What are your "must haves" for your go to "bump in the night" home defense AR 15, I mean serious use, protecting your life and your family members' lives from ruthless pieces of shit/miscreants?

BUIS? Optic? Certain mfgr/capacity mag? Light? Mil spec trigger vs Geissele etc? Locking trigger pins? Adjustable gas block or not? Grip angle? Sling? Night vision? Flash hider? Suppressed? Ammo? Weight vs balance? Other?

I ask to learn (because I trust Sig Forum members a helluva lot)! Thanks. Tom

This is a close range weapon that is likely to be used indoors.

Optic - red dot with long battery life that is always on. Aimpoint or Trijicon. I prefer lower 1/3 co-witness mounts.

BUIS - fixed BUIS that can be used instantly in case of red dot failure or dot wash out.

Gas Block - non-adjustable, preferable pinned or otherwise attached so that it's not going to come loose.

Grip angle - something like a Mapgpul K2 so you can keep the LOP short and tight and keep your arms tucked in.

Ammo - 55 grain XM193 is fine. Inexpensive and you can both train with it and use it for self defense.

Flash Hider - yes, one that works well, A2 is fine but I prefer other options.

Suppresssor - if you don't like not being deaf and don't wear earplugs all the time, then yes. Coordinate this with your choice of muzzle device for QD.

Light - bright white and reliable. I like Surefire Dual Fuel with rechargeables, but there are other option (but not Chinese made stuff)

Locking trigger pins - no, not ever on anything.

Trigger - RELIABLE and flinch tolerant. Geissele SSA two stage is outstanding.

Night vision - no. You are defending your home not infiltrating a building at night. Turn the damn lights on if you have to get up to investigate anything. Use your weaponlight if power is out or you have to go outside at night.

Sling - 2-point. I like Magpul MS3 or MS4 that can be quickly changed from 2-point to single-point.

Mags - PMAG 30 Gen 3.

Quality Red Dot - Faster acquisition, better shooting from suboptimal positions, and the ability to focus on the target instead of the sights.

Backup Iron Sights - Murphy comes calling at really inopportune times.

Weapon Mounted Light - Gun Safety Rule #3: Always be sure of your target, including what's in front of it and beyond it.

Sling - Like a holster for your rifle, for times when you need both hands free.

I want something simple, lightweight and uncluttered. Simple to use.

I could be convinced that nothing other than a carry handle with fixed front sight and a light with a tape switch mounted to a standard round handguard and done. That's it.

A WML and a sling

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
A WML and a sling

KISS, totally agree. I know you're set on iron sights only for CQB, but for me, I wouldn't mind having a RDS, although not absolutely necessary. Of course, reliability is always top.

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
A WML and a sling

KISS, totally agree. I know you're set on iron sights only for CQB, but for me, I wouldn't mind having a RDS, although not absolutely necessary. Of course, reliability is always top.

I'll go one more and say that if it's inside the home, I'm more than confident with my ability to point and shoot and 10'-15'. Everything would likely happen in a split second so I'm doubtful I'll be deploying BUIS during a home invasion.

I'm not advocating for NO sights, but I think in an actual scenerio the likelyhood of both having a red dot fail, and having opportune time to deploy your BUIS is about zero.

Maybe i'm underestimating what size houses yall live in! Q might have that 10K sq ft house and need a 4x to see the kitchen from his hallway

ETA: Obviously the weight of BUIS isnt gonna do anything if you got a spare set, but just not a MUST-Have if I have a red dot I trust.

1. WML
2. Sling
3. Some sort of optic you trust

WML and sling. You gotta be able to see and you need to be able to free a hand if needed.

A light and a sling. An optic comes in third, but it isn't as important to me as the first two.

Reliable gun, run it and make sure, don't just rely on the rollmark.
A light so you can ID and not shoot the wrong person.
Red dot (or 1x prism if you have an astigmatism in your dominant eye) Nothing is quicker, you're not doing HD at 300m.
BUIS
A sling

Dont overcomplicate it. I'd recommend electronic ears. Very important on an HD carbine, know and confirm your offset for shooting upclose.

In order of importance-

Light.
Sling.
RDS. (I would still keep the BUIS)

You can get away with not having a red dot, but the newer ones are sooo much smaller and lighter than the old Aimpoints and EOTechs!

Manufacturers? - RELIABLE!!!! It goes "BANG" every time you shoot it!
Magazine? Again, RELIABLE!!!


Triggers, grip angle, suppressed....
Don't really matter.

What matters is: Is it reliable? Do you know how to use it accurately?

MOTAC RDS
BUIS

Handheld light.

Thank you all, very valuable input.

Light and a sling is all you need.

Carried one for a LE career and an M16.

Another vote for a weapon-mounted light and a sling.

Training

quote:

Locking trigger pins

?

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:

quote:

Locking trigger pins

?

Sorry. Anti-walk, I think is the usual phrase. Little screws hold them in place.

WML, Aimpoint, sling.

Just a quick note on the Antiwalk or locking fire control group ("trigger") pins. If they are walking there is a fundamental issue with your gun. Either the spring is not falling into the notch in the pin and is under the pin or it is sitting on top of something else. Alternatively, your pin holes are enlarged or depending on the lower you may have the wrong size pins. If your hammer pin walks then your Jspring is likely broken.