Having trained a few times with Bennie Cooley and more recently the fine instructors at TigerSwan I’ve started to re-evaluate my carbine set up. I don’t drive around with guns in my truck but if I did this would be the one 
I’ve had this particular carbine longer than any other in various forms.
It started as a Colt A2 fixed carry handled 1/9" HBAR upper with carbine handguards. I took it to Gunsite back in 2005 and held my own with the irons but definitely became a believer in RDS based on what my classmates were running.
Later I added an MI Free Float rail and later again switched it to an M4 style flat top upper receiver, added the CQD sling system since I thought it would give me more flexibility as far as utilizing a 1 or 2 pt. sling set up. I installed the Redi-Mag after several people (including Bennie) convinced me its a lot faster.
Here’s what it looked like last year:
One of the biggest things that I’ve changed in training in the last year is shooting support side; along with that comes the ability to manipulate the weapon from both sides. I’ve also gotten away from VFG’s except on short rail (carbine length) weapons so I’ve moved toward having mid-length or rifle length handguards and pushing my support hand farther out toward the muzzle.
Looking at my previous set up it was clear that I only used about 6 inches of rail space out of 28(?) on the handguards so I switched to the VTAC tube. Still free float, modular, a bit more economical since I don’t have to get rail protectors and much more comfortable.
I also wanted to start shaving down weight, not so much because I can’t carry the weight with both hands, but after training with Jeff Gonzales who makes it a point that you should expect to get hurt in a gunfight, I realized that I couldn’t work the weapon single handed.
Steve at ADCO turned the profile down on the barrel under the handguards to .650 diameter and installed the JP VTAC tube w/FSP. Turnaround was fast and service was excellent. He also removed the bayonet lug and sling mount underneath the FSB and refinished it all in a nice matte black. I chose the FS pocket since I wanted to keep the durability of the A2 FS assembly rather than having a gas block pinned and adding another piece of rail to mount a separate front sight. I also kept the tritium FS post which was a carryover from when the old upper was strictly irons.
I stayed with the Larue BUIS since I’m not sure there’s anything better out there, it works so why mess with it? The Aimpoint M2 works but perhaps not as well as an Eotech (for me) at longer distances. I have imperfect vision so the 4 MOA dot isn’t as precise for me as the Eotech reticle. I’m keeping this set up for now but may try to switch out for an Aimpoint micro for the reduced weight but that will be very much funds dependent. I may also swap it out for the Eotech since I strongly prefer that reticle but not sure I want to give up the Aimpoint reliability in exchange.
The N battery models would seem perfect on paper but I’ve heard of too many problems with them, I previously had one and the reticle would be blurry if looking through with a 1/3 co-witness but not if I looked through with an absolute co-witness, if that makes sense. I could also go with a 2 MOA Aimpoint if I can find a deal on a used one.
The sling swivel is also a bit lighter than adding a picatinny rail piece to the tube just to mount a QD socket on it so I simplified that. I removed the fastex buckle extension on the sling as well figuring that I should be able to disconnect it on the stock end if I needed to. I mounted the sling to right side of the stock vs. the left side since Bennie pointed out that it helps “pull” the stock in to your shoulder when shooting strong side and lets out more slack so that you’re less likely to choke yourself when shooting support side.
I’ve tried other slings and still prefer the VTAC, I find it easier to manipulate, more comfortable and has a longer range of adjustment. The tail has gotten in the way once to be a show stopper when I ran the charging handle over it trying to clear a malfunction so it can get in the way if you’re going back and forth from strong to support side but otherwise it hasn’t been a problem. The latest generation has a loop sewn in near the grab point which minimizes the tail issue.
So here’s how it looks now:
For the lights I wanted my hand placement to mirror itself so nothing “different” from shooting left or right handed. Add the benefit of an extra light as a back up in case one goes down while keeping both of the lights on the affordable and lightweight side so that there would be a minimal weight penalty.
I kept the Vltor stock since I find it more comfortable (I tried the Magpul MOE and sent it back to Brownell’s the same day I received it) as well as the A2 flash suppressor since I picked up a Contico toolbox after seeing Stephen_H’s truck gun set up on another forum. I find that it will fit just perfectly with these two last items. It also keeps the cost down since I already had 'em 
I’d like to swap out the Redi-Mag with the lighter weight Redi-Mod but that might be more coin than I’m willing to spend to shave a few ounces. I might try it since zushwa mentioned to me that it works for lefties a lot better than the original generation. We’ll see how the budget goes… or if I can make the time with a dremel.
Next item is an ambi-safety, I’ve never had a problem with using the trigger finger to sweep, or the knuckle as TigerSwan teaches it but Bennie Cooley is teaching using the thumb since you can get your finger on the trigger sooner to start staging the trigger, it works but I think I’d rather spend the extra $25 to get a better firing grip as well as “mirroring” my right handed grip. I like the Ergo grip but may swap this one out with the SureGrip model since it feels a little bit better to me. I will most likely add a Badger Tac-Latch to the charging handle as well.
I haven’t tested it at the range yet since getting it back so not sure how it’ll work. I have one more class scheduled for the year right now but may have to withdraw due to work conflicts. I’d be curious what others think of this set up. Understand its not for everybody but I think I’ve been able to adapt it to my needs.
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