Thoughts on rifle modifications?

TK-Hryciuk

CGN Regular
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Manitoba
Hey guys, I had a very interesting conversation with my younger brother and my best friend the other day about black rifles and dressing them up and such. My brother is an advocate of rails, BUIS, lights, lasers. My best friend is a die hard, if the rifle ain't bone stock, he doesn't want it. I myself fall somewhere in the middle, I am not a fan of rail systems, I find them uncomfortable, bulky, and heavy for the most part, and I don't like to modify my firearms just for the sake of doing it because I can. Probably the most I've done with any of my rifles is my ACR by replacing the enhanced forend with the polymer basic, adding an MVG, and BUIS to cowitness the Eotech, no lights, or visible laser.

I'm just kind of curious as to what you guys here on CGN like to do and why you do it. I see a lot of people on here dressing their rifles up with all sorts of gadgets and end up weighing more than I'd like to deal with, but that's just me personally. I'm kind of an advocate of KISS, I will try and get some pictures up of my rifles so you guys can get an idea of what I mean. The majority of my optics are lightweight, usually lower magnification, and smaller than some of the other norms you see nowadays.

Anyways, sitting here on a boring night shift guarding explosives waiting to be shipped out at 0700 and figured I'd see what the folks of CGN like and dislike when it comes to modifications on their rifles and why they like to do it!
 
I add whatever accessories are required to gain the best accuracy for the intended use. Usually this just means a good scope, rings and bases but my cowboy rifle has a Lyman tang sight and my 9mm AR has an Eotech with backup flip-up iron sights (it's the only one with a rail on it). As I'm not on a SWAT team I don't have any real need for a flashlight. Quick target acquisition, a clear image, and good eye relief with a little bit of aesthetics thrown in.
 
I am big into the modular rails better feel less weight. I don't get the hype of co witness and I dont have any of mine setup for it I do have dual flip up BUIS.

I run a wide range of optics from ACOG's to Eotech aimpoint's low and high power glass. I dont like a bunch of ambi parts on lowers. and run only a ambi charging handle and Phase 5 Battery assist device. Cause that can really help clearing some malfuntions faster.
I do change the pistol grip to the one I like and put a comp of choice on. I like the 6pos stock so they always have that.
I run a scout light or similar and some kind of hand stop be it an AFG2 or a simple hook stop.
and I alway's run QD swivel mounts for my sling cause that and the mash hook are my preferd.

But I dont need all that on a rifle if the SHTF and I was handed an M16a2 with carry handle and iron sights I could use that aswell. The add on's just make it better suited.
 
Well...
I recently turned a $600 Remington 700 sps Varmint .243 into a $2700 rifle.
All I did was extend the bolt handle, change the stock, cut the barrel, add a brake and added a rail rings and a used bushnell 4200... Haven't even shot it yet lol
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Optic, angled foregrip and maybe a small light such as the Inforce WML. BUIS go without saying of course. Everything else is just added weight.
 
I just dropped in an ACOG, have not found a need for a wpnlight or PAQ15 or pressure switch or BUIS either.

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It's gotta work for you. Whatever your game or duty demands evolve into, it's all gotta work to make you more effective. :D

Oh ya, and yer budget, too.

Cheers,
Barney
 
I suppose to each their own. I'm currently trying to build a rifle with minimal weight, which is probably going to only include buis and an aimpoint pro, something relatively clean and easy.

I can understand the flashlights and lasers and foregrips and spring-loaded window breakers and barricade hooks, but I'm going to buy the basics first because I ain't swimming in money.
 
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I have certainly added a bit of bling to my rifle which I feel is necessary. If I could only keep one accessory it would be my Magpul BAD which addresses a glaring flaw with the AR-15 design. I like the ability to keep my firing hand where it should be for manipulating the firearm to clear stoppages and locking the bolt to the rear. Since I am not limited to one I'll keep the rest of what I have added.
 
for me, I want my "black" rifles to have the minimum possible accessories... to me, the minimum is: Great optic, set of BUIS, and a dependable light. To me, those 3 things are not accessories, but necessities... just my humble opinion...
 
We do what we like as we can. In Canada, they are mostly range toys anyhow, and all the gadgetry makes it interesting. For real world application the additions and deletions really matter.

a light is unnecessary for range work, if you are clearing rooms at night, you will want a light, maybe a little NV to go with it, a laser might be handy too. I too like them simple, they only have what is needed for the task. usually a functioning trigger and mags full of ammo.
 
I love to try different stuff out! Ask me for pics of a Tavor-optic combo and I've probably got it. With any rifle platform I end up doing a lot of "what if I put this on here?" sort of stuff.

But when I settle into a build and call it "done" for a while, its usually pretty straightforward.

At its simplest:

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