We are all stumbling around in a hobby with a million variables and infinite information,  looking for the "perfect" rig.  That's why the endless  "Which is best..." posts. And I'm the worst offender.

Without regard to objective (hunting, PD, target, 3 gun, varmint, SHTF), have you found the elusive "sweet spot,"  that ultimate combination of lower, upper, trigger, grips, rails, buffers, barrel, scope, ammo, etc., that hit the sweet spot for you?

If so, what did you find,  and how did you happen upon it?

And gratuitous pics welcome!

The following, for me, are handy with sufficient dwell and velocity: 12" 5.56, 10.5" 300BLK, 14.5" 308 (and a 762-SDN-6 suppressor to share)
MRP / MWS platforms allow total flexibility with regard to configuration for a more specific need outside the sweet spot you seek.

Geissele triggers (SSA on 5.56 and adjustable service rifle on 308)
Thinking Dueck offset irons make the most sense for BUIS with Eclan 1-4x as the primary optic (though have yet to try one).

I have nothing to add as a novice but just wanted to complement you on your set-up.  You have not only resources but class.

I finally, after three years, feel I have my Bushmaster where I want it. The Magpul bought most of it together, can't beat the functionality, feel, and look. I was hesitant on the Eotech, but prefer it now over red dots.Runs flawlessly with every brand of ammo, is a ton of fun to shoot. Now I just have to get working on the other two.

+1. Sweetness!

Now, that's what I'm talking about!

probably my "backup" 3gun carbine... 16" Colt flat top with ventilated full float tube, M16 carrier, RRA trigger in RRA lower, A1 stock though I have a RRA Operator stock, single rail for mono grip and short rail for Scout Light... Miculek comp, ergo grip with 1.5x16 amber triangle ACOG

Nice setup, but what light is that you have?

My 'sweet spot" is number three in this picture. However, number four is gaining quickly...

Thanks.  Light is a relatively cheap fenix in a larue mount... I should upgrade.  The levers are one piece Phase5 for standard and 308 lowers respectively.

With everything, there's a compromise, and a lot is based on preference, so the "sweet spot" would be different for each of us.

But for me, I think a RECCE or M4A1 SOPMOD Block II style AR, fills most roles: 14.5-16" barrel with flash hider, FF handguards, and 1-4x scope or red dot and magnifier combo.

My Recce and 12.5" SBR are exactly how I want them.

Pics later, not available at the moment.

Heck if I know.

I've posted a bunch on my own guns and tho they are stock or nearly so, I'm finding the AR a sweet spot in general.

This is it for me.  I took a very long time picking out all the parts, but it was worth it in the end. You can't see it in the picture, but it's a 16" barrel. It's primarily a combination of Spikes, BCM, LaRue, Magpul, PSA and Daniel Defense.

No,I bought several different guns.Im happy till someone posts another variation.

Nope, don't have one.

My highest round count AR is my squirrel rifle that weighs in at 14 pounds unloaded and is 48 inches long.   I can use it fairly quickly considering the number of running jack rabbits I've killed with it.

But my home defense rifle is a 14.5 inch gun with all the typical crap bolted to it.

After everything I've used, I settled to this.

Nice setup! With the light there do you avoid barrel profile? Also where did you get those EOTech rail covers?

AR Clitoris!

I don't think there is a "one gun does all". They are like specific tools for me so some are set up for hunting, some for HD/SHTF or whatever you want to call it. Several variations for each category too. Not saying you can't set one up to fill multiple roles but there are trade offs trying to do that that usually make it weak in both areas in my opinion.

I'm happy with my 20" A2.

Three of mine feel "more right" than any of the others depending on the situation

Colt SP1 Carbine bone stock
Colt 605 Clone
11.5" SBR with aimpoint and all the tactical Magpul goodies

My Colt SP 6920 M-4 is pimped out with every kind of accessory known to man.

My Colt 6520 Government Carbine is bone stock, utterly plain with no embellishment.

I love both of them for what they are.

Middy, with just the right balance. QD mounts to keep only what I need on board.

This  - everything I want and runs like a champ. Flattop in case I want to drop on a RDS or carry handle. Simple, yet fun and uber reliable. All Daniel Denfense and Colt internals  (and proud owner of page 2)

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My "sweet spot".


















 

SR15 with a decent 1-4.

I havent recieved my predatAr yet. So at the moment this is my "sweet spot". I have a feeling when the Larue shows up thow I may change my opinion, but she will be setup for a different objective.

I had always wanted a dissapator since Bushy frst released em. i have long arms so chokeing up on a normal m4 never felt natrual. I like have the rifle length sights available, and overall find em sharp looking. I went with the spikes upper, so now I have the lightest one out there. This is my "Go To" rifle that I have taken classes with, and protects my family at night.

I vote "Best Rifle In Thread". Nice!

In my hunt for the right combo, I nearly over did it.

11.5.. feeds all ammo.. including herters and wolf

not one failure since day 1.     decent 1-4x scope..   only missing a suppressor.

Thanks! It doesn't entirely get rid of the barrel shadow but puts what's left of the shadow in the least noticeable spot, about 5 o' clock. The Eotech covers are from GG&G.

Quality 1-4 optic so I can ID and shoot stuff further than irons or a red dot are good for, a light so I can see in the dark, a suppressor so it's quiet(er)

If I had to narrow it down to "The One," this would be it:



- Centurion Arms 16" 5.56 barrel 1:7 C/L with tapered bore;
- DD M4A1 RIS II
- GRSC 1-6x scope
- Surefire FH/suppressor mount

It's a tad heavier than my lightest AR configuration and the scope does not offer the unlimited eye box of an RDS, but all the relevant curves pretty much intersect at this point.

