AR-type Rifles

[Wyatt Smith]

Engine oil works very well for lubricating the AR platform as well as many other guns. Don’t be afraid to oil them.

 

[perttime]

... when toting AR rifles in the army they got cleaned after each use.. and I cant seem to break myself of that habit..

...

Same - except I had RK 62 rifles during my conscript days and a couple of Government temp jobs.

I get at least most carbon deposits (soot) off of any firearm soon(ish) after shooting. A patch (or equivalent through the barrel, and other sooty surfaces wiped with toilet paper or whatever. I've never had a direct impingement rifle but like to remove the soot from piston systems.

A light layer of oil in the barrel if I don't expect to shoot the gun in the near future. Lubrication according to manufacturer's suggestions (oil and/or grease).

Lubrication can depend on conditions. Same oils and methods might not work in desert heat, jungle humidity and arctic winters.

 

[Inline6]

Engine oil works very well for lubricating the AR platform as well as many other guns. Don’t be afraid to oil them.

That's all I use on mine.

2500-3500 rds in 3 day training classes. Motor oil has all kinds of addictive for keeping carbon in check and parts clean. It is also a heck of a lot cheaper then anything labeled "gun oil".

I'm not in the desert, so I run my bolts wet.

 

[Northern Shooter]

if i'd buy a repel boarders gun, i'd make it a mini-14, for the same reason as you. AR's might not yet be banned for the moment, but I'm sure they will be next on the chopping block.

Had one. They banned the Mini14s here in 2020 along with the ARs.

 

[mdwest]

The issue(s) with the mini14 in the US are… they are more expensive than most ARs, accessories are more expensive as well (magazines are more than 3x the price), accessory options are much more limited, and if/when ARs finally go in this country, it is highly likely the mini14 will too…

 

[Inline6]

The issue(s) with the mini14 in the US are… they are more expensive than most ARs, accessories are more expensive as well (magazines are more than 3x the price), accessory options are much more limited, and if/when ARs finally go in this country, it is highly likely the mini14 will too…

The real question is when they try, are we as a people going to roll over? The longer they wait the easier it will be. Once the old way of thinking is no longer walking...the newer generations are built to resist.

 

[YancyW]

if i'd buy a repel boarders gun, i'd make it a mini-14, for the same reason as you. AR's might not yet be banned for the moment, but I'm sure they will be next on the chopping block.

Isn't that when you would need them most??

 

[HookMeUpII]

Depending what you are using it for there are some better than others. Lewis Machine and Tool, Bravo Company, and Daniel Defense are top-end, classic concept rifles. I have a Lewis Machine and tool mid-length gas, M4 patterned, system. It has some goodies like a Centurion Arms rail, Magpul stock, etc. This was my carry rifle during PSD/PPD work. Picking from the above 3 you'll do no better. LWRC's and Noveske are nice but I don't really find the billet rage to be a benefit.

For an all around defense and mid-range engagement platform the mid-length gas system is a must. Far superior in cycling and recoil over the carbine/M4 gas systems and old school "M16" rifle length systems. When you start getting into LR precision platforms then rifle length gas systems, heavier barrels, etc come into play. I wouldn't buy something off the shelf for LR precision though. I've shot LR precision AR's in 7.62/5.56 NATO (308/226) and it just doesn't do it for me. Give me a good bolt gun any day.

I'm personally over AR pattern rifles. I have no problem with people owning them (legally, obviously). They just lost their appeal to me. They just aren't "fun", anymore. I have a couple military buddies who have shot 1000's of rounds downrange and get so jazzed up to tell me they got a new AR. I ask myself: "Can you really be that excited over something that you've incessantly trained on, over and over?" But then again, I guess the same could be said for duck hunting. Do you ever get tired of trying to shoot the same species of ducks over and over? My answer is no. So a fair point I suppose.

 

[Inline6]

Depending what you are using it for there are some better than others. Lewis Machine and Tool, Bravo Company, and Daniel Defense are top-end, classic concept rifles. I have a Lewis Machine and tool mid-length gas, M4 patterned, system. It has some goodies like a Centurion Arms rail, Magpul stock, etc. This was my carry rifle during PSD/PPD work. Picking from the above 3 you'll do no better. LWRC's and Noveske are nice but I don't really find the billet rage to be a benefit.

