All posts in AR15 Uppers

LWRC M6A3 now a thing of the past

We just got word that the LWRC M6A3 is on the chopping block but right behind it is the new LWRC M6A5.  From the early info we have gathered so far, the M6A5 has a 2 position gas regulator and that is the only difference.  Not sure about any other changes but I think this was just a simplicity issue.   There is nothing wrong with simplifying a design because some gun parts and accessories can wear out or be hard to place or are just a wast of manufacturing time and energy because it is not necessary.   We have seen LWRC stop the M6 rifle because it was just so old and the demand for something more on a carbine was there.

I still have my original LWRC M6A1 carbine and I love it although it isn’t the same guy it was when I first purchased it.   The thing about the AR15 upper receivers that I have held and shot, is that there are so many configurations and variations out there that sometimes the guns are just flat out not the same.   The AR18 is also know where near the same as an LWRC gun nor is it like the Sig 556.   There are differences between rifle grips and some are mil spec and some are commercial

Top

Do you want a plinking gun or a combat durable firearm?

I am still a big fan of SWAT magazine even though print magazines seem to get written off as gun rags, but I find this to be utter bull shit.   Not all gun magazines the are the same and I for one mostly follow about a dozen gun writers because I want to hear their opinions on some of the products out there.  Yes, the gun industry is full of materialism and novelties, but there is a real world out there and I want to hear from real world individuals about hardware that can cut it.   Much of the firearm industry is about preference, whether it’s tactical pants or firearms.

There is cheap crap out there, although I’d say it’s not so bad anymore because gun acceessories like Magpul have pretty much buried the competition.   Everyone and their dog is putting out a gun or AR15 upper receivers with the Magpul acessories on them.   They are not that expensive and they hold up.  Proper mounting is always a big deal with gun accessories but I’ve already cracked quite a few gun parts and none of them were Magpul accessories.

Top

Daniel Defense and what else there is !

Well that may not be great English but that’s what I felt like saying,  I spent all day yesterday reading and watching the Daniel Defense videos and trying to figure out what we’ll be doing this year as far as stocking gun parts, namely AR15 uppers.   It feels like it was only yesterday that we the Mapgul MOE was new, but it’s been more than a year since we started moving those out the door to wanting customers.   I am and will always be primarily an LWRC fan because there is just too much I like about the guns to want to move on to something else.  Considering the price ranges of a good AR15 these days, $2000 is about what you will spend and there is a lot of stuff to decide.

The trend right now is absolutely about lightening the weight of the firearm.   This is something that Daniel Defense Uppers absolutely are getting done very well.   I really have to laugh at the whole lightweight upper thing because when I first purchased an AR15 it was all about heavy barrels.  Everyone and there dog had a Bushmaster XM15E2 that had a heavy target barrel and the debate was about how these firearms held up to sustained firing

 

Top

What holster should I use?

Is usually the question we get when people walk in the door for the first time and want us to give them advice for their first gun holster.  There are  more and more people carrying firearms in the Country that before and mostly that is because of the status of the economy. The best mode of carry would probable be inside the waistband because this is where you can get the most access as well easy easy concealment.  Being able to get your firearm out fast enough might be the difference between winning the fight and losing it.

When it comes to home protection I am a big fan of people putting the handguns away and using a shotgun or M4 carbine with a light as a weapon.   Each firearm can be used like a baseball bat, easier to handle  under stress and ballistically both firearms.  You can modify your firearms with Magpul Accessories and customize them to you or your family members.   Many people are transitioning towards the MOE because it does help  lighten your gun up compared to the traditional Quad rails that nobody seems to want to use anymore.

Top

Gas piston guns, are you going to get a good one for under $1000?

I have some very wise friends and when we first started to see the piston driven AR15s show up on the market “again” about 7yrs ago, it was mostly debates about the AR18, the LWRC piston driven firearms and the POF guns.   I think POF did a good job of staying in the market up until about 2yrs ago.   Now everyone and their dog is making one but I would still caution anyone from jumping in the fire and expecting theirs to be up to what LWRC is making.   The only argument you can make against LWRC guns is probable the H&K 416 variants.

Even with some of the earlier LWRC M6 rifles, there have been some changes, modifications and uprgrades.  I was fortunate enough to have been able to go to the LWRC factory and upgrade on of my LWRC AR15 upper receivers and get the new bolt carrier group without any altering of the firearm I have.  My LWRC M6A2 is a much older version compared to what is out now the barrel life is about 4x’s more.   There are still large variations in piston driven uppers and I got to shoot a Ruger 556 last year and was very impressed with the quality of the firearm, there may be more choices in 2012 and many of them look nice, but will there be modifications or changes to them and getting parts for yours might become harder and harder in 2-3yrs.

Top

Too much to think about or lots to think about ?