My 11.5" SR-15 will be built and rebuilt until it's exactly what I want.  That is, when the ATF let's me bring my baby home.

I'm curious if the fenix has been problematic in this role for you, or if you just want a different light? I ask because I like fenix lights, and love their AA versions specifically... Thanks

Rack Grade M4
BUIS
Aimpoint
Light
Sling

From my experience, I have found 12.5" barrels to give the best balance of accuracy and maneuverability. For me, that is the "sweet spot". I don't care if the rifle is floated or not, add a Geissele trigger and a T-1.... and I am a happy guy.

IMHO

patrol type -  12.5 BCM upper / KAC URX / 1-4 type scope

tight spaces -  Daniel Defense MK18 w/ Aimpoint M2  /

Surefire cans
BCM gunfighter charging handles
LMT SOPMOD stocks
Mil spec triggers

I've taken it though one basic carbine class and has been mounted for several thousand rounds and continues to work fine.  Have not abused it but so far so good.

It really depends on the setup.  I like shorter barrels with a suppressor mounted, the permed 14.5" carbine feels like a good all around rifle with an ACOG, and a 20" rifle can balance well depending how it's setup.  The 14.5" seems to be good all around, but suppressed I'd much rather stick with 10.5" - 11.5".

For me, its a 5.56 with a 16" barrel, midlength gas block, and adjustable stock. How you dress it out is also important as you do not want alot of clutter but have the assessories you need to meet your demands. Mine is a Spikes Tactical with the Magpul ACS-L stock, Aimpoint Micro T-1 (2 MOA), YHM drop in rail, Ergo grip, RRA Smith Vortex FH, RRA ambi safety, and Troy ambi mag release. The rifle functions flawlessly, has great balance, is easy to carry for long periods of time, and has a smooth and crisp trigger.



Even in the hands of my son...

A man with a watch knows what time it is. A man with two watches is never quite sure. (old saying).

I bought my first AR not too long ago. Up to 1300 rounds now with no problems. Happens to be a Windham Weaponry MPC, but if I had something else I'd probably like it just as much.

Based on what I've seen on this forum, I'm not going to go nuts and start dabbling. I'm happy now.

If it ain't bust, don't fix it. (another old saying, one of my favorites)

Pretty  much this.  will post a pic later.  Very similar  though.

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Mine,  DD upper, Spikes lower, PSA lpk.  Combination of BCM, LaRue, Magpul.

Cell phone pic.

Have to have a 16 inch because of Michigan law, but would go a little shorter if I could.

It's a PWS 10.5" SBR running a Geissele SD3G trigger, Aimpoint PRO, and M4-2000 suppressor on a muzzle brake.

I've gone back and forth with an AFG or VFG. I bought this Troy modular rig, but have plans to go back to my old .mil KAC vertical foregrip primarily because of heat. Being a piston, the forend gets quite toasty after a session of sustained fire, which is one of the reasons I ditched the AFG2, the screw that mounted it to the rail would get hot as hell and burn my hand. I have a very similar issue with the Troy VFG, even using gloves. It just heats up to the point that it's uncomfortable.

I'm using a LaRue handstop as a forward reference point while using my VFG as a rear handstop. It gives me very solid purchase on the forend of the gun, so that I can drive it well, accurately and quickly, and also give me an index point for my tape switch for my TLR-1s that's on the Gear Sector mount on the left side.

I do like the cheekweld that I get on the LaRue RISR / MOE stock combo. It's a little bit high, but I can dig into it nice and tight which is awesome, especially since I've switched to the MOE-K grip, and run the stock at the #3 position, #1 being fully collapsed, as you see in the picture.

The gun is fairly light, even for being a piston carbine with a lot of shit on it. It's only approximately as long as a 16" barreled carbine with the suppressor attached, and without it, it's compact enough to stick in a backpack fully assembled fairly easily, with the stock collapsed, if I angle it diagonally.

I have my optic zeroed for 100 yards, which means I have a nice, flat, consistent trajectory regardless of what range I'm shooting out to, all the way out to 300. Hold-over is the same for >100 or <100, which makes things extremely fast and easy to figure out.

Essentially, this rifle does everything that I need it to do, plus some. I have no desire or need to shoot this thing out to 300+ yards, but I know that it's perfectly capable of shooting a man size target out to at least 400 yards, and with the right ammunition, would still do very serious damage, even out to 500. Fragmentation? No, but I've never relied on that as a stopping mechanism, so that doesn't really affect me.

As soon as I can get either a BCM or Rainier/AXTS ambi charging handle, this rifle will be truely, completely ambi, and will pick up a little bit of speed in manioulation to become even faster than it is now. The Magpul BAD, Geissele SD3G, BAD-ASS-ST 45* selector, and furniture setup make this rifle balance extremely well, and extremely fast to put rounds on target accurately. It was built for speed, but is no slouch in the accuracy department either.

M16A1 takeoff stock.
JP LMOS carrier
JP LMOS buffer
JP adj gas glock
Geissele SSA
Ergo grip
Hogue FF tube (Should have gone AP Customs carbon fiber extended)
Nordic Corvette Comp
DPMS MK12 1-8 18 inch barrel
TA33R8.

I would like to revise my OP.  I'm stumbling, but  from these responses and pics, it's clear that many of you have found the sweet spot. I learned a lot from reading the spec's and looking at the pics. Awesome rifles. I hope we get more replies.

BCM 14.5 on a SBR LMT Lower
Pretty much use this gun for everything.