America's Rifle - The AR

America's Rifle: The AR
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fromGuns & Ammo May 2007

Everything you need to know on how to accessorize, accurize and generally keep your "black rifle" up and running. It is the Black Rifle, the gun that crawled out of the jungles of Vietnam to become our ubiquitous service rifle.
The brand-new Panther Mark 12 from DPMS, which is featured on our cover, boasts flip-up front and rear sights, a five-position collapsible buttstock, standard length four-rail free-float tube for its 18-inch barrel and a G27 tactical pistol grip. The scope is Leupold's new 3.5-10x40 LR/T M2 Illuminated Reticle in Dark Earth finish. --Mustafa Bilal photo One that has captured the hearts and minds of three generations of shooters in the United States. While not universally loved, it has become just as iconic as the M1 rifle or the 1911 pistol. Over the next several pages, we present what we hope will prove a useful reference tool for current and future owners of the AR-style rifle.
Major Players
Stag Arms. Major supplier of components to other builders, with a complete line of its own guns--including a full selection of left-handed rifles. Also sells uppers and some parts. www.stagarms.com DPMS/Panther Arms. Deep product line, ranging from straight-out tactical to competition and hunting guns. Tons of parts and accessories. www.dpmsinc.com Cobb. Notable for designing a true multi-caliber AR, available in chamberings from 9mm to .338 Lapua. www.cobb50.com ArmaLite. The original. Full line of rifles and an extensive selection of parts and accessories. www.armalite.com
http://www.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=America%27s+Rifle%3A+T... 8/11/2008
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Rock River Arms. Aside from complete rifles in calibers from 9mm to .458 SOCOM, has a full line of parts, accessories and rifle kits. www.rockriverarms.com Smith & Wesson. Sells primarily high-end rifles with all the bells and whistles. www.smith-wesson.com Sabre Defence. A defense contractor whose rifles range from bench target rifles and varmint guns to high-end tactical and competition models. www.sabre-defence.com Lewis Machine & Tool. No rifles, but sells uppers, lowers and an extensive line of parts www.lewismachine.net Bushmaster. Huge selection of complete guns and parts/accessories. Offerings include a California-legal AR. www.bushmaster.com Les Baer Custom. Renowned for accuracy, guns available in competition, hunting, sniper and other configurations. Also offers major components. www.lesbaer.com Leitner Weis Rifle Company. Formerly a defense contractor primarily involved in R&D, LWRC began building complete guns last year. www.lwrifles.com Olympic Arms. Rifles and carbines, including WSSM chamberings and lowers that use Glock mags. Parts, too. www.olyarms.com
(This is article appears in the May 2007 issue of GUNS & AMMO magazine, which is on sale now at your local newsstand. Click HERE for a look at the other great features and stories available in the May 2007 issue
continued fromGuns & Ammo May 2007

IRONS IN THE FIRE With the attention given to new AR-15 optical sights these days, it's easy to forget that there are also many extremely useful and high-quality AR iron sight systems on the market, both for stand-alone use and in conjunction with optics. Just do an Internet search for "AR-15 iron sights" and you'll see what I mean. If you want to maximize your AR-15's iron sight utility, here are a few things you should know.
The Stag Arms left-handed Stag 15L fills a very real need, namely a gun that won't kick brass across a southpaw's field of vision and puts the operating controls where lefties need them to be. First, if you have an original AR-15 or AR15A1 type gun with fixed carrying handle, you're pretty much screwed. The integral peep sights are crude, with limited and difficult adjustability, and they do not allow aftermarket replacement. The improved rear sight on the AR-15A2 design is much more usable, but there's still the fixed carrying handle that prohibits aftermarket sights and makes optical sight mounting/cowitnessing difficult.
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The civilian AR-15A3 (not to be confused with the military M16A3) and current AR-15A4 designs having removable carry handles and flattop receivers with Picatinny rail changed everything and opened the door to tremendous sighting versatility. With a flattop receiver you can install any of a wide variety of true precision rear sights that will mate either with an integral pyramid-type front sight or with a matching aftermarket front sight on "tactical"-format guns having flat, rail-topped gas blocks. The best designed aftermarket sights of this type have a fold-down feature that allows them to be completely out of the way if you want to use a high-magnification scope or be folded up to co-witness with tactical optics. My favorites are the Folding Battle Sights from Troy Industries, or the Samson MFG Flip Sight, which are standard accessories for such production AR-15s as the S&W M&P15A and M&P15T and the Stag 15 and Stag 15L series.
And don't worry if you want to mount a high-magnification predator/varmint optic on a flattop AR-15 with a pyramid front sight. Even though the sight is directly in front of the scope, it's so close it will be effectively invisible to your eye and will not interfere at all with the scope's utility. -- Dick Metcalf
Accesory Rails, Flashlight Mounts

