KISS rifle Mandatory Upgrades/Mods

AR/M4 AR General Discussion
1

Hey All,

After a year with my M&P15 I have decided that I am leaning more towards keeping the rifle a KISS as I am more then happy with it’s performance, and I feel like all the add ons offered in the AR world are more aesthetic for most people then they are functional (no offense). The reason for this thought is that after 1500 rounds through my gun, I still feel like I have another 1000 or so to go before my muscle memory regarding site picture, fore end grip, ext come completely natural. I’m getting better but the last thing I want to do is add say a fore end grip, or another button, or an optic that I then have to learn.

I do however want to make sure that the gun functions at peak performance. What are some of the mandatory upgrades that you all add to your KISS rifles? Consider the answers being directed towards the rookie community.

2

For me a Keep It Simple Stupid rifle has the following;

1:7 Chrome Lined Barrel
Flat top upper with AIMPOINT and BIS
SF white light
Redi-Mod (backup mag on the gun)
Sling

3

What about mechanical additions?

4

Agree.

A red dot optic allows you to be more accurate and faster on target and a light allows you to see in the dark.

These are two MUST haves on ANY KISS weapon that could/will be utilized for defensive purposes.

C4

5

If I had your gun, I would add and H buffer or H2 buffer (as it is over gassed). I would also add a good quality sling.

Other than that, you really do not need to add anything else.

C4

6

agree with light and RDS.

I actually just wrote an update to my “basic build” article on my site that I’ll hopefully get posted tomorrow with pictures. I think it wound up a perfect balance between quality, cost, weight, and function. Anything beyond this is gravy and/or fine tuning/tinkering. The optic/mount and lower are from Grant, the upper and BCG are direct from BCM, the sling is Boonie Packer and the off-gun magnifier is direct from Larue.

7

+1 on the flashlight, RDS and sling.

make sure the gas key and castle nut are stacked and start collecting quality spare parts just in case…

:wink:

8

This topic always gets on my nerves, but I’ll attempt to remain dispassionate.

There are two concepts involved here, and they are different:

literal KISS

KISS as a concept

literal KISS = the notion that the rifle must be as basic and simple as possible. This usually winds up in the ultimate expression of a gun with A1 sights, a fixed stock, either no sling or a carry strap and no forward assist. This means the gun istself is as stripped down and as simple as possible.

KISS as a concept = a rifle configured to make life simple for the end-user. I won’t rehash what the previous posters listed, but all of those items (CCO, light, “tactical” sling) make life simpler for the end-user in a variety of situations.

So, apples and oranges… you need to determine what “KISS” best suits your needs.

9

I have a 6920 that I’m keeping as KISS as possible–so kiss in fact that it is stock except I’m running a Vickers sling. Here are observations:

*The A2 grip really leaves something to be desired. It is far too thin for my hands (throws my index finger contacting the trigger on the second pad) and could benefit from texture. I have MIAD grips on a few of my other builds and it seems to take care of both issues.

*The hand guards are comfortable, but aren’t long enough to feel natural and transition from target to target quickly—it feels as if I should be gripping the rifle under the front sight base. A DD FSP-style quad rail would give more versatility.

*The standard trigger guard leaves a gap that can rub your finger raw when shooting without gloves. In my hot and humid environment you get drenched with sweat and it reaps havock on the middle finger. Installation of a Magpul enhanced trigger guard would solve this.

*In low light, I can’t see the sights. It is also somewhat slower for me to transition from target to target using the sights. A red-dot sight would cure this problem. I have an Aimpoint M2 on another carbine and am faster and more confident with it, though I’ve come to want a T1 after handling guns with them installed.

*If you can’t see what you’re shooting you shouldn’t be shooting it. Therefore, seeing your sights (or using the red-dot) is useless if you can’t light up the target. I’m rarely going to need to do this, so I’m going to cheap out and mount a Surefire G2.

*The carry-handle is a good sight, however it leaves no room for mounting an optic. The LMT sight would retain the characteristics of the standard carry-handle yet allow a co-witness with a red-dot.

Keeping this in mind, here is what my next build is going to be:

-BCM 16" middy upper
-Sun Devil lower
-BCM carbine stock kit with standard carbine stock
-MIAD grip
-BCM F/A BCG
-Magpul enhanced trigger guard
-LMT adjusdtable rear-sight
-Daniel Defense Omega Rail or Lite Rail FSPM
-Aimpoint T1
-Vickers sling
-Surefire G2

And the real necessary accessories:

Extra bolt, extra extractor kit, extra springs, extra firing pin, etc.

