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AR15 Variants and Derivitives Picture Thread


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SLR 8" SBR build done. Just waiting for a few accessories (sling end plate, AAC Blast Shield, Cloud Defensive LCS, and an actual working ScoutLight head) and repairing my BTC Spectre, but otherwise al

Hey all! I kind of stumbled upon this thread by accident while searching for M16A2 receiver markings on google and saw one of Catgut's amazing VT's. Which brought me here I have been working on

One of my latest build, a real Colt M16A1 converted for GBBR on the WA system. Stripped upper, barrel and BCG was changed to Viper Tech du to my local laws. Also a video of how it was made:

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you know that some people who have forgotten more about guns than this forum will ever collectively know thought that it was a good idea

 

Or received a kickback. ;)

 

 

If you want to keep your gun fairly individual, go green.

 

Granted mine is an MOE equipped M4A1 with an EOTech, but its done in OD. On the field you hardly ever see green, and when you do, its usually FG. :D

 

As said, brown is well common.

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If you're copying a military rifle, you know that some people who have forgotten more about guns than this forum will ever collectively know thought that it was a good idea, and then spent several months asking everyone else if they thought so too before testing it until their fingers fell off. In general I find the weapons cooked up by military boards of approval to be a lot more functional, useful and tasteful than those spawned in the horribly fevered imagination of your average chairsofter. At least in theory military stuff is tested to destruction, examined for function, and then stuck on the rifle and shipped. No-one in a warzone attaches four hundred separate implements to their weapon on the off-chance that they'll need the one that gets a stone out of a horse's hoof, or bothers matching the colour of their optic to their flash-hider. In my opinion, the guns look better for it.

 

Forgetting one thing, mate: money. Tons of "Future Weapons" programs have run through at least the US military in the past ten years; most recently the HK45 comes to mind. They're proven to surpass the currently issued weapon, but due to cost they aren't chosen. (SCAR, anyone?) You can't say that what the military picks is necessarily best because it has to not only be "good enough", but also cost-effective. I think if they wanted absolute best we'd see a lot more AFGs and other cool-guy gear around.

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I haven't forgotten cost issues. In point of fact, the US military does supply AFGs to some SOF (by making them available to armourers, or whatever the Americans call them) which can be requested by the operator, though they aren't 'issued' in the conventional sense. Regardless of that fact, an AFG is what - $30 and 80g? If soldiers like them there's nothing to stop them buying and fitting such removable gear themselves, much as they do with VFGs and the like.* Not to mention the fact that in comparison to the other things SOF are commonly issued, like say, an Elcan ($1600?) or an AN/PVS-22 ($10,000?), some bolt-on plastic is affordable even by British military standards.

 

As to guns that are 'better' but not adopted, it's not a strong argument. Many of these guns - SCARs, H&K 416s, even Colt Commandos in the case of the British Army - were adopted piecemeal by major militaries rather than wholesale. You can tell from those units whether your LaRue'd SCAR with two AFGs and TangoDown railcovers on the top rail is how actual soldiers consider their weapons most effective. I'm not saying that the military has it all figured out, but the fact is that the amount of research that went into producing something like the M4A1 greatly undermines a hypothetical desire to fit one with two side-mounted grenade launchers, a SpecterDR on the bottom and no iron sights purely because this is how you think the military should fight.

 

[EDIT]Incidentally, we should also consider weapon configurations in other armies. Just because the US didn't adopt the SCAR doesn't mean that... Oh, nobody? Not even, like, some tiny foreign special forces? Even the AUG HBAR managed to sell to Luxembourg, man![/EDIT]

 

The facts are that despite all their budgetary constraints most Western armies equip their soldiers very well. At a TOTAL guess, the average infantry rifleman's combat load (clothing, armour, weapons, radios, ballistic sunglasses, assorted electrical devices, medical kit etc) probably cost well north of £5,000. The moment he steps out wearing NVG, or carrying a more specialised weapon (whether it's a machinegun or a sniper rifle) the cost just keeps building. All of this stuff was designed to work in a particular manner, and accessories accordingly. You can see why it's popular to ape these well-proven systems, much like reverse-engineers copy TM's guns. They might not know exactly why something is the way it is, but they know that the people that decided it should knew a lot more about it than they do and had decided upon that configuration for a reason.

 

 

 

*MagPul fanboys might be interested to note that despite the surprising affordability of their products the only products of theirs to have NSNs are PMAGs. That doesn't seem to stop CTRs and the like turning up in field.

Edited by PureSilver
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Forgetting one thing, mate: money. Tons of "Future Weapons" programs have run through at least the US military in the past ten years; most recently the HK45 comes to mind. They're proven to surpass the currently issued weapon, but due to cost they aren't chosen. (SCAR, anyone?) You can't say that what the military picks is necessarily best because it has to not only be "good enough", but also cost-effective. I think if they wanted absolute best we'd see a lot more AFGs and other cool-guy gear around.

 

 

40 years of weapons programs (SALVO, ACR, OICW, XM8, SCAR, HK416 and assorted PDWs) have shown us one thing about the American military: They don't actually want to replace the AR-15, they just want to stick lasers, lights, sights and grenade launchers on it.