3Bucc, www.3bucc.com, 815/467-1046 Advanced Armament Corp, www.advanced-armament.com, 770/925.9988 A.R.M.S., www.arms-mounts.com, 508/584-7816 Bravo Company USA, www.bravocompany usa.com, 877/272-8626 Command Arms Accessories, www.commandarms.com, 267/8031518 DPMS/Panther Arms, www.dpmsinc.com, 320/258-4448 Precision Reflex Inc., www.pri-mounts.com, 419/629-2603 Troy Industries, www.troyind.com, 413/243-9315 Vltor, www.vltor.com, 520/408-1944
BARRELS
ArmaLite, www.armalite.com, 800/336-0184 Bravo Company USA, www.bravocompanyusa.com, 877/272-8626 DPMS/Panther Arms, www.dpmsinc.com, 320/258-4448 Galati International, www.galatiinternational.com, 800/444-2550 Sabre Defence Industries, www.sabre-defence.com, 615/333-0077
BIPODS
Bravo Company USA, www.bravocompany usa.com, 877/272-8626 B-Square, www.b-square.com, 800/433-2909 Bushmaster Firearms, www.bushmaster.com, 800/998-7928 Command Arms Accessories, www.commandarms.com, 267/8031518 Fulton Armory, www.fulton-armory.com, 301/490-9485
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GG&G, www.gggaz.com, 800/380-2540 Harris Bipods, www.harrisbipods.com, 203/266-6906 Tango Down, www.tangodown.com Tapco, www.tapco.com, 800/554-1445
CARRYING CASES
DPMS/Panther Arms, www.dpmsinc.com, 320/258-4448 Galati International, www.galatiinternational.com, 800/444-2550 Hardigg, www.hardigg.com, 800/542-7344 Larue Tactical, www.laruetactical.com, 512/259-1585 Mobile Armory, www.miltarycases.com, 800/542-7344
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KICK OUT THE JAMS Immediate action drills are the steps you take if your gun malfunctions. They follow the same pattern for most stoppages and should be practiced so they can be done rapidly. These drills address the three types of failures: type 1, a failure to fire that might be caused by a bad primer, light firing-pin strike, the bolt not fully in battery or an improperly seated magazine that results in an inability of the bolt to strip a round; type 2, a failure to eject a fired case, which might be caused by a broken or weak extractor or ejector, bad ammunition or a dirty chamber; and type 3, a failure to properly feed a round into the chamber, usually caused by a poorly seated or broken magazine.
Although each of the three types of stoppages is different, the steps to get the AR-15 running again are the same, so don't waste time diagnosing the problem. When performing these steps, always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction. FIRST STEPS 1. Firmly push--read, slam--the magazine into the magazine well, then give it a tug to make sure it is seated.
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2. Tilt the gun slightly to the right so that any loose cases or debris will fall out of the ejection port. While holding the gun this way, cycle the action rapidly--being sure to retract the charging handle all the way and let it go so it slams home under spring pressure. 3. Hit the forward assist (if your rifle is so equipped). IF THAT DOESN'T WORK 1. Lock the bolt to the rear. 2. Remove the magazine. 3. Reach up inside the magazine well into the receiver and physically remove any debris or stuck cartridges. 4. Roll the gun to the right side so the ejection port is facing down. 5. Cycle the action rapidly three times to clear a cartridge or case that may be stuck in the chamber. 6. Insert a fresh magazine. The old one may be what caused the problem. Cycle the action to feed a fresh round into the chamber. Hit the forward assist (if your rifle is so equipped). FOR THE DO-IT-YOURSELFER Whether you want to learn more about the AR, build one from a kit or work on an AR trigger, a three-volume set of videos (two shown here) from American Gunsmithing Institute has got you covered. The overview video, AR-15 Armorers Course, is an excellent, well-rounded look at the rifles operating systemcomplete with assembly/disassembly, maintenance tips and a lot more.
Building The AR-15 Rifle guides you through the steps of creating a gun out of a kit, showing you not only how its done but also providing the secrets that will make the gun go together easier and better. The trigger course video is a little more complicated, and if you (like our reviewer) are not mechanically minded or intimately familiar with how the AR trigger functions, you may have to run through it a few times, but savvy do-it-yourselfers should find it a good guide to making an AR trigger thats crisp, clean and, above all, safe. The three-pack is available in DVD format for $80; the three videos are also sold separately. American Gunsmithing Institute, www.americangunsmith.com, 800/797-0867
CLEANING SYSTEMS, REPAIR KITS

