When Do You Have Too Much Stuff on Your Longarm

[Wyatt Earp SASS#1628L]

I'm sure we've all seen that infamous picture of the AR15 with every accessory but the kitchen sink. But when do you reach the limit of functional/necessary to "I just want it". I've had this Hatsan Escort MP-A (Benelli M4 clone) for over ten years but just recently decided to add a few options, in addition to trying my hand a camo painting. So, I added a front sling plate, flashlight on a pic rail attached to the barrel/mag clamp, a sling and a stock pack that holds three shells in loops plus ten more in the pouch. I think these additions add to the functionality and usability of the shotgun.

 

Obvious additions could be a red dot and a side saddle (can't have too much ammo). I don't think a red dot would add much over the stock sights, but those Esstac velcro side saddles look promising. Another addition could include a forward grip of some sort.

 

I know keeping it simple is almost always the best policy but a few functional additions never hurt, right?

[DeaconKC]

The folks I have known who were "genuine" operators, measured and judged every ounce added to a gun. Appropriate sights and a good light were generally the limit. Snipers would go heavier, but they weren't lugging it all over the country.

[Chickasaw Bill SASS #70001]

oz. = Lbs.    LBS. - PAIN 

 

  be sure ya want to pack it 

 

  CB 

[Wyatt Earp SASS#1628L]

At 67 I don't think I’ll be doing much "operating" and don't those types usually carry a buttload of stuff on their person?

I'm just talking about all the stuff you CAN add, but when does it get to the point of ridiculous?

[Blackwater 53393]

I like a light on my tactical shotgun, but extra ammo makes the gun heavier.  The extended magazine is a good addition.  I carry extra shells in a pouch or on a belt at waist level.  That way they don’t tire me as quickly and don’t put extra stress on the torso.

 

A rifle gets a green laser and good reticle sight with a red dot. I may or may not add a light. Again, extra ammunition, packaged appropriately and carried around waist level.

Mostly, I’m like a badger!  I’d try to back myself in somewhere that’s easily defended and keep stuff within easy reach, so most of the extras wouldn’t need to be mounted.

 

 

[Texas Joker]

Rifle came with iron sights. I added night vision on a raised bolt cover so I can still use irons and an illuminator.  Sling cause that's a rifle holster, I use the mag as forward handle if I am not using the sling in triangle with hand on foforearmextra mags go on the lbe along with other stuff.

 

But it's YOUR gun. Decorate it however you want.

[PowderRiverCowboy]

Most I have is basic  optics / sights ,  Deployed also used a AN/Peq16  along with optics and scout light , pistol and a knife  I laugh at all the wannabes thinking they need a crapload carry that thing all day . 

[LawMan Mark, SASS #57095L]

My 3gun AR has a red dot sight and a set of backup iron sights.  

 

My SBR (10.5" Spikes Tactical) I carry for serious social engagements has an Inforce Weapon Light, an Aimpoint Micro H-1 red dot, a set of 45 degree back up iron sights, and a detachable sling.  It is loaded with a 20 round magazine of 62 grain soft point, with four 30 round mags in the carry case for backup.  

[Il Duce]

You ultimately add whatever is needed to get the job done. My AR has a red dot, flashlight, and vertical grip. That's it. It was a patrol rifle which required me to have lighting for building searches, and mid range capability. The vertical, nice to hang onto for stability (was hollow and didn't add much weight). My biggest weight, the magazine. Noticeable when you're posted up covering a doorway from behind a tree for 30+ minutes.

 

So, put on what you need that doesn't sacrifice performance. Home defense, you're likely to not need much. I'd probably have a light on just about anything (had one on my pistol too) because it's more effective than an extra hand hold if you need to ID a target or end up in low light.

 

I'll never have a laser on my firearms. Just don't see the need for it. I'm fast and accurate with a red dot. I've also never had a red dot on a pistol, don't really understand that either. My pistol has night sights, so I'm good there. Used it for all of my LE time. 

 

To each is own when it comes to firearms. You'll see all sorts of stuff.

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

I get by with a blade front sight and a full buckhorn or steel peep sight on my rifles and get by just fine.

[Utah Bob #35998]

17 hours ago, Wyatt Earp SASS#1628L said:

At 67 I don't think I’ll be doing much "operating" and don't those types usually carry a buttload of stuff on their person?

I'm just talking about all the stuff you CAN add, but when does it get to the point of ridiculous?

Our motto was “Travel light. Freeze at night”.

We carried nothing but essential gear. I was known to break pencils in half to save weight. 

[Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967]

Here's one my son built up. 

