Old Rugged Cross, congrats on winning. Please check your inbox for my email. Thanks for playing.

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After moving to a free state, I was ready to get my first real AR; I didn't want to settle for a pseudo-AR that I was limited to in California. When I went to a LGS where a couple of weeks prior, I saw an IWI pistol AR that was on my wish list, I saw it was gone. That made me decide I should go look for an AR I can live with and buy it soon. So in late October, I ordered a Battle Arms Development AR. Then it was such a pleasant surprise to find out I won 12131's generous Veteran's Day giveaway.

Below are pics of how I outfitted both rifles. First is Q's Spike's Tactical.

I put a Surefire M600 light at the front. I chose this because the mounting screw holes are more to the rear to place the lens closer to the muzzle. I used a Thorntail Offset Light Mount to further push the lens out front.
I put a Guntec QD Handstop and a BCM KAG grip at the bottom to help me have a consistent hand placement and it makes my support hand feel secure.


For optics, I have an Eotech EXPS2 Circle Dot. I understand for home defense, an optic may not be necessary but that's just one of the uses I have for these rifles. The bottom of the 68 MOA circle becomes the aiming point at distances of 7 yards. I have a Troy folding rear sight because I like that the default sight when it's deployed is the bigger peep hole. I have a Vickers Padded Sling from Blue Force held taut by their sling sleeve.


Here's the whole rifle.


For the Battle Arms rifle, I have a Streamlight TLR RM2 mounted on an offset. I can activate it by my thumb either directly or on the pressure switch mounted on the opposite side. I have a Troy folding front sight that I can flip up without moving my hand. On the bottom, I have an AT3 Handstop paired with a BCM KAG grip.


On top, I have an Eotech EXPS2 Green backed up by a Troy folding rear sight. On the bottom is stowed an Eotech 5x magnifier should I ever need it. It satisfies my OCD tendencies. I have a full set of Mizuno blade irons and when I say full, I mean I also have the One Iron and the Two Iron. The sling is also a Vickers but not padded also held taut by their sling sleeve.


Here's the second rifle.


Between the two rifles, I bought 10 each of HexMag Carbon Fiber magazines, PMAG Gen 3 Windows, and Surefeed Okay metal magazines. Since you've read this far into my post, I also want to offer you a chance to get $77 as a way to pay forward a little bit and as a wish of good fortune for all of us in 2022. It will be by Zelle or Paypal, your choice. If you want to be included in the random selection and as a call back to a famous thread that came before I joined, simply put the following phrase in your post: "All you need now is a tactical signal mirror." I would have liked to make it a higher amount but outfitting two rifles takes its toll plus I'm having to pay a high enrollment price to get an education on body armor. Seven and a half pounds per plate on paper is way different than seven and a half pounds per plate on your body. I'm having to explore my options as the company wouldn't take back the plates.

In trying to solve my question I posted on this thread: How to keep AR Mags on me?, I decided the optimal solution is to have both types.

The bandoleer would be for quickly getting something on me if I have the time. I got one from IC13.


I learned that body armor is more for when SHTF situations when you do have some time to put it on. I got one each for my wife and I. But, as I mentioned before, reading 7.5 lbs per plate on paper is way easier than wearing 7.5 lbs per plate on your body. I'm now exploring ShotStop which is 4 lbs per plate for a level 4 plate. Because I figure if I'm getting shot at while wearing the 7.5 lb plates and unable to move, the last thing on my mind would be congratulating myself on how much money I saved on using steel plates.


So Merry Christmas to all and a happy new year. And since safety is always important, I also bought locks for the ARs for when I'm not around.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Rey HRH,

congrats Rey, all you need now is a tactical mirror

I missed you won an AR Karma. That is awesome. Congrats on that as well.

You have some interesting add on's. Let us know how they work out once you get some time behind the wheel.

Happy new year.

Sweet, "All you need now is a tactical signal mirror."

Please tell us more about the lock... dont recall seeing one like that before.

And a big congrats on becoming free!

quote:

Originally posted by Excam_Man:
Please tell us more about the lock... dont recall seeing one like that before.

And a big congrats on becoming free!

I really wasn't trying to be political but I saw the lock from the same place I bought the bandoleer. I figure it was a good idea since I don't have a long gun safe but "Let's Go Brandon" was the only one in stock when I placed the order. I've since gotten a push button release lock that's chained to an anchor that I got from Warrior Poet Society.

IC-Lock for AR15

Congrats on the Karma! All you need now is a tactical mirror!

All you need now is a tactical mirror!