Bravo Company USA, www.bravocompanyusa.com, 877/272-8626 Bushmaster Firearms, www.bushmaster.com, 800/998-7928 Dewey Rods, www.deweyrods.com 203/264/3064 DPMS/Panther Arms, www.dpmsinc.com, 320/258-4448 Model 1 Sales, www.model1sales.com, 903/546-2087 Otis Technology Inc., www.otisgun.com, 315/348-4300 Tapco, www.tapco.com, 800/554-1445 Tetra Products, www.tetraproducts.com, 973/443-0004
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Slip 2000, www.slip2000.com, 888/243-6725 Stag Arms, www.stagarms.com, 860/229 9994
GRIPS
Bravo Company USA, www.bravocompany usa.com, 877/272-8626 Bushmaster Firearms, www.bushmaster.com, 800/998-7928 Command Arms Accessories, www.commandarms.com, 267/8031518 Crimson Trace, www.crimsontrace.com , 800/442-2406 Fulton Armory, www.fulton-armory.com, 301/490-9485 Magpul, www.magpul.com, 877/462-4785 Midwest Industries Inc., www.midwestindustriesinc.com, 262/8966780 Tango Down, www.tangodown.com Tapco, www.tapco.com, 800/554-1445 Yankee Hill Machine Company Inc., www.yhm.net, 877/892-6533
HANDGUARDS
Bravo Company USA, www.bravocompany usa.com, 877/272-8626 Bushmaster Firearms, www.bushmaster.com, 800/998-7928 Fulton Armory, www.fulton-armory.com, 301/490-9485 Galati International, www.galatiinternational.com, 800/444-2550 Larue Tactical, www.laruetactical.com, 512/259-1585 Precision Reflex Inc., www.pri-mounts.com, 419/629-2603 Tapco, www.tapco.com, 800/554-1445 Vltor, www.vltor.com, 520/408-1944 Yankee Hill Machine Company Inc., www.yhm.net, 877/892-6533
LOWER RECEIVERS
Bravo Company USA, www.bravocompany usa.com, 877/272-8626 Bushmaster Firearms, www.bushmaster.com, 800/998-7928 Fulton Armory, www.fulton-armory.com, 301/490-9485

