Favorite AR Configs

[88E30M50]

A little while back, I was watching a vid on a review of a higher end AR and the guy (can't remember who it was now) made the comment that your first AR should be a basic, lower tier shooter grade gun. His idea was that you buy a good AR and then shoot the heck out of it while figuring out what you like and don't like. Make changes and then shoot some more right up until you figure out what works for you and what does not. When you find what you really like, then invest in a higher end rifle that meets those specs.

Sadly, as good advice as that might be, it's not the route I took. I just kept buying ARs in different configs and it took a long time and a bucket of money to figure out what I like. What I've figured out is that I like a PW 14.5" 5.56 with a light free float MLok hand guard, full A2 stock, LaRue M2-TBS trigger, Magpul grip, offset BUIS and 1-6x LVPO. I'm not saying that it's the best config out there, but just that it's the one that I enjoy the most and seems to cover all of my needs pretty well. I have a couple that roughly fit that spec but none of them exactly. The one below is the closest to that spec but is 16" and missing the BUIS so far. I need to consolidate the various parts into a single rifle now.



What about everyone else? What is the config you'd choose to take with you on an extended cross country trip?

 

[Usmccookie]

I wish I could say, but I’m still looking for THE setup. So far the best I have is my 10.5” bcm upper on a Wilson combat lower, larue trigger. Magpie quick adjust sling, streamlight, I currently have a vortex uh-1 mounted on there but I am hoping to try a trijicon mro or try out some prism sights before settling but here she is as she sits.
I like the way she handles, and I’m a decent shooter, but I don’t need anything super accurate, as I am just not there yet. Combat accurate and dependable is my goal.

 

[Usmccookie]

I wish I could say, but I’m still looking for THE setup. So far the best I have is my 10.5” bcm upper on a Wilson combat lower, larue trigger. Magpie quick adjust sling, streamlight, I currently have a vortex uh-1 mounted on there but I am hoping to try a trijicon mro or try out some prism sights before settling but here she is as she sits.
I like the way she handles, and I’m a decent shooter, but I don’t need anything super accurate, as I am just not there yet. Combat accurate and dependable is my goal.

 

[Dean C.]

16 inch LWRC IC-Di with a Surefire WarComp , Trijicon Accupower 1-8 in a Seekins mount with an offset RMR. My "Jack of all trades" rifle if you will, can do everything from 25-500 with relative ease

 

[ditcherman]

A more vertical grip, like BCM mod 1.
A smaller diameter handguard, I started out with keymod, and have just stuck with it. Once again BCM, almost as long as the barrel, make it look like a RECCE.
A 16” barrel, so I don’t have to pin and weld. Options are open when the time comes.
A (you guessed it) BCM stock, the fatter the better, compartments can be good.
A Trijicon accupoint 1-6, or an Eotech EXPS.
A JP Springs buffer kit.
A Vickers sling. There is no other.
Finally, love the feel of a nice Cerakote job underhand.

 

[roscott]

A Vickers sling. There is no other.

Is this true? I have several magpul QD slings and they’ve been great, but I’ve never tried a Vickers…

 

[two70]

Is this true? I have several magpul QD slings and they’ve been great, but I’ve never tried a Vickers…

I've been thinking about getting one to try to see what all the hype is about. It just looks like a basic canvas sling to me with some quick adjust features which doesn't exactly overwhelm me with lots of enthusiasm. I guess it would be pretty easy to sell it if it doesn't live up to the hype.

 

[Gabriel]

Is this true? I have several magpul QD slings and they’ve been great, but I’ve never tried a Vickers…

I've tried quite a few slings and the BFG Vickers is the way to go. I do use the Magpul RLS sling on some rifles where I just need a strap (and a couple other slings that are either issued or I wantedfor a specific purpose like Appleseed/RR), but I haven't found anything I like better than the Vickers.

 

[88E30M50]

I have not tried a Vickers sling. I've been using the Urban ERT slings for a while on most things but have just used a basic sling on a couple that don't have the ERT mounts yet.

 

[88E30M50]

16 inch LWRC IC-Di with a Surefire WarComp , Trijicon Accupower 1-8 in a Seekins mount with an offset RMR. My "Jack of all trades" rifle if you will, can do everything from 25-500 with relative ease

My DD M4V1 has a Leupold Mk AR with an offset RMR. I like the combination but it seems a bit cumbersome as a general purpose rifle. I had not thought of doing an offset mount for an LVPO though.

I do need to up my game in terms of optics though. I like the PA well enough, but don't know how well it would handle hard use yet. That's something that I need to upgrade based on others experience with some of the higher end LVPOs. If I'm putting some serious hard duty use into a rifle, it's already too late to worry about an upgrade, I think.

 

[Dean C.]

