Need advice on accessories

[rkrebs11]

Waiting for Sport II AR15 5.56/.223 to arrive from FFL dealer. Need some advice on goodies while I wait. Windowed mags worth it? Any brand you recommend? For ammo, does the loader spoon guide come with the stripper clips, if you buy it that way or do I need to find one of these on Amazon? Also, I looked at the sticky that lists online ammo sellers. Is that list up to date. So far, I found Freedom Munitions as a good source. I don't really want to buy ammo cans of 1000 rounds just yet and I'm really not sure steel casings is the way to go. My hand gun makers say stay away from them. Also, are there any magazines that do not fit the Sport II? What do you think about mag couplers? What type of foregrip do you recommend? How about hand grip? I got a S&W MP15 II package combo that come with two 30rd mags, hard case and a TRU GLO reflex sight. That should do for now untill I can research the optics some more. I suppose I'll also need a good cleaning kit. Any good videos recs on proper usage of this rifle so I can have family members watch and learn? Thanks again.

 

[cyphertext]

If I were you, I would forget all about accessories outside of ammo and magazines... get the magazines before they end up being banned. PMags or D&H magazines are both quality, whichever are cheaper at the time.

Once you have plenty of magazines and ammo, then look at optics or trigger.

 

[rkrebs11]

If I were you, I would forget all about accessories outside of ammo and magazines... get the magazines before they end up being banned. PMags or D&H magazines are both quality, whichever are cheaper at the time.

Once you have plenty of magazines and ammo, then look at optics or trigger.

If you think we're going to civil war, then I'd go for more mags, but right now this is just home defense. If I need more than two mags of 30rds each in addition to my shotgun and handguns, then no amount of mags are going to help. Either we're in total civil war or the zombie apocalypse is here. If mags are banned, I'll get them on the black market (again if needed). But I need stability when going CQB with any of my firearms, so I'm now looking at fore grips. I'll take a good grip over a trigger kit any day. Can you advise on this?

 

[fyimo]

Certainly agree with more ammo and sights and the magazines number is up to you. They are very cheap now and it may not stay that way. To many add on device just make the rifle heavy and cumbersome.

 

[cyphertext]

If you think we're going to civil war, then I'd go for more mags, but right now this is just home defense. If I need more than two mags of 30rds each in addition to my shotgun and handguns, then no amount of mags are going to help. Either we're in total civil war or the zombie apocalypse is here. If mags are banned, I'll get them on the black market (again if needed). But I need stability when going CQB with any of my firearms, so I'm now looking at fore grips. I'll take a good grip over a trigger kit any day. Can you advise on this?

I recommend mags because they can be banned, not because of civil war or zombies... just ask folks in Colorado. Magazines are consumables. If you want to pay $100 for a $10 mag, make sure to PM me if you need to get them on the black market!

I have the stock M4 grips on 2 of my rifles, and a BCM keymod free float on a third. I like the BCM, as it is narrow. I have been thinking about getting the new Magpul Slimline guards just to try them out. I don't hang a bunch of doo dads on my rifle, so my needs are simple. If you are talking about vertical grips, I don't use them.

As far as videos, I have Magpul Art of the Tactical Carbine 1 & 2... bought them for cheap on clearance. Are they any good? Have no clue as I haven't even opened them to watch... but they were cheap and I think Chris Costa is the "instructor".

 

[jagular]

The sport comes with a generic hand guard that doesn't have a specific attachment method for a vertical grip. Some people have jimmy rigged a section of rail to it to attach a grip. My suggestion would be to change out the handguard for carbine length magpul guard or aluminum quad rail which then permit you to properly attach a verical grip. The stock guard also doesn't have a heat shield built in. If you go magpul SL or moe carbine guard and magpul verical grip, you will be good to go.

Besides the vertical grip, you could go angle foregrip (AFG). Check out some YouTube videos on each type and decide what's best for you.

Magpul also makes a slew of grips for the gun. Everything from the moe, miad, and moe plus (rubber coated). Hogue makes a version as well. Too many to list and it's just a matter of preference. Visit you local gun store to see how these feel.

You can get a cleaning kit just about anywhere. I used cleaning tools that I use on my other guns (brushes, picks, patches, etc.) on the AR as well. Get a hoppes boresnake to make barrel cleaning easy. Id also pick up a cat cleaning tool to clean the bolt and carrier.

Magpul mags are popular for this rifle and function flawlessly (in my experience). Any aluminum or steel mag with an anti-tilt follower will serve you well. Other mags like Troy, Daniel defense, hexmag, mft, etc. are also fine. Windowed mags are ok if you prefer to guesstimate rounds left. There are a few makers that make translucent mags as well.

