Help Needed: AR 15 mods

[leadslinger972]

The best thing you can do is ensure everything is torqued properly, check the gas key, and shoot it.

Dropping $500-1000 on a budget rifle is silly.

 

[thperez1972]

Dropping $500-1000 on a budget rifle for a trigger or a red dot or any other items that can be carried over to a new rifle is not only not silly, it's also a great idea. The items can be used in whatever rifle you have; budget, premium, or over-priced. And never forget, it's your rifle. Neither the bullets you shoot through the rifle or the target you shoot at will care about the price you paid for the rifle. As long as it works, you're good to go, even if it doesn't meet someone else's standard.

 

[leadslinger972]

Dropping $500-1000 on a budget rifle for a trigger or a red dot or any other items that can be carried over to a new rifle is not only not silly, it's also a great idea. The items can be used in whatever rifle you have; budget, premium, or over-priced. And never forget, it's your rifle. Neither the bullets you shoot through the rifle or the target you shoot at will care about the price you paid for the rifle. As long as it works, you're good to go, even if it doesn't meet someone else's standard.

Your lack of experience is showing.

Dropping $1000 on a budget rifle is downright stupid. Sell the budget rifle, use that to pay for an optic. Use the $1k to buy a quality rifle and be done. A Colt LE6920 can be had for $750-800. That's an extra $200 to put towards other things.

Why anyone would try to "upgrade" a rifle that is most likely out of spec from the start is a waste of time and money.

 

[thperez1972]

Your lack of experience is showing.

Dropping $1000 on a budget rifle is downright stupid. Sell the budget rifle, use that to pay for an optic. Use the $1k to buy a quality rifle and be done. A Colt LE6920 can be had for $750-800. That's an extra $200 to put towards other things.

Why anyone would try to "upgrade" a rifle that is most likely out of spec from the start is a waste of time and money.

In thread after thread, multiple users have posted that your opinion of their choice is inconsistent with their experience. Everyone has a standard for what they are willing to accept. It's fine that your standard is higher than others. The problem come when you insult people because they don't agree with your minimum standard. You want to label me as inexperienced, that's fine. But assigning me a label does not make that assignment accurate. And it does not invalidate what I, and others, have posted. There's no reason the OP must sell the quality rifle he currently owns to buy a quality rifle you approve of. While selling the rifle and buying another one is an option, it is not the only option and may not be the best option. If the OP is willing to spend the time and money on his functioning rifle to get a better shooting experience, it is not downright stupid.

 

[leadslinger972]

In thread after thread, multiple users have posted that your opinion of their choice is inconsistent with their experience. Everyone has a standard for what they are willing to accept. It's fine that your standard is higher than others. The problem come when you insult people because they don't agree with your minimum standard. You want to label me as inexperienced, that's fine. But assigning me a label does not make that assignment accurate. And it does not invalidate what I, and others, have posted. There's no reason the OP must sell the quality rifle he currently owns to buy a quality rifle you approve of. While selling the rifle and buying another one is an option, it is not the only option and may not be the best option. If the OP is willing to spend the time and money on his functioning rifle to get a better shooting experience, it is not downright stupid.

Please, Thomas, explain why you feel spending $1,000 on enhancing a budget rifle is a good idea.

And please, also include the necessary tooling cost if you decide to change major parts.

 

[thperez1972]

Please, Thomas, explain why you feel spending $1,000 on enhancing a budget rifle is a good idea.

And please, also include the necessary tooling cost if you decide to change major parts.

Spending $1,000 on enhancing a budget rifle does the same thing as spending $1,000 on enhancing a premium or over-priced rifle because the parts could be the exact same parts. A $200 trigger will cost $200 in a budget rifle and $200 in a premium and $200 in an over-priced rifle. A $500 scope will cost the same when put on a budget, premium, or over-priced rifle. There is certainly a performance difference between a premium rifle and a budget rifle. Your opinion of that difference appears to be much larger than what others experience in real life. And your opinion is presented in a way that suggests a budget rifle is inherently bad because it isn't a premium rifle.

