I’ve been thinking about picking up an extra AR since it seems like a great time to buy. I was going to get a colt 6520(and still might), but then I saw Grant has M&P15 MOE rifles for a good price. I’m thinking maybe I should get one of those because I have a charles daly M4LE set up extactly the same, except in black. This got me to thinking that maybe it would be handy to have a spare carbine with the exact same configuration for a backup or training rifle. I already have a spare aimpoint and would have to pick up a spare surefire, but I essentially could make this M&P15 to be just like my M4LE. Would having multiple rifles setup the same be all that useful, or should I look at getting something different?
I maintain at least one essentially identical configuration spare gun for any gun I keep for serious purposes.
Guns can and do become inop for various reasons. The ability to stay in the mission or on the line with minimal time loss is critical to some, less to others.
Those with lesser or good-as gear should certainly have spares.
Further, most anything that’s semi-automatic and fed via a detachable box magazine isn’t a bad investment anyway.
I like having something similar. It doesn’t have to be identical though.
I have a Colt 6920 Upper which I keep as a spare since I am running a 416 upper on the Colt lower. I also have a Noveske N4 Basic with a Knights RAS. The 416 has an Aimpoint T-1 while the Noveske has an Aimpoint M2.
If a separate rifle was neccessary for when the first rifle goes down, why not instead buy a large amount of parts for the first rifle to keep it going?
BTW, I’ve always believed that your “training rifle” is also your battle rifle.
I have my S&W 5.45 upper configured almost identically to my main gun, my LMT. ML2’s on both, scope mounted in same position on both, VTAC 2 pt slings on both, magpul stocks on both, etc…
There is definitely merit to working your primary gun thru everything, then having the parts and supplies to fix it but for me 5.45 ammo is so much cheaper than 5.56 so it makes sense for me to have 2 separate rifles. And I like having guns in my safe so that never hurts =)
GU
I would like to pick up an identical carbine to the LMT I have now. Spare parts are good but what happens if you get a squib or a KB or worst yet you take your eyes off of it and it walks off:mad:
I think of it this way spare parts or for the known and a spare rifle is for the unknown.
New York reload baby =)
I see your point adn would like to do the same but how about building one rather than purchasing a complete carbine? Based on the chart, each has its pros and cons – CD M4LE has better barrel specs but the M&P15 has better BCG specs. How about building one that’s all of the above?
I just think a second/back up rifle should be superior to its predecessor–if it isnt top tier already… Just MHO. 
It’s a good idea. I don’t think that they need to be identical however, as long as they are similar.
Two is one, one is none.
The more I shoot and train, the more I see the value of a dedicated carry gun and an identical training gun. Guns, like all tools, break. The worst time for this to happen is when you’re relying on the piece to save your life. If you have a gun you carry and shoot very little, the odds are that it will be working when you need it.
I currently have a 9mm AR that is almost identical to my duty gun and have been shooting it a lot more than anything else lately.
I have identically set up my Colt 6920 as a back up to my LMT Defender. Or is it the other way around?? Either way, I don’t see why it could be bad. I know both will go bang, whichever one I grab.
[QUOTE=Ed L.;438051]I like having something similar. It doesn’t have to be identical though.[QUOTE]
I agree, and this includes my service pistol too.
One is none and two is one.
Words to live by not just with firearms but anything that your life may rely on.
Id like to get multiples for the family, thinking about 14.5"ers with mid length gas tubes and sopmod stocks, topped with fixed A2 post up front and larue or LMT rear and T-1 riding in the middle. Right now I need to start sourcing parts for 3 said rifles, hopefully I dont have any more kids for a while.
I like having a tested weapon put aside and dialed in for defense ammo (75gr. TAP 5.56) and at least another version for training.
The beater/training gun will be sighted in for 55 gr. stuff, and not babied as much.
I like the concept of “functionally identical”. Here is an example.
One gun has a 3x and the other has a 1.5x, one has a slightly shorter rail than the other, one is setup to take a can and the other isn’t, etc. But functionally I can put one down and pick the other up and they work the same way.
Variation on a theme would be these two.
While at first glance they may look nothing alike, note that the grips and stocks are the same, both have 1x red dot sights, the Troy rear can be run in the “up” position to act like a fixed, and the light (despite being mounted totally different on each gun) falls under thumb identically on each gun.
As you can tell, I’m a big fan of having a 16" and SBR that are functionally similar or identical to one another.
On the subject of one gun for training, one gun for critical use, I’m actually in favor of this. I’m sure we all wind up doing it to some extent anyway. Even if you shoot your carry gun at matches and classes, your nightstand gun, or car gun, or safe gun, or whatever isn’t getting shot like that. I would prefer to have a carry gun that I’ve put through it’s paces enough to trust and then leave in the holster other than occasional PM or function testing and have another identical gun for shooting on a regular basis. I don’t see anything wrong with doing the same with a pair of carbines.