Maybe you are reading this and you are a brand new owner of an AR-15 rifle. The millions of options out there available to you will cause your head to spin. Did you ever wish there was a quick easy to follow book or video on setting up your new AR-15 Carbine? Well in a way there is, Travis Haley of Haley Strategic has been doing a easy to follow video series on just that. It really is a New AR-15 Owners Set Up Guide, in video format. The best thing about this is that it is 100% free on Youtube.
There are many people in the gun industry that will dazzle you with different terms and their personal ideologies. Travis Haley is not that guy, any video or articles I have been exposed too from Haley Strategic are straightforward and too the point. No bullshit, just straight to the point with what a shooter needs to adapt and learn to be a better shooter. That’s not to say any other instructors or courses are inferior, its just that we all love free stuff, and free information that will help you set up your rifle correctly is important
So far there are six videos from Haley Strategic that are out and I recommend that if you are setting up your rifle for the first time to take the 3-5 minutes for each video and watch them. Even if you are an experienced shooter, you are never too old to learn a new tip or trick. The breakdown of the videos are as follows.
#1. THE BUTTSTOCK .
This is basically a selection and set up of how to properly set and measure an adjustable stock
#2. Pistol Grips
This essentially talks about the angle of pistol grips. yes Haley mentions gear he has helped design but he’s a salesman but also know what works. Its not all marketing hype.
#3 FOREGRIPS
Nick from Haley Strategic goes over the theory and application of foregrips and their evolution and ultimately how to select what works best for you as the shooter.
Continue reading on The Arms Guide
It’s important for newbies to know the differences between fighting-grade and hobby-grade weapons. Two ARs made by different manufacturers may appear identical but be VERY different in quality. These differences will often only become apparent when the rifle is put to hard use: e.g., hundreds of rounds of rapid fire with minimal lube and no cleaning.
Stick with ARs made by companies that don’t cut corners on materials or quality assurance. For a first AR, it’s hard to beat a Colt LE6920. This is identical to the military M4 except for the barrel length and lack of a burst setting.
Another great choice that some prefer over Colt is Bravo Company Manufacturing (BCM). They offer a lot more configurations than Colt, but I’d stick with either a 16″ barrel with midlength gas system or a 20″ barrel with rifle-length gas system.
If you want to spend a bit more and get a “sharpshooter”-type rifle, Larue’s offerings are among the best. Lewis Machine & Tool (LMT) is also worth checking out.
“Hobby guns” include those made by Bushmaster/Windham, DPMS, Stag, Olympic Arms, etc. These won’t necessarily have problems, but they’re more likely to choke or break parts when pushed hard. Professional instructors who see thousands of rifles go through their classes will tell you which brands hold up and which don’t.
If I only had a hobby-grade AR, I’d relegate it to “practice only” status and buy a “real” AR for serious use (after testing it with 1000 rounds or so). If money was a problem, I’d sell the hobby gun after saving up for the real deal.
Newbies also need to know that ARs (especially carbines) will wear out certain parts after thousands of rounds. Extractors, extractor springs, and action/buffer springs are often the first to go. A spare complete bolt is very good to have.
On a final point: ARs will generally run well when dirty, but they should be kept as well-lubed as possible.
““Hobby guns” include those made by Bushmaster/Windham, DPMS, Stag, Olympic Arms, etc. These won’t necessarily have problems, but they’re more likely to choke or break parts when pushed hard.”
The conceivable answer to that is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DUFAZcKL3k
First thing to do…is NOT buy an AR15. Buy yourself a decent AK47. I have experience with the M16 and the AR15. You better clean them daily in combat and keep them lubed or they will fail you when needed the most. Doesn’t matter what type of fancy expensive scope you have mounted, what type of fancy barrel you have….not clean and lubed…not trust worthy.
On the other hand the AK is simple, in combat you never have to clean them.
It also depends where in the world your operations are. In the US replacement parts/ammo are everywhere. In other parts of the world replacement parts/ammo for the AK are everywhere, more so for the AK then the AR. The only thing about an AK I don’t like is that annoying “click sound” when taken off the safe mode.