 

[leadslinger972]

Spending $1,000 on enhancing a budget rifle does the same thing as spending $1,000 on enhancing a premium or over-priced rifle because the parts could be the exact same parts. A $200 trigger will cost $200 in a budget rifle and $200 in a premium and $200 in an over-priced rifle. A $500 scope will cost the same when put on a budget, premium, or over-priced rifle. There is certainly a performance difference between a premium rifle and a budget rifle. Your opinion of that difference appears to be much larger than what others experience in real life. And your opinion is presented in a way that suggests a budget rifle is inherently bad because it isn't a premium rifle.

A budget rifle isn't bad. Spending $1,000 to attempt to enhance it is an uninformed decision.

Not only are you getting better quality parts with a "premium" rifle, you're getting quality craftsmanship along with it. The first PSA rifle I pulled apart fit so poorly that I threw away half the parts. Lower end rifle companies typically outsource parts and have terrible QA/QC. Many low end rifles do not have properly torqued barrel nuts, castle nuts, or gas key screws. Many of them have so much tolerance stacking that parts jiggle. Ironically, many believe mil-spec means quality, yet mil-spec tolerances are generally sloppy. The issue is when companies start building parts within a certain tolerance, but do not actually mate other parts properly. Many budget builders don't pin gas blocks, let alone dimple for set screw gas blocks.

 

[thperez1972]

A budget rifle isn't bad. Spending $1,000 to attempt to enhance it is an uninformed decision.

Not only are you getting better quality parts with a "premium" rifle, you're getting quality craftsmanship along with it. The first PSA rifle I pulled apart fit so poorly that I threw away half the parts. Lower end rifle companies typically outsource parts and have terrible QA/QC. Many low end rifles do not have properly torqued barrel nuts, castle nuts, or gas key screws. Many of them have so much tolerance stacking that parts jiggle. Ironically, many believe mil-spec means quality, yet mil-spec tolerances are generally sloppy. The issue is when companies start building parts within a certain tolerance, but do not actually mate other parts properly. Many budget builders don't pin gas blocks, let alone dimple for set screw gas blocks.

There's nothing uninformed about enhancing the rifle with a quality trigger or a good optic or an appropriate weapon light or better furniture. Even if the rifle is a budget rifle. Again, those same parts can be taken off the quality rifle and moved to a premium rifle at a later time. If he has a quality rifle now and he has the money now, he's better off getting quality enhancements. You've yet to explain why a trigger or an optic or a weapon light or furniture can't be moved from the quality rifle to a premium rifle.

 

[rcm192]

I have one of these. Awesome trigger for the money! And theyre actually in stock for once! https://www.rainierarms.com/mega-tactical-trigger/

Also i have a couple holosun and primary arms (made by holosun) red dots. And they have my vote. Great optics for the coin.

 

[leadslinger972]

There's nothing uninformed about enhancing the rifle with a quality trigger or a good optic or an appropriate weapon light or better furniture. Even if the rifle is a budget rifle. Again, those same parts can be taken off the quality rifle and moved to a premium rifle at a later time. If he has a quality rifle now and he has the money now, he's better off getting quality enhancements. You've yet to explain why a trigger or an optic or a weapon light or furniture can't be moved from the quality rifle to a premium rifle.

Slapping a Geissele S3G, Aimpoint PRO, and Streamlight HL-X on a Ruger AR-556 doesn't make it a quality rifle. There is no use explaining anything to you, because you are extremely closed minded. You lack the understanding of what makes a quality rifle. If you feel that a Ruger AR-556 is good, you have a lot to learn.

OP, I highly suggest you get yourself an armorer's wrench, vise, vise jaws, and read up on the proper torque values for each component. With budget rifles, there is no telling what they torqued everything to.

 

[thperez1972]

A budget rifle isn't bad. Spending $1,000 to attempt to enhance it is an uninformed decision.

Slapping a Geissele S3G, Aimpoint PRO, and Streamlight HL-X on a Ruger AR-556 doesn't make it a quality rifle. There is no use explaining anything to you, because you are extremely closed minded. You lack the understanding of what makes a quality rifle. If you feel that a Ruger AR-556 is good, you have a lot to learn.

OP, I highly suggest you get yourself an armorer's wrench, vise, vise jaws, and read up on the proper torque values for each component. With budget rifles, there is no telling what they torqued everything to.

So a budget rifle isn't bad but if you think a Ruger AR 556 is good, you have a lot to learn. Is the Ruger not a budget rifle? If it is, how can it be both not bad and not good? And if it's not bad, will adding an Aimpoint PRO turn it into a bad rifle? Nobody claimed they could turn a quality rifle into a premium rifle by adding optics. But adding a quality optic to the OP's quality rifle will only enhance his reportedly pleasant shooting experience.