After watching many Youtube videos about what is coming out in 2012 I was mostly bored out of my skull trying to understand why I would bother spending another $2000 for an AR15 that is slightly different than what I already own.   Sure there are improvements but spending $2000 on something that is 5% more of a gun than an AR15 that you already own doesn’t justify the cost.   I am a big proponent to upgrading what you have.   There was a really good article in Swat magazine years ago about improving what you already own and the small things you can do to improve your AR15.   Replace extractor springs, stake screws, lube your gun right and you’ve just improved your gun for less than $150.

If you are looking to make your Carbine a firearm that you can rely on, make sure you don’t over think the configuration and setup.   I understand why people spend $2000 on AR15 upper receivers that have folding front and rear sights, but if you have folding front sights keep in mind that you have one more step to getting your firearm up and running and that is something to seriously think about.   I am a firm believer that people need to adapt to weapons and gear and not always expect to adapt the firearm to them.  Fixed front sights have been around for a long time and I don’t think changing that another thing that needs to be folded or screwed on is worth the liability.

Top

Lots of people wondering what happened to the LWRC M6AK

We sold off the last of the M6AK rifles a few months ago but people are still calling and asking about them.  I remember being in the LWRC facility a few years ago and it was just at the beginning of the product run.  I was told second hand that the M6AK rifle was made of left over parts from the other M6 rifles and it was a one off product thing.   I have seen a lot of the Smith & Wesson 5.45×39 uppers go out the door with very few complaints, but I never thought it was a great idea to make a gun in 5.45×39 that was a direct impingement gun.  Just too damn dirty if you ask me.

The LWRC guns were all sold out and gone about a year and half after production and that was it.  As far as AR15 complete upper receivers,   The Adams 5.45×39 seems to be the next hot seller.   You will have to replace the spring in your lower so expect to designate a lower for this caliber.  It’s not a good idea to be lazy and not replace the hammer spring on your firearm. The great thing about AR15 uppers is how interchangeable they are but once you get into caliber variations, you probable want to just get another gun.

Top

Uppers and Lowers and endless modifications, what’s the answer?

The simple answer is get more guns.   The real problem I see with many people that tinker too much with firearms is that they can really mess stuff up.  I remember seeing this with guys that overly modified their 1911s and put springs in the guns that they should not have and they ended up with an accurate POS.   I don’t know how many times i’ve say behind a guy on the firing line that continuously informed me that his firearm was reliable but I’d watch them clear malfunctions all day and they would just blame the ammunition.

In my opinion, that is like watching a guy put tires on a car that are  not the same size and saying the only reason he crashed the car was because when he made the wide turn the tires that were not uniform made him loose control.   Well, stop messing around so much with your AR15 lower receivers and your AR15 upper receivers and make sure that once you get something that is reliable, stop screwing around with triggers and springs.   You are better off with multiple firearms that do different things than trying to push a firearm to do everything.  There is a trade off between reliability and accuracy and rarely does a firearm do both for very long.

Top

22LR caliber conversions for handguns and rifles

I’ve dabbled with caliber conversion kits only  once and that was a very long time ago.  For some reason I have never been a big fan of the 22LR semi-auto.   I really have a low tolerance for firearms that do not function reliable and the whole “it’s cheap to shoot” thing doesn’t work for me if I have to clear malfunction every 50rds or so.  In my opinion there are safety issues if a gun constantly jams.  I don’t like having 22LR bullets laying around that have light strikes on them and I’ve had several bad experiences with both handgun and rifles not working well.   Sure there are variations in bullet manufacturers and some types of ammo will function better than others, but what a pain in the ass.

I guess ever since ammunition shot up in price a few years ago and the threats of a Political chance and a bad economy drop up the costs, many people have been spending $140-$300 on 22 caliber conversion kits for AR15 and Handguns.   We sell a lot of Glock caliber conversion kits from Advantage Arms sell like hot cakes.   There can be plenty of good quality training with these caliber conversion kits but I do suggest people do research and pay attention to gun cleaning and the types of ammunition.   If you have had good experiences with caliber conversion kits, please let us know and give us some feedback.

Top

Sometimes it’s not about self-defense and fighting

Sometimes it all about having fun and taking friends and family to the range and showing off your toys.   The AR15 is hands down the number one centerfire rifle that I teach family members to shoot on because the ergonomics and recoil are easy for even an older child to shoot.  Stock adjustability makes the gun an easy fit for the young and old, short and tall.    Sure there are plenty of customizations you can do but if you have an AR15, you already know this.  Some of the AR15s absolutely are better than others and sometimes in different ways.

I have several Bushmaster firearms that I still have fun shooting with but they stay home if I am doing serious training.  I have often looked at picking up some of the Spikes Tactical Uppers if I need to replace the Bushmasters just because the reputation of Spikes Tactical guns is so good.   The real reason people like the Spikes Tactical stuff is because the company seems to have their stuff in order and even their lower parts kits are a great thing to pick up.   The Mid Length and MOE uppers seem to be the most popular versions right now.

Top
1 … 4 5 6 7 8 … 15 Page 6 of 15