Project Appleseed

http://www.milcopptactical.com/fighting.htm

An excellent article on setting up a fighting carbine. A bit different from a standard Appleseed rifle, but still good reading.

That is a good artical, can't argue with anything he says.  If you do decide to get an optic most are 4moa dots which put you right were you need to be for Appleseed. Trijicon has a triangle in theirs that if used correctly will give you quick target accusion for close up, and finer aiming for distance target. I'm just a big fan of trijicon because the founder was a divout Christian.

My M4 clone wears a MATECH BUIS and an Aimpoint CompM4 (2 MOA red dot). That's the same stuff my issue M4 started and ended with (it had an ACOG between those times).

If I wish to use irons all I need to do is make sure the Aimpoint is switched off, and flip the rear sight blade up.

You guys are really helping me zero in on my first AR.  (Pun intended.)  Keep the info coming.

Anything you want to know in particular?

Hay Nickle, that rear sight is good, in fact I have one of those some where, but I swithed over to the GG&G spring loaded pop ups. no partular reason, I just liked them

Also AlaSprout, you will find that over time your rifle will evolve, you will find new furnature, as well as gagets that you like and want to put on it as new stuff comes out. Thats the awsome thing about AR's they are like Lego set for grown men, everything can be changed. Like i said eariler the only thing that is still "stock" on mine is the lower reciever, and just that, my trigger guard, and trigger are both aftermarket as well. I also have a bunch of junk that I really dont need but its tati-cool!

OK Guys,

I went down to the gun store to buy the Colt Model LE6920MP-B (basically a Colt M4) on Saturday.  I took my AS sling to see how comfortable the two basic sling positions would be with this short rifle.  It was then that I realized 2 important things:

1) There is no rear sling loop or mount point on the Magpul stock i.e. for a QD sling mount;
2) The front sling mount is fixed (riveted) to the forend, which would make the sitting & prone sessions tough having to remove the sling from my arm instead of from the rifle

I left without purchasing the rifle.  Any suggestions as to how I might make this work?

For starters, you fight like you train, so train as you fight, it's a bad habbit to get into taking your sling off at the DQ instead of taking it off your arm.  I would bet you I can take mine off and on just as fast as you can connect and disconnect that swivel stud. 
2nd, if you want a swivel stud, get yourself a rifle with a "free float" barel. Then get yourself a removable front sight, and a YHM sling swivel adapter.

~PlatzOut~

+1 again on what Sergeant Platz stated.  Practice taking the sling off your arm (like was originally taught) and you'll be blazing fast at it.

Now with regard to the MagPul stock not having a sling attachment point.  5 minutes and you're good to go.  I have a MagPul stock that I drilled a whole going straight up at the back of the stock; I then screwed in an Uncle Mikes short swivel made for wood stocks, and it's worked perfectly fine ever since.  In the mean time, you can get a zip-tie, put it through the little hole on the bottom/back of the stock, and then attach a QD swivel through that.  This will work too if you don't want to permanently alter the MagPul stock.     

Quote from: AlaSprout on April 23, 2012, 12:06:21 AM
OK Guys,

I went down to the gun store to buy the Colt Model LE6920MP-B (basically a Colt M4) on Saturday.  I took my AS sling to see how comfortable the two basic sling positions would be with this short rifle.  It was then that I realized 2 important things:

1) There is no rear sling loop or mount point on the Magpul stock i.e. for a QD sling mount;
2) The front sling mount is fixed (riveted) to the forend, which would make the sitting & prone sessions tough having to remove the sling from my arm instead of from the rifle

I left without purchasing the rifle.  Any suggestions as to how I might make this work?

Great!  Glad to know this is an option.  I performed some similar surgery on my old Mini-14 and it worked well.

Quote from: GoldFish on April 23, 2012, 10:40:52 AMNow with regard to the MagPul stock not having a sling attachment point.  5 minutes and you're good to go.  I have a MagPul stock that I drilled a whole going straight up at the back of the stock; I then screwed in an Uncle Mikes short swivel made for wood stocks, and it's worked perfectly fine ever since.

Quote from: SSG Platz on April 23, 2012, 12:23:43 AM
For starters, you fight like you train, so train as you fight, it's a bad habbit to get into taking your sling off at the DQ instead of taking it off your arm.  I would bet you I can take mine off and on just as fast as you can connect and disconnect that swivel stud. 
2nd, if you want a swivel stud, get yourself a rifle with a "free float" barel. Then get yourself a removable front sight, and a YHM sling swivel adapter.

~PlatzOut~

With a QD...Maybe...With the "J" hook, no way! ....O.L.

