Noob here with noob q's

[jopina7807]

How's it guys/gals

Just came home with my first ar, the sport 2. I had originally purchased the 15 tactical but came home with the sport instead...long and very frustrating story.

Anywho, I loved the look and feel of the tactical, which is quite different from the sport. SO, I was wondering:

1) I would love to try and emulate the look and feel of the tactical but don't know exactly where to start. Online I've seen SO many different options in rails and hand guards at various lengths and prices...is there a big difference in the brand of the rails or hand guard?

2) if I wanted to remove the front sight to install a longer rail would that be too complicated? I would like to put a light, scope, and some kind of rest on there. I've done a little research on how to remove the current hand guard and delta ring and a little bit on how to remove the gas block...but the latter is a little more confusing.

3) I've been going back and forth on a scope before I even bought the rifle...either going red dot or more of a scope. The Nikon P-223 keeps coming back to me...I would mainly be using the rifle for sport shooting, with home defense, -!: occasional hunting. Thoughts?

 

[otisrush]

How's it guys/gals

3) I've been going back and forth on a scope before I even bought the rifle...either going red dot or more of a scope. The Nikon P-223 keeps coming back to me...I would mainly be using the rifle for sport shooting, with home defense, -!: occasional hunting. Thoughts?

I can only give you real-world experience on this question: I have a P-223 and it has worked great. I do mostly (paper) target shooting as well as 300+ yrd steel. Virtually all of my shooting with that scope is from the bench (It's a Sport I) and those optics have been fine.

OR

 

[jopina7807]

I can only give you real-world experience on this question: I have a P-223 and it has worked great. I do mostly (paper) target shooting as well as 300+ yrd steel. Virtually all of my shooting with that scope is from the bench (It's a Sport I) and those optics have been fine.

OR

Thanks for the reply. What model P-223 do you have?

 

[otisrush]

Thanks for the reply. What model P-223 do you have?

I have the 3-9x. And BTW - I left the front sight on....not because I need it....or that I like the looks of it....but because I'm just too lazy to deal with either cutting it off or changing to a low profile gas block.

 

[cyphertext]

You are not going to like this answer, but here goes. If you wanted the 15T, you should have purchased the 15T... You now have a rifle that is not what you wanted, and that will be more frustrating in the long run than whatever was going on at the store.

You can change out the handguards for a rail to look like a T. That will require you to remove the front sight base, replace with a low profile gas block, and add a free float rail system.

If you just want rails for adding a light and don't mind the fixed front sight, you could just do drop in rails... simpler and cheaper.

You have listed a wide range of uses. What will be the primary use? What do you mean by "sport shooting"? Shooting from a bench to make one ragged hole, or shooting from field positions trying to get hits on target as quickly as possible?

 

[5point5sixGUY]

Let me make life easier for you. Buy a complete upper set up exactly how you want, keep the original upper as is for a back up or a spare and call it a day. No headaches that way. Over time you can buy a lower, then you'll have 2 rifles, so that's a plus. I'm only saying this because you don't sound very confident or experienced in gun smithing. Buy the time you buy all the parts and tools and or pay someone to install them for you to get your upper the way you want it, you could have just bought a complete upper.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

2) if I wanted to remove the front sight to install a longer rail would that be too complicated? I would like to put a light, scope, and some kind of rest on there. I've done a little research on how to remove the current hand guard and delta ring and a little bit on how to remove the gas block...but the latter is a little more confusing.

It's not too complicated. I'm quite sure a lot of folks struggle more trying to field strip their Ruger .22 pistols for cleaning.

The good news is that if someone is willing to buy a few simple tools they can configure their rifle(s) to suite them. The AR is a modular rifle. No need for forever being glued to whatever a seller puts together or having to buy a complete upper just to swap a handguard to your liking.

Since you're already looking at how-to vids I'm guessing you already know you'll need non AR specific tools like a bench vice and torque wrench, and AR specific tools... upper receiver vice block, armorer's wrench or just a barrel nut wrench and an AR front sight bench block (not required but will make the job of punching out the front sight pins easier).