For an all around defense and mid-range engagement platform the mid-length gas system is a must. Far superior in cycling and recoil over the carbine/M4 gas systems and old school "M16" rifle length systems. When you start getting into LR precision platforms then rifle length gas systems, heavier barrels, etc come into play. I wouldn't buy something off the shelf for LR precision though. I've shot LR precision AR's in 7.62/5.56 NATO (308/226) and it just doesn't do it for me. Give me a good bolt gun any day.

I'm personally over AR pattern rifles. I have no problem with people owning them (legally, obviously). They just lost their appeal to me. They just aren't "fun", anymore. I have a couple military buddies who have shot 1000's of rounds downrange and get so jazzed up to tell me they got a new AR. I ask myself: "Can you really be that excited over something that you've incessantly trained on, over and over?" But then again, I guess the same could be said for duck hunting. Do you ever get tired of trying to shoot the same species of ducks over and over? My answer is no. So a fair point I suppose.

I have had a few ARs that would shoot as good as most bolt guns. The problem is the person driving the rifle, it takes more effort to drive a gas gun correctly. It would sometimes take a few mags to get me adjusted to the rifle. Had a GAP in 6.5CM that would shoot sub 1/4MOA. Made hits on steel out to 1200 yards. Also have a SP10 in 308 solid 1/2MOA rifle along with a Fulton Armory. My LMT in 308 was also .600 MOA or a little better 16" CL Barrel, the 6.5CM Barrel is SS and does better under 1/2 MOA.

Gas guns have a lot of moving parts, you have to drive them. You must have follow through, they are not as forgiving as a bolt gun.

They are nothing more than tools, watch a 30 year carpenter. He can drive a 16 penny nail with one wack of the hammer while someone new will take 3 to 4 wacks. Like anything else it takes time and reps.

 

[HookMeUpII]

I have had a few ARs that would shoot as good as most bolt guns. The problem is the person driving the rifle, it takes more effort to drive a gas gun correctly. It would sometimes take a few mags to get me adjusted to the rifle. Had a GAP in 6.5CM that would shoot sub 1/4MOA. Made hits on steel out to 1200 yards. Also have a SP10 in 308 solid 1/2MOA rifle along with a Fulton Armory. My LMT in 308 was also .600 MOA or a little better 16" CL Barrel, the 6.5CM Barrel is SS and does better under 1/2 MOA.

Gas guns have a lot of moving parts, you have to drive them. You must have follow through, they are not as forgiving as a bolt gun.

They are nothing more than tools, watch a 30 year carpenter. He can drive a 16 penny nail with one wack of the hammer while someone new will take 3 to 4 wacks. Like anything else it takes time and reps.

Oh I've driven them. Believe me. I just don't prefer them. I've run 1000's of rounds training through them. Soaking wet with Slip 2000, gas block smoking, tac reloads, shooting from a vehicle, under a vehicle, with principal in-tow, from behind cover, from a vessel, etc. You really can learn anything you put your mind to. I just got sick of them. I thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread that I'd get paid to practice, qual, and carry an M4 pattern AR. Then after a while it became like doing my taxes. It's like the person who played football all their life and got so sick of it they never watched another NFL game again in their life. The thought of running drills off a line, active, passive, whatever makes me want to vomit. This is probably why I'm really into bolt-guns now.

Ironically, I've shot AR's (and some EBR's and AK patterns) more than anything else. Bolt guns are new to me. I think for varmenting/predator hunting/thermal hog hunting I'd absolutely want an AR. I just don't like them for anything else, really. Not to say they don't work though. Before I get called a FUDD, once again anyone who is within their legal right to own one, should. Go for it. They are pretty cool and to consider the concept was birthed around Vietnam-era is pretty remarkable.

Also, to your point, machinists have gotten better with the platform in terms of tolerances and balance for long range. I even had the opportunity to put a mag through a Mk12 one time. Granted it was a service issue that was beat to holy hell.

So absolutely rock-on with them. The only thing I would caution the others is not to buy into the cheap craze. A $350 upper in 308 from a gun show is NOT going to perform like something truly purpose built.

 

[mdwest]

I think for varmenting/predator hunting/thermal hog hunting I'd absolutely want an AR.

Concur with the entirety of your post... and +1 to the above..

I have quite a few AR's actually... but they are regulated to hog/predator hunting and are set up specifically for that (NV, green lights, etc).. or the repel borders scenario (home defense... white light, red dot optic or LVPO, etc)..