Unless you buy an the 420 round Ammo can in stripper clips, American Eagle boxes that have the ammo on stripper clips won't come with the spoon. You can pick one up on Amazon or even your local LGS or surplus store.

Freedom Munitions is mostly remanufactured ammo (reused brass) and some new ammo. If you're just looking for a couple hundred rounds just go to your local Walmart and pick some up. Don't be afraid to run steel cased ammo. My sport eats the stuff up without issue. Other people have experienced stuck cases and failure to feeds using this ammo though. If it's for home defense, get brass for sure. Steel case does wear your barrel and bolt out more quickly but these are meant to wear anyways. You're looking at 5-6k rounds before you might have issues. With the cost savings from buying steel vs brass you'll be able to buy a whole new rifle with that many rounds.

I'd also recommend putting at least a few hundred rounds through it before you start any mods. If you need instruction videos on how to operate an AR, again, go to YouTube and do a search. There is plenty of content in there.

 

[wayne2356]

Magazines
Trigger
Optic
Ammo

 

[MichiganScott]

Keep it stock and shoot it before buying any accessories besides a cleaning kit, brass cased ammo, and magazines.

Cyphertext is 100% correct. Rifles, ammunition, and magazines may become very hard to find. Magazines wear out and become expensive when banned.

The only changes I make to my AR's are good triggers and a weapon light on the one under the bed. I find vertical grips useless. Watch a 3-gun match where speed and accuracy is everything. You won't see a vertical grip being used by anyone.

Stay with the Tru-glo sight until you have some experience with the rifle.

 

[WVSig]

Really the best advice I can give you is to shoot your rifle for 200-500 rounds before you change anything. Try to make every round count don't just blast away. Get a feel for the trigger sights, handguards etc... It might just surprise you and you might find you don't need to change anything. Also the first upgrade I make on an AR15 is the trigger. It is the best money you can spend to improve your gun IMHO. A good trigger will tighten your groups more than anything. They are simple to install and require no special tools but again first get out there and shoot! So with that in mind.

First get some ammo. If you are looking for basic plinking ammo look at Wolf Gold, American Eagle X193, AE 223, PMC Bronze, & other brass cased 55gr ammo. See what your gun likes best. Ever rifle will be slightly different.

Sportsman's guide has Wolf Gold at about $.30 a pop for 260 rounds.

Wolf Gold, .223, FMJ, 55 Grain, 260 Rounds - 292054, .223 Remington Ammo at Sportsman's Guide

Palmetto state has a decent deal on X193 $6.99 a box buy 10 get free shipping.

Federal 5.56mm 55gr MCBT Ammunition 20rds - XM193F

If you want AE X193 on stripper clips with spoon Mass Ammo has 420 round cans for $159. Flat rate shipping $15.99

Federal 5.56x45 Nato/ .223 REM XM193 (420-Round Ammo Can)- FLAT RATE SHIPPING! - 4 max per order - MassAmmo.com - $12.99 Flat Rate Shipping on every order

Cabellas has PMC for $6.99 and$5 shipping with $99 purchase.

For self defense ammo look at Palmettos deal for 100 rounds of Gold Dots and 5 D&H mags for $79. This kills two birfs with one stone. The D&H mags are solid.

Five (5) Boxes Speer .223 55gr Gold Dot Ammo 20rds & Five (5) D&H 5.56 30rd Aluminum Mags

If you want other mags get Pmags, D&H, Brownells or other quality mags. Everyone has their own preference. I personally like Pmag gen2s these day because they are cheaper than Gen3 and I don't need the covers. I don't buy ones with windows. I pay about $8.50 shipped for Pmags. I buy when I can get that price. I suggest 10 mags for your one rifle.

From there as others have stated in order to put a forward grip on it you will need to change the handguard. You can go with a drop in like a MOE or Quadrail or you can swap out the A2 post and gas block and go with a free float tube. I would personal skip the foregrip. They are not needed. Learn to shoot the rifle with the stock guard. It is not that hard. After 1000 round or so if you still want it get a drop in.

Cleaning kits are a personal preference sort of thing. I like ones that have a tool to help clean the BCG. I like this Otis one because it all stores in a single pouch that you can throw in your range or go bag.

[ame="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007ZYQUUI/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1944687462&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B0000C52A5&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=SGEVE1Q2V3J87QBK9H38"]Amazon.com : Otis Modern Sporting Rifle & AR Cleaning System : Hunting Cleaning And Maintenance Products : Sports & Outdoors[/ame]

 

[rkrebs11]

Certainly agree with more ammo and sights and the magazines number is up to you. They are very cheap now and it may not stay that way. To many add on device just make the rifle heavy and cumbersome.