CAN I GET A (CO)WITNESS? A popular sighting combination for the AR is the red-dot sight with iron-sight backup. Shooters like this arrangement because even though red dots are solid, dependable units, they are electronic and can fail due to batteries or malfunction.
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Left: The EOTech (www.eotech-inc.com) red-dot reticle is out of focus so the camera can capture the iron sights as seen through the optic. In this case, the irons occupy the bottom one-third of the red dot's window. At right, a typical cowitnessed setup. So the irons provide backup, and the two systems can be cowitnessed: The red-dot sight is mounted so the iron sights can be viewed through it. Some shooters mount the red-dot optic so the irons line up somewhere in the bottom third of the field, but others like to line them up in the middle so that the irons intersect the dot. Either way works. There are a couple of things to keep in mind when setting up and using a cowitness arrangement. A proper cheek weld helps steady the gun and contributes to accuracy, so don't set the red-dot sight so high that a good weld is not possible. If your red-dot optic is parallax free (no matter how your eye is lined up with the optic, the gun shoots where the dot points), you can simply zero the red dot to the iron sights or vice versa, which saves a lot of time. If the red-dot sight has no parallax there is no need to waste time lining up the irons with the dot. Just get the dot on target and fire.--Doug Larson TRIJICON'S TWO-FER The ACOG from Trijicon has been one of the standards for AR optical sights. Now the company has designed the ACOG 4x32 Enhanced Optical Sight. Designed for special forces use but available on the civilian market, the unit combines the ACOG's 4X magnification and a Docter red-dot sight, giving users the instant option of longrange precision or close-quarters speed.
The ACOG riflescope component, which provides an illuminated aiming point without the need for batteries, is also available with a bullet-drop compensator calibrated to the .223/5.56 cartridge for dead-on aiming out to 1,000 yards. Weight is 16 ounces. Trijicon, www.trijicon.com, 800/338-0563
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MAGAZINES
Bravo Company USA, www.bravocompanyusa.com, 877/272-8626 Command Arms Accessories, www.commandarms.com, 267/8031518 C Products, www.cproductsllc.com, 941/755-8284 DPMS/Panther Arms, www.dpmsinc.com, 320/258-4448 Fulton Armory, www.fulton-armory.com, 301/490-9485 Galati International, www.galatiinternational.com, 800/444-2550 Magpul, www.magpul.com, 877/462-4785 Precision Reflex Inc., www.pri-mounts.com, 419/629-2603 Tapco, www.tapco.com, 800/554-1445
MAG POUCHES
Command Arms Accessories, www.commandarms.com, 267/8031518 DPMS/Panther Arms, www.dpmsinc.com, 320/258-4448 Galati International, www.galatiinternational.com, 800/444-2550
RAIL COVERS, ACCESSORY SYSTEMS

Bravo Company USA, www.bravocompanyusa.com, 877/272-8626 Bushmaster Firearms, www.bushmaster.com, 800/998-7928 Command Arms Accessories, www.commandarms.com, 267/8031518 Galati International, www.galatiinternational.com, 800/444-2550 GG&G, www.gggaz.com, 800/380-2540 Magpul, www.magpul.com, 877/462-4785 Patriot Ordnance Factory Inc., www.pof-usa.com, 623/561-9572 Tapco, www.tapco.com, 800/554-1445 Yankee Hill Machine Company Inc., www.yhm.net, 877/892-6533
RECOIL BUFFERS
ArmaLite, www.armalite.com, 800/336-0184 Buffer Technologies, www.buffertech.com, 877/628-3337 Bushmaster Firearms, www.bushmaster.com, 800/998-7928 Galati International, www.galatiinternational.com, 800/444-2550 Model 1 Sales, www.model1sales.com, 903/546-2087 Tapco, www.tapco.com, 800/554-1445
SCOPE MOUNTS/RINGS
ArmaLite, www.armalite.com, 800/336-0184 A.R.M.S., www.arms-mounts.com, 508/584-7816 B-Square, www.b-square.com, 800/433-2909 Burris, www.burriscompany.com, 970/356-1670 DPMS/Panther Arms, www.dpmsinc.com, 320/258-4448 Fulton Armory, www.fulton-armory.com, 301/490-9485 Galati International, www.galatiinternational.com, 800/444-2550 JP Enterprises Inc., www.jprifles.com Larue Tactical, www.laruetactical.com, 512/259-1585 Leupold, www.leupold.com, 503/526-1400 Model 1 Sales, www.model1sales.com, 903/546-2087 Tapco, www.tapco.com, 800/554-1445
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TOP 5 COMMON PROBLEMS Beyond the obvious gremlins of bad ammo (like downloaded British surplus) or bad magazines (which cannot be adjusted or tweaked, only replaced), here are five of the most likely suspects when it comes to AR malfunctions--and how to fix them.
1. Insufficient extractor tension This can cause cases to be left in the chamber or dropped loose into the feedway where they get in the way of the next round. Your extractor should have a little rubber bumper inside the spring. That bumper should be blue or black in color (black is better). If it is missing or is some other color, replace the spring with a new one and get a black buffer to go with it. I also recommend a small D-shaped polymer donut, the MGI D-Fender (www.mgimilitary.com), which rests around the extractor spring and greatly increases extractor tension. 2. Loose keys On top of the bolt carrier is a spigot called a carrier key. It telescopes over the end of the gas tube, and if the key loses its seal, you lose gas pressure and your rifle short-strokes. To check, grab the carrier in one hand, the key in another. If you can move the key at all, it is too loose. To fix, you unscrew the bolts, then clean and degrease the carrier, key and screws. Then apply a small amount of Loctite to the threads, tighten down to 50 inch