Ho ho ho, Santa came early (AR15 upgrades)

[Corey]

Thanks for the explanation on the castle nut.

I do not think I would want anything bigger than the 30 round ones I have now, pretty haqppy with them.
I have around 900 rounds of of the XM193 on hand.
Paid around $400 for 1000 rounds back when I bought the AR from my friend, and I had some from him that I bought off of him too.
Thinking of getting some more soon to have on hand, but not sure wheter to get the same, or try some cheaper .223.

I have a few online sources to get the 5.56 stuff, and there are several local places to buy .223 including the AR shop I deal with.
http://www.rainierarms.com/?page=shop/browse&category=ammo
Out of the stuff my local shop carries, what would you recommend?
So many different .223 they carry.

 

[danish]

I feed my carbines a steady diet of steel cased Wolf or Tula ammunition since you can get a thousand rounds for under $200. Some people don't like to shoot steel cased (since it does have a copper washed steel jacket) but as long as you have chrome-lined bore and barrel you will have no issues. One issue that may arise are failure to feeds or failure to extract due to the ammunition being weaker than a 5.56 round. I have not had any issues in the thousands of rounds I have shot but suggest you pick-up a couple boxes and give them a try. Just do a Google search and you find all the info you want.
Besides a properly staked castle nut, also check the buffer in the receiver extension. Most people run a H or H2 buffer to help slow down the whole function of the bolt carrier group which leads to a more reliable weapon. Carbines usually have a carbine wight buffer which can be identified easily since there will be no markings on it. An H or H2 are just as easy to identify by a H or H2 stamping on the end facing the carrier.
I don't mean to overload you with info and please let me know if I ramble too much but I have been sick with BRD (black rifle disease) the last couple years and have learned a lot through trial and error and the internet. I only hope to share my info and help out in anyway possible!!

 

[Corey]

Thanks Danish for the info.
I can see you have a lot of knowledge on the black rifle.

I am hunting around now for that S&W AR, but they are hard to find.
One local shop/range can order it for me, I am going to read up on it some more.
From what I have read so far in reviews and comments, the S&W AR15-22 is one of the best 22 AR styles out there right now.
I do not have any desire to buy a new upper/conversion kit for my present AR, I want a totally separate rifle.

 

[Ray_G]

While I didn't see it in your local ammo link depending on your application Black Hills makes some phenomenal 5.56 ammo. During tours to Iraq and Afghanistan we used the 77gr BHP for our M4s to offset the muzzle velocity compared to the M16A4's. Much better knock down. If you do end up with an ACOG and start shooting at range it could become a factor when you go from ammo to ammo, but on open sights or even something like a Eotech (unaided) I don't think you'd notice.

Bear in mind that's not a $$$ friendly choice for shooting for proficiency; it's what I have in the SHTF rig. The 55gr you have now is good for that, and like you I'm actually looking to build a clone rig in .22 for the majority of the handling and basic marksmanship stuff.

Nice looking rifle.
r-
Ray

 

[Corey]

Thanks Ray.
I am still undecided on the Acog.
Even with my discount at the shop, it will be over a grand.
Green horseshoe, and it can be used both in daylight and nighttime.
I may just use the sights, and then spend some money on a good scope to put on that 22 I want.

I may stop at another shop that carries S&W stuff, and have them special order that 22 for me.
Been reading lots of reviews, and many have put thousands of rounds through it with Blazer ammo I think was the brand, and no misfires or jams.
Here is one site with some reviews, but it is not the MOE model, but basically the same.
Some had jammed up, but I read a year back that the MOE model has the better "blue" spring in it which prevents that.
http://www.tactical-life.com/online/products/smith-wessons-mp15-22-rifle/

 

[Phreak480]

I'm a fan of the ammo from PMC. I've shot quite a bit of this stuff http://www.aimsurplus.com/product.aspx?item=APMC223FMJ55&name=PMC+.223+55grn+FMJ+20rd+box&groupid=21

and here it is in 62 grain which is the same as the military uses. http://www.aimsurplus.com/product.aspx?item=APMC223SS109&name=PMC+X-TAC+5.56x45+%28.223%29+62grn+SS109+20rd+Box&groupid=21

i've been through nearly a thousand rounds and a buddy has been through just over 500 and we have had 100% success (zero failures) in 5 different AR's and in a mini14.

