storeyteller
Member
I don't get why the AR's 'need' a DC and yet this is a non-issue with my other semi-autos (rifles, pistols and shotguns).
Dust cover....is it really needed?
- Thread starter cyphertext
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Natsmith77
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I need a dust cover because when I go to the range or matches there are always people waiting to throw handfuls of dirt at my rifle when I am holding it up while changing mags. Many times they yell "wait! Your rifle is at high ready! The optimal time to throw dirt into the trigger!"
If you are an active duty soldier deployed in a dusty desert environment, then having a dust cover >may< help...if you are a regular schmo like most civilian users it is just a nice to have. I would be willing to bet 90% or more of us here would cringe if anyone recommended they do this same test with their own pampered firearms.
You, like me, probably meticulously clean your weapons after each range trip because you want to protect your toys.
Last thing...go watch YouTube vids of soldiers in action. It is dusty and dirty, but the dust covers are open because they are firing...and there are no Taliban gremlins following then around with handfuls of dirt throwin it into actions.
If you are an active duty soldier deployed in a dusty desert environment, then having a dust cover >may< help...if you are a regular schmo like most civilian users it is just a nice to have. I would be willing to bet 90% or more of us here would cringe if anyone recommended they do this same test with their own pampered firearms.
You, like me, probably meticulously clean your weapons after each range trip because you want to protect your toys.
Last thing...go watch YouTube vids of soldiers in action. It is dusty and dirty, but the dust covers are open because they are firing...and there are no Taliban gremlins following then around with handfuls of dirt throwin it into actions.
It isn't that the AR platform needs a dust cover. Its that the platform used in military use environments needed one.
For those that do not know, its not called a dust cover, its actual designation is 'Ejection Port Cover'.
It was added to the platform after the first round of M-16's were fielded in the vietnam era. The platform did not have one when originally designed and fielded.
It was added for different reasons, but among these reasons was that troops in the field simply laid their weapons down in the dirt when they wern't being used. When the first versions of the original platform were fielded this was a problem because when the weapon was picked up to be used again there was freqently debris in the ejection port and weapon which if not removed could have caused the weapon to malfunction and troops rarely looked for debris in the weapon when they needed to use it. So the cover was added for the troops to close when their weapons were not in use, the same holds true today.
The same design has stuck with the civilian versions for a few different reasons and among these are;
1. The majority of civilian AR platform owners buy them for the military genre' aspect. Those that do not buy the civilian version platform for the military genre' appeal are a very small minority.
2. The civilian AR platforms needed to serve a dual purpose for marketing; A. They needed to remain an appeal to the general civilian market. B. Since the largest majority of the AR platforms are sold to official agencies in both government and civilian sectors, they needed to be a platform for environments that needed government standards compliance for purposes of standardization, liability, commonality in parts traceable to NSN standards stocking systems facilities (for general supply and use in time of national crisis - its sort of like why interstates have a straight stretch of re-enforced road every so many miles so military aircraft can use them in times of national emergency by having a straight strip of road to land on/take off from.)
To maintain both those things, the standard "mold" is used and that includes the things for the Ejection Port Cover which is the norm.
Anyway, this is why the platform 'Ejection Post Cover' still exists in the civilian AR platform market. Removing the ejection port cover on the design (such as on the Sport model) is actually an oddity. A company does not loose sales on an AR platform because they either have or don't have an ejection port cover, they lose or gain a sale (in terms of the ejection port cover) for a weapon because the consumer chooses to either have or not have an ejection port cover - in other words they lose or gain a sale by routine normal market forces starting at the consumer because its always the consumers choice and decision.
I've seen people try to convince others they don't need an ejection port cover because it affects how the weapon operates - this is not the truth. I've also seen people try to convince friends they were assisting in buying a weapon that the ejection port cover either would or would not have a function - this is not the truth either. I've seen lots of things put out both pro and con. The truth is - the ejection port cover does have a function and use but does nothing to affect the weapon normal operation (aside from the practical use of trying to keep stuff out when the weapon is not being fired), and for the civilian consumer to have one or not is simply a personal preference choice.
Why do people buy or use gun cases? It can be just as protective to wrap the weapon in old rags and carry it around in a cardboard box. Aside from a convenience, or carry, or "get everything for the weapon in one case", factor, the number one reason for buying or using a gun case is to protect the weapon which is a hundreds to thousands of dollars investment for most people. The same thing is basically true for the ejection port cover, its use is to help protect the weapon by helping keep contaminates out. The choice is the same for the gun case and the ejection port cover, you can choose to have one or not.
