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Posted: 1/25/2004 1:20:25 PM EDT
| If anybody could help me with product names and sites and with any advice on how to modify my M-4 for better accuracy, comfort, and use while in Iraq, I would greatly appreciate the help. |
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Quoted: If anybody could help me with product names and sites and with any advice on how to modify my M-4 for better accuracy, comfort, and use while in Iraq, I would greatly appreciate the help. Start off by telling us, as best you can, how you believe your M4 is going to be configured to start out with. I'm guessing it will have the M4 RAS (railed forward handguards). Will you be issued an optic? Which one? Anything else issued (PAC-4/PEQ-2? Light? Forward grip?). The two most important things to have on your M4 will be a quality weapon light and a quality optic. IMO, the only optics you should be looking at are Trijicon ACOGs, AimPoints, and EOTechs. The AimPoint is the issue M68 CCO, and is excellent, and would serve you well if you're getting one issued to you. An ACOG would probably be even better, though they certainly aren't cheap. But, hey, what's your life worth? Again, we'll be happy to help ya, but you need to give us a lot more info to start off with. -Troy |
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I can think of several mods I'd do. -The giggle switch. [:D] -Weapon light. [url]http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=7&f=25&t=182234[/url] -LMT bolt and carrier. [url]http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=2&f=134&t=141316&w=searchPop[/url] -Trijicon ACOG or a EOTech. [url]http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=7&f=23&t=168613[/url] or [url]http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=7&f=23&t=190982[/url] -Ace M4 SOCOM stock. [url]http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=7&f=22&t=181880&page=1[/url] -Charging handle you can operate with gloves on. [url]http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=7&f=25&t=179673[/url] -Freefloat or rail system for the forend. [url]www.gandrtactical.com[/url] What do we have to work with? |
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Well im almost sure you can use your own optics I did(Acog). Just as long as they are mil spec quality you should be fine. One thing I wish I had in Afghanistan was my SPR upper. If you think you will spend most of your time in Bagdad IMO I would have Wes build you a LMT upper with an Aimpoint or Eotech which ever you like. If you are on the outskirts of bagdad get an Acog. The TA31 would be ideal, you have the BAC and the magnification(best of both worlds) The key thing if you are a leader take care of your boys and keep your head down. I forgot get a 3 point sling also and if you have any money left get a chest mounted rack style LBV(blackhawk). The molle ammo pouches make it a pain in the as* to get your mags out. Stay safe FREE |
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I came home in July from OIF and here are my thoughts. The night before I left I sat there packing my sea bag and had my personnel M-4 broke down and was ready to take it but at the last second word came down we would be searched so ALAS it stayed behind. The official policy is that Personal weapons ARE NOT ALLOWED to be brought. Did it happen? oh yes. Did they weapons make it back home? some did and some didn't. The taking of an extra upper happened as well. Is this allowed? Again probably not but it is more of a gray area. However if I were going again I would get WES at MSTN to build me an 10 inch upper to "stick in the sea bag" and I would have it in my head that at the end of the deployment, if need be it would go in the ocean or be passed along to someone who was relieving me. No need to get caught and get charged. Now the things I would do to my issue M-4 if I was being issued one would be a PRI fat boy gas tube. I know that is something WAY not allowed but no one is going to notice that except a very nosey armorer. I would also lay hands on some extra extractor springs (the new M-4 version with the black insert) and extra bolt parts. As for accessories Aimpoint for up close stuff and an ACOG in a 19S for any distance work. Figure out a light I know everyone and their brother says you need a weapons grade surefire but my G-2 with a Z32 bezel on it did fine. I used a Yankee hill offset mount with the big knob and a 1 inch ring. Now having just read all of this the recommendation to run out and drop close to $1500.00 worth of stuff is easy to sit and type out. If your enlisted you probably don't have a ton of cash laying around to do this so tell us what your going to get issued with this and we can give you some recommendations from there. But the thing I recommend is the PRI fat boy for greater reliability. Good luck and keep us posted. IPSC_GUY sends |
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I would also lay hands on some extra extractor springs (the new M-4 version with the black insert). But the thing I recommend is the PRI fat boy for greater reliability. IPSC_GUY sends Does anyone have a active link to get the black insert? Whats up with the "new" M-4 version? And about that PRI tube, would that be better for a post ban too? Or did you say its better because he will have a full auto? |
