Is it Karma or Validation?

[schgsd]

I have owned a stock M&P15 (811000) with a carry handle for about 9 months. All I did was slap on a Barska scope from Walmart when I bought it. I've done nothing but shoot it and clean it. I buy it magazines and ammo. At some point I guess I progressed enough to know that the stock setup was holding me back with my shooting. And things people were saying on the forum had me thinking. And it's clear we all spend money upgrading. But is it worth it? Can some of this stuff really make that much of a difference? I figured I'd have fun and do a poll and also tell why I have voted yes. I have become a true believer.

I was obviously on the fence when I started the Trigger Thoughts thread. I settled on a Velocity 4.5 lb trigger based on things that had been said here about triggers and other opinions gleaned from the web. Several days after ordering it I dropped into the passenger seat of my bosses car to go to lunch. Next to me was a Trijicon RX06 on a mount that lets it sit in front of the carry handle. I got the lowdown about it and more importantly actually got to look through it and see what one of these sights looked like. And it was for sale. I could even try it to see if it worked for me. Home it went and on my gun the next day. The Friday before Memorial Day the Velocity trigger arrived. I had everything installed and sighted in the next day (Sat). I put about 50 rounds downrange at milk jugs about 100 yards out. I ended that session thinking to myself wow that was really worth doing. The trigger was awesome, it felt like what I was wishing I had in the first place. The Trijicon is a new concept to me, but didn't take much time to teach myself to keep both eyes open and just come up on the target and pull the trigger. This is a big change it seems but it felt so right.

I have been shooting at predators for at least 4 years now that have been raiding our poultry that we raise. It's the primary reason I have the M&P. I shot at a fox setting up on a group of chickens just a few weeks ago. I emptied a 20 round magazine at it's backside as it skedaddled through the pig pen and into the woods. Dirt kicking up all around it but I didn't get it.

Monday morning (Memorial Day) before I'd even finished my first cup of coffee another one was headed for the coop. I walked out with that M&P15 sporting a new Velocity trigger and the Trijicon RX06 and dropped it on the run with two shots.

Simply Karma, or does the money spent on upgrades really make a difference?

It took less than 48 hours after doing those upgrades to get my answer.

[wurger]

I voted "yes", but the question probably should have been:

Spending money on upgrades may result in better performance.

[REM 3200]

Quality trigger and quality sights (optic or iron) are the best improvements you can make on an AR.

[ChattanoogaPhil]

The right trigger and optic make all the difference.

It's no fluke that the combined speed, control and accuracy improvements with trigger and 1x optic helped get the job done.

[schgsd]

Originally Posted by REM 3200

Quality trigger and quality sights (optic or iron) are the best improvements you can make on an AR.

Originally Posted by ChattanoogaPhil

The right trigger and optic make all the difference.

It's no fluke that the combined speed, control and accuracy improvements with trigger and 1x optic helped get the job done.

Slightly more than half what I paid for the gun but I still can't get over how fast I was shown the truth of those words.

[Riccur]

Not sure Karma is the correct term. Luck as with anything may have played a role.

Karma would have been shooting at the fox missing and having him run into a pig and die.

[OS-Wiz]

Best upgrade from stock M&P15 was better trigger.

[samnev]

I have a Leupold VariX-III EFR on my 15T. With the stock trigger it would shoot 5 shoot 100 yard groups just over 1 moa with the stock trigger. Replacing it with a Geissele SSA-E resulted in groups in the 0.75 moa range sometimes better.

[Kadonny]

I'll tend to say karma/luck more than the trigger/sight. Still, congrats on some quality shooting.

[M29since14]

Originally Posted by ChattanoogaPhil

The right trigger and optic make all the difference...

Probably in that order. I've heard it all my life and it is true. Whatever you are shooting - whether skeet with your .410 over-under, bullseye targets with your .22 pistol, or tiny groups at long-range with your varmint rifle, a good trigger will make more difference than anything else, for most people. There are very few shooters who really are able to manage a bad trigger. I sure can't.

If you have a decent gun and ammunition, sights you can see, and a good trigger, you have what you need. The other stuff is fluff.

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Originally Posted by schgsd

Slightly more than half what I paid for the gun but I still can't get over how fast I was shown the truth of those words.

It's often the case that the right equipment for the job isn't cheap.
There isn't much value in missing the target.

Nice shooting.

[schgsd]

Originally Posted by ChattanoogaPhil

It's often the case that the right equipment for the job isn't cheap.
There isn't much value in missing the target.

Nice shooting.

Welcome.

I'd already paid for the trigger when the Trijicon showed up. I knew I was screwed when I heard myself saying "what do you want for it?"

[schgsd]

Originally Posted by Kadonny

I'll tend to say karma/luck more than the trigger/sight. Still, congrats on some quality shooting.

Aaahh. But did Karma play it's part by gently nudging me in the direction of the Trijicon? The trigger was the only thing on my radar up till then.

[Rastoff]

Originally Posted by schgsd

Slightly more than half what I paid for the gun but I still can't get over how fast I was shown the truth of those words.

Wait, what? You got a $150 trigger and a $500 sight for just over $300??? Dude, you got a deal.

Yes, the right equipment can definitely help improve accuracy. I went from a cheap optic to a decent one and my groups shrunk in half.