My DD M4V1 has a Leupold Mk AR with an offset RMR. I like the combination but it seems a bit cumbersome as a general purpose rifle. I had not thought of doing an offset mount for an LVPO though.

I do need to up my game in terms of optics though. I like the PA well enough, but don't know how well it would handle hard use yet. That's something that I need to upgrade based on others experience with some of the higher end LVPOs. If I'm putting some serious hard duty use into a rifle, it's already too late to worry about an upgrade, I think.

There is a reason John Wick uses an very similar set up rifle though his rifle in 2 had the 1-6 and not the 1-8. At distance is where you really get to see where the extra $$$ goes in glass quality IMHO. With the offset RMR I don't have to bess with BUIS at all, and I leave the LPVO zeroed at 100 and the RMR for 15 so I don't have to worry about hold over for close in work.

The optic is rock solid , I dropped that SOB right onto concrete from waist hight right on the occular lens and the scope didn't even move zero wise. This entire set up is bomb proof IMHO. Plus it does not need batteries to function in daylight as the RMR is dual power tritium and fiber optic and the LPVO is etched glass.

 

[Gabriel]

I'm pretty particular about rifle set up. All of mine are set up pretty much the same way (if possible). Specific optic/light/sling choices aside, I put everything in the same spot if the hand-guard allows. With an unmagnified red dot the light goes on the rifle at the 12:00 in front of the BUIS, with a magnified optic the light gets moved over to the 10:30 (45 degrees offset to the left) to get it out of the way of the optic and the BUIS get mover 45 degrees off the right side. The front sling mount is positioned so it doubles as a hand stop right at the point where I can manipulate the light with my thumb.

As far as furniture, I like BCM everything. I bought my first Recce 16 thinking I was going to start changing things out to parts I like, but found I liked everything how it was. Now I slowly put BCM on all my other stuff... especially their straighter grip.

 

[ZurokSlayer7X9]

Is this true? I have several magpul QD slings and they’ve been great, but I’ve never tried a Vickers…

Have to agree mostly with the consensus that the Vickers slings are good. I think I personally like the Magpul 2.1 slings better (the one with the push button QD points, not the ones with the side button release), but only because the Vickers are made of a tough canvas, while the Magpuls have a more smooth polyester like material. The Vicker's quick adjust lever is very helpful if you have a setup that switches from 1 point to a 2 point, though.

 

[ditcherman]

Is this true? I have several magpul QD slings and they’ve been great, but I’ve never tried a Vickers…

I’ve had one magpul that I could get to tighten but not loosen (I think, could have that backwards) while wearing it, and one v-tac that was easy to adjust in that it had an actual releasing thingy instead of just friction, but there were just too many dangly straps for my taste.

Vickers just works every time, with nothing at all extra hanging down.

 

[Ruger_Ronin]

My 6920 has gone through numerous configurations. Everything from EOTech (w & w/o magnifier, to Romeo 5, to (now) 1-6 lpvo & offset rmr. The latter is my favorite this far.

Like you, my LOP puts me in A2 stock territory. I'm consistent with the Magpul ms1 sling across all rifles. It's light and simple. I've tried vtacs, Vickers, and the like. The ms1 just keeps it slim for me. My latest iteration involves a small pic rail section for qd foregrip and Magpul bipod change depending on position and situation.

 

[88E30M50]

I just ordered the Vickers sling. I have a Magpul sling on one of my ARs, and the only issue that I have is that the smooth material sticks to the velcro straps in one of the gun cases.

I've been a fan of the Urban ERT slings, and most of my rifles are set up with quick disconnects, letting me store them separately from the slings. They are busy, though, with a lot of extra things flapping around.

 

[Trigger Time]

I have not tried a Vickers sling. I've been using the Urban ERT slings for a while on most things but have just used a basic sling on a couple that don't have the ERT mounts yet.

Took an urban ERT sling with me on a Iraq deployment. This was when they forst started out making alings.Very good sling and did the job perfect. Big plus they are an indiana company

 

[Trigger Time]

I've changed what I like to run over the years. I'm a big fan of 11.5" upper and a 14.5". Both with the option to be suppressed.
I think for what I've trained for and the future threats I perceive, they will fit my needs in the AR platform.
For optics I prefer eotech and trijicon.
Lights, surefire.
IR laser/illuminator, peq15

 

[roscott]

^^^ I’m with E5Ran- I mean, Trigger time!

11.5 or 14.5, suppressed pretty much all the time. I run a Burris 1-4 MTAC on my 5.56 that isn’t the latest hotness, but it’s a solid optic.

I like QD mounts and Thermals instead of the IR though.

 

[Pepi]

I just like the 'So-called ugly' M4 look. Always liked the sights with the handle. Just bought this one for 375.00