After reading through the ideal rifle article I began to really think through some of this.  I plan on in the future buying a single AR.  I know to some of you you are going to think i'm crazy to only have one.  But do to my relationships in life I am limited to one.  What would you guys recommend?  16" vs. 20" ... flash suppressor Yay or Nay?  Standard carry handle sights or go flat-top?  etc...

If you guys had to pick one... what would your set up be?  If you have it feel free to post pictures :)...

My .02 FWIW, would be an M4gery with a removable carry handle.  Yes, there are better varmint guns, yes there are better CQB rifles, but it seems to be a very good all around gun.  Put an EOTECH on it, and you have a very quick, handy rifle, drop a scope on it, and it will do very respectably out to what, 200 yds or so.  

Anyway, YMMV

mine would be my 16" AR. i have dual optics mounted. a 3x9 for use out to 200-250 yards and a holosight for close in work. I put a full length freefloat hanguard on to make better use of the bipod. the weapon as a whole weights in at just under 8lbs unloaded.
[img]http://photos.ar15.com/ImageGallery/Attachments/DownloadAttach.asp?iImageUnq=17792[/img]

The nice thing about the AR-15 is that it is modular. You can buy several different uppers for the same lower. Personally I like Carbines. I always have. My personal favorites are light weight barrels.

Something like this.

[img]http://www.colt.com/law/images/ar15a2.jpg[/img]

But if you are looking for a do everything AR I would go with a 20 inch Government profile barrel on a flat top. To be specific I would build up something like the M16A4. The A4 (civilian version) is basically a standard 20” A2 with a flat top upper, KMC M5 RAS and a Trijicon TA-31 or Aimpoint M2. With this set up and your optics on ARMS QD mounts you will be able to easily change to a CQB type of dot scope, like the Aimpoint, or switch over to a larger variable power scope. It’s not too heavy to pack around and is versitile.

Start with a rifle like this. As $$ is available add the KMC M5 RAS and the TA-31.

[img]http://www.colt.com/mil/images/M16.jpg[/img]

Here is the A4 with the KMC M5 RAS.

[img]http://www.knightarmco.com/images/62003/sr15m-5rifle.jpg[/img]

Here is a Diemaco version with the Elcan scope.

[img]http://www.diemaco.com/images/sal-c7a1.gif[/img]
I'm having trouble finding a pic of a true A4.

From your post it does not sound like you are aware of some of the current laws governing the black rifle. If you want a flash hider, bayonet lug or collapsible stock you will need to purchase a Pre-Ban rifle, or at least a Pre-Ban lower.

Hope this helps.

Edited to add pics.

I found this pic of another board members rifle. I do not remember whose rifle it is but it has inspired many of us. It does illustrate how versitile the platform can be.

[img]http://www.hunt101.com/img/056027.jpg[/img]

Luckystiff makes my point. There is no "do it all" AR, and yet any AR has "do it all" potential due to modularity. Whatever the choice, I would go with a civillian A3, AKA an upper with detachable carry handle. HTH

it seems to me a lot of what people consider when it comes to their survival weapon is they try to balance between strength and being light... also relying on backup systems...

in a true chaotic experience does one want to rely upon batteries?  Does one just want to stick with the try'd and true iron sights?  Is a fixed telescoping stock's weight give it favor over the 'maybe' more sturdy a2 stock? Etc...

my question on the flash suppressors was whether it was worth getting pre-ban to have the flash suppressor... or would it really matter all that much?

as of now its looking like 16" chrome lined flat top... with the lightest furniture i can find...  i think in a urban fight... having a heavy weapon can be a burden due to having to be more mobile as opposed to the standard military 300m engagements on a plain/desert/field where your more likely to post up and engage the target until defeated...

the 16", 20" battle is still being waged in my head... for urban ranges is a 20's increase in velocity really that much better... i doubt it can over power a 16's portability and weight...

i feel that the flat top would provide more options... though i see myself mostly using a red dot and a removable carrying handle most of the time...

still looking for that dream scope... 1-3x, illuminated, and REASONABLY priced...

if sh*t hit the fan... would anyone here reach for a weapon thats not an AR... i've heard of some who'd grab their AK's for their own reasons... i know of someone who would reach for their m1 carbine... etc... what are your thoughts?

I fully agree with you. A light Carbine is better for 90% of the shooting you will ever do.

Here is my go to rifle.

[img]http://www.hunt101.com/img/064256.jpg[/img]

Here is the one my wife likes.