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I had one of my battery commanders ask CID and JAG if it was legal to change the upper on an M16A2 with an M4 upper. CID could not find a specific regulation that prohibited this and the general order against privately owned firearms did not apply. JAG said they recommended against it as some soldiers made the swap before deploying and the weapon they carried did not match the manifests. This doen't make sense to me because no one checks the type of weapon you are carrying except your own leadership verifies serial numbers for accountability. But JAG did not say it was illegal. I'm going to stick my neck out here and become the test case. I will carry an extra upper with me to Iraq when I leave here in the next 30 days. I may carry 2 as I have another NCO in my section that wants to swap uppers also. I probably have an advantage as I am a master sergeant with 21 years so if it becomes a legal issue, I probably won't get into too much trouble. At least nothing career ending. I will use this set up, G2 flashlight mounted on hand guard (mine), PEQ2 (issued), vertical grip (mine), and then I will get bold and put a set of Tan, CAV ARMS furniture on it after everyone gets used to seeing me with the M4 set up. Try live firing out a humvee window with an M16A2. |
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HERE ARE SOME IDEAS FOR YOU: [IMG]http://www.thermaldynamics.com/pictures/mstn/M4Short.JPG[/IMG] [IMG]http://www.thermaldynamics.com/pictures/mstn/AYLMT-2.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://www.thermaldynamics.com/pictures/mstn/M4-2.JPG[/IMG] [IMG]http://www.thermaldynamics.com/pictures/mstn/AYMRP-2.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://www.thermaldynamics.com/pictures/mstn/DD-4.JPG[/IMG] [IMG]http://www.thermaldynamics.com/pictures/mstn/[/IMG] [IMG]http://www.thermaldynamics.com/pictures/mstn/Mk12Vltor.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://www.thermaldynamics.com/pictures/mstn/SIR50.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://www.thermaldynamics.com/pictures/mstn/SPRCrane.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://www.thermaldynamics.com/pictures/mstn/TanM4a1.JPG[/IMG] [IMG]http://www.thermaldynamics.com/pictures/mstn/Tanshorty.JPG[/IMG] I PREFER TO THINK OF OUR UPPERS AS REASONABLY PRICED FOR WHAT YOU GET, NOT EXPENSIVE. TRUE, THEY ARE NOT CHEAP. MONEY'S NOT EVERYTHING. YOU CAN ALWAYS GET MORE OF IT, EVENTUALLY. WE'VE HAD UPPERS "GETTING SOME" OVERSEAS FOR YEARS. REPORTS FROM THE FIELD ARE POSITIVE. REPEAT ORDERS ARE THE NORM. ONE CUSTOMER HAS BEEN IN THE FIELD WITH HIS NEW ORGANIZATION FOR LESS THAN THREE WEEKS. ALREADY THREE OF HIS COLLEAGUES HAVE REQUESTED IDENTICAL LMT 10.5" UPPERS. THEY ARE SPENDING PERSONAL FUNDS TO DO THIS. IF WE BUILD YOU ONE, YOU CAN TAKE SOME COMFORT IN KNOWING IT IS NOT OUR FIRST. WES |
| Personally, I would get a Vortex G6A1 flash eliminator right off the bat. In fact, many small unit leaders are buying them over there on their USG credit cards and from all reports, they are most please. No other flash hider comes close. DCD Fort Benning is seriously looking at the system as is PM XM-8, USSOCOM and others. |
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I AGREE. MOST OF THE UPPERS SHOWN BELOW ARE FOR CONTRACT SHOOTERS. ABOUT ONE OUT OF EVERY FOUR SPECIFIES THE VORTEX. IT IS AN AMAZING FLASH SUPPRESSOR. YOU HAVE TO SEE IT AT NIGHT TO APPRECIATE THE DIFFERENCE IT CAN MAKE, ESPECIALLY WITH AMMO WITH LOTS OF FLASH. [IMG]http://www.thermaldynamics.com/pictures/mstn/uppers2.JPG[/IMG] [IMG]http://www.thermaldynamics.com/pictures/mstn/Uppers.JPG[/IMG] WES |
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I'd recommend against bringing any personal weapons over to Iraq. A buddy of mine who is a state trooper on his day job and a sniper in the Marine Reserve just got back from over there. He took his Colt LEO carbine over with him that he obtained on state police letterhead. When it was time to leave, his commanders made everyone with personal weapons destroy the weapon. He had to bend the barrel, and beat the upper and lower receivers against a tank until they shattered. He then let the guys who were staying have the rest of the gun for spare parts. He said some guy wanted his collapsible stock that didn't have one, etc. He said guys had brought over Glocks and other stuff. They let them use them, but then had to destroy them before leaving. He said he's glad he brought his despite having to destroy it, because without it, all he would have had was his bolt action rifle. Those who don't mind having to destroy it when they leave can bring theirs. I would suggest that anyone who is gonna bring a gun over, look into getting an import permit through ATF before or after they leave for Iraq. It might make it a little harder to order a weapon destroyed when it has a permit to be imported back into the States. |
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M.S.T.N. PRODUCTS REVIEW FROM A CONTRACT SHOOTER ON HIS SECOND TOUR IN IRAQ: "The 10.5" is great, zero failures since arriving in country using M855, M193, and MK262 Mod 0. Routine cleaning after the range and generally a good cleaning every three days if not in use. You can tell what everyone thinks of the 10" by how many orders you received this week, Wes. The SPR. I LOVE IT. Everyone wants one. Nuff said." |
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