 

[Ray_G]

You can't go wrong with an ACOG; and it basically fulfills the optical rule that one should be willing to spend as much on the optic as the rest of the weapon. I've used ACOGs with a couple different reticle patters-the donut and chevron models and love them. Simply superb. I also liked the reflex and aimpoint style sights as well; but for most shots the Eotech is a fantastic compromise.

The angle I take now is I can build a .22 clone of my RRA M4 and move the existing Eotech over to that, and upgrade to the XPS for the 5.56mm gun. Desire on this end is to have nearly identical functionality between weapons.

 

[thebrassnuckles]

Personally i'm not a fan of the ACOG...

well i mean i'd love to have one, by BIL has one, its a great optic, but I very much prefer a no magnification optic, such as a red dot. Parallax free is definitely the way for me.

I have a primary arms red dot on my AK, I have taken it through a tactical carbine course, and put gobs of ammo through it, it still holds its zero. still looks just as good as it did when i bought it.

I just purchased a 1-4x magnification millet DMS scope for my AR, but it is being built as more of a designated marksman type rifle.


the acog does great, but I hate using it in a close quarters type scenario.

 

[robert]

Those tools are pretty cool but one thing he forgot to mention is that when you pull your bolt out of your bolt carrier you need to make sure your gas rings are a) still in good shape and b) the gaps aren't lined up (think of them like piston rings). Cleaning the carbon out of the bolt carrier periodically will help your rings last longer but you should still have spares on hand.

Add some twenty round mags to your bag for easier prone shooting. They're also good if you want to keep small lots of specialty type ammo loaded; for example, I keep one twenty rnd loaded with some varmint loads for coyotes. Too expensive for killing cans and paper, but if I'm going to shoot a critter I want a clean kill if possible.

I like ACOGs but they are pricey. For quick shooting I like the Aimpoint Microdots; they're lightweight and very fast to use. You can get scopes now with 0 or 1.5x-4x which work pretty fast too. they give you the benefit of a red dot but can be zoomed in as needed. They aren't as fast as the Aimpoints and EOTechs but they are pretty quick and have the advantage of magnification.

 

[plainjaneFJC]

Although you could shoot from time to time, I wouldn't personally shoot a lot of 5.56 thru most .223 rifles. Some will be ok but it is not good on some models.

 

[thebrassnuckles]

Although you could shoot from time to time, I wouldn't personally shoot a lot of 5.56 thru most .223 rifles. Some will be ok but it is not good on some models.

what I have seen and read, is that the majority of top tier mfg's ar switching to the "wylde chamber" it allows for worry free switching of 223 and 556. personally, i have only fired 223 through my larue stealth upper, but it has a wylde chamber. if i ever saw any in a store i might buy a box, but i justgot setup to load for it, so i'll stick to my 77gr noslers

 

[Corey]

Thanks for the info on the optics and the ammo.

Called the shop where I bought my two Glocks and asked when are they going to get in the S&W AR15-22 MOE black edition that I have been wanting, and he said they had them on the wall.
I ask how many do you have, and he asks me how many I want
Had to explain that I did not want them to sell out before I got there, and he said to just call the day before to hold one for me.

So it looks like I may be picking it up Friday.
I will want to get some kind of optic for it later for range shooting.
This one will be used primarily for indoor range and up in the mountains to shoot targets.

Watched a vid on how to clean it, and although it has a charging handle and bolt like my Colt AR15, it is way easier to clean, and the bolt is not as hard to take apart like my Colt.

He used a boresnake too, and said it was better than using a rod, patch holder, and a brush like I use on my Colt.
Never used a boresnake before.

 

[Ray_G]

When you go to use the boresnake pull it arms length to stretch it a bit right before you drop it in the chamber; if you don't it will be too wide to have the end come out the barrel.