Gentlemen,

Thank you all for your advice over the last several weeks.  I am now the proud owner of a Colt Model LE6920MP-B.  (Actually, despite being identical to the photo on Colt's website, the stamp on the receiver says "M4".) Thus begins my odyssey with the AR!

 
Congrats! Now for the accessorizing!

Good luck and God bless!

~PlatzOut~

I wondered if someone was actually going to use that HUGE "smiley"!    Pics will have to wait until another day.  I'm late for bed and have to get up early for the 2 hour drive to Smyrna for an Appleseed using my ROC.  (No, not with the new rifle.  I'll be shooting my wife's 10/22 LTR.)

Quote from: The Wolfhound on April 27, 2012, 09:47:51 PM

Congrats! Now for the accessorizing!

So, I took the new rifle out to the range to zero it in the other day and had no trouble adjusting windage on the rear by hand. However, I can't seem to find the right tool to adjust the front sight. It looks like the standard AR front sight (triangle), but neither of the front sight adjustment tools I've purchased will fit. The post has a place for 4 prongs, but this 4-prong DPMS tool ( http://www.midwayusa.com/product/304696/dpms-front-sight-adjusting-tool-4-prong-ar-15-a2-steel ) is too small in diameter, despite being labeled specifically as an M4 sight adjustment tool.

I called MidwayUSA and they couldn't figure it out. Then I called Colt, gave them the serial number, and they couldn't tell me what sight adjustment tool I needed. What gives?

Use the tip of a 5.56 cal bullet.  That's what it's designed for.

I've seen a lot of ARs with folks familiar with them and some NIB when they arrived. My advice is to keep using the Mini14 and keep going to Appleseeds. When you finally break 210 become an instructor. Then work 12 shoots a year and bug every instructor you meet to bring their AR so you can try it. Tell them "so and so said you had a reaalllllllly good AR" so they will want to show you. AR guys can't resist a chance to talk about their AR.

After a year when you have gotten the chance to shoot a myriad of ARs, you will know what you want and more importantly, what you do not want.

YHJ

Quote from: AlaSprout on March 26, 2012, 05:13:13 PM
I've done a couple of AS events now and really enjoyed them.  So far, I've used a Mini-14.  In the prone position under time pressure, it was difficult for me to get the hole in the front of the magazine to line up with that little retention nib when inserting the second magazine...and that was after hunting for the magazine slot in the first place.  Having just completed Front Sight's 4-day Defensive Handgun course, I am even more aware of how quickly you lose fine motor skills under stress.

While I recognize that routine practice would help me overcome those obstacles with the Mini-14, I could simply eliminate both of them by switching to an AR-15 style rifle.  I have had some reservations about the reliability of the AR-15 platform due to stories from the early years when there were problems getting the bolt to go into battery.  I have also read on this board about some of the problems other members have had with their slings pulling the (hot) barrel out of alignment.

With these things in mind and without trying to ignite any lengthy debate, could some of you recommend a nice entry level AR-15 style rifle (in 5.56mm) with a heavy barrel?  It would also be nice if you could point out specific manufacturers/models to stay away from.  Finally, I'd love to hear comments about the reliability of the modern AR-15s.

I suppose I should add that I'm looking for a rifle to use mainly in "practical rifle" training, but which I could also sling up and use to shoot a Rifleman score.  I'd like the base price of the rifle to be less than $1,000.00 U.S.  I've already got optics, so they won't have to figure into that price.

Best regards,

Sorry to disagree with YHJ, but you made a good---great decision going with the colt. ~ Two Wolves

  Heres my 2 cents. I have a Spikes Tactical lower with a Bushmaster 16" 1 in 9 twist 556 upper,iron sights and its a tack driver.
I shot an AQT with this rifle. put 800 rds thru it without cleaning and have had no isues. this is one of my loner rifles. The Great PHenry has shot this rifle and was very impressed returning a ragged hole. so what Im trying to say is just about any combo you decide on with Dry fire and pratice you are sure to make any rifle look good

Use the tip of a round, you probably had 30 of them on you while you we trying to figure out what to use.

~PlatzOut~

Quote from: AlaSprout on July 22, 2012, 07:22:50 PM
So, I took the new rifle out to the range to zero it in the other day and had no trouble adjusting windage on the rear by hand. However, I can't seem to find the right tool to adjust the front sight. It looks like the standard AR front sight (triangle), but neither of the front sight adjustment tools I've purchased will fit. The post has a place for 4 prongs, but this 4-prong DPMS tool ( http://www.midwayusa.com/product/304696/dpms-front-sight-adjusting-tool-4-prong-ar-15-a2-steel ) is too small in diameter, despite being labeled specifically as an M4 sight adjustment tool.