Moral of the story—I can keep it as simple as possible and it doesn’t necessarily meet my needs, which aren’t the same as your needs, which aren’t the same as anybody else’s needs. When you find something that doesn’t work for you, change that with a solution that will.

10

The more I think about it, the more I like the basic handguards for the “thumbs forward” (please correct if there’s a better term for it) 3 gun style of shooting Magpul Dynamics is popularizing. Also, the more I think about it, the more I agree with Rob’s concept as realized above.

11

I’m sure you already realize this, but the part in blue doesn’t really address the part in red unless you’re using the Omega 12 that’s on the DDM4.

Something else to consider, depending on your experience with mid-length guns, is that the mid-length addresses the part in red all by itself for a lot of people.

12

A lot of what I did with that gun, and the 6933 that I have kept conceptually similar, came out of spending a year with the AK and doing it “right”. I shot my first matches and class with the only changes being comfort ones (different grip, extended safety w/ notch). I then was able to assess and address issues with the gun and potential accessories to add to the gun as I went. None of this was conscious, I just lucked into it and was able to identify it after the year was up and I found myself pushing past the wonder-rail ARs in the safe to grab the basic guns.

Of course, truth be told if someone is really interested in “KISS”, a good quality AK with light, RDS, and sling is probably a better answer than any AR.

13

Precisely. If the two extra inches the middy offers over my 6920 cures it, I’ll go with the standard 9.0 Omega. If not, I’ll go with a 12.0 FSP style.

Thanks for clearing that up. I should have stated that in my first post.

14

I’m going to go out on a limb here and assume you’d choose a 5.45 AK? Are you choosing the AK because of cost, mechanical simplicity, or reliability? Or perhaps an utter lack (compared to the AR) of addons?

15

Kinda like Church Tongue or Porn Tongue?

To me KISS means basic and as a concept.

16

You don’t say! :stuck_out_tongue:

Every time I see this topic come up, I think of The_Katar!

17

Right now I probably would at least give the 5.45 more of a look, but in general no. I like my AKs in 7.62x39 for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is availability of magazines and (current silliness aside) ammo. Not to mention there are American factory loads in brass for critical use and/or if importation was stopped.

I don’t believe that there is a reliability issue comparing an AR to an AK, given proper maintenance. That last part is the kicker. Part of the KISS idea, to me anyway, is also one of “set it, and forget it”. I never once during that year cleaned the AK, and I never once gave a thought to whether or not I should lube it when I took it out of the safe. Other than a passing question when I started out, I also never toted a single spare part for the gun.

And yes, cost is a big part of it, or should be. Unfortunately we have some current silliness in that department as well. An AK should cost under $500, and an AK that costs more than that starts to enter into the realm of questionable, and when they get up to being equal in cost to a quality AR they’ve lost all attraction entirely. But a $500 AK with an Aimpoint H-1 and Surefire G2 in Vltor offset light mount (maybe even one of the new throwlever ones so it’s easier to get off the gun) on an Ultimak rail and a BFG Victory sling is pretty much the definition of “KISS” for me. If Larue’s Irondot plays out well (never got a chance to run one myself) then that gets even more attractive at half the price and eliminating the need for the Ultimak.

18

rob_s I am eagerly awaiting your new article. I have been reconsidering my original set-up LMT 14.5" upper with KAC ras hand gaurd . Arms 40# BUIS. I have a Larue LT-150 aimpoint mount and I am in the process of buying a aimpoint c-3 or ML3.
What I am thinking about changing is swapping the Arms 40# BUIS to a Larue fixed BUIS and the KAC ras to standard handgaurd or a surefire m-500a HG light combo. But I am worried that my sight pic through the RDS and fixed BUIS might be cluttered. I have also read reports about how the m-500 has a short battery life does anybody make a LED conversion for the m-500?

19

Great thread. Classic M4c.

20

I don’t like Ak’s for KISS/SHTF as to me and million of others they shout FOE instead of friend.

To me the simplest KISS is our (KAC) E3 bolt and bolt extension, as your not going to have much to do with it until you need a new barrel at 20-25k as whats more simple than a part that give 3x+ the lifespan…