After loading up my cheap rifle with a bipod, powered scope, and canted rds, I realized that I had tried to build a long range precision rifle from something too cheap to effectively realize that goal.
So I stripped it down and started over with speed and handling in mind. I kept the rds, mounted as the primary optic, threw on some backup sights, added a vfg, mounted a light, and that’s it.
Now, I’m just trying to get faster and more accurate at closer hd/cqb ranges. It’s a lot of fun, I like the way the rifle feels now, and I think it looks better too.
Any recommendations in terms of training, gear, or anything else now that I’ve changed up my whole approach with my rifle?
One of the best things you can do is sign up for quality training. Be prepared to drop a grand in class fees and ammunition for one. Without knowing your location, recommending a trainer is hard.
Classes will test you AND your equipment. You will quickly discover what works and what doesn’t.
VCAS sling or some other 2 point sling. I like it a little better than the VTAC, which I ran for years and could run again without argument. Not a fan of the WOTG/Proctor sling as they sit in a safe mounted on rarely used guns. It’s great in theory, but I prefer the VCAS or VTAC, not a fan of single or 3 point slings.
I definitely prefer a different grip on the gun for the angle change, but you might prefer the standard. For $20 I’ll take the better ergonomics and thicker grip.
Definitely get training. Keep a tool in your ammo box to get that RDS off quickly if needed during a course. And relube your BCG during the lunch break.
-bring your gun up to your head, not scrunch your head and shoulders down to the gun (IMO)
-dry fire going from low ready to on target, dry mag changes (use dummy rounds), practice shooting using your support side and the transitions between shoulders, when you practice on the range… MOVE. don’t just practice standing their blasting away. practice moving positions, shooting off different sides from behind cover, practice shooting while laying both prone and on your side, changing mags while laying on your side/back/front
Panteo Productions has a Christmas discount on a month long subscription for unlimited viewing of their gun videos. Doesn’t replace real training, but it definitely lays a foundation in your head for what to expect. (Paul Howe, Pat Rogers… amazing)
You’re definitely headed in the right direction. Now like has already been said train and train… and when you’re done with that train some more. You can never have too much training. A wise man once said that the mission drives the gear train. Figure out what your mission is and then tailor your gear to it.
Want to have the MOST fun with your rifle AND get better? Buy yourself a shot timer and a bunch of IPSC targets and run drills. V-Tac 1-5, El Presidente, and the Modified Navy Qual are just some of my favorite rifle drills.
Have you verified POA/POI on your irons? IIRC, the Oracle gas block is lower height than the upper rail.
Contrary to popular opinion here, DPMS is a perfectly serviceable rifle, just make sure your RE and Gas Key is staked, and I would spend the money on a proper “H” buffer, and you should be GTG for a long time.
Just remember- Skill Set > Hardware Upgrades
Elbow grease is more valuable than hardware advantage. Big ups on you, because it appears you are going in the right direction.
I’m getting a lot more encouragement with my new prioritization on getting good at running my rifle and focusing on an HD/CQB setup than when I originally set it up to be a frankenstein longer range gun.
Speaking of elbow grease that was brought up earlier, but in a different sense, I spent over an hour last night cutting and filing down one of the edges of my RVG… In the new setup, I attached a piece of pic rail to my handguard and added a vfg and mounted a light ($25 Streamlight Protac) - but they wouldn’t sit flush with one another, so I had an odd space between the two attachments and the RVG hung off the end of the rail. After some surgery last night, I was able to mount the RVG and light flush with one another, both square on the little piece of rail that I installed.
It feels and handles great - I can use the RVG with my palm on it, thumb up on the handguard, and when I need to activate the light, I can just bring my thumb around the RVG in a beer can grip and the light button is right there.
Myself and others have seen multiple issues with the aluminum picatinny gas block nonsense they use. Not to mention chamber issues with using MILSPEC 5.56.
I would start by taking that entire rifle, exactly as it is, perhaps minus the MOE VFG, and throwing it into a dumpster. Then go buy a Colt 6920 with a carry handle and a few cases of M193 and go shoot it. Work on the fundamentals. When not shooting do dry fire practice such as reloads and weapon manipulation. After you’ve got that down seek out some training from a reputable instructor (the local guy at the range that’s the retired SWAT team leader probably doesn’t count). Some good names in the business are Pat McNamara, Northern Red, Kyle Defoor, and VTAC to just name a few.
I know tone gets lost on these things, so I’m not being snarky, just funny… maybe I should add an “lol” or “haha” above.
Some of us don’t have the money to spend and are just thankful for gifts we get. And then, we make decisions about the things we buy, like $50 optics and $25 lights. So I hope to one day take your kind advice and scrap the whole thing and get something simple, but nice. But until that day, I’m going to learn on my rifle, practice, and have it setup to give me a fighting chance if I need a gun for something. Or maybe it’s better to wait until I can buy a better rifle and start training then - haha, lol.
If you can find a Colt Trooper for under $750, borrow the money and buy it. I’m usually the first person to not approve of buying anything if you need to borrow the money.
But this deal is good enough that if you can still find it, it’s worth it. I changed out the grip, stock to basic MOE, the charging handle, added some MBUS fixed sights, white light, stubby VFG and a sling. $1,000 finished for what is slowly becoming my favorite AR to practice drills with.
If you can get it, sell the current Rifle whole and accessories. Your current Rifle is fine to practice with, but that trooper is an exceptional deal
Agreed, Aluminum is the complete wrong material to use for a gas block. There have been a few pics around here of Oracle gas blocks melting under mag dumps. That said, If hes doing mag dumps hes not gonna melt a gas block with those unshielded DPMS handgaurds, gun would be too hot to handle long before the gas block is toast. I would be impressed if he would shoot out a gas block.
Also agreed his chamber is probably wrong- but chances are he may never see a single popped primer, depending what ammo he runs.
If he would have come here asking for advice BEFORE making a purchase, we could have steered him toward a better rifle for similar price. But he has the gun he has, its transferred and paid for- chances are the DPMS will go bang every time he pulls the trigger, and that’s sufficient for a range only gun for a new guy on a budget.
OP- just shoot the gun. Buy ammo, lots of it. Become proficient with irons. Running your gun hard will reveal the weak points of the Oracle, and you will be in a better position knowledgewise when its time for your next rifle. Good Luck
