[DeadHorrorFan]

I recently acquired a Bushmaster M4 XM-15 Homeland Defender model. It was new in box and completely stock. I was going to leave it this way until I decided to jump into the hype of a custom AR and started upgrading.

The first addition was a Knights Armament quad rail handguard. The second addition was a chrome match grade bolt and carrier, and a titanium firing pin. Yesterday, I added a ProMag one point sling attachment. Hopefully next will be a back up iron site in preparation for an Aimpoint.

I was wondering if you guys had a list or requirements for upgrading an AR/M4. Any ideas would be appreciated, and I'd love to hear about any upgrades or add ons you've done, and try to include pictures!

 

[varmintstalkers]

funny, here your responses will probably be along the lines of "save your money and buy more ammo", but i believe your upgrades should depend on your situation. if you need lasers and flashlights then add them. if you need a fancy stock then add it. if youre broke, spend them money on ammo.

 

[DeadHorrorFan]

I'm mainly looking for functional upgrades and ideas. Not into being TactiCOOL. I don't plan on clearing my house with my AR, so I doubt I'll be adding a light. I was thinking more along the lines of ESSENTIAL add ons. Not just gadgets and gizmos.

But don't get me wrong, you guys post whatever you like! Especially pictures. Pictures of users' guns are always interesting.

 

[varmintstalkers]

well how about you elaborate on whats functional as opposed to tacticool in your opinion. if you think lasers and lights are just gizmos, why did you add a quad rail?

what will you be using it for?

 

[DeadHorrorFan]

Didn't mean for the Tacticool comment and the lights to be associated. By tacticool, I mean so much stuff crammed on the gun for the sake of having it that it's no longer a functional weapon. By functional I mean a system that you create to do exactly what you stated above...fit your needs. And I may eventually add a light...who knows. It's probably one of those things that if I added it, I'd barely notice it and be glad for the opportunity of it being there should a need arise. I'll have to decide on that after I get my "wish list" items out of the way first.

I'll be using this rifle mainly for target shooting and probably for medium and small game hunting/varmint shooting.

 

[varmintstalkers]

i see, that makes sense then. one thing i found out the hard way was when i would go hog hunting at night i would drive out to my hunting area in a gator. often times the hogs would run across the road in front of us quickly, and aquiring a target on them at that speed at night was rather difficult, particularly with an ar-15, youve either got to make a good shot or put alot of rounds in them, so i added a laser and it changed the game drasticly. after that i could just put the laser on the herd and unload a magazine without having to shoulder the weapon which netted me alot more meat.

what type scope are you planning on using?

 

[fragout]

I recently acquired a Bushmaster M4 XM-15 Homeland Defender model. It was new in box and completely stock. I was going to leave it this way until I decided to jump into the hype of a custom AR and started upgrading.

The first addition was a Knights Armament quad rail handguard. The second addition was a chrome match grade bolt and carrier, and a titanium firing pin. Yesterday, I added a ProMag one point sling attachment. Hopefully next will be a back up iron site in preparation for an Aimpoint.

I was wondering if you guys had a list or requirements for upgrading an AR/M4. Any ideas would be appreciated, and I'd love to hear about any upgrades or add ons you've done, and try to include pictures!

I use the GGnG flip up rear sight w/locking detent on my M4 at work. I'ts a very solid piece of equitment, and never let me down after a few trips to Iraq. It will also co-witness with the M68 Aimpoint, ( which works fairly decent with PVS-14's from my expierience with them.)

 

[soldier506]

A flashlight attached to a firearm is a very usefull tool . It is not always daylight durning a combat situation.

 

[Beaterar]

There are 3 things I add to every AR15 I buy.

#1 Night Sight front sight post, cant see it at night cant use it at night.
#2 Ambi Safety
#3 PRI big latch charging handle lever


Now as to your Bolt, Your gun is less reliable with a match bolt. Match Anything dose not belong on a combat grade weapon.

Edit to add pics

 

[lilc]

Just Shoot It

DHF, you picked a fine weapon right out of the box. Other than a few internal upgrades -- some of which you've already made and none of which I'd call "essential" -- there's really not much that needs to be done to it.

I do use my AR for HD and clearing my house/property, so I do mount a tactical light with a momentary switch.

In fact, if your AR already has a flat-top upper and you're not installing a light, there's really not much need for a quad-rail forend when nice, light handguards would do the trick. (The only potentially practical addition I can see that would require the rail is if you're going for an M4-style forward vertical grip to fit your handling preferences.)

On my AR, I did install a Tango Down grip, which has nice contours, a good surface to grip, and a waterproof compartment that has practical utility for storing small spares, a Boresnake, or batteries for your Aimpoint.

I do think Midwest Industries makes a very nice Picatinny rail flip-up rear BUIS. That's what I put on my Rock River to back up my EOTech. Yankee Hill Machine makes nice ones also.

Good luck with your gun. -- Lil' C

 

[S.James]

The first addition was a Knights Armament quad rail handguard. The second addition was a chrome match grade bolt and carrier, and a titanium firing pin.