I shoot them regularly enough to maintain proficiency with them.. but dont really get the rise out of shooting them that I used to years ago.. theyre fun.. but these days I get more fun from an afternoon busting clays on the skeet field, taking precision shots with a bolt action, plinking steel with my little ruger 10/22, etc than I get from doing mag dumps or running a 3 gun type course with an AR...

Still fun.. but.. too much like "work" anymore to really get a high level of joy out of it..

 

[HookMeUpII]

Concur with the entirety of your post... and +1 to the above..

I have quite a few AR's actually... but they are regulated to hog/predator hunting and are set up specifically for that (NV, green lights, etc).. or the repel borders scenario (home defense... white light, red dot optic or LVPO, etc)..

I shoot them regularly enough to maintain proficiency with them.. but dont really get the rise out of shooting them that I used to years ago.. theyre fun.. but these days I get more fun from an afternoon busting clays on the skeet field, taking precision shots with a bolt action, plinking steel with my little ruger 10/22, etc than I get from doing mag dumps or running a 3 gun type course with an AR...

Still fun.. but.. too much like "work" anymore to really get a high level of joy out of it..

Yup. I only have one, my LMT which was a CQB/mid-range engagement tool. Can be used for home defense, not great for LR which is obvious, but decent out to 100-150. I just don't have a need or want for another. If I lived in TX or GA and could hunt hogs/yotes 365 days a year my feet couldn't walk fast enough into a store to pick out a nice rifle length AR and put my pennies towards a Pulsar thermal. When I hunted GA for hogs, all the guides had AR's in 226 or 308 with Pulsars. Most seemed to favor the 226 as the Pulsars even being recoil rated didn't hold up to the 308 recoil. Man, that looked like a hell of a lot of fun. They would take 3-4 in a clip around the feeder.

My problem is 2 fold with them:

1) I haven't researched it much but I imagine to import one for hunting into another country might be like fitting a square peg in a round hole.

2) The caliber limitations. Maybe now they have ones that can handle 300WM, 7mm, etc. I don't really know but I imagine, if they did, not very effectively. So for things like moose, elk, bear, etc. Not the best option. I won't say it's NOT an option because I, truthfully, don't know. My working knowledge of AR-platform developments stopped way before the "other firearm" loophole. In fact, I had hair back then, which was pretty remarkable.

I'm 100% onboard with you. Different strokes for different folks. I geek out over bolt guns, single shot falling blocks like the No 1, double-rifles (I likely can never afford) and waterfowl shotguns. Just different interests.

 

[mdwest]

1) I haven't researched it much but I imagine to import one for hunting into another country might be like fitting a square peg in a round hole.

2) The caliber limitations. Maybe now they have ones that can handle 300WM, 7mm, etc. I don't really know but I imagine, if they did, not very effectively. So for things like moose, elk, bear, etc. Not the best option. I won't say it's NOT an option because I, truthfully, don't know. My working knowledge of AR-platform developments stopped way before the "other firearm" loophole. In fact, I had hair back then, which was pretty remarkable.

RE: Problem 1 - correct.. taking an AR out of the US to hunt is going to be a huge challenge.. and most places commonly talked about on AH wouldnt be legal to use even if/when you got it out of the US..

RE: Problem 2 - you'd likely be surprised how diverse the platform has become.. you can literally get AR's in everything from .22LR to 458 Win Mag these days... Nemo (the guys that made the 458) also make one in 300 WM, etc.. some of the build/caliber combinations are very effective (there are some very precise 6.5 CM's out there for example..)... but.. for me at least, there are still better options for almost every given scenario...

My primary close range hog gun is an AR in 458 SOCOM.. its devastating on even the biggest pigs out to about 150 yards.. after that its about useless though.. velocity is below 1500 fps at that range and the 350 gr projectile has already dropped almost 5 inches from a 100 yard zero (drops almost 13" by 200 yards).. My wifes primary close range hog gun is a 350 Legend.. Its also super effective on even the biggest pigs (roughly equivalent to a 30-30 in terms of ballistics).. but like the 458 it looses velocity quickly and the trajectory arc looks like a freaking first hill of a roller coaster at Six Flags (down to about 1600 FPS at 150 and drop is already almost 3" from a 100 yard zero).

Theyre great for busting up a sounder of pigs on a feeder at 100 yards.. but not much use at all for taking a shot on an oinker thats scooting around much further than that.. if we know there is a possibility of a long shot where we are hunting pigs, we take the 308 bolt actions and just use attached green lights to spot them at night..

