AR Feedback Please....

hfp75

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Here is my cunundrom,

I am looking to purchase an AR, 2 questions:

1-Front A2 fixed site or a mono rail gaas port? I will be using optics and dont want to see the A2 in the optics. Anyone? Do I need the Mono rail or does it not matter?

2-Armalite or Stag Arms?

thanks

Hans
 
1. If using magnified optics, you will not even see the front sight tower. I'd go with a fixed front, personally. That way you have the OPTION of going to irons without have to buy an expensive flip up front sight.

However, it may come down to 'looks', and I think an AR with a scope LOOK dumb with a fixed FSB, but that's just me.

2. Stag Arms. Nothing but praise for them on here, and I believe they are a little cheaper than Armalite. Either brand is good!
 
hfp75 said:
Here is my cunundrom,

I am looking to purchase an AR, 2 questions:

1-Front A2 fixed site or a mono rail gaas port? I will be using optics and dont want to see the A2 in the optics. Anyone? Do I need the Mono rail or does it not matter?

2-Armalite or Stag Arms?

thanks

Hans

I got a Low power scope, BUIS Infront of my scope and my FSB and it doesn't get in the way of the crossair,

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v103/RobertMccafferty/IM0000241.jpg

I went with flip up sights on my AR15, but thats was a extra 250$
 
hfp75 said:
Here is my cunundrom,

I am looking to purchase an AR, 2 questions:

1-Front A2 fixed site or a mono rail gaas port? I will be using optics and dont want to see the A2 in the optics. Anyone? Do I need the Mono rail or does it not matter?

2-Armalite or Stag Arms?

thanks

Hans

I own an Armalite (I bought a 16" HBAR midlength). Fit and finish and reliability is great, and the midlength gas system is smooth-cycling, especially with an A2 stock and a rifle buffer that I added later (not that it matters with our 5rd limit). I have no experience with Stags, but I wouldn't like them due to the carbine gas system. However, both are excellent AR15s and you won't go wrong buying either of them, but make sure the rifle suits your purposes.
 
kirill said:
I own an Armalite (I bought a 16" HBAR midlength). Fit and finish and reliability is great, and the midlength gas system is smooth-cycling, especially with an A2 stock and a rifle buffer that I added later (not that it matters with our 5rd limit). I have no experience with Stags, but I wouldn't like them due to the carbine gas system. However, both are excellent AR15s and you won't go wrong buying either of them, but make sure the rifle suits your purposes.

Maby smooth cycling becuase you got a Fixed stock and HBAR that adds a bit more weight to soften the recoil, I know with my 14.5 It smooth cycling and its a M4 profile with MAGPUL M93 Stock and carbine length gas system just a wee bit more recoil then my C7A2.

I dont think the mid length gas system makes it a better rifle, considering alot of AR sold out there are carbine length. Stag arms are closer to Milsepc. Hate to say alot of GOOD quality firearm companys that make AR15 uses carbine length.
 
Either will do. I can only speak to Stag 3R flattop (16").

I have the flip up sight and have no issues with it. Zero problems with the Stag in regards to function. Top notch customer service from Arms East.

I have been beating the #### out of mine for just over 2 months (about 3000 rounds of factory and milsurp) and it keeps coming back for more, clean or dirty.
 
RobertMcC said:
Maby smooth cycling becuase you got a Fixed stock and HBAR that adds a bit more weight to soften the recoil, I know with my 14.5 It smooth cycling and its a M4 profile with MAGPUL M93 Stock and carbine length gas system just a wee bit more recoil then my C7A2.

I dont think the mid length gas system makes it a better rifle, considering alot of AR sold out there are carbine length. Stag arms are closer to Milsepc. Hate to say alot of GOOD quality firearm companys that make AR15 uses carbine length.


I bought the A2 stock to balance the rifle (it's an HBAR), but it was great with the carbine stock and buffer as well. The midlength is a relatively new development and not used by the military, which is the reason it is not widespread. The full-length gas system came with the M16, the carbine length with the M4, and this is what the military settled with. My personal opinion is that a midlength will last longer than a carbine length due to lower pressures. If the barrel gets shot out before the bolt lugs shear off, I'm happy.

ETA

hfp75 said:
there is a difference in the gas systems on the Armalite vs. the Stag?

HP

IIRC, Armalite sells both, Stags are carbine length only for 16" barrels.
 