[img]http://www.hunt101.com/img/063183.jpg[/img]

Both have Colt 14.5 inch light weight 1/7 barrels. The second one has Trijicon night sights for fighting in the dark. I will be adding a Compact ACOG to it as soon as $$ allows.

Here is the top one befor the SIR 50.

[img]http://www.hunt101.com/img/064258.jpg[/img]

It is NOT AT ALL smart to buy a preban for a FS, (or a collapsable stock) especially this close to the expiration of the AWB. If I could have 1 rifle it would be my Bushmaster A3. Of course that is what I dedicated all my resources on (mags, ammo, time, etc.). The problem with "SHTF" is that it is so vague it's meaning less. Are we talking standoff or TEOTWAWKI? Domestic avalibility of .223/5.56 would be better than 7.62x39. Reliability is moot to me, but who knows what the situation calls for? Somebody once said on a post, if the shit really gets that hairy it probably won't matter, because there will be enough FAs etc to pry out of the cold dead hands of the fallen.

I personally like a plain Jane 20" AR-15 with government profile or the A-1 "pencil" barrel.  I like to keep things simple, but I can understand as to why a more intrepid operator would want to "spice" up their rifles / carbines a little bit.

Flat top

14.5" 1/7 M4 barrel-- with MK262 ammo it will allow ammo to fragment to beyong 150m and thats as far as you can ask of your rifle.  It will still be accurate to 500m if you need that too.

You will want an ACOG scope with BAC.  TA11 or TA31.  Put it in an ARMS 19S mount.

You will want a 9V surefire light system.  Either the Millenium or the M900.

You will want a FF rail system.  Daniel Defense, Knights FF RAS, Knights RAS2, some flavor of SIR etc.

You will want an ARMS 40.

You will want either an Accuracy Speaks or Knights trigger.

You will want a Magpul M93 stock.

You will want the small low single point sling mount (the ring) with the M93 and a good front sling mount for your front rail so you can use either single point or 3 point slings.

You will want either a PRI Gasbuster charging handle or at least a PRI tac latch.

Put one of these on your barrel Gemtech Bilock, Vortex, Phantom so your barrel will reach 16"

These are the parts you need for a rifle that is capable day or night, CQB to long range, and has maximum lethality and accuracy.

Odds are you wont listen to any of this but at least you were told up front...

The rifle described above rides with me everywhere I go.  I would not select another weapon if I had all the money in the world....well OK it would be full auto then [;)]

I’d have to say a Dissipator with a flat top and something like a Trijicon, ELCAN or low power (4x) Leupold.

[img]http://www.photobucket.com/albums/0603/JTR8541/ARFs/57a94b7f.gif[/img]
I don’t recall whose rifle this is, but it and many like are inspiring.

Best regards, J

My do-it-all rifle:

[img]http://www.ont.com/users/kolya/AR15/AR15_4.jpg[/img]

16" CAR with the new A4 upper and new M4 handgaurds. you can put anything and everything this rifle without crowding.
[sniper2]

Your rilfe is totally sweet.  But where is your light?

Here's my GP gun... I should be picking up an M900A before the end of the month.

-Cap'n

[img]http://www.gunsnet.net/album/data/500/3790DSC03443.jpg[/img]

Capn,

Whats that on your barrel?

6.8mm free float mid length with TA31a and a can. Atilla IR laser/illuminator, AN-PVS14. I would be in heaven with that setup. oh yea, lots of magazines too.

Take one pre-ban ArmaLite AR-180 (Comes with : folding stock, flash suppressor, 18.25" barrel with bayo lug, pistol grip, high capacity mags - all the evils.) add original factory 2.75X scope/mount, a small rail under the hand guard, mount flashlight and vertical pistol grip to rail.  That's all I really need and there's enough there to piss off any liberal.

Of course I've got an AR-15 carbine or two loaded with crap I probably don't need but want !

I second what Second said. Something simple(20"bbl, A2) would in my way of thinking be the best "all around" AR.   The 5.56 is a velocity dependant ctg. so that 20" bbl. will give you the best velocity while only being 4" longer then a carbine.  Heck, by WWII specs. the 20" bbl AR IS a carbine.   AWB be damned, you could always add an M-4 style colapsable stock to your AR to help shorten it up a bit.  My basic rifle is an AR15-A2 with stainless/fluted bbl. , chrome bolt/carrier and green trim.  Stainless/chrome helps to "weather proof" the gun and green looks nicer(IMHO) then the black that everyone and their grandma has.  Remember, this is a rifle, you use a rifle to reach out and touch someone, if you need something for CQB try a good pistol or a shotgun w/18" bbl. and folding stock.   Just my 2 cents.  Talk to ya' later.  TN.Frank

- Preban.. allowing for suppressor use
- M4 barrel.. enough for general use
- RAS/RIS/SIR and vert grip
- Aimpoint/EOtech

- PVS-14
- PEQ-2
.. last two just for fun [:D]

A 16" KAC URX FF, chrome lined, light under the handguards, TA31 ACOG, Vltor stock, M962 Surefire, VFG and a single point Giles sling.