 

[HookMeUpII]

RE: Problem 1 - correct.. taking an AR out of the US to hunt is going to be a huge challenge.. and most places commonly talked about on AH wouldnt be legal to use even if/when you got it out of the US..

RE: Problem 2 - you'd likely be surprised how diverse the platform has become.. you can literally get AR's in everything from .22LR to 458 Win Mag these days... Nemo (the guys that made the 458) also make one in 300 WM, etc.. some of the build/caliber combinations are very effective (there are some very precise 6.5 CM's out there for example..)... but.. for me at least, there are still better options for almost every given scenario...

My primary close range hog gun is an AR in 458 SOCOM.. its devastating on even the biggest pigs out to about 150 yards.. after that its about useless though.. velocity is below 1500 fps at that range and the 350 gr projectile has already dropped almost 5 inches from a 100 yard zero (drops almost 13" by 200 yards).. My wifes primary close range hog gun is a 350 Legend.. Its also super effective on even the biggest pigs (roughly equivalent to a 30-30 in terms of ballistics).. but like the 458 it looses velocity quickly and the trajectory arc looks like a freaking first hill of a roller coaster at Six Flags (down to about 1600 FPS at 150 and drop is already almost 3" from a 100 yard zero).

Theyre great for busting up a sounder of pigs on a feeder at 100 yards.. but not much use at all for taking a shot on an oinker thats scooting around much further than that.. if we know there is a possibility of a long shot where we are hunting pigs, we take the 308 bolt actions and just use attached green lights to spot them at night..

Yup. Once again agree with everything you said. 2 of the 5 pigs taken on my trip were with AR's. One was a 308 and the other a 458 SOCOM. I actually landed a 2 for 1 deal on hogs with my 44 Mag Ruger 99 Carbine. Blasted a hole through the spine of the first one and right through into the exact spot on the second. Shots were about 75 yds I guess. I think rounds like 300BO, 350 Legend, 458 SOCOM, and actually even the 6.5CM are pretty darn good from ARs. The guide was surprised with my 44 mag. He (and I) at the time didn't realize that the velocity and energy increased like 20% when shot from a rifled barrel.

But to your point, I just think there's better platforms. I just cannot get down with the Nemo concept. It's cool, don't get me wrong. Just doesn't make me feel warm and fuzzy shooting something 3000 ft/s with 3500 ft/lbs of energy from an AR platform. Took them darn near 30-40 years to get the AR10 right. One of the guys I trained with was offered an M110 (Mk11) in his time as a designated marksman. He played with it on the range a little before deploying and opted to stay with his Mk 12. Gun twisted with recoil, 20 round mag interfered with his profile and range of travel shooting off a bipod, etc.

 

[JamesDaniel]

Agree that ARs are great pig and varmint guns.
On the magnum calibers KAK makes (made?) an upper in 300wsm that fits on a standard LR308/SR25 lower. It's heavy and I've only shot mine from a bench. No need for proprietary lower there.

For pigs usually AR15 in 6.8spc for me, or now this year the new Ruger SFAR in 308, only 6.8lbs to start so with a thermal sight and IR laser it's not too heavy.

 

[mark-hunter]

Lets bring this thread back to life!
I would like to compare notes on some ar15 related points, experienced member comments appreciated!

1. For best accuracy: Barrel twist rate 1/8, what bullet weight and type would you recommend?
2. For cleaning and maintenance of direct impingement system, is there any special recommendation?

 

[mauserhunter]

I've always liked ar's living in New York state makes things harder,here's the last one I put together. It has shot consistent 3/8" or better 5 shot groups with factory 6 arc ammo, not bad for a $142 shaw barrel. Its a fixed mag so i can still have the good bits, i really need new pictures with my new camera wow these suck lol.

 

[spike.t]

I've always liked ar's living in New York state makes things harder,here's the last one I put together. It has shot consistent 3/8" or better 5 shot groups with factory 6 arc ammo, not bad for a $142 shaw barrel. Its a fixed mag so i can still have the good bits, i really need new pictures with my new camera wow these suck lol.View attachment 588338View attachment 588339

So the mag is non removable?..if so how do you load it?...probably some simple answer....and I will be a muppet for asking

 

[PARA45]

So the mag is non removable?..if so how do you load it?...probably some simple answer....and I will be a muppet for asking

It’s probably a single shot, if the mag can’t be removed. I’m guessing here too.

 

[mark-hunter]

Boys, there is a ton of videos on YT about loading fixed mag AR15.

(But if it is comforting, I was also caught by surprise with this)