Sources of knowledge on AR-15s

[Bowman_15]

Hey pistol-forum,

I'm beginning to venture into the world of AR-15s and am quickly realizing that there are a lot of things out there involving the platform.

Before I begin to invest in the platform I would like to have a solid working knowledge of how it functions, its various parts, etc but I want to insure that the information I take in is reputable and correct.

I've been reading this forum for quite a while now and have a lot of respect for the knowledge people possess here on the forum. Could you guy help me by providing some links to sources of knowledge on AR-15s that you have found helpful? I'd greatly appreciate any help anyone provides.

Thanks,
Bowman

[JM Campbell]

M4carbine.net has tons of info on the platform.

I would recommend reading a ton in the technical subforum and post little, some can be rough around the edges and the search function works very well for specific questions you may have.

If your looking for handloading info on 556 search out MarkM posts on 77gr 556 loads.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

[SLG]

For the basics of how the AR works, Mike Pannone wrote a good little book on it. I think this is it. I'm not at home so I can't check my copy. http://www.amazon.com/Handbook-Mike-pannone-Erik-Lawrence/dp/0980080304

[rob_s]

Pannone's book is very good.

For the best working knowledge of the AR, doing is knowing.

Colt 6920
Aimpoint PRO
11 NHMTG mags (or Pmags, if you must)
Blue Force Gear VCAS sling
5k rounds of brass-cased ammo

Go

[Jay Cunningham]

Pannone's book is very good.

For the best working knowledge of the AR, doing is knowing.

Colt 6920
Aimpoint PRO
11 NHMTG mags (or Pmags, if you must)
Blue Force Gear VCAS sling
5k rounds of brass-cased ammo

Go

And a bottle of Mobil 1 synthetic.

[Bowman_15]

Thanks for all the info. I've been reading a ton on m4carbine. I'll check the book out as well.

My plan is to start learning by doing soon enough. Just waiting on some cash flow to free up. (Wife and I fresh out of college with a newborn, money is tight lol)

[SeriousStudent]

In addition to the above equipment list, many people find a source of illumination useful when building up a defensive carbine. I'm partial to Surefire lights, personally.

May I recommend reading some of the AAR's for training classes, particularly from classes by several of the SME's here?

And Youtube is a mixed bag at best.

Good luck, and stay safe.

[Chuck Haggard]

Kyle Lamb's "Green Eyes, Black Rifles" is another good read.

[1slow]

lightfighter.com has a lot of info.
Look at what has run trouble free in high round count classes.

[LittleLebowski]

Pannone's book is very good.

For the best working knowledge of the AR, doing is knowing.

Colt 6920
Aimpoint PRO
11 NHMTG mags (or Pmags, if you must)
Blue Force Gear VCAS sling
5k rounds of brass-cased ammo

Go

Agreed.

[Drang]

I hesitate to mention it, but there is good technical information available in the technical fora on arfcom, although site-wide the signal-to-noise ratio is... low. Very low, in some cases.

The "How to assemble x, y, z components" posts and threads are very good.

(Also, anecdotal evidence says "Speak not disparagingly of paid sponsors lest ye be ban-hammered.")

[Wayne Dobbs]

Take a long hot bath after you spend portions of your life on Barfcom...you'll be dirty.

Good advice on Kyle's book and Mike Pannone's book. If you can get in a Dean Caputo diagnostics course and if you take a Pat Rogers class, you'll gain more knowledge in a short time than lots of wasted time on the Internet. Buy top quality up front and you'll be better off. I am one of the Colt Armorer instructors and will be glad to help you off line with resources and information. One last piece of advice: please don't start asking for information from serious professionals (which describes MANY of the folks on this forum) about what to buy and then waste their time trying to save money by purchasing the crap they told you to avoid. To steal a Pat Rogers saying, "you can have high quality, inexpensive and quick delivery...pick which two"

[BWT]

I liked Green Eyes and Black Rifles; I lent it to a friend considering AR's.