One of these days maybe.

[img]http://sniper.rsvs.net/M4PAQ.JPG[/img]

I'm running a G2 in low-mount scope rings right now, so I take it off the rifle when I don't plan any light involved training - less wear and tear on the light until I can finalize what light to go with.

Can't decide between the M962C and M900... although really the G2 is working out pretty well (about 100rds with it). Maybe I'll just save some money and buy a few more - at $28.50 per you'd have to trash about 10 G2s to get to M962C money. Keep one on the gun for training and a fresh one when the rifle is "on duty"...

Still thinking on all my light options...

That one would be mine [:D]

 This is my SR 15 M4.                                                                                                                                                                              [img]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid83/p89435e9ed21efcec81f9ee643223b120/fae09fb2.jpg[/img]                                                                                                                                                    

DevL, its the mount for a Form 1 Reflex Suppressor. It's just an AAC mount that's been fitted and welded on the barrel.

-Cap'n

Outta my ARs, I will grab my Bushy M4A3 with mini Y comp,Surefire 660 tac light/Aimpoint Comp on QRP railgrabber/ARMS #40A2 BUIS/AAC forward grip and rail.

Here you go Luckystiff:

[img]http://dboy.cpgl.net/USA/M16/pi03a2.jpg[/img][img]http://dboy.cpgl.net/USA/M16/AT102802rcKuwait2C164AR127.jpg[/img]
[img]http://dboy.cpgl.net/USA/M16/3rd-inf6.jpg[/img]
[img]http://dboy.cpgl.net/USA/M16/AT102802rcKuwait1C164AR137.jpg[/img]
[img]http://dboy.cpgl.net/USA/M16/3rd-inf1.jpg[/img][img]http://dboy.cpgl.net/USA/M16/3rd-inf4.jpg[/img]

That would be mine.

I never knew I had influenced so many [:I].  The concept of this rifle came to me before I actually knew the Marines were adopting it.  Seems to make a lot of sense - reasonable weight, 20" barrel for max velocity, and it looks really cool.  I have an unfired Colt A2 barrel with the bayonet lug if I get bored and want to make it more authentic looking.


After I had this one, I liked the TA31 so much I bought another and put it on a 16" w/ KAC MRE

[img]http://photos.ar15.com/ImageGallery/Attachments/DownloadAttach.asp?iImageUnq=17814[/img]

[img]http://photos.ar15.com/ImageGallery/Attachments/DownloadAttach.asp?iImageUnq=17815[/img]

The second one shows it with the Surefire 972 from the M16A4 clone.  I have since dedicated a 962 to this rifle.  Witht he exception of the Vltor stock and 16" barrel, I think I built DevL's ideal carbine.

I'd be perfectly happy with either as my SHTF rifle, but I'd probably grab the 16" since it is in the front of the safe [;)]

Great pics, where did you get them Lumpy?

[url]http://dboy.cpgl.net/USA/M16/inde.htm[/url]

Thanks Lumpy net pic's.

A lot of them are over at militaryphotos.net too.

My go to gun if I could only grab one, without hesitation. It will be wearing a Surefire soon. It can do pretty much anything out to 200 yards with ease, and I can extend that range a little bit myself.

[img]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid75/p38db7af7f67e16311f8258436b93f356/fb570a04.jpg[/img]


My goto combo. Should see me through just about anything. Only thing different now is the OD 1911 has been replaced with a Kimber TLE/RL 1911.

[img]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid78/pdbfc97670161f5a564ab2a35a98b14cf/fb2844c4.jpg[/img]

Got kids?  I see the pad on the edge of the fireplace!  Me too.  Nice looking AR....

For me its a Colt AR15A1 . I love the weight of this rifle and still retains the 20" barrel. The sights doesn't bother me(being A1's). The rifle is great for the common combat distance 0 - 200M   . And it will still hit out to 400M . For optics I can get a decent 4X short compact scope like the old Colt scopes. Fits right on the carrying handle if I wanted one. I really like it simple.Rifle and Iron sights, and plenty of mags.WarDawg

Nice rifle USMC03

They’re all nice rifles

J