The Official "Shooter's" Thread

[Cholewa]

I thought you were supposed to wrap the sling around your forearm and just hold the rail. The tension from the strap gives you the control or something like that.

Either that or wrap it and hold it where the clip attaches for the sling.

I guess a front grip just makes it more comfortable?

(I don't know sht about guns)

[jledford]

With this "angled forward grip" you are using it to align your hand in the same spot and basically hold the rail vs a vertical pistol grip. You can also pull back on it to keep everything snug on your shoulder.

I use the Magpul sling which most of the time I leave in the single point configuration so no sling out front to wrap around your arm.

[HPEVOX]

I know the sling helps steady, but it's not comfortable to me at all holding it like that.

[rodhx]

I thought you were supposed to wrap the sling around your forearm and just hold the rail. The tension from the strap gives you the control or something like that.

Either that or wrap it and hold it where the clip attaches for the sling.

I guess a front grip just makes it more comfortable?

(I don't know sht about guns)

Your thinking is basically correct in many cases, but not for an AR. For these guns "wrapping the sling" and putting tension on the barrel is bad in every way since the forward sling swivel is attached directly to the barrel. This puts inconsistent tension on the barrel resulting in terrible accuracy. To really shoot an AR accurately using a sling you have to install a float tube that runs the length of the handguard and relocate the sling swivel to it. This was the universal first step when using an AR in the types of competition I used to shoot. Front grips of any type would serve no purpose in that arena. Neither do optics, btw. Everything was/is iron sights.

Where you place your forward hand is somewhat dependent on the rifle's balance and also the firing position. I tend to place my forward hand just in front of the magazine well if shooting from a standing or sitting position. I have seen many accomplished shooters place their forward hand directly under the magazine when in the standing position, but I never got comfortable with that.

Those grips and other toys Heath has installed are more tactical in nature, making the gun easier to handle and/or shoot on the move.

[HPEVOX]

Yeah my .243 barrel is floated and it has no goodies. Just a plain black synthetic stock and a cheap scope. But you can make the holes touch at 100 yards easily using a bench vise. Most of the stuff I'm doing here is for aesthetics really, besides the charging handle. Most important part of an "accurate gun" is who's shooting it. Check out some of the guys shooting aspirins out of the air and dimes while hip firing their 2" snub nose revolvers.. Ridiculous lol. Longer barrel is more accurate theory gets thrown out the window there.

[rodhx]

"using a bench vise"? puh-leeze

When I was shooting frequently my AR would put 10 rounds inside an inch at 100 yards, iron sights from the prone position and using a sling properly. Now I doubt that I can even see the front sight...getting old sucks!

However, I do plan to use my old-age eyesight as an excuse to trick out my next AR similar to what Heath & Jerry are talking about.

[rodhx]

I know the sling helps steady, but it's not comfortable to me at all holding it like that.

To quote one of my old rifle instructors, if you are comfortable in your sling you are doing it wrong!

Sling use when standing only provides marginal benefits re:steadying. It's when you drop to prone and REALLY cinch it to your arm that you make it work. I shot my AR so much from that position that I shot it better that way than I could from a bench.

[HPEVOX]

How heavy was your trigger Rod?

[Cholewa]

I tend to place my forward hand just in front of the magazine well if shooting from a standing or sitting position. I have seen many accomplished shooters place their forward hand directly under the magazine when in the standing position, but I never got comfortable with that.

Those grips and other toys Heath has installed are more tactical in nature, making the gun easier to handle and/or shoot on the move.

That's the other way I thought I had seen people doing it, hand just in front of the magazine or even pinky/ring finger wrapped around it.

I figured it was mostly bling with all the optics and handles and this that and the other. That's what the AR is great for right? Accepting 20 billion different accessories.


If I were to ever buy a fancy pants rifle like that, I would probably skip all of that and learn to use it the way it was built, iron sights (or are they polycarbonate?) and all. I'm a fan of Less is More.

[jatow]

For anyone interested:

Project Appleseed has some local range dates coming up this Spring. Proper sling use, breath control, positioned firing and timed Marksman shooting profiles compressed into 2 days. During the lunch breaks they review the events of April 19, 1775 that began the Revolutionary War.

Rifle type and caliber are up to you. They prefer open sight but you can use optics if necessary. You'll need a Garand/M14 style sling for whatever you bring.

http://www.appleseedinfo.org/search-...tename=Alabama

[rodhx]

Heath, rules dictated the trigger weight. I *think* it is 7lbs, perhaps 7.5, two stage. I shot NRA Highpower matches in the Service Rifle category. Mine is an old parts gun, but trigger, sights, & float tube were done by a noted AR mechanic near Panama City.

Never heard of Project Appleseed, Andy. That looks pretty cool.

Cholewa is correct to a degree that the AR is great for all the bling. What the general public doesn't realize is just how accurate a good AR can be. While our local ranges dictated reduced range matches of 100 yards, a full-size NRA Highpower match is shot at 200, 300, & 600 yards and AR or AR style rifles have ruled the roost for years now. And yes, that is 600 yards with .223 (albeit with heavier than normal bullets) and iron sights

We have some great .22 "fun" matches at my club. If it wasn't for all the silly car stuff taking up the weekends I'd still be shooting them

[jledford]

We have some great .22 "fun" matches at my club. If it wasn't for all the silly car stuff taking up the weekends I'd still be shooting them

Don't forget the fact that it's nearly impossible to find ammo

[HPEVOX]

Dang 7lbs is heavy. 2-3lbs is where it's at lol just feel it touch and begin to squeeze and it's been sent.
I'm keeping the iron sights on. Gotta show old man Rod I can shoot with the irons.


Yeah you can NOT find .22 ammo anywhere. I have like 200 rounds of some cheap subsonic ammo. The store where I got the AR said stuff is slowly beginning to trickle back in though. They didn't have any 5.56 ARs for the longest, only had .22LR AR style with no ammo for it. So it's improving, just slowly. They had more 5.56 ammo than .22LR lol.

Why am I on here??? I have to be awake in 5 hours...

[Cholewa]

Are you guys talking about the typical .22 for "hunting" (squirrels?) or the high velocity round?

[jledford]

Im talking about both .22LR and .223/5.56. Right now you can't find either of those in stock anywhere in Auburn. I also can't find any online at the normal retailers where I've purchased in bulk before.