 

[leadslinger972]

So a budget rifle isn't bad but if you think a Ruger AR 556 is good, you have a lot to learn. Is the Ruger not a budget rifle? If it is, how can it be both not bad and not good? And if it's not bad, will adding an Aimpoint PRO turn it into a bad rifle? Nobody claimed they could turn a quality rifle into a premium rifle by adding optics. But adding a quality optic to the OP's quality rifle will only enhance his reportedly pleasant shooting experience.

All of this is going over your head.

The Ruger AR-556 is fine for plinking. It is not a hard use rifle.

Spending $1000 trying to enhance a budget rifle is like trying to turn a Honda Civic into a Ferrari.

 

[thperez1972]

All of this is going over your head.

The Ruger AR-556 is fine for plinking. It is not a hard use rifle.

Spending $1000 trying to enhance a budget rifle is like trying to turn a Honda Civic into a Ferrari.

The OP's question was what modifications would you make to an entry level rifle. Your answer is none. You would make no modifications. We get it. You have voiced your opinion. A number of other people have voiced their opinions as well. You're now trying to say your opinion is the only correct opinion. It's not. It's just yours and nothing more.

Spending $1000 to enhance a budget rifle is not like turning a Civic into a Ferrari. It's closer to, but not quite like, getting an aftermarket radio. It makes the Civic a little more enjoyable and, if the owner wishes, can be moved to a better vehicle should a better vehicle be purchased. There is no reason why a Civic owner should not enhance his vehicle.

The OP knows what he has. He has an entry level AR. He's not looking to turn it into something new.

 

[leadslinger972]

The OP's question was what modifications would you make to an entry level rifle. Your answer is none. You would make no modifications. We get it. You have voiced your opinion. A number of other people have voiced their opinions as well. You're now trying to say your opinion is the only correct opinion. It's not. It's just yours and nothing more.

Spending $1000 to enhance a budget rifle is not like turning a Civic into a Ferrari. It's closer to, but not quite like, getting an aftermarket radio. It makes the Civic a little more enjoyable and, if the owner wishes, can be moved to a better vehicle should a better vehicle be purchased. There is no reason why a Civic owner should not enhance his vehicle.

The OP knows what he has. He has an entry level AR. He's not looking to turn it into something new.

The OP asked for opinions, and I gave mine. You chose to argue my opinion is wrong. Which was the dumbest thing you have done in this thread.

How many AR's have you built?

 

[charlie12]

Check out the Sig Romeo5. It's the same as the Holosun with different branding. It's a good entry level red dot that you may not have to upgrade from. And you can usually find it a little cheaper than the Holosun. I've seen it as low as $120.

Romeo5 on Gun Deals
Romeo5 at Brownells

Thanks that looks like what I need for my BCM.

 

[thperez1972]

Thanks that looks like what I need for my BCM.

It's worked well for me so far. Auto on and it appears to be well built.

 

[thperez1972]

The OP asked for opinions, and I gave mine. You chose to argue my opinion is wrong. Which was the dumbest thing you have done in this thread.

How many AR's have you built?

I think you really believe that. You didn't just give your opinion. You rarely do. You frequently dismiss the opinion of others as "silly" or "uninformed." You argue as if your opinion is the only one with legitimacy. Yet you have not explained why optics can't be put on a Ruger AR 223 now and moved to another rifle later.

 

[leadslinger972]

Yet you have not explained why optics can't be put on a Ruger AR 223 now and moved to another rifle later.

Where did I say they can't?

The OP asked about modifications to the rifle, including swapping triggers.

 

[thperez1972]

Where did I say they can't?

The OP asked about modifications to the rifle, including swapping triggers.

That is one of the things he asked about. He also asked about red dots and other. If spending $500 on a trigger and an optic is silly, what is a reasonable price to pay for a trigger and an optic?

 

[leadslinger972]

That is one of the things he asked about. He also asked about red dots and other. If spending $500 on a trigger and an optic is silly, what is a reasonable price to pay for a trigger and an optic?

So you consider an optic a modification?

Given that it's a budget rifle, slap a Vortex Sparc on it and call it a day. Save yourself $800.