I went that way 2 times , had more $ in crap bloted on my AR than the gun was worth . Then after toteing the thing thru a couple of class's and coyote hunting . I sold all the , rails , red dots , BUIS , etcetc ... and bought 2k of SS109 , built my KISS rifle .

The only mods are a Voltor stock .
McFarland gas ring .
Single point sling .
Forgot the grip .........
Ammo .

What more do you need ?? this aint Iraq and you or I aint no door kicker , heart breaker , life taker .

Keep it clean , lube it up and shoot . This will make you and your weapon feared . Its plain and simple . OOOOOssssss and AAAHHHHHHsssss dont stop the threat . HITs do .

 

[Scruggs]

There's that pile of magazines yet again. Have to call my therapist.

 

[DeadHorrorFan]

Well, S.James, here's the thing. I went to Pawn Smart down the street to get a padded bag for the AK. I picked one up that came with a rifle in on trade, and got the bag for $10. A great deal...I think it's an "Ace" case. Once I got home I opened up the accessory pouch on the outside and found a bag with a Brownell's sticker on it and it was quite heavy. Didn't even notice it in the store, as I didn't look in the bag, and apparently the pawn broker didn't either. Once opened up, I found 4 Accuwedges, the bolt and carrier, two chrome firing pins, a titanium firing pin, and a "Receiver Rug", as well as a hinge pins and lock pins for the gun. I'd say I got quite a deal on the bag, and it's little known contents. That's really the only reason why I have the fancy bolt and carrier.

As for the Knights Armament rail, I paid $75 (Retails for $250-350) to a friend of mine who is an armorer for the National Guard. It was new in box with that fancy bag to keep your rail covers in. I didn't ask, and he didn't tell...

All in all, the "extras" on the gun ran me almost nothing in cost, so I had to say WHY NOT.

This is what I'm looking to add now, after more research:

Vltor Modstock
Ergo Grip in OD
Ergo "Bottle Opener" forward grip in OD
Ergo Rail ladders in OD (the rail covers that lie down inside the grooves of the rails)
Aimpoint M3
BSA Sweet .223 scope (this is for fun and any shooting for hunting longer than 100 yds)
More mags
More ammo

Above mentioned friend also sells mags for $5 a pop. These can either be used or new Colt factory....depends on what he gets his hands on. Needless to say I already have a few dozen...

 

[Beaterar]

You can get scopes now that have the long eye relief that red dots can provide, this increases the viewing area you have while the rifle is shouldered.

They come in variable power I use 1x-4x , so on low power it works like an aimpoint but on high power it works like a ACOG all in one package.

The scopes have illuminated reticles that resemble a eotch or similar.

Its a much simpler choice then 2 optics.

Check out this one , its cheap and works well I have one of them.

http://www.millettsights.com/controller.php/catalog/tactical_dms

 

[DeadHorrorFan]

Thanks for the Millet recommendation! I'd been looking around for something just like that, but never heard of the DMS.

 

[DocYoung]

... I was wondering if you guys had a list or requirements for upgrading an AR/M4. Any ideas would be appreciated, ...

Ya, upgrade your ammo supplies so you can shoot the crap out of that gun.

 

[varmintstalkers]

dont forget he mentioned this is for the range and hunting, not combat.

see, i told you people would be telling you to buy ammo instead. cannibal doc at it again.

 

[badkarma]

i'm running a quad rail, hand grip, surefire G3, eotech 512, buis, and three point sling on my car. i need an ambi safety, and i'd like a 3/4 inch riser for the eotech


Beat....what's the pricetag on the millet? about 250.00?

 

[Beaterar]

i'm running a quad rail, hand grip, surefire G3, eotech 512, buis, and three point sling on my car. i need an ambi safety, and i'd like a 3/4 inch riser for the eotech


Beat....what's the pricetag on the millet? about 250.00?

Ya, I got some deal through midway on 2 of them, they send me a bunch of get money off offers and stuff total cost on 2 of them shipped was around 405. The SPR-E Larue Mount was near 200. You can use other mounts but you want to insure the scope is far enough forward on the rifle to allow nose to charging handle shouldering.


Its a great scope, I have abused the heck out of it and its held up.

 

[DeadHorrorFan]

One thing that I addressed earlier is that I have a friend in the service who provided me the Knights rail for $75 and the match grade bolt and carrier were actually FOUND in a range bag that I bought from Pawn Smart in Lafayette for $10.

That being said, I'm way way WAY behind the curve on what most folks spend on their AR's. After reading your posts and the posts on another forum in the same style thread, I've come to the decision that I know what I need and I've made a list. Looks something like this....

-Knights Armament Quad Rail (got it)
-Knights Armament Vertical Grip (got it)
-ERGO Grip (got it)
-ProMag one point sling adapter (got it)
-Back up Iron Sight (still pricing these out...probably going to come from the same source as the rail)
-V-Tac light mount
-SureFire G2
-Command Arms Single Point Sling (got it)
-Aimpoint M3 2MOA
-Trijicon tritium replacement front sight post