 

Just north of eleven pounds, and no nonsensical stuff hanging off it - just a muzzle brake and a whopper of a scope. 

 

And a long, heavy, 6.5 Grendel barrel.  

 

"It's my 300 yard coyote gun, Dad.  Or 400.  Or 500...."  

 

 

 

[PowderRiverCowboy]

4 hours ago, Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967 said:

Here's one my son built up. 

 

Just north of eleven pounds, and no nonsensical stuff hanging off it - just a muzzle brake and a whopper of a scope. 

 

And a long, heavy, 6.5 Grendel barrel.  

 

"It's my 300 yard coyote gun, Dad.  Or 400.  Or 500...."  

 

 

 

 My 6.5 creed I built night scope and hood to a confirmed 1800 meters 

[Crazy Gun Barney, SASS #2428]

When I first got an AR, I started putting all the cool stuff on it. Light, laser, vert grip, tactical scope, all kinds of stuff. And it was fun. And then I started pulling stuff off a bit at a time. Right now it has nothing but a flip up rear sight. I don’t need anything more than that. 

[Pat Riot]

This is one of my shotguns. Love this Adaptive Tactical stock and forend. The lights is from them  too. It has a side saddle for 6 shells as well. 
 

 

This is my CA legal AR-15. A Sig Romeo 5 red dot and Magpul BUIS (not on in this photo). That’s it. 
I have already picked out the stock, grip and flash suppressor for when I leave this state. 

[Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967]

I went for simple and basic.  

 

Still need a sling and a pointy thing.  

 

[DeaconKC]

My old 870 is pretty basic and homely. Synthetic stock, Vang safety, fiber optic front sight, 7 round magazine, sling and a Surefire light.

[PowderRiverCowboy]

7 minutes ago, Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967 said:

I went for simple and basic.  

 

Still need a sling and a pointy thing.  

 

The good ole A1 , I have mil issue 20 rd Colt magazines for them with the metal follower . Then one of my 300 blk before I added the ACOG 

[Red Gauntlet , SASS 60619]

I have a scope on one of my rifles. It is a semi-automatic; a Browning "BAR" (as they call it) in .300 Win Mag. 

[Modoc]

Very minimalist here.  Most have a scope and sling only, even the Modern Sporting Rifle. Murphy seems to constantly be with me, so I live by the KISS Principal.  
 

Besides money not spent on accessories goes for ammunition. 

[watab kid]

i never have too much - everything is removable unless in use , on those that have attachments , 

 

like hardpan i have one of the early M16A1s , but i have the vintage sling and the vintage pointy bit , only thing on it [that is removeable ] is a repro scope , only pther added bit id one of the vintage bipods that dont actually attach , i do have vintage mags with it that work fine in a vintage pouch , 

i have a 22cal conversion that works fine for plinking - but it shoots just fine in original 556x45 & 223 , 

[Dusty Hill, sass # 49256]

This post reminds me of this video that I stumbled across some time ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q362H-xg0ZA

[ShadowCatcher]

When I built my AR I wanted to keep the weight down, as I am planning to go back to

shooting NRA HiPower or Appleseed KD matches out to 400 yds.  I've got the rifle

itself down to 7.25 lbs, with mounts and the Leupold 4.5-12 scope it comes up to 8.5 lbs.

 

I'm going to replace the collapsible stock with the new Magpul adjustable as it has a cheek

riser which I need for prone shooting, plus it will take it back down below 8 lbs.

 

Keep it light, if I need to reach out much further I'll take my scoped .270 out, it's better

suited for past 400 yds anyway.

 

SC

 

[Wyatt Earp SASS#1628L]

I keep my AR's pretty simple. The 10.5 pistol has iron sights and a Streamlight light/laser, one 16 incher has a vertical grip, a Burris LPVO and Magpul buis, the other 16 incher has the carry handle / A Frame setup and the 20" rifle has a Bushnell 4x12 and a bipod. All have Magpul furniture and Hogue pistol grips. AND lots of magazines.

[PowderRiverCowboy]

8 hours ago, ShadowCatcher said:

When I built my AR I wanted to keep the weight down, as I am planning to go back to

shooting NRA HiPower or Appleseed KT matches out to 400 yds.  I've got the rifle

itself down to 7.25 lbs, with mounts and the Leupold 4.5-12 scope it comes up to 8.5 lbs.

 

I'm going to replace the collapsible stock with the new Magpul adjustable as it has a cheek

riser which I need for prone shooting, plus it will take it back down below 8 lbs.

