[backroad]

I just picked up a Colt AR15 for next to nothing. I've been around firearms all of my life, but this is the first 'black rifle' that I've ever had experience with, so I'm needing a little advice. Like I said, I know nothing about this rig. I just know that it says Colt Match Target on it. What I'm wanting to know is should I try this thing in three gun, or sit it in the safe and build a rifle for three gunning? From what I gather, it is A2 style since it has the carry handle? Can I convert it to a flat-top using one of these? Sorry for the questions fellas, I searched I swear.

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[Merlin Orr]

You Could make it into a nice 3 Gun rifle. If you have the $$ I would start from scratch and build a nice purpose built gun. Everything would be optimal for what you want to do with no compromise or wasted effort (or Dollars).

.02 from me.

[Bryan 45]

My suggestion is to shoot it like it is in Limited. No need to spend a bunch of money on a scope, mount and new upper. A little bit of practice and you can hit anything you can see with irons (within 500 yards anyway).

[RiggerJJ]

you can use it as is with the iron sights. figure out what to feed it and get to 3gunnin!

There are scopes available that will attach to the carry handle...but try iron sights, its cheaper

jj

[jtischauser]

Well it depends. You can definately shoot the colt in a 3 gun match and have a ton of fun. If you must have a scope you can always mount it on top of the carry handle. It doesn't provide the best cheek weld on the stock but it works.
If you are shooting a small local match run it as is. You should be able to hit most anything inside 200 yards with iron sights and minimal practice. Plus most local matches don't shoot even that far.
If you are planning on really getting into 3 gun and spend a lot of $$ traveling around the country to all the awesome major matches then you going to want a purpose built gun. Before you throw down some serious $ on a purpose built rifle get out to any match you can and ask questions, handle and shoot as many rifles as you can get your hands on.
With you being from Arkansas you have several local matches in Ft. Smith to choose from. We are shooting monthly/bimonthly matches in OKC. Missouri now has two very good major matches each year.
Good luck!

This post has been edited by jtischauser: 02 November 2009 - 08:29 PM

[bigbrowndog]

You can turn it into a flat top with the pictured upper. However as was said, try out iron sights first, you can join an elite group of shooters by doing so. We are a dying breed!!!
Trapr

[Alaskapopo]

Bryan 45, on Nov 2 2009, 08:33 PM, said:

My suggestion is to shoot it like it is in Limited. No need to spend a bunch of money on a scope, mount and new upper. A little bit of practice and you can hit anything you can see with irons (within 500 yards anyway).

You have eagle eyes if you can hit at 500 yards with Irons.

Personally I look at Irons on a rifle as strictly a back up sight in case the optics goes down. This is for both work and play. Optics allow you to shoot further and faster. They make shooting more fun in my opinion. Not that Irons sights are not fun to shoot. They are when you are in a retro mood. Like wearing clothes out of the 70's
Pat

[HRider]

Shoot the Iron Sights.
A 20" A2 with a government profile barrel is the best feeling form of AR to me. There are thin front sights available, one of them will help your long range shooting. A set of yellow JP springs (trigger/hammer) and some polishing will help the trigger alot without spending much money. If the muzzle is not threaded, you could have it threaded and then screw on a good comp (try the search button, lots of info on comps on the forum).
Hurley

[jtielke]

The first AR-15 I owned is only a few hundred off the serial number of that rifle. Assuming it's the same model it is a Colt AR-15a2 HBAR Sporter. It's a very nice rifle and will work fine to start out in Limited division.

Some downsides to it are that it is a post-ban rifle and the barrel is not threaded. You will need to get it threaded or buy a new barrel if you want to put a compensator on it. Another thing to look for is it has the larger 0.174" trigger pin Colt used to put on their rifles. If you buy an aftermarket trigger the standard size is 0.154" so you will have to be careful what you order. Also as you have noticed it has an A2 receiver so you'll either need to use it in limited division or get a new upper. They make scope mounts to go on the carry handle as well but they are less than ideal.

None of those modifications need to be done before you shoot your first match, just some things to consider for when you decide if you want to modify that gun or start a 3-gun build from scratch.