Stag Arms rifles have been doing very well locally with the few rifles sold thus far having zero issues at all, they are accurate and reliable. The same can be said of Armalite only with hundreds of gun being sold and used the only issue in three years was a dinged gas tube damaged on installation, the problem was easily corrected and I saw the same 16" carbine run a rifle course with no malfunctions. The Midlength guns are indeed smoother, in the midlength and rifle versions the buffer movement is not as harsh as is the case with the carbine, the 20" guns don't see the buffer slam to the rear of the extension, the movement is much the same with midlength. You won't regret either purchase, you want M4 type, get the stag. If you crave something all business then I cannot think of a better unit than the 16" midlength Armalite with an A1 or Sully stock, this rifle would excell in any tac style shooting or Service Conditions. The only method of mounting a FSB is taper or straight pins, stay away from clamp on gas block in a fighting rifle, fill your boots on the gucci/ninja stuff. As always YMMV.
 
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ar

I guess what I am looking for is:

Flat top upper with a 16' barrel, and Positionable Stock. So, all that is left to figure out is the front site and the gas system (now that there are differences there). Am I miss understanding, with the 16" barrel is there only one type of gas system between the manufacturers?

It sounds like for an ACOG or ELCAN a fixed front site will not interfer with the optics on the flat top - correct?

Hans
 
hfp75 said:
I guess what I am looking for is:

Flat top upper with a 16' barrel, and Positionable Stock. So, all that is left to figure out is the front site and the gas system (now that there are differences there). Am I miss understanding, with the 16" barrel is there only one type of gas system between the manufacturers?

It sounds like for an ACOG or ELCAN a fixed front site will not interfer with the optics on the flat top - correct?

Hans

Armalite sells both carbine and midlength gas systems for 16". Stag only sells carbine length.
 
If you are going 16", get the mid-length, your rifle will run smoother and with less stress, this is not to say carbine systems are bad, just that mid-length is better. anything between 10.x and 16" will be offered with a carbine system, anything >16 will be offered with a rifle gas system, 16" can be had with a mid-length or carbine system. The mid-length will give you the smooth operation of the 20" in a smaller package.

Length of handguards, ie gas system
Carbine: 7"
mid-length: 9"
Rifle: 12"

The 16" is offered with 2 gas systems. In the US with the AWB they needed 16" guns, so many mfg used their carbine systems and assembled 16" barrels to them vs 14.5", Armalite has been offering the 16" mid-length as a product option for a long time, it was not an effort to comply with US AWB laws but an actual product developement. You can use which ever style stock you want with the 16". The FSB is a preferance, I prefer no front sight when using optics, the railed FSB that Armalite sells is not compatible (height wise) with the flip-up rail mounted sights being sold, they do have a removable A2 style front sight that mounts to this FSB. If in doubt you can get it with a railed FSB and mount the removable A2 sight giving you both options, just check to make sure the FSB is pinned not clamped on.

It sounds like for an ACOG or ELCAN a fixed front site will not interfer with the optics on the flat top - correct?

You may see a ghostly shadow in the scope due to the front sight, that's why I don't like front sights with scopes, it however will not interfer with using a scope in any way.
 
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Not to thread jack...but it is relivant to his question.

Why is slamming the buffer back full travel so detrimental to the rifle (with a "short" carbine gas system)?

What exactly do you avoid/gain by going to the longer system?

I'm sure it's wear and tear, but on what components specifically?
 
Blackthorne said:
Not to thread jack...but it is relivant to his question.

Why is slamming the buffer back full travel so detrimental to the rifle (with a "short" carbine gas system)?

What exactly do you avoid/gain by going to the longer system?

I'm sure it's wear and tear, but on what components specifically?

I'm not sure about the buffer issue, but in a midlength gas system the extraction is more reliable, since it occurs later in the cycle and at lower temperatures. Also, the bolt experiences less stress when locking/unlocking.
Since AR15 is gas-impinged, during rapid fire (and full-auto M16/M4 fire), the gases flowing back into the receiver heat up the bolt, weakening it. A weak bolt can split in half at the cam pin hole, or the locking lugs can shear off after thousands of rounds of heavy use. Since it's impossible to prevent the bolt from heating up without going to a gas-piston system, the solution is to lower the stresses experienced by the bolt, increasing its age.

EDIT: Read the first post: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=199626
 
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kirill said:
I'm not sure about the buffer issue, but in a midlength gas system the extraction is more reliable, since it occurs later in the cycle and at lower temperatures. Also, the bolt experiences less stress when locking/unlocking.
Since AR15 is gas-impinged, during rapid fire (and full-auto M16/M4 fire), the gases flowing back into the receiver heat up the bolt, weakening it. A weak bolt can split in half at the cam pin hole, or the locking lugs can shear off after thousands of rounds of heavy use. Since it's impossible to prevent the bolt from heating up without going to a gas-piston system, the solution is to lower the stresses experienced by the bolt, increasing its age.

With only 5rd mags and NO FA. I doubt we gotta worrying about Heat Issues.
 
RobertMcC said:
With only 5rd mags and NO FA. I doubt we gotta worrying about Heat Issues.

Don't rub it in :mad: ;)

Even with the heat issue eliminated, the midlength is still more reliable due to decreased pressures and stresses.
 
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