I got my first AR15 the other day. I picked up a Double Star Star 15 556 rifle. I don’t have much training with one and what little I do have I got years ago in the police academy. I was never issued one while I was on patrol. Any way, do you experienced AR folks have any tips or secrets that you wouldn’t mind sharing to help me master the rifle or at least be more efficient. Thanks.
Noobie to the AR15
- Thread starter bspillman
- Start date
What do you want or expect the rifle to do for you? That will determine the worthwhile advice you may get.
To begin, I'd advise you to pull the BCG and lube the gas rings(with CLP or similar), cam pin, and bolt lugs(with heavier grease). Then with the upper separated from the lower, spend a few minutes working the bolt into and out of battery by hand. I often do 100 cycles to "break in" the BCG before firing. Keep these parts well lubed during the initial firing sequence--it WILL smoke from various places but that's fine. Don't worry about the grease-it'll work itself out. The idea is to keep all the working stuff lubed as it finds it's happy place. Don't forget to clean the bore before firing-it's odd how sometimes stuff finds it's way into the bore of new rifles.
Load no more than 2-3 rounds until you determine that all the safety features are working properly.
To begin, I'd advise you to pull the BCG and lube the gas rings(with CLP or similar), cam pin, and bolt lugs(with heavier grease). Then with the upper separated from the lower, spend a few minutes working the bolt into and out of battery by hand. I often do 100 cycles to "break in" the BCG before firing. Keep these parts well lubed during the initial firing sequence--it WILL smoke from various places but that's fine. Don't worry about the grease-it'll work itself out. The idea is to keep all the working stuff lubed as it finds it's happy place. Don't forget to clean the bore before firing-it's odd how sometimes stuff finds it's way into the bore of new rifles.
Load no more than 2-3 rounds until you determine that all the safety features are working properly.
GeorgeandSugar
New member
Information on performing a "function check."
https://www.bevfitchett.us/
army-ar15-car15-m16-rifle/function-check.html
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
https://www.bevfitchett.us/
army-ar15-car15-m16-rifle/function-check.html
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
marine6680
New member
Any useful advice will likely benefit from knowing what you expect from the rifle, and the role it is to fill.
I lube a new firearm a bit on the heavy side, with grease in a lot of places. Just to allow the parts to work together gradually and smoothly.
For defense and plinking put to 100yds or so, I recommend a red dot sight. High end is not a requirement, but a good middle of the road option in the $175-450 range works well and can handle rough handling better than the cheap red dots. You also start getting models with battery life measured in years. You turn it on and leave it on. The Sig Romeo 4 and 5 series, and the Primary Arms Advanced Micro Dot or good options. For a bit more, the Aimpoint PRO is an outstanding red dot. $425 with a QD mount included. (Some sights may need to have an AR height mount added as an option, I usually go for ones labeled lower 1/3 cowitness)
Cowitness is the ability to look through your iron sights and the red dot at the same time. Absolute cowitness has the irons and red dot line up in the center of the optic... Lower 1/3 has the irons line up in the lower half of the optic. I find the lower 1/3 to offer a cleaner sight picture when using the red dot only.
If not for defense, a red dot is still good, but a low power variable scope can make for a fun rifle as well. The Vortex Strike Eagle and the Primary Arms 1-6x are good options. They are around the $300 price point.
Most of the consumer grade or budget AR offerings come with a "carbine" buffer. Most will run better using an "H" or "H2" marked buffer. They weigh more than the carbine one, and help keep the rifle running smoothly. This is not a necessary change, but it can be helpful if you have any issues.
I lube a new firearm a bit on the heavy side, with grease in a lot of places. Just to allow the parts to work together gradually and smoothly.
For defense and plinking put to 100yds or so, I recommend a red dot sight. High end is not a requirement, but a good middle of the road option in the $175-450 range works well and can handle rough handling better than the cheap red dots. You also start getting models with battery life measured in years. You turn it on and leave it on. The Sig Romeo 4 and 5 series, and the Primary Arms Advanced Micro Dot or good options. For a bit more, the Aimpoint PRO is an outstanding red dot. $425 with a QD mount included. (Some sights may need to have an AR height mount added as an option, I usually go for ones labeled lower 1/3 cowitness)
Cowitness is the ability to look through your iron sights and the red dot at the same time. Absolute cowitness has the irons and red dot line up in the center of the optic... Lower 1/3 has the irons line up in the lower half of the optic. I find the lower 1/3 to offer a cleaner sight picture when using the red dot only.
If not for defense, a red dot is still good, but a low power variable scope can make for a fun rifle as well. The Vortex Strike Eagle and the Primary Arms 1-6x are good options. They are around the $300 price point.
Most of the consumer grade or budget AR offerings come with a "carbine" buffer. Most will run better using an "H" or "H2" marked buffer. They weigh more than the carbine one, and help keep the rifle running smoothly. This is not a necessary change, but it can be helpful if you have any issues.
TrueBlue711
New member
Like others before said, decide what you want your rifle to be used for. Home defense, paper punching, hunting, long range shooting (as far as 5.56 goes at least), jack-of-all-trades, etc. Then "upgrade" your AR to those desires. Such as, a scope instead of a red dot for longer range shooting or a flashlight attached if used for home defense.