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(snip)

 

I understand, mate, but the point I'm making is we have essentially a "limitless" budget in airsoft; our wallets outfit ourselves and that's it. Someone who plays games or simulations of motor sports doesn't want to make-believe drive a Prius; they want a Ferarri. Same thing here. I could build a rifle that's a standard-issue rifle with a few toys, or I could go for a Ferarri.

 

We see guys like Costa, Vickers and Haley running cannons with all kinds of modifications, all aspects that are theory-based and are considered to help a shooter achieve the maximum efficiency and lethality. All I'm saying is that it's funny that we often settle ourselves into loadouts so deeply that we won't step into the comfort zone.

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That's what happens when we want " issued rifles" and everyone either runs a sf, ranger or seal kit. Personally I just love the fde and rail space. Plus it's nice to have a replica of the same rs AR I use. Next project is a stubby AR like a 635 or a reg 14.5 AR

 

In my personal case building a replica of as You call it "issued rifle" wasn't a goal. I just like mk18 rail more than others - and that's all ;).

Two years ago mk18 was not so often seen on airsoft AR-15 clones, what made it more unique.

But I guess it usually works that way - more often we see something, more we get used to it, and sometimes it's start to be boring ;).

 

And because thread already went slightly OT - have You heard about non standard magazines (PMAGs) being banned by US Military ?

Edited by MRF
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I wasn't actually intending to fire up so much hot debate. Obviously no AR is ever going to be all that unique, and the ones that ARE close to unique are usually pretty hideous in my opinion. I've always liked to keep my replicas looking fairly close to issue or a real-world example, but it's more fun when that's not EXACTLY the same as every other one out there.

 

As for the Sentry, yeah, if/when it goes up for sale, I'll post. I might just sell the Sentry to replace it with another Sentry! It's certainly served me well.

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OT - have You heard about non standard magazines (PMAGs) being banned by US Military ?

 

This ban seems incredibly political to me. I've heard it means nothing to our troops who will continue to be using PMAGs for their durability and reliability. Seems to be a case of "Not Invented Here" and the government is getting all butt-hurt about it even though a faulty magazine could mean the life of a soldier.

 

Of course, picture thread needs pictures:

 

Got rid of the annoying finger nub!

GripMod.jpg

 

-Ex

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As AR15s are the Barbie dolls of the rifle world, why not embrace the modularity and try out different things that work for you--ergonomically and/or aesthetically?

 

A couple of mine that haven't been issued to any national armies.

 

M4M16033.jpg

 

M4M16026.jpg

 

But then I also tried this.

 

Inspiration:

 

Laruebrochure.jpg

 

Mine:

 

Larue002.jpg

Edited by mimesis
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I agree that we're all pigeonholing ourselves into building the same weapons just because it's how the real ones are set up, but I don't necessarily think that's bad. The game is called MILSIM (well, at least for some of us) and because of that I like my weapon to at least look close to something a military would issue. I think KAC SR15's and the Larue PredatAR are awesome, but the game we play simulates running around on the battlefield, not a Costa Ludus carbine course. I don't do gear impressions or try to make anyone think I'm SOF, or any better than anybody else, but having my gear and weapons somewhat grounded in reality helps me get my head in the game a little bit more.

 

Different strokes for different folks, I guess.

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As for the Sentry, yeah, if/when it goes up for sale, I'll post. I might just sell the Sentry to replace it with another Sentry! It's certainly served me well.

 

Awesome, I'll be selling some other rifles so I may be interested in picking that one up...

 

imgp0803u.jpg

 

Not a glamour shot, but it's the build as-is.

Edited by Leon Kennedy
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I agree that we're all pigeonholing ourselves into building the same weapons just because it's how the real ones are set up, but I don't necessarily think that's bad. The game is called MILSIM (well, at least for some of us) and because of that I like my weapon to at least look close to something a military would issue. I think KAC SR15's and the Larue PredatAR are awesome, but the game we play simulates running around on the battlefield, not a Costa Ludus carbine course. I don't do gear impressions or try to make anyone think I'm SOF, or any better than anybody else, but having my gear and weapons somewhat grounded in reality helps me get my head in the game a little bit more.

 

Different strokes for different folks, I guess.

 

I like your train of thought, but I am the opposite in a way. I set my airsoft guns up like I set up my RS, same accessories and such (However the airsoft I don't kill myself over brand authenticity). But I don't worry if military units don't use T1s, or mid-length systems, or different grips stocks or the light mounts I prefer etc. I just use what I like for me and don't worry about it.

 

But I understand some others really like the MILSIM factor for the authentic look and I 100% respect that.

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I remember why I came into this thread in the first place >_< Sorry but for some reason I can't edit my post so a double post I'll do. Anybody have any ID on the AR stock in the photo attached? It looks like a vltor to me but pretty different at the same time. It's tripping me out, I've never seen it before I don't believe

post-10744-0-00842700-1338350134_thumb.png

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Got a quick question for you gents: can any of you point me in the direction of a 10+" rail for airsoft that is in FDE/Tan that is not a DD rail please? I am looking to build another upper and would like a tan colored rail. Much obliged! :D

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Got a quick question for you gents: can any of you point me in the direction of a 10+" rail for airsoft that is in FDE/Tan that is not a DD rail please? I am looking to build another upper and would like a tan colored rail. Much obliged! :D

 

Troy (I'm not sure if airsoft replica in FDE/tan/whatever exists) ? PWS (that's what I'm going to do) ? DD Lite Rail, or Omega or OmegaX ?

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