When you're done you'll find that the vids were right. Nuthin' to it.

There are endless choices for free float handguards. The picatinny quad rail which has been popular for a very long time is now falling out of favor to KeyMod and M-LOK designs. They are generally lighter, smaller in diameter and mount accessories closer to the handguard (lower profile).

With so many handguard choices out there... you may end up selecting one that you like better than the handguard on the 15T you were going to buy.

----

In any event... since you're new to ARs might not be a bad idea to get some trigger time with yours and maybe the opportunity to handle some different rifles at the range before making rifle configuration changes.

 

[otisrush]

In any event... since you're new to ARs might not be a bad idea to get some trigger time with yours and maybe the opportunity to handle some different rifles at the range before making rifle configuration changes.

I think this is excellent advice. In multiple instances - both shooting and non-shooting related - I've *thought* I was going to do or want something before I got into it. But upon actually getting into it my plans changed. (For example - when I first got my Sport I was on a bender to get a free float handguard. But as I continued to shoot it I realized it was delivering what I wanted - so I gave up on that plan. Conversely, as I shot it more and more I realized I didn't like the trigger - so I upgraded that.)

OR

 

[WVSig]

My advice would be to shoot it as is if this is your first AR15. Shoot the stock gun for 500 rounds give or take. Don't just blast away take your time make mental notes.

From there you will have a better understanding of the platform. Then you can decide what you still want to change on the rifle. If you still want to swap out the A2 front post and install a low profile gas block, free floating rail and front and rear BUISs. Similar to the S&W 15T.

I personally would not buy a quad rail these days. I prefer Keymod or M-lok because they are lighter, easier on the hands and only put rail sections where you need them. Both are well supported by multiple companies. For budget rails I like Aero. They are solid and cost effective. If I am going to spend $$$ I get BCM KMR rails. For sights you can keep the Magpul rear and simply get a Magpul front.

The real trick about removing the handguards and the A2 front post and gas block is not that it is hard to do. The problem is you need about $100+ worth of tools and that assumes you have a bench vice a torque wrench.

Things like receiver vice block, a decent armorer's wrench and AR front sight bench block. If you plan on building, configuring and maintaining many AR15s these tools will pay for themselves. If, however, you will not be working on AR15s often it might be more cost effective to have your local store do the install.

Which is why I agree with 5point5sixGUY just buy another upper receiver. You could get one with BCG and charging handle for $349 shipped from PSA and keep the S&W for a nice change of pace. In the end would most likely cost you the same to modify the existing S&W upper.

PSA 16" M4 Carbine 5.56 NATO 1:7 Nitride 13.5" Keymod Freedom upper - With BCG & CH - 516444561

 

[vonn]

I agree with the shoot it before you change it sentiment! The more you shoot it the better you shoot it.

 

[sgtsandman]

I'm in the shoot it for a while camp as well. From there, you can better decide what you want to change on the rifle.

You are kinda wanting a "one rifle does it all", which can be done but there will be compromises to get it. A red dot will not give you the range a scope will but is a better choice for home defense due to the close quarters involved. You could get a 1-4X or 1-5X with an illuminated dot that will get you close to a red dot but also give you the ability to shoot farther.

Just keep in mind there is no such thing as a true 1x in a variable power scope not matter how much money you spend on it.

The scope will also work better for hunting but it depends on the environment you typically hunt in. A red dot may work for that as well if you hunt in wooded and brush areas. More open areas, a scope might be better.

See where I'm going with all this? You have to decide where you want to compromise to get the rifle to do pretty much everything you are asking it to do.

 

[CBStuard]

I wouldn't get to excited about a free float. You can get simple and cheap handguards that you can put sections of rail on and mount whatever you want. Magpul is one of these and just about anything that isn't tapered can be worked with. I also think that at <100 yrds it is pretty hard to see any accuracy improvement.

 

[Arik]

All I can say is shoot the **** out of it before you decide to change anything. Changing now and then realizing it doesn't work for you is backwards.

After shooting 6k rounds out of my Colt AR I figured out that i need to change the pistol grip to one with a different angle and a red dot on it.

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