A lot of good information.

Some of the information on things like rails, etc. will probably be out of date in those books (not their application but specific model recommendations). However, I'd echo the recommendations of others on which guns, magazines, and sights, etc. to use, and I'd avoid things like lights, rails, or other large dollar items until you have a workable knowledge about the guns.

I'd offer either a Colt 6920 or BCM Mid Length/Carbine Rifle like the others. I'd also recommend BCM because it's what I have the most direct experience with, and I've never had a malfunction or failure in a BCM rifle except maybe 2-3 rounds that were attributed to an old military tilting green follower. I replaced the followers with Magpul anti-tilt followers I haven't had an issue since, and that was 2009 so 6 years ago and thousands of rounds later across about 4 rifles. The military has also switched to anti-tilt followers (detailed in the article below).

I like the Magpul followers, and speaking of Mike Pannone. Here's an article (that I think Chuck posted in a different thread) on magazines by Mike Pannone.

http://soldiersystems.net/2015/06/20/gunfighter-moment-mike-pannone-28/

He's pretty thorough, and extremely knowledgeable.

[ChrisLapre]

Take Wayne Dobbs up on his offer to learn from him. Mike Pannone is the other guy you want to learn the AR platform from. Either of these two will cover pretty much any information you'll need. Anyone else is you get info from is an added benefit.

Chris

[Bowman_15]

Thanks for all the great advice and suggestions everyone. I do greatly appreciate it and am following up with each suggestion.

Wayne I especially appreciate your offer and would love to take you up on it. On the note of equipment, I am the type that buys quality once and be done with it. I've been looking at the BCM Reece-16 model currently. All of this knowledge I'm gathering from you guys is helping me to understand the nuances between different rifles and components.

Thanks again everyone

[Chance]

If you want to learn the names of parts, and operation cycle, pick up a copy of 'Gun Disassembly 2'. It lets you digitally assemble and disassemble the rifle, names all the parts, and animates the firing cycle. The M16 model isn't free, but there are a few sample models provided so you can get the gist of how the program works. Absolutely worth a look.

I would also recommend Vuurwapen Blog (http://www.vuurwapenblog.com). Andrew Touhy doesn't post much, but he knows his stuff.


I am one of the Colt Armorer instructors and will be glad to help you off line with resources and information.

I would totally be up for an armorer's class in the D/FW area. The ones I've looked at aren't open enrollment.

[LittleLebowski]

M16/M4 Handbook 2nd Edition by Mike Pannone and Erik Lawrence (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0990513106/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0990513106&linkCode=as2&tag=ratio07-20)

Green Eyes, Black Rifles by Kyle Lamb (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OHXCNOM/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00OHXCNOM&linkCode=as2&tag=ratio07-20)

[Wayne Dobbs]

Thanks for all the great advice and suggestions everyone. I do greatly appreciate it and am following up with each suggestion.

Wayne I especially appreciate your offer and would love to take you up on it. On the note of equipment, I am the type that buys quality once and be done with it. I've been looking at the BCM Reece-16 model currently. All of this knowledge I'm gathering from you guys is helping me to understand the nuances between different rifles and components.

Thanks again everyone

If you buy a BCM rifle you'll be very well set. I like their 16" mid-length guns a great deal and Paul Buffoni (the owner) is a stellar guy.

[LittleLebowski]

"just buy a BCM" is solid advice.

[JohnO]

Excellent article by Mike Pannone.

http://www.defensereview.com/the-big-m4-myth-fouling-caused-by-the-direct-impingement-gas-system-makes-the-m4-unreliable/

[Bowman_15]

Excellent article JohnO. I appreciate it. I've learned so much in the past few days and greatly appreciate it everyone.

BCM seems to be a gun that I can buy and simply use with little to no issue and will most likely be what I decide to buy. The other options were Daniel Defense currently.

This forum never fails to surprise me with how helpful and informative the member are on the site.