[backroad]

Thanks for the help guys. I think I'm just going to thread the barrel, throw a comp on it, and shoot the piss out of it. I'll build one myself once I get accustomed to working with these things.

This post has been edited by backroad: 03 November 2009 - 07:10 AM

[Bryan 45]

I would suggest you change out the front post to a thinner one. I didn't think it would make much of a difference, until I put a .050 on my Limited rifle.

[backroad]

Bryan 45, on Nov 3 2009, 09:34 AM, said:

I would suggest you change out the front post to a thinner one. I didn't think it would make much of a difference, until I put a .050 on my Limited rifle.

Fiber optic or no?

[ken hebert]

Opinions vary... But for the most part no.

Run the irons gun and have a ball whuppin up on the dudes with multi hundred dollar optics on their rifles.

[Alaskapopo]

ken hebert, on Nov 3 2009, 11:34 AM, said:

Opinions vary... But for the most part no.

Run the irons gun and have a ball whuppin up on the dudes with multi hundred dollar optics on their rifles.

Damn I need to go to a match down there. Up here Irons always finish last.
Pat

[Bryan 45]

From a local match on Saturday, I finished 1st in Limited which resulted in 4th overall from a total of about 25 shooters, including OPEN. And that was shooting a single stack pistol and pump shotgun.

I'm not even that good of a shooter. But don't say Ltd can't be competitive against optics.

[kurtm]

Come on down Alaska, I bet I can find several iron sight shooters, that while will never be at your level of shooting, might make things interesting for you. Most of them wear polyester suits and platform shoes, and several of them have won high over (to include every division) at State and Area matches. Oh and don't forget the "fro,s". KurtM

[Bryan 45]

Kurt, I'd like to see a picture of that, please. Especially if it's Trapr wearing the platforms.

[Alaskapopo]

kurtm, on Nov 5 2009, 07:47 AM, said:

Come on down Alaska, I bet I can find several iron sight shooters, that while will never be at your level of shooting, might make things interesting for you. Most of them wear polyester suits and platform shoes, and several of them have won high over (to include every division) at State and Area matches. Oh and don't forget the "fro,s". KurtM

Kurt if they are winning it is because of talent not because they are using a handicap. I mean irons. The whole world pretty much realizes that optics are better. I can take a new shooter and give them an Aimpoint and have them shooting better than another new shooter who I instruct on Irons. Its simple You can focus on the threat or target vs the front sight post. The clearer the target is the faster you will shoot. In the last shotgun side match I shot I came in first and beat two open shooters. That does not mean my limited shotgun is better than an open shotgun. Its a matter of skill.
Pat

This post has been edited by Alaskapopo: 09 November 2009 - 10:51 PM

[kurtm]

Why I have never heard of an instructor recommending to stare at the target, must be the new Alaska Special Forces/ Delta police trooper technique taught only to the very highestest, speediest, tactitioniest people.

If I take a new student "that I instruct" and let him shoot off hand, and take another "student I instruct" and let him shoot off the bench. The one that shoots off the bench will hit the target faster and better every time. The whole world pretty much realizes benches are better. Now if we couple that to a red dot....well we are really onto something there.

If I were just starting out in 3-gun and had an iron sight rifle, I guess I would shoot the irons for a while, first, to see if this is what I really want to do without incurring extra costs. Second, so I have a good base of knowledge to draw from when I decide to up-grade my gear. Third so I build some really good basic skills right from the start instead of using equipment crutches that can only take me so far. Which is what this post was all about in the first place, not whether irons or red dots are better.

B.T.W. Have you shot that blender yet? Or did you get full compliance? The same with the bottle of Dawn dish soap. A couple of terrible "kitchen perps if I ever saw!*

*(reference to the reticle pictures you continually post in optic threads for the Elcan and the Swarovski) XOXOXO KurtM

[whiskey1]

Kurt, I have never shot a blender, but one of our local guys shot the crap out of a coke machine once. Does that count? He was using iron sights on his G-22. Finally got the BG though...

[GentlemanJim]

To start with..I would shoot what you have.

At your leasure

Put a good trigger in your lower
Thread and comp your barrel, or get a new barrel
An A3 upper with a good free float

You dont have to spend a bunch of $$$$ to have a very competitive rifle.
Jim