First AR, need a little advice.

AR/M4 AR General Discussion
1

I’ve been following the forum for a while and used a lot of the information provided here while considering my first AR purchase. A few weeks ago I picked up my first AR. I feel I purchased a great shooting, well made rifle. I’ve spent a decent amount of time at the range, zeroed the irons, and really enjoy my AR. Now I’m hoping to get some guidance with my plan for “upgrading” from those with more experience and just to make sure I don’t get too caught up in making the rifle look cool without being the most useful tool.

My plans are to enroll in a couple carbine classes and really learn how to handle the firearm. This will be my only AR for a while so it will play the role of home defense and be used for fun.

I have a budget of about $400 for this first round of upgrades.

What I have now:
DDXV, 5 PMAGS, 3000 rounds of ammo, Vortex Sparc (it was free)

Should I (in your opinion):

  1. Ditch the Vortex right away, look for a used Aimpoint/Eotech and call it day.

  2. Use the Vortex until it craps outs. Hold onto the $400 until I know what accessories I need.

  3. Use the Vortex until it craps outs. Get a stock I find more comfortable for extended periods of shooting. Get a rail and mount a white light?

Those seem to be the options I am running through my head right now. I definitely know the value of a decent sight, but the Vortex was free. I can’t sell it because its borrowed from my father. However I can use it for as long as I’d like because he is now running EOtechs on his ARs.

Thanks.

2

If this is a home defense gun then I would put a good light on it.

3

I would do a comfortable stock and a nice light like the surefire X300…

4

magpul moe handgaurd with illum kit and good light (cant wait for the mid length to come out)

5

Stock and light. I run a Streamlight TLR. Good light and it’s lite weight, fairly inexpensive. I paid about $125 for mine.

6

I would ditch the vortex and get an Aimpoint.

I would absolutely get a white light on there. You don’t need a rail to do this. Midwest Ind makes a section that attached to the FSB A frame and allows you to mount a light there. You have many options of what type of light you want. I’m a big fan of surefire scout lights but they are cost prohibitive to some.

Pick up a few more Pmags and enroll in a class to get some learning and trigger time in. After you take a class you may find what you have works for you or what you have sucks for you and you want to change stuff around. The learning process can be long and expesnive but it doesn’t have to be. Buy quality the first time and don’t buy something just because someone else has it in a picture and it looks cool. I’ve seen a ton of cool looking rifles in pictures that never leave the bench.

7

I agree with the rail that attaches to a standard hand guard. You can get a light and hand guard rail for less than $150 if you shop around. Look for a used Aimpoint. I found one that was sold from a SWAT unit for $130 with mount. Works fine. Finish was rough but I sprayed it with Alumihyde.

8

IMO, and in order of importance, are;
RDS
White light
Sling (good two point)

9

Why on earth would you want another 1x optic if you’ve got the Vortex Sparc? I dunno if you know but that is one rad red dot. And if any says to ditch the Sparc, I’d wager that they don’t own one and is talking out of ignorance.

10

So far, it looks like there is a pretty common direction, which is the direction I thought would be most beneficial.

I can see a good light being great for home defense, as I have trained with my Glocks and Surefire for this very reason. I know good deals can be had if I am patient, so I probably just need to cool it and soon enough I will find a golden deal on an Aimpoint.

11

I don’t know this as my time with it is limited and it is a “hand-me-down” from my old man. However he only had it for a month or two before giving it to me. I’ve only used once so far; all my other range time has been with my iron sights.

12

the SPARC is a very quality optic, especially for the price. I wouldn’t worry about replacing it unless it dies on you which I doubt it will. Sure an Aimpoint is better but I couldn’t justify the price for a non LE or Military weapon. I would just worry about getting a stock, sling and light.

13

How do you like the Vortex? A red dot is great for close combat IE home protection. Id say keep it and see how it works for your purpose. If your looking to shoot over 100yds, then put a scope on it. Then again, that takes away your close combat effectiveness.

Id worry about a decent pressure switch light, MOE hand guards with rails you can add and remove(also lighter then any quad rail), and a nice sling. I dont think you’ll benift from a stock upgrade, is the stock on your DD collapsible? Only thing that might matter is the wobble in your stock buttstock. Maybe a nice trigger upgrade, gunfighter charging handle, grip?? few things to think about.

14

IMO: Wait and see how the reviews pan out on the new Vortex 1x4 production model. $499 (not including the mount) is close to your budget and a variable power optic has it’s uses. Also, the 1x setting plus daylight visible illumination “might” also fill the CQB red-dot role.

They should be out this summer, but the first wave is probably pre-sold. In the meantime, enjoy shooting what you have and try to get a first hand look at everything you can. Optics are worth spending a little more on.

15

Well, you’re not gonna have to worry about the Sparc failing on you because it comes with a lifetime warranty.

16

:rolleyes: Dude, even the people I know that sell the damned things make it very clear that they are not of a quality worth risking your life on.

Lotta good that warranty will do me while I’m bleeding out thanks to inferior construction and materials…or for that matter when it craps out in a class/match.

I shill out entirely too much money on ammo, never mind the occasional training class to quibble over a few hundred bucks up front.

This is is getting to be too much. I kept expecting someone else to step in here, but I guess it will be me.

Dude you’re on the right track, don’t listen to these guys. If you were interested in a bullshit lower quality knockoff of an infinitely superior product you wouldn’t own a Daniel Defense rifle. I’m sure this knockoff optic is fine for a 100% range toy hobby gun, your first and only AR shouldn’t be set up as a toy.

Find a good deal on a used Aimpoint or Eotech(buying used my preference would lean towards the Aimpoint.) Don’t worry about a fancy mount, just get it on the rifle with something not made in Asia. Or hell don’t, and run your irons for a while.

Put a Surefire G2L on your rifle somehow.

Add some variety of adjustable two point sling, VCAS, VCAS AA, Boonie Packer, VTAC, whatever.

Call it a day until you have more money, AND have shot the shit out of it and know what’s lacking in your system.

You have no actual pressing need to change the stock, are there some cooler, more comfortable stocks available? Sure. Will they really truly help you shoot the rifle better, or be significantly more durable than the one that’s on there? Not so much.

ETA:Hell I’ve contemplated buying a SPARC for my AK…but that’s primarily because I’ll never in 100 years grab it for self defense/riots/apocalypse as long as my ARs are still kicking. This is your one rifle? Don’t cheap out on this.

17

+1 on Mr.Thopkins22

pretty much sums it up

18

Mr.Thopkins22 I think that’s what I needed to hear. Thanks for giving it to me straight.

I know a good light is important and a high quality, dependable RDS is as well. For some reason I was getting caught up in all the cool, new (to me) accessories available and lost focus on my main goal.

Reading your post snapped me right back into reality. This is my only rifle and I may need to depend on it, or more importantly my family may depend on me someday.

My idea heading into this was a simple, functional tool and I am sticking to it. I’m thinking Surefire mounted to the FSB, used Aimpoint with a plan to add the magnifier later, and figure out which sling will work for me. I will also add more mags, say one per month for the next few months.

19

So you don’t own one but yet you know all about the Sparc and it’s reliability right? Again, he has it already. And I think he could spend his money elsewhere because he’s probably not gonna need a uber tactical $500 red dot to fight off Taliban at the local Walmart. WTF are BUIS for? :rolleyes:

20

… for when your Sparc craps out.

And I think he could spend his money elsewhere because he’s probably not gonna need a uber tactical $500 red dot to fight off Taliban at the local Walmart.

You’re completely missed the point of this forum. May I suggest going to ARFCOM?