I'll say I just saw them for under $10

 

[WVSig]

Forgot to add I would skip Freedom Munitions. Their QC is just not there. Tons of issues have been reported with handgun and rifle ammo.

There are better sources. Don't forget the big box guys who use .223/556 as loss leader to get you into the store.

Sgammo
Mass Ammo
The Armory
Walmart
Palmetto
Sportsman guide
Weapons World

 

[rkrebs11]

Also the first upgrade I make on an AR15 is the trigger. It is the best money you can spend to improve your gun IMHO. A good trigger will tighten your groups more than anything. They are simple to install and require no special tools but again first get out there and shoot!

Thank you so much for the detailed, in depth, advice. Wow, I really appreciate it. I have a question about the trigger. If all you say is true about what these kits can do, WHY DON'T THEY MAKE THEM THAT WAY?? LOL I see the same thing with my handguns. If redoing your trigger is al;most universal, why, in the hell, don't the manufacturers give you options on these kits FULLY installed BEFORE you buy? If switching out this spring or this sear will give you a lighter pull and a more positive reset....why not do this to begin with? So give the consumers this option before purchase of the rifle or handgun. "This gun has a 8# pull with standard take up and no stacking. Click here if you want 5# pull, short takeup and premium sear." Do you get what I mean? Why does every one have to get out their smithing tools or send your firearm away the moment you get it?

 

[rkrebs11]

Forgot to add I would skip Freedom Munitions. Their QC is just not there. Tons of issues have been reported with handgun and rifle ammo.

There are better sources. Don't forget the big box guys who use .223/556 as loss leader to get you into the store.

Sgammo
Mass Ammo
The Armory
Walmart
Palmetto
Sportsman guide
Weapons World

Thanks a bunch for that. Makes sense too.

 

[rkrebs11]

Really the best advice I can give you is to shoot your rifle for 200-500 rounds before you change anything. Try to make every round count don't just blast away. Get a feel for the trigger sights, handguards etc... It might just surprise you and you might find you don't need to change anything. Also the first upgrade I make on an AR15 is the trigger. It is the best money you can spend to improve your gun IMHO. A good trigger will tighten your groups more than anything. They are simple to install and require no special tools but again first get out there and shoot! So with that in mind.

First get some ammo. If you are looking for basic plinking ammo look at Wolf Gold, American Eagle X193, AE 223, PMC Bronze, & other brass cased 55gr ammo. See what your gun likes best. Ever rifle will be slightly different.

Sportsman's guide has Wolf Gold at about $.30 a pop for 260 rounds.

Wolf Gold, .223, FMJ, 55 Grain, 260 Rounds - 292054, .223 Remington Ammo at Sportsman's Guide

Palmetto state has a decent deal on X193 $6.99 a box buy 10 get free shipping.

Federal 5.56mm 55gr MCBT Ammunition 20rds - XM193F

If you want AE X193 on stripper clips with spoon Mass Ammo has 420 round cans for $159. Flat rate shipping $15.99

Federal 5.56x45 Nato/ .223 REM XM193 (420-Round Ammo Can)- FLAT RATE SHIPPING! - 4 max per order - MassAmmo.com - $12.99 Flat Rate Shipping on every order

Cabellas has PMC for $6.99 and$5 shipping with $99 purchase.

For self defense ammo look at Palmettos deal for 100 rounds of Gold Dots and 5 D&H mags for $79. This kills two birfs with one stone. The D&H mags are solid.

Five (5) Boxes Speer .223 55gr Gold Dot Ammo 20rds & Five (5) D&H 5.56 30rd Aluminum Mags

If you want other mags get Pmags, D&H, Brownells or other quality mags. Everyone has their own preference. I personally like Pmag gen2s these day because they are cheaper than Gen3 and I don't need the covers. I don't buy ones with windows. I pay about $8.50 shipped for Pmags. I buy when I can get that price. I suggest 10 mags for your one rifle.

From there as others have stated in order to put a forward grip on it you will need to change the handguard. You can go with a drop in like a MOE or Quadrail or you can swap out the A2 post and gas block and go with a free float tube. I would personal skip the foregrip. They are not needed. Learn to shoot the rifle with the stock guard. It is not that hard. After 1000 round or so if you still want it get a drop in.

Cleaning kits are a personal preference sort of thing. I like ones that have a tool to help clean the BCG. I like this Otis one because it all stores in a single pouch that you can throw in your range or go bag.

