Truer words were never spoken. I was issued the A1 model over 40 years ago and it served me well with thousands of rounds through it in less than ideal conditions. Since then I've owned two AR15s and the same applies. I get so sick of hearing that "eats where it shits" comment i could bitch slap somebody.
How can anyone that recognizes the beauty in design of the Garand or the M-14 keep a straight face about the AR is beyond me.
Yeah its has about 1000 different ways you can gear it out and about 995 of those utterly useless to damn near everyone. But this subject like so many others makes people crazy when they dont need to be (yes there are times a bit of crazy helps but not many) so let it lay there.
So long as you can run what you brung to its max effective range and can 'pick up' whatever is laying around and run IT when you need to, the argument about who's dog is better in the fight is irrelevant.
I was in the US Army Infantry for 4 years, 1983-87. I never had a M16A1 rifle jam, even with blanks,(which dirty the gun quickly). We just cleaned our rifles.
I have owned AR-15's since for self-defense, plinking, groundhog hunting, and lately have become a Service Rifle competitor.
No one on the Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU), or other military rifle teams uses a piston gun at Camp Perry, Ohio.
What can a piston drive upper offer me? Only subtracting $400-$500 from my wallet.
Pass.
I'll spend that money on more ammo and match fees. :)
I'm not sure about that "pistons are less accurate" thing. I've been shooting my Springfield M1A (M14) for a long time and never noticed that problem. Even use .22 Mini-Palma targets (which are tiny) @ 100yds and score easy "X's". I think the AK accuracy problem is either the AK itself or the shooter, who I've noticed through experience at the range, tends to be some pimply-faced kid with a spray and pray philosophy....I must agree with Rhodes about the nonsense of AR add-ons. I own both Colt "H-Bar" rifles and M-4 models and don't seem to have a need for anything other than the iron sights they come with. I see those same kids I mentioned earlier show up at a range with all sorts of do-dads on an AR, AK or any other semi-auto rifle and then have the worst basics in shooting I've ever seen. They're lucky to hit the ply-wood the targets are stapled to, never mind the target itself. The AR's are a little dirtier than the M-14 but it doesn't bother me to take the time to clean it. It's something that just may save my life someday, and if I don't give a shit about that then what can I give a shit about. And the bolt drops out so easy it's almost a non-issue. Can't say that about the M-14. That takes a bit more work....So I think at the end of the day it comes down to what you want to impress folks at the range with. The size of your wallet that dictates everything you've added on to that expensive piston driven AR, or your ability to score consistent "X's" with nothing but the basics. I'm always impressed by the latter.
Something I don't see mentioned often, but which I really noticed while shooting AR10 clones was the amount of burnt gunpowder, lead vapor, and gun oil sprayed over my nose and mouth every time I pulled the trigger. Aside from the distraction of getting a hot oily blast in the face and the development of a reflexive anticipatory wince that destroys trigger control, I'm also not super keen about the health implications.
It all makes me just not want to shoot that particular gun when I'm at the range. No matter how fantastic the rifle is in every other regard, its usefulness is critically hampered if I can't stand training with it, or if training with it makes me a worse shooter.
These larger-caliber Stoner platforms where this becomes more of a issue are where I'd really like to see more development of piston-driven options.
9 comments:
Truer words were never spoken. I was issued the A1 model over 40 years ago and it served me well with thousands of rounds through it in less than ideal conditions. Since then I've owned two AR15s and the same applies. I get so sick of hearing that "eats where it shits" comment i could bitch slap somebody.
How can anyone that recognizes the beauty in design of the Garand or the M-14 keep a straight face about the AR is beyond me.
Yeah its has about 1000 different ways you can gear it out and about 995 of those utterly useless to damn near everyone. But this subject like so many others makes people crazy when they dont need to be (yes there are times a bit of crazy helps but not many) so let it lay there.
So long as you can run what you brung to its max effective range and can 'pick up' whatever is laying around and run IT when you need to, the argument about who's dog is better in the fight is irrelevant.
I was in the US Army Infantry for 4 years, 1983-87. I never had a M16A1 rifle jam, even with blanks,(which dirty the gun quickly). We just cleaned our rifles.
I have owned AR-15's since for self-defense, plinking, groundhog hunting, and lately have become a Service Rifle competitor.
No one on the Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU), or other military rifle teams uses a piston gun at Camp Perry, Ohio.
What can a piston drive upper offer me? Only subtracting $400-$500 from my wallet.
Pass.
I'll spend that money on more ammo and match fees. :)
I'm not sure about that "pistons are less accurate" thing. I've been shooting my Springfield M1A (M14) for a long time and never noticed that problem. Even use .22 Mini-Palma targets (which are tiny) @ 100yds and score easy "X's". I think the AK accuracy problem is either the AK itself or the shooter, who I've noticed through experience at the range, tends to be some pimply-faced kid with a spray and pray philosophy....I must agree with Rhodes about the nonsense of AR add-ons. I own both Colt "H-Bar" rifles and M-4 models and don't seem to have a need for anything other than the iron sights they come with. I see those same kids I mentioned earlier show up at a range with all sorts of do-dads on an AR, AK or any other semi-auto rifle and then have the worst basics in shooting I've ever seen. They're lucky to hit the ply-wood the targets are stapled to, never mind the target itself. The AR's are a little dirtier than the M-14 but it doesn't bother me to take the time to clean it. It's something that just may save my life someday, and if I don't give a shit about that then what can I give a shit about. And the bolt drops out so easy it's almost a non-issue. Can't say that about the M-14. That takes a bit more work....So I think at the end of the day it comes down to what you want to impress folks at the range with. The size of your wallet that dictates everything you've added on to that expensive piston driven AR, or your ability to score consistent "X's" with nothing but the basics. I'm always impressed by the latter.
The past weekend I was shooting me FN Scar 308 and had three rounds go into the same hole at 100 yards and pistons aren't accurate don't ya know!
all I know is ,,and I can bet no one in this argument will want to get shot with either one
EOS
As long as it goes bang and hits what you're aiming at nothing else really matters.
Something I don't see mentioned often, but which I really noticed while shooting AR10 clones was the amount of burnt gunpowder, lead vapor, and gun oil sprayed over my nose and mouth every time I pulled the trigger. Aside from the distraction of getting a hot oily blast in the face and the development of a reflexive anticipatory wince that destroys trigger control, I'm also not super keen about the health implications.
It all makes me just not want to shoot that particular gun when I'm at the range. No matter how fantastic the rifle is in every other regard, its usefulness is critically hampered if I can't stand training with it, or if training with it makes me a worse shooter.
These larger-caliber Stoner platforms where this becomes more of a issue are where I'd really like to see more development of piston-driven options.
#OREGON HOBO#
Post a Comment