Can anyone suggest a good book on ARs - I am looking for something regarding optimizing, maintaining, etc. I have already read enough regarding the history, I just want to get as much as I can out of my rifle.

Thanks,
Steve

There are many out there. I'm not going to recommend one or another.  Read all you can. Some are better than others.  All will give you info you can use. Your owners manual is the best for the particular AR you bought. Can't beat OEM's guidelines.

 My 2cents.
[beer]

thedr

Ok, thanks but my owners manual does not tell me how to change the rear flip windage sight. And I am sure there are other things I would like to know.

I suspect Derrick Martin and Barrett Tillman’s  "The Complete Guide to AR-15 Accuracy" would be closest to what you want.

FWIW, below is a write up I did a few mouths ago on AR-15 books. Forgive me, but I’m too tired right now to prune it down to specifically what you want:

"The AR-15 Complete Owner’s Guide", Walt Kuleck and Scott Duff.

As the title suggests, this is something akin to the manual you get when you buy a car.  It has a lot of good info on operation, assembly and cleaning of the AR.  It also has some info on the AR’s history, the different features available with AR’s, and a few tips on building them.  This would be an excellent first book for a new AR owner.

"Black Magic - The Ultra Accurate AR15", John Feamster.

This book is focused on competition shooting and assumes you already know a bit about AR’s.  John is a frequent visitor to this site.

"The Black Rifle", R Blake Stevens and Edward C. Ezell.

This book is focused almost entirely on the history of the M16, from its inception to maybe the early 1980’s.  A fascinating read for knowledgeable AR aficionados, it can be a bit dreary for beginners.  It is a “coffee table book” with a commensurate price.

"The Complete Guide to AR-15 Accuracy", Derrick Martin and Barrett Tillman.

This book is focused on the custom gunsmithing of the AR and contains a lot of hard-to-find AR gunplumbing information.   This includes fitting barrels, putting on floater tubes, fitting match triggers, making .22LR AR conversions, etc.  It also has a little info on shooting, cleaning and such.

"The Competitive AR-15", Glen D. Zediker

As with Feamster’s book, above, this is focused on competition shooting and assumes you already know a bit about AR’s.  (Incidentally, Zediker’s writing style is a bit reminiscent of Jeff Coopers - i.e., it is extremely well done.  Granted, he doesn’t seem quite so opinionated as the good Colonel.)

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"The Complete AR-15/M16 Sourcebook", Duncan Long

Long is a prolific writer on many things.  Unfortunately, his focus is on quantity, not quality, so he can be a little sloppy at times.  On the other hand, he really does pull together quite a bit of useful information.  This book covers the history of the AR, it’s varieties, operation and cleaning, and how to build one (Long also has a separate book on building AR’s).  It also has a somewhat vague section on full auto conversions and a good section on accessories.  If you get a copy, be sure to get the 2002 edition, not the original 1992 edition.  

"The M16/AR15 Rifle, A Shooter’s and Collector’s Guide", Joe Poyer.

Poyer’s books tend to thinnish with a heavy collector’s emphasis in them.  This one is no exception.  History and the various AR models are, of course, covered.  However, the book also covers operation, assembly and cleaning quite well.  It has an interesting chapter in which literally every part in the rifle is described in minute detail.  This is also a good book for the new AR owner.

"Some of the Answer, Urban Carbine", Jim Crews

Subtitled: A Technique and Tactics Manual for the Colt Carbine (though in my opinion it really isn’t AR specific).  This somewhat thinnish manual essentially covers the rifle training you would go through if you attended a beginning rifle school.  It is very well illustrated and easy to follow.  It also has lesson plans describing specific shooting drills.  It is privately published and is available through [url]www.marksmans.com/[/url].  Jim has visited this site, though I haven’t seen him recently.

"The Tactical Rifle", Gabriel Suarez

Subtitled: The Precision Tool for Urban Police Operations.  This is not an AR specific book.  It has info on marksmanship, ballistics, carrying a defensive rifle, shooting from different positions, low light shooting, CQB shooting, shooting up and down hill, and such.  Suarez has visited this site in the past.

Oops!

Forgot the free downloads here:  [url]www.ar15.com/content/books/[/url]

199 - Many Thanks, you gave me exactly what I needed.

Regards,
Steve