Congratulations on winning the karma, and good job at outfitting two nice rifles!

Looking good. (No mirror needed... I'll let someone else snag that. )

Other than satisfying your OCD tendencies, could you explain your thought process on mounting that magnifier on the bottom of the handguard?

It looks like it's in a flip-to-side mount. As a result, if you're wanting to keep it stowed somewhere in case it's needed, but where the unmagnified Eotech and/or BUIS are still usable, then mounting it behind the optic and just keeping it flipped to the side would be the better configuration.

That way, your 1x Eotech is usable as-is. And if you ever want to use the magnifier, it's just a quick flip to get it into position, rather than having to unmount and remount it (and potentially try to adjust the diopter on the fly).

Importantly, this will also prevent it from getting banged around as much. The top of the upper receiver gets abused a lot less than the bottom of the handguard. Your expensive magnifier will be taking the brunt of being knocked around on barricades, gear, etc.

For example, try this: Put on your plate carrier and bandoleer, and sling your rifle across your body with your VCAS sling. Now let go of the rifle like you're transitioning to a handgun, or needing both hands free for another task. Notice how that magnifier bumps into and drags across all that gear, plates, spare magazines, etc...

Plus, I suspect you'd be happier with the balance of the rifle if you move it to the more typical position behind the optic. Extra weight further back on top of the receiver is easier to deal with than extra weight out on the handguard.

Rey, I would appreciate your comparison of the two WML's you have. I am thinking of one and am looking right now. Thanks

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
Looking good. (No mirror needed... I'll let someone else snag that. )

Other than satisfying your OCD tendencies, could you explain your thought process on mounting that magnifier on the bottom of the handguard?

Having the magnifier itself is what satisfies my OCD; when I get something that’s part of a “set,” I’d like to have the whole set.

My thinking was that the magnifier is only secondary; I’ll be shooting at closer targets first and foremost before I’d be shooting at farther targets where it’d be nice to have a closer look. Therefore, just about all the time, the magnifier will be flipped to the side hanging there and blocking my view to the right. So I thought I could stow it beneath where it’s there when I do need it and if I do, I should have the extra time to position it.

It’ll either be the bandolier or the plate carrier for me, not both. But you do raise a good point. I stopped working on the carrier until I get lighter plates. Then I’ll see what happens with the carrier loaded with magazines. I know I’ve not seen anywhere where the magnifier is “stowed” away but I just went through my mental exercise just like I moved the pressure pad to the offset where I could thumb down on it without having to remove my thumb off the top of the guard. I’m not invested in how I’ve thought things through; it’s just me best guess. Thanks for bringing it up because I thought it’d be safer down there except I didn’t think about the rifle just hanging and banging around.

I don’t mind reversing what I did. I’ll go to a basic ar class when spring comes and go from there.

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
Rey, I would appreciate your comparison of the two WML's you have. I am thinking of one and am looking right now. Thanks

My choice was all about placement. On the Battle Arms, I originally had a Streamlight TLR RM1 sitting directly on top of rail in front of the folding front sight. I figure all i need is 500 lumens and it was placed optimally. There's even a notch on top that could be used as a front sight. Except the more I look through the Eotech, the more I noticed it took a space on the bottom of the viewing window. So I moved it to the 10 o'clock position which gave me all my viewing window. But then, I figured, if it was longer, then I'd be able to operate it with my support hand. So I switched it with a Streamlight TL RM2 which is longer because it takes two batteries for 1000 lumens.

The Surefire is also a placement decision for me. The TLR RMs would have the lens at the end of the rail far behind the muzzle. The Streamlight equivalent of the Surefire has the mounting screws in the middle. The Surefire is a 1500 lumen.

My first choice would be the Streamlight TLR either RM1 or RM2. It comes with the remote switch and I like how it works in that you can press it for momentary or click it to stay on. It's better than the pressure pads with a different spot for momentary on and a separate button for staying on/off.

Nice AR’s sir!

They both look pretty "down to business", but I'll echo Rogue's comments about the magnifier placement. It's designed to sit behind the optic and flip out of the way, so that's a method of use that's far from the original design intent.

One other thing that I can foresee happening is you slamming your hand into it after doing an emergency reload and going back to the forearm with your support hand. The magnifier dangling under there is a big ole obstacle right in the path that your hand would probably take. Looks like it would breed a lot of inefficiency to avoid hitting it.

Plus it's more weight (and clutter) at a weird point on the gun.

My .02.

Thank you Rey, ):
Fenix pd35

I will email you.