The cool thing about the AR you either need to be careful of or fully embrace is how modular it is or how easy it is to upgrade. You can get a very basic entry level AR and, as time passes, get better parts you can easily swap out yourself (if you feel comfortable enough to do it). My first AR was roughly $500. After all the upgrades I did to it, it's probably over $1000 now. It all depends on how much time and money you want to put into it for it's intended purpose(s). Just be sure to do the research on what you want to replace and making sure you get the proper replacement parts. The AR market is HUGE in America. Welcome to the club!
The cool thing about the AR you either need to be careful of or fully embrace is how modular it is or how easy it is to upgrade. You can get a very basic entry level AR and, as time passes, get better parts you can easily swap out yourself (if you feel comfortable enough to do it). My first AR was roughly $500. After all the upgrades I did to it, it's probably over $1000 now. It all depends on how much time and money you want to put into it for it's intended purpose(s). Just be sure to do the research on what you want to replace and making sure you get the proper replacement parts. The AR market is HUGE in America. Welcome to the club!
Understand how to be fundamentally safe. There are videos or instructors to help.
Always practice the 3 rules. ALWAYS.
Work on your own groove of getting the rifle from rest....sling held, on a table, etc....to an accurate 25 yd shot down range.
Work on shooting positions....prone, kneeling, standing, sitting and each with a rest or support.
Work on transitions. It is great to make hits on a 25 yd target, but what about 3 at the same distance...how about 5 yds....500 yds.
Lots of topics. Just setup a practice session to mature a skill and then another. Maybe come back to a skill for some rework.
Always practice the 3 rules. ALWAYS.
Work on your own groove of getting the rifle from rest....sling held, on a table, etc....to an accurate 25 yd shot down range.
Work on shooting positions....prone, kneeling, standing, sitting and each with a rest or support.
Work on transitions. It is great to make hits on a 25 yd target, but what about 3 at the same distance...how about 5 yds....500 yds.
Lots of topics. Just setup a practice session to mature a skill and then another. Maybe come back to a skill for some rework.
Folks that have AR's speak highly of having something like these around...spare parts kits for those tiny springs and pins. I like the way the Anderson folk call theirs the "Oops Kit".
http://www.primaryarms.com/anderson-manufacturing-oops-kit-am-556-lw-oops-kit
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1003338067/dpms-ultimate-repair-kit-ar-15
http://www.primaryarms.com/anderson-manufacturing-oops-kit-am-556-lw-oops-kit
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1003338067/dpms-ultimate-repair-kit-ar-15
Yes make more room these things have a way of being like rabbits! Take your time and apply what you think is right from a ton of info out there! All of my AR's are direct impingement so it eats where it poops! Because of that I use nickel boron BCGs as they are so much easier to clean up! i run mine medium wet not too much but definitely not dry! Have fun, experiment with add on dodads, don't buy cheap mags! Be safe shoot safe!
Clean it and then relube it. I use SLIP 2000 EWL to lube it and SLIP Carbon Killer to clean it. The SLIP 2000 Carbon Killer will strip all the carbon and old lube and grime from it. It will have to be re-lubed after the Carbon Killer is used. A little bit of lube goes a long way. Then practice practice and practice.
berettaprofessor
New member
All hail Rickyrick for speaking the plain truth! I bought one only just prior to November 2008 because I didn't want to miss out in case the new administration went gun control crazy. Previously had a Mini14, which I've since sold because it couldn't match the accuracy of any AR. And now I've built 5 or 6, giving a couple away and holding onto others. Originally, I didn't like "black gun" looks and stayed away. Lately, I'm thinking my most recent build, a Stag-AR10, is the most "beautiful" gun I've ever seen. Go figure.
Or a 300BO or similar.
marine6680
New member
Unfortunately... I would say that defense use, and deer hunting are mutually exclusive. Unless you are fine hunting with non magnified optics.
When it comes to optics, I recommend red dots for home defense... And only red dots...
Most who hunt want at least some magnification, and I do not see magnified optics as suitable on a defensive rifle.
Not even the low power variable scopes... They are a compromise optic, and in home defense, there is no need for compromising. You are only needing quick shots at 25yds and under.
For deer hunting, I would suggest 62-69gr softpoint, or ammo designed for medium game.
When it comes to optics, I recommend red dots for home defense... And only red dots...
Most who hunt want at least some magnification, and I do not see magnified optics as suitable on a defensive rifle.
Not even the low power variable scopes... They are a compromise optic, and in home defense, there is no need for compromising. You are only needing quick shots at 25yds and under.
For deer hunting, I would suggest 62-69gr softpoint, or ammo designed for medium game.
Rangerrich99
New member
Don't run steel-cased ammo through your AR! At least not for the first 1,000 rds or so. Steel-case or bi-metal cases can get stuck in the chamber and are a real pain to remove. Once your gun is well-broken in and you also have a decent amount of experience with the platform, if you want to try steel, that's on you. But I wouldn't recommend it to anyone with little to no experience. Too easy to accidentally make things worse.
armoredman
New member
I keep wanting one at the insane low prices I see, then something else will break - washing machine was last month, car is this month. God does not want me buying an AR...
They do, but the do gets bigger too. So, if you have a 2 MOA dot, with a 4x magnifier, you have an 8 MOA dot. Is an 8" dot at 100 yds good enough for aiming? 16" at 200 yds? You see how that becomes less than ideal.
Then throw in that magnifier + Dot Sight + mounts that work and you are looking at $1000 plus. Probably just get another AR, if it were me!
Have fun working through this stuff.