regard.
Read The Militia Act of 1792. That Congress also gave us the Second Amendment. LAV has “got it”.
I’m training each of my children to shoot carbines and 1911’s. I’m inviting church members over to the house to shoot. In the Old Testament, every man was armed (able to carry shield and spear). This country once held to these values and was great. It can be again. Patrick Henry had it right: the purse and sword belong in the hands of the people.
Maybe it’s my questioning nature, but this:
With the gas direct operating system you are inviting disaster if you use a barrel that is not chrome-lined, period.
Makes no sense.
What disaster? What is the sequence of events that leads to it? And why is the DI gas system a critical element of that failure?
And SS barrel life not enough? It depends on your standards and your application. A SS barrel will give minute of man accuracy at 300 meters for 8 -10K rounds. Sure, CL will last a lot more. But how much is enough? There is no cut and dried answer.
Perhaps the folks here who know him/have trained with him will ask that he respond.
Cato-PM me an e-mail address and I’ll see if my scan-foo is sufficient to the task. My grocer’s copy machine isn’t a Xerox so the quality is not what it might be.
For those looking for the subject issue, it’s not a standard Guns & Ammo monthly issue, it’s a special issue G&A “Tactical Guns & Gear” issue similar to their “Book of the AR-15”.
It does have some other worthwhile articles besides the LAV one IMO.
I am sure we can find a Christmas discount for you somewhere!
SS barrels have a VERY short life compared to a CL barrel (no doubt on that one).
We should all do more shooting and less typing.
C4