ALWAYS go the direction of the round.
r-
Ray

 

[Corey]

More Black Rifle Madness, Thank You Santa

Thanks Ray for the tip.
The boresnake showed up today.

Early Christmas gift

Picked up the S&W M&P 15-22 today, along with a few accessorizes for it.
The ammo I bought for it was on the recommended list in the manual for the gun which I had printed out that page the other day at work to show the store for an ammo purchase.

This new rifle is cool!
They have had good sales of this unit there, and I talked to a customer in the store who had shot his dad's, and he really likes it too.

This rifle will be used at the local indoor range that is on my way to work, and also to take camping fro plinking.
Now you see why I wanted this for target practice and general plinking.
$500 rounds of 5.56 ammo for my Colt AR15 is around $200 or so.
I paid $400 for 1,000 rounds a few years back when I bought the Colt.

While I was there I asked about optics for it. and recommended the Leupold 63300 Tactical Prismatic 1x14 Riflescope.
It does have a red recticle in it, but unlike the Red Dot brand, the recticle is still there but in black if you turn the battery off.

The one the sales guy showed me had the flip up dust covers on it too, I do not know if it comes with them or not.
They wanted around $475 for it, I am going to shop around online for the best price.
Anyone familiar with this Leupold, and do you recommend it for general target practice?

I have twelve days off during the Christmas Boeing break, so I will get a chance to run some rounds through this cool new addition to my armory

Here are a few pics:

Unboxing
With everything but the boresnake out.
Forgot to open up the box from UPS.

Side shot
I had my Grip-Pod on the Colt AR15 all the way forward, but it was kind of tippy with a 30 round magazine, and the AR22 is the same way with its 25 round magazine.
So I moved both the Grip-Pods back some so they will not tip over, and I think I like the grip closer to me.
The adjustable stocks though, I find it is more comfortable having them in their farthest out position.

A pair of ARs
Hard to tell them apart almost.
The 5.56 one is the one with the sling on it.

Side view of both ARs

Links:
The store I buy from does not have a website, so here are some online links to the gear.

Model M&P15-22 MOE Rifle
Magpul® Sights, Stock and Grip (The store I went to have 'em for $499.99)

Smith & Wesson Magazine S&W M&P 15-22 22 Long Rifle
25-Round Polymer Black


US Peacekeeper Assault Case
Model P20040 (40")

500rds - 22LR Federal American Eagle 40gr. HV Solid Point Ammo
[AE5022] (I paid $19.99 for 500, just a tad more than this online place.)
Still, 500 rounds less than what I paid for each of the extra magazines.
I did not realize .22 ammo was so cheap.

Grip-Pod
GPSLE Law Enforcement Model

Hoppe's Boresnake Viper Rifle Bore Cleaner .22 & 5.56

Daniel Defense Rail Mount QD Swivel Attachment
Already had this left over from my non floating quad Picatinny rail on the AR15, as it is not needed on my new free floating rail on the Colt I had installed last week.
The Magpul MOE stock on the S&W does not have a built in QD like my CRT stock does on the Colt, but there is a QD sling mount on the S&W just below the charging handle.

 

[robert]

FWIW, I'm running a Primary Arms red dot on my .22 upper.

https://www.primaryarms.com/Primary_Arms_Micro_Dot_With_Removable_Base_AD_p/md06adt1-10bundle.htm

I've got one of their M3 style red dots on a 5.56. upper.
https://www.primaryarms.com/Primary_Arms_s/586.htm

Both have been getting very good reviews for what they are with folks actually running them for classes and in competition (not sure I'd go that far myself but I just got mine). They aren't Aimpoints and no one would claim they are built as well as an Aimpoint, but they are a reasonably priced optic for general plinking. I just couldn't see putting high dollar optics on a non target/hunting .22; even my heavy barreled target 10/22 is only wearing a Mueller (highly recommended on various 10/22 and .22 forums and I've been very happy with it so far).

Incidentally, I picked up some of the Magpul Ranger P-mag floor plates today to try out. I've got some of the older band style on some GI mags and they work well so I'll probably like these too.