 

Keep it light, if I need to reach out much further I'll take my scoped .270 out, it's better

suited for past 400 yds anyway.

 

SC

 

 

 

May I suggest instead of  Magpul  The Luth Ar 

https://www.opticsplanet.com/luth-ar-mba-1-stock-assembly.html

[PowderRiverCowboy]

3 hours ago, Wyatt Earp SASS#1628L said:

I keep my AR's pretty simple. The 10.5 pistol has iron sights and a Streamlight light/laser, one 16 incher has a vertical grip, a Burris LPVO and Magpul buis, the other 16 incher has the carry handle / A Frame setup and the 20" rifle has a Bushnell 4x12 and a bipod. All have Magpul furniture and Hogue pistol grips. AND lots of magazines.

I have mostly Eotech or Acog  ,couple have surefires , depends on purpose of the rifle / pistol  ranging from 5.56, 300 blk to 458 SOCOM and 6.5 creed. Trying the  Witt sound mitigation device on a 300 blk soon . Mags well lets just say a Pelican Tuff box full and ready each deployment it got fuller . 

[Pat Riot]

20 hours ago, Dusty Hill, sass # 49256 said:

This post reminds me of this video that I stumbled across some time ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q362H-xg0ZA

For you folks that started to watch this and stopped “because this guy’s an idiot” it’s a spoof. It’s funnier that all get out. Watch it a bit longer. 
 

@Dusty Hill, sass # 49256Thanks for the laugh. Great way to start a Monday. 

[Buckshot Bob]

Really depends on what it’s for , my grouse gun has a buttplate and a brass bead , my home defense shotgun has a sling , which I think is mandatory on any type of defense long gun , you never know when you might need your hands and it keeps it attached to you. It also has a red dot with irons that co witness , I think the red dot is a big plus in the dark , a side saddle for a couple more rounds and a light . Weight isn’t a huge concern for something that’s in my house or at worst the yard . And for what it is it really doesn’t weigh that much. My shotgun weighs less than the military benelli 

[ShadowCatcher]

14 hours ago, PowerRiverCowboy said:

 

 

May I suggest instead of  Magpul  The Luth Ar 

https://www.opticsplanet.com/luth-ar-mba-1-stock-assembly.html

I looked at it, but I want the Magpul PRS light buttstock.

It has both the amount of LOP adjustment (LOP = 14.5") and cheek rise I need for my rifles.

The Magpul will fit on my carbine length recoil tube, and the Luth AR requires I change to

a rifle length recoil tube (additional cost).

Also it is around $99 right now, and I plan to get two.

 

Thanks,

 

SC

[Wallaby Jack, SASS #44062]

I believe that the coffee maker and toilet roll holder can greatly enhance the rifles' usefulness ..............

 

 

   ......... and the chainsaw bayonet lug is an absolute "must have" .............   

[E.D. BLACK]

No sling, just a bipod

[J.D. Daily]

On 2/19/2022 at 7:37 PM, Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967 said:

I went for simple and basic.  

 

Still need a sling and a pointy thing.  

 

It looks like you have installed a post Gunmagedon "Featureless" mag release on a pre Roberti Roos AR-15 since it has a bayonet lug & an A1 birdcage flash suppressor. 

 

[Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967]

9 minutes ago, J.D. Daily said:

It looks like you have installed a post Gunmagedon "Featureless" mag release on a pre Roberti Roos AR-15 since it has a bayonet lug & an A1 birdcage flash suppressor. 

 

 

Good eyes!  

 

Actually, a modern build - took a good while to find all the parts.  It's a Stag lower, but being in california the choice is that gizmo or a "pretzel" stock. 

 

At least it retains the classic lines and would be a really quick reversal if I ever move to a normal state....  

[PowderRiverCowboy]

Just a ACOG and ESAPI vest basics, sling I keep off  while in safe .  Problem is I saw more action in 60 days than most LEOs  in a career and I did it for 8 years , Same as our Nam Vets . 

[J.D. Daily]

On 2/22/2022 at 5:45 PM, Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967 said:

 

Good eyes!  

 

Actually, a modern build - took a good while to find all the parts.  It's a Stag lower, but being in california the choice is that gizmo or a "pretzel" stock. 

 

At least it retains the classic lines and would be a really quick reversal if I ever move to a normal state....  

Maybe SCOTUS will grant cert to an AWB case & bounce them.  I.E. unfortunately the 9th Circus is still majority anti 2A & will always ignore the "Common Use" text of Antonin Scalia's opinion for the majority in Heller and "Strict Scrutiny when weighing state laws that infringe on the people's right to keep arms.