Amazon.com : Otis Modern Sporting Rifle & AR Cleaning System : Hunting Cleaning And Maintenance Products : Sports & Outdoors

Yeah some very good info. I also use Speer GDHP 147 gr for my 9mm for home defense and PMC RN for practice. But do you recommend staying away from steel casings?

 

[WVSig]

Yeah some very good info. I also use Speer GDHP 147 gr for my 9mm for home defense and PMC RN for practice. But do you recommend staying away from steel casings?

It is a personal preference. If you are not reloading, planning to reload or trading your brass steel ammo is an option. Lots of people swear by it. It definitely saves money but the combination of steel case, projectile and powder used in most steel cased ammo causes accelerated wear. If you shoot a lot of it 8,000 to 10,000 rounds you will need to replace a barrel. Which will be less than the savings you will see from shooting that much steel.

I do not shoot much of it personally because I do not think it is as accurate and because I save my brass for future reloading.

 

[WVSig]

Thank you so much for the detailed, in depth, advice. Wow, I really appreciate it. I have a question about the trigger. If all you say is true about what these kits can do, WHY DON'T THEY MAKE THEM THAT WAY?? LOL I see the same thing with my handguns. If redoing your trigger is al;most universal, why, in the hell, don't the manufacturers give you options on these kits FULLY installed BEFORE you buy? If switching out this spring or this sear will give you a lighter pull and a more positive reset....why not do this to begin with? So give the consumers this option before purchase of the rifle or handgun. "This gun has a 8# pull with standard take up and no stacking. Click here if you want 5# pull, short takeup and premium sear." Do you get what I mean? Why does every one have to get out their smithing tools or send your firearm away the moment you get it?

COST! A good trigger will cost you $50 -$75 for a solid milspec trigger like an ALG Milspec QMS or ACT. The materials are better but the real difference between these and stock triggers is the amount of finishing to make them smooth. If you know what you are doing you can make a stock trigger better.

A great trigger will cost you $125+. Guys like Geissele, Wilson, LaRue etc... put a lot of time into the development, production and finishing of their triggers.

The reality is the majority of people who buy these rifles will never change anything on them and the manufacturers are looking to hit a price point. The Sport II was designed, specd and built to meet a price point where it would sell in volume as an entry level rifle. It does that job very well IMHO. If you put a high quality trigger into the Sport II you could not sell it for the $499-$650 that they sell for.

 

[rkrebs11]

I recommend mags because they can be banned, not because of civil war or zombies... just ask folks in Colorado. Magazines are consumables.

So you're saying that magazines "wear out" if you're calling them consumables. Really? They wear out rather quickly? I never knew this. Am I reading you correctly?

 

[rkrebs11]

COST! A good trigger will cost you $50 -$75 for a solid milspec trigger like an ALG Milspec QMS or ACT. The materials are better but the real difference between these and stock triggers is the amount of finishing to make them smooth. If you know what you are doing you can make a stock trigger better.

A great trigger will cost you $125+. Guys like Geissele, Wilson, LaRue etc... put a lot of time into the development, production and finishing of their triggers.

The reality is the majority of people who buy these rifles will never change anything on them and the manufacturers are looking to hit a price point. The Sport II was designed, specd and built to meet a price point where it would sell in volume as an entry level rifle. It does that job very well IMHO. If you put a high quality trigger into the Sport II you could not sell it for the $499-$650 that they sell for.

COST is not a reason, that cost COULD be an option WHEN YOU BUY, not an afterthought. They already sell packages that come with extra mags and reflex sights. Now why can they do that and not offer different trigger sensitivities? Not everyone gets a high out of installing your own trigger bar. Maybe when I was younger, I might have enjoyed tinkering around with it. But now I want the trigger package that GIVES me those one inch groups WITHOUT having to jump thru the damn hoops to get it. If the makers want more dollars for that, so be it. Just offer those options at the beginning of the purchase not AFTER.

 

[cyphertext]

So you're saying that magazines "wear out" if you're calling them consumables. Really? They wear out rather quickly? I never knew this. Am I reading you correctly?

Yes, they do wear out with use. Rate of wear will depend on how you use them. If you do run and gun type shooting, or take classes where you release the mag and let them drop to the dirt, or slam home a magazine on a closed bolt, they will wear faster than just casually shooting from a bench. Feed lips bend, spine of polymer mags may eventually split...

Plus, the more magazines you have pre-loaded when you go to shoot means more time shooting, less range time wasted loading magazines.

 

[rkrebs11]

Ok, point taken. I have 8 more mags on the way, to make 10 total. Now, I'm not a survivalist (hoarder) so, I'm going to be content with 10 mags now. Thanks