For those that do not know, its not called a dust cover, its actual designation is 'Ejection Port Cover'.
It was added to the platform after the first round of M-16's were fielded in the vietnam era. The platform did not have one when originally designed and fielded.
It was added for different reasons, but among these reasons was that troops in the field simply laid their weapons down in the dirt when they wern't being used. When the first versions of the original platform were fielded this was a problem because when the weapon was picked up to be used again there was freqently debris in the ejection port and weapon which if not removed could have caused the weapon to malfunction and troops rarely looked for debris in the weapon when they needed to use it. So the cover was added for the troops to close when their weapons were not in use, the same holds true today.
The same design has stuck with the civilian versions for a few different reasons and among these are;
1. The majority of civilian AR platform owners buy them for the military genre' aspect. Those that do not buy the civilian version platform for the military genre' appeal are a very small minority.
2. The civilian AR platforms needed to serve a dual purpose for marketing; A. They needed to remain an appeal to the general civilian market. B. Since the largest majority of the AR platforms are sold to official agencies in both government and civilian sectors, they needed to be a platform for environments that needed government standards compliance for purposes of standardization, liability, commonality in parts traceable to NSN standards stocking systems facilities (for general supply and use in time of national crisis - its sort of like why interstates have a straight stretch of re-enforced road every so many miles so military aircraft can use them in times of national emergency by having a straight strip of road to land on/take off from.)
To maintain both those things, the standard "mold" is used and that includes the things for the Ejection Port Cover which is the norm.
Anyway, this is why the platform 'Ejection Post Cover' still exists in the civilian AR platform market. Removing the ejection port cover on the design (such as on the Sport model) is actually an oddity. A company does not loose sales on an AR platform because they either have or don't have an ejection port cover, they lose or gain a sale (in terms of the ejection port cover) for a weapon because the consumer chooses to either have or not have an ejection port cover - in other words they lose or gain a sale by routine normal market forces starting at the consumer because its always the consumers choice and decision.
I've seen people try to convince others they don't need an ejection port cover because it affects how the weapon operates - this is not the truth. I've also seen people try to convince friends they were assisting in buying a weapon that the ejection port cover either would or would not have a function - this is not the truth either. I've seen lots of things put out both pro and con. The truth is - the ejection port cover does have a function and use but does nothing to affect the weapon normal operation (aside from the practical use of trying to keep stuff out when the weapon is not being fired), and for the civilian consumer to have one or not is simply a personal preference choice.
Why do people buy or use gun cases? It can be just as protective to wrap the weapon in old rags and carry it around in a cardboard box. Aside from a convenience, or carry, or "get everything for the weapon in one case", factor, the number one reason for buying or using a gun case is to protect the weapon which is a hundreds to thousands of dollars investment for most people. The same thing is basically true for the ejection port cover, its use is to help protect the weapon by helping keep contaminates out. The choice is the same for the gun case and the ejection port cover, you can choose to have one or not.
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rojodiablo
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Foxtrot, I was under the assumption that an 'ejection port cover' was Army slang for boxer shorts!!!
To those who do not remember, many of the original models of the AR15 had no dust cover. I've yet to see a real need for one. If the bolt is closed, the rifle will not let much in unless you are in a muther of a dust storm. And, seeing as how in a really good dust storm a sealed up truck winds up with dust in it all over the place, as does everything else...... that kind of dust is still getting in there, no matter what.
The 'slickside' uppers are sought after by much of the shooting community, those who do not feel the need for the deflector or the dust cover because they want the smooth body rifle.
To those who do not remember, many of the original models of the AR15 had no dust cover. I've yet to see a real need for one. If the bolt is closed, the rifle will not let much in unless you are in a muther of a dust storm. And, seeing as how in a really good dust storm a sealed up truck winds up with dust in it all over the place, as does everything else...... that kind of dust is still getting in there, no matter what.
The 'slickside' uppers are sought after by much of the shooting community, those who do not feel the need for the deflector or the dust cover because they want the smooth body rifle.
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I personally really like the slick side AR's, I remember shooting m16's without the brass deflector and I never had an issue with where my brass went. When I bought my Sport I hadnt looked at many AR's in years and kept trying to figure out what was different and then it hit me, The deflector, I would still rather not have the deflector but that is another story in itself.
