AR questions: Spikes vs Stag vs RRA vs LMT vs S&W
- Thread starter milk
- Start date
Sounds like you want to replace the front sight base with a low-profile gas block and then run a 9" free float rail over it. Start searching/reading about those. Forget/ignore anything about clamp-on and/or railed gas blocks.
Positives for short barrel: Handy, light, manouverable
Downside: Loss of fragmentation at longer ranges (can be somewhat remedied by certain ammunition selection)
Some shorties are overgassed and need heavy buffers to run smoothly. The LMTs have smaller gas ports and are smooth even with the CAR weight buffers. I've used H and CAR and don't notice much difference on the LMT
I would say that a 10.5 is a good gun for recreation and in its intended CQB roll with appropriate ammunition (like mk262 or 5.56 75gr TAP).
I grabbed one of those 10.5s. Can't beat that deal with the sopmod and 2 stage.
This has been discussed at length in other threads, best to search and resurrect one of those than go off on a hijack here.
Awesome, thanks guys. Didn't mean to hijack, thought the thread was dead. I am getting the feeling like its better to start with an AR already in the floating rail config rather than try and change gas blocks, because i don't even know what a gas block does (omfg) and I don't know how to work on ARs in that kind of detail. I haven't got any friends who are into this, and no mentors of any kind really.
Good to hear 10.5" is just fine. I think an AR in a shorter config is more appealing. If you've gotta go long barrel, might as well be non-restricted too imo.
Good to hear 10.5" is just fine. I think an AR in a shorter config is more appealing. If you've gotta go long barrel, might as well be non-restricted too imo.
incorrigible
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No worries, there are no bad questions. I wouldn't be intimidated by doing the work. There is literally tons of info like http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=12&f=2&t=75 with pictures, explanations and most work is done with basic tools.
ie. the gas block bleeds a small amount of combustion gases from a small hole in the top of the barrell after the bullet passes. It uses the kinetic energy in these gases in one of two dirfferent ways depending on the design of your rifle.
1) The most common and least costly design is to run the diverted gases from the gas block, though a gas tube along the top of the barrel and into the upper to cycle the bolt utilizing the gas pressure. This is the original design and has the benefit of being lighter and less expensive, amongst others.
2) The new design takes the same gases from the gas block and directs them in to another small chamber that actuates a piston(this is the design used on virtually all modern gas operated service firearms). It is the piston that drives the mechanism which cycles the bolt. The benefit of this is that there is little combustion gases making their way into the upper. This makes the upper and bolt assembly cleaner, cooler and easier to maintain. A little pricier, heavier and the functional benefits are negligible unless firing on auto for sustained bursts over longer periods, so less of an issue with your average plinkers
. (that said I have one and love it!)Either will work excellent with maintenance. If you can't find an answer in the search feel free to ask. Lots of good lads with great info willing to share. Keep the faith...
I guess the distance depends n what is allowed. Ideally I would love to have a gun that would allow me to shoot shorter distances 100 - 400m. I also want to be able to the modifications to make it into a long range rifle down the road. Any of these choices good for the short & long? Is the quality of the lowers important for long range?
Too much to ask in one firearm?
Thanks for the no BS description and appreciate the distinction between the STAG & the rest as well. Many have asked for the purpose, and to me it's a chicken or egg question.
Being a newbie to ARs with only a limited experience with guns(WWII rebored target bolt action with heavy barrel and competition sights, plethora of 22s made in someone's shop class, few handguns, and limited training on competition target shooting), I can't really say what the use would be without asking more questions. It's like I don't know what to ask, so I keep on asking until I know more... Thanks to everyone for your patience. I also believe(
For example, I'm interested in the ARs for ergonomics, accuracy, compact size, and, of course, the cool looks(I am 18 again...). But I also love the competitive aspect & the science of shooting, particularly long range. Can one AR do both? If so which one? Is there one that is a good short barrel AR that I could convert later with a heavy 'floating' longer barrel to do the long range work?
Everytime I get a knowledgeable reply, I am furiously researching to find out what the experts are talking about. ie. I just learned what the difference between the gas block and gas piston is. INCORRIGIBLE's lesson on this topic was huge to me. Which leads to more questions such as does it make a lot of difference to a basic AR?
Then there is the billion manufacturers who, of course, all purport to being the best. The best way for me to find out the difference between the BMW, Hyundai, Honda, and Chevy is to propose several models and troll for expert opinions to build a body of knowledge. I've found that ESQ & others who have said "I grabbed one of those 10.5s. Can't beat that deal with the sopmod and 2 stage." or FPEMBLETON's "Those LMTs are a very good deal. I'd pick one up if I didn't already have one.", or CHRISF's "I have an LMT Defender 200 with 16inch barrel. Love it. All the others quality doesn't come close to LMT." as a body of evidence testament that LMT Defender 2000 deal is a good one.
Being a tinkerer, I am intrigued by the thought of building one myself and the challenge is intoxicating, but don't want to end up with a frankenAR, particularly one that does not work. To do this, I would do far more research, but posts by BRORDO & Calves42 are encouraging as well as links others have suggested.
I agree with INCORRIGIBLE. I tell all my students in my other life that there are no stupid questions. Just stupid people who fail to ask questions when they should...
So, I have even more questions as related the AR choices:
1. Acronyms: What is CQB? Why do I want to drink a bottle of this everyday? What is CAR?
2. What is the difference between Service Rifle competition, 3 gun challenge?
3. Is it better to start with a cheap Norinco-type setup? Or get a mid-range plinkers from RRA? Or just go for the LMT/Stag?
4. Do the small pistol-type (RRA A4 pistol or LAR 15 or other cool-looking pistols) essentially be modified to become a full size ARs over time without compatibility problems? Is this even wise?
CQB - Close Quarter Battle - it is a acronym used by (US Naval Surface Warfare Center) Crane to describe their 10.3" upper conversion kit - CQBR = Crane 10.3" close quarter battle receiver. LMT made a very small batch of CQBR supplied to Crane 6 years or so ago. That's when LMT became famous.
Things for price differentiation:
Quality control, materials, supply chain practice, features, reputation, warranty.....etc
I won't say which one is better - some people value a bigger feature package like RRA for a given price point, some people want a CHF barrel, some want his rifle made by an ISO certified organization. it is your pick - and what you want out of it.
Things for price differentiation:
Quality control, materials, supply chain practice, features, reputation, warranty.....etc
I won't say which one is better - some people value a bigger feature package like RRA for a given price point, some people want a CHF barrel, some want his rifle made by an ISO certified organization. it is your pick - and what you want out of it.
chrisward3
Regular
- Location
- Ottawa, ON
just picked up the last 10.5 this morning from blue line
i need a rear sight for this...any suggestions?
high 5 to you! i grabbed the second last one on the 28th!
just waiting on the transfer now before i slap a Larue 9" with low profile block on it and Noveske KX3 then a tonne of magpul goodies, and an aimpoint T-1 micro.