I called MidwayUSA and they couldn't figure it out. Then I called Colt, gave them the serial number, and they couldn't tell me what sight adjustment tool I needed. What gives?

Quote from: Two Wolves on July 22, 2012, 10:46:55 PM
Sorry to disagree with YHJ, but you made a good---great decision going with the colt. ~ Two Wolves

Nahhh.... no apologies needed. There are plenty of good choices and good options given in this thread. I was just offering the option of making his decision based on his own experiences, rather than relying on everyone else's experiences.

YHJ

If you got the money to burn a Larue OBR is the way to go guaranteed to shoot better that quarter MOA, in the recent past this we unheard of from a gas impengment rifle! I wish I had the money for one of those. Man the things I could do with a rifle that shoots as good as I do.....

~PlatzOut~

I appreciate the advice, but most of you guys have missed the fact that I now have the rifle ( http://www.coltsmfg.com/Catalog/ColtRifles/ColtCarbinesII.aspx ) and that my last post was asking a question about a front sight adjustment tool for it.  Maybe I should have started a new thread, but I'm big on recycling where possible.     Best regards...

A live round is the best adjustment tool, only cost about 28-35 cents and I always seem to have a few laying around when I go to the range

~PlatzOut~

My adjustment tools only cost about 16-25 cents so I have a lot more of them laying around. (Just givin you a hard time there, Sarge!)

Usually when I have to adjust a front sight (on any rifle) I use the small little punch on my Leatherman tool. I can whip that sucker out much faster than I can find my sight tools and it tends to work much better anyway. Plus, it's (almost) always on my belt when I'm at the range.


Good choice on the Colt. My first (civilian) AR was a Colt 6601. Still rock it to this day. Wonderful rifles. Over time, I've gotten away from the whole, "you need a Colt" thing but if it were necessary to need an AR today, she's the one that's going with me. Happy shootin!

Hay slim, have you had any experience with the Nickle plated cheap stuff? Was thinking about giving it a try even though it's hard on extractors and will probably end up costing me more in the not to distant future.

~PlatzOut~

I've shot over 3,000 rounds of WPA in the last year.

Believe it or not... I'm still using the exact same extractor that was on this bolt when I bought it from a guy who said, "I shoot the XXXXX out of Wolf through this thing." Not sure what his roundcount was, but he seemed like a pretty enthusiastic shooter so I'm guessing this thing has lots and lots of rounds on it. I'm not really sure where the "hard on extractors" stuff comes from (probably from the same kool-aid factory that makes PMAGs) but I can confirm it hasn't been hard on my extractor. I can also confirm that it hasn't gummed up my rifle or failed to operate or anything like that.  The accuracy is good as well. I shot a KD Rifleman score with it at Ramseur earlier this year and routinely shoot good (well, as good as I can do) groups at Appleseed events. I run it through my AR during 3-gun and just yesterday used it to make hits at 100 and 200 yards then did rapid fire/mag swap drills on silhouettes at 30.

Simply put, this ammo is good stuff.

The only "issue" I've had with the WPA is I had a few primers pop out. That was when I was still diagnosing a problem on my new lower build so it very well could've been that. (Hammer was hitting all caddywhompus becuase the pins kept sliding out. 1st build. Great feedback!) It wasn't an issue for operation, just something I noticed afterward. For the money, you can't beat WPA!

I've also shot quite a bit of Silver Bear and it's currently my "stockpile" ammo. The 62gr BTHP rounds are OUTSTANDING in my Colt. I shot my first KD targets using that rifle and that ammo and it was so easy it was like cheating. Love that stuff. Just a bit pricier than WPA but it's probably a bit better. I can't find it locally anymore but I picked up some WPA 62 soft points yesterday at the show. I'll let you know how they work out. I'm guessing they'll be similar to the Silver Bear since it's all made at Barnaul.

Don't drink the kool-aid! I wish I had a dollar for every "tactical operator" that I've outshot with Wolf although I don't need it because the look on their face is priceless! "But it said on arfcom that you can't do that. How'd you do that?" Priceless!

Yah the bear is what I've been looking at.  The reason why it is harder on extractors is because it was designed to cycle brass, not steel which is a harder metal so it causes more wear and eventually faster failure. The Nicole plated stuff should not gum up your rifle because it is not laqure or polymer coated as the standard wolf, bear, and Tula ammo are. I've found it on ammo seek for around 28 cents around so I was thinking about picking some up, but I may just pick up a 15-22 instead  =^) have not decided yet.

~PlatzOut~

You train how you fight, right?

I'm not fighting with a .22 so I'll use the big loud stuff to train with. Not knocking the .22 and I shoot my 10/22 all the time to keep my skills sharp. But when dealing with my AR I want the big bang and recoil.