M4 The Most Customizable Weapon Available

While the pre-cursor to the M4, the M16 weapon system got off to a rocky start when first introduced to US Forces in the Vietnam War, it quickly evolved to become the favorite of those who use it.

The M16 weapon system has also served the longest of any rifle in modern US military history, with the introduction of the HK's version of the M4, the 416, a piston driven upper, similar in function to the G3 or AK replaces the weakest part of this weapon and makes it a proven winner and will ensure a place in NATO Countries for years to come.

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The M16 saw little change after the faults of the original M16 were corrected the military introduced the M16A1, which was far more reliable than the original. When the A2 came out a more soldier friendly iron sights were made standard. Fast forward 15 years and the M4 started making its first appearance and revolutionized the weapon system.

With the introduction of the M4 A3 flat top and the quadrail, the war fighter could now customize his personal weapon to mission specific tasks. He could now choose from a variety of optics, tactical lighting systems, laser range finders and sights, and a more aerodynamically friendly vertical grip.

On the civilian side the AR, the single shot M4, has undergone the same revolution. Since almost everyone who owns an AR pays for upgrades out of there own pocket we are far more savvy about how we build up our guns. Still though there is little we can’t do to “tac out” our rifles to our needs. One of the great things about the AR is how diverse of a weapons system it is.

As long as I have a lower, bolt carrier and bolt I can change to any other barreled upper. So a rife can within a matter of seconds go from a CQB styled M4 to a reach out and touch someone or something heavy barreled “varmint” gun, all with the same caliber ammo. While the US Military only employs the A2 and M4 for conventional forces, for the law enforcement and civilian market you are only limited by your imagination and the National Firearms Act (NFA).

Even though the AR is based on the 5.56 mm round it is capable of accepting a host of calibers, the most popular including 7.62x39, 9mm, 22 lr, 6.8 spc. Some have adapted the AR to shoot heavier and longer cartages the original lower is unable to hold ie .308 and 30-06, look at a rifle called the AR-10. Arma-lite makes this rifle and it is a good one, but you will pay for it.

The 6.8 SPC round is a long awaited answer to the apparent lack of knock down power the AR possesses. This round has 80% of the knock down power and 50% of the recoil of the .308 it certainly looks promising, but I don’t know if it has passed the Wal-Mart test yet ( If you cant get it at Wal-Mart you don’t need it ).

As with any new round you are going to certainly pay more for it and it is not going to be as readily available. Only time will tell if 6.8 SPC is going to hang around but indications are good so far that it will. If you get this one you will need a new bolted upper, not a whole new gun but again that is what makes the AR so damn cool.

There are many companies that specialize in AR build-ups having gone through this process several times it is far cheaper to build an AR than to BUY one. When you build your AR you can customize it to whatever you want / need it to be or do. When you BUY your AR you are going to pay far more in sales tax, you are going to have to tear it down and build it back to what you desire. Fortunately there are several AR Kit companies:

BE FORWARNED!!

This lower is not that much more expensive and legally protects you, just in case, and if you build an AR pistol and put a quad rail on it you CAN NOT put a vertical grip on it- again it violates NFA- this goes for all pistols.

For any AR novice if there are any lingering questions chances are AR15.com has the answer. All law abiding citizens should have access to a weapon like an AR or AK. Since 1990 alone there have been several events that prove my point –

1. LA Riots – The Korean store owners owned semi – auto rifles like the AR and M4 saved their places of business, not by killing but by presenting the fact that they owned the tools that could apply deadly force. The wrongdoers simply moved on while LAPD allowed the situation to get out of hand.

2. Hurricane Andrew – As with LA Miami PD could not handle the number of calls, even to violent crime, so the citizen who could protect their homes and family faired far better than those who could not. Even after Bush 41 sent in federal troops, by law they could not go armed with ammo as this violates Posse Comitatus – essentially becoming a toothless tiger to stop looters and criminals. It was reported many soldiers had there A2’s stolen by thugs with guns – and ammo.

3. Hurricane Katrina / Rita – If you can’t figure this one out you need a sling shot not an M4 / AR /AK. One of the good things that did come out of this situation is many states have passed laws making it illegal to confiscate guns from the law abiding public in times of emergency – again justifying the acquiring of an AR.

Essentially every day Joe Blow US citizen should hope and pray he will never need to go live in a situation that requires an AR. While any gun is a blast to shoot, epically an AR, An AR should be treated like an emergency preparedness kit, you hope you will never need it but you should always have it.

If I am moving to Kansas I will always hope I will never have a tornado come and visit my home but you can bet your ass I am going to have a tornado shelter. This also comes down as a matter of self reliance. If you depend on the government for your constant safety and well being reasons 1-3 should give you a wake up call.

Let’s not forget that it took FEMA 5 days to get potable water to the Super Dome, the place the government told the citizens of New Orleans they could come to “safely weather” the storm – this is the same government you trust in time of emergency ?!?!

If you live in the greater Nashville area and you would like to become more acquainted with an AR or AK visit our Corporate Events page and we would love for you and your family to come shooting with us. Depending on what you think we can even build a gun for you that you can enjoy shooting at the range, and if, God forbid, the day comes where you may need it to protect you, your loved ones, and even your neighbors. You will be trained and confident that you will be able to do so.

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