In praise of the AR...
So, I offered to sight-in a Springfield Armory first gen. "Saint" over the Memorial Day weekend for a coworker (despite being extremely busy with backyard projects). I dunno, it just seemed like the right kind of activity for some reflection, and a good fun project. You know?
I have to say, for being at the top-end of what I consider to be an entry level AR, I think the Saint is a fine rifle. Perhaps exceptional. I know this specific example has some upgrades done to it, but even excluding these options I would certainly not turn my nose up at one. I think co-development with BCM was a very wise move.
Anyway, the fellow at work said he wanted the Saint sighted-in for 500 yards. I took on the project not knowing how challenging a task it was going to be. He didn't have the right gear (cheapo scope meant for no more than a .22, and rings that were less than finger-tight). I had to make a few upgrades with a spare Nikon 3-9x BDC and Knights Armament type mount I had on hand (after agreeing to give me some reimbursement for them). Frankly, I was hoping he'd also buy me lunch or something for all my trouble, but alas... no dice.
So, I have a good system down for bore-sighting. Tackled this Saturday, and then woke up early to go shoot it in Monday am (unfortunately with my own ammo-- man I'm a chump). I also could not rouse Jacob out of bed to go with me to help be my spotter. Oh, well...
What I really want to say here though (in finally getting to the actual point is); I was/am amazed at how easily the rifle was final sighted after the initial bore-sighting. And just how inherently accurate the AR is. Both in it's design, but also in it's ergonomics, and shoot-ability. I think a lot of folks forget that last part. The design really is very easy to shoot (in an extremely natural way).
This is no small thing to balk at. My AK seems perfectly capable of 2.75 perhaps 2 MOA (without cheap Russian steel). Which, I consider to be extremely accurate for an AK. However, the AR seems to be easily capable of 1 MOA, perhaps sub MOA. I'm tossing around these numbers too easily at this point, I know, but I really just want to illustrate how impressed I am with the design. I was hitting 6" groups at 300 yards right off the bat after just 6-8 shots conservatively at 100 yards for adjustment. I would love to continue to work with this, dialing it in, and see what it can really print on some paper.
At this point, I've seen some torture test results that shocked me. I've seen mud tests where the design far-and-away exceeded the results of ANY other rifle at the table. Bar-none. I've balked at the AR before, and continue to feel foolish as time goes on for all my remarks-- the more I learn/experience.
Still, it's been an interesting ride. Hearing Dad spew hate over the M16s his unit had in Vietnam. And carrying that sentiment into my own collection. Then, almost doing an about-face some decades (literally) later. I think my position has given me an interesting perspective, though. My respect for the design has not come through others admiration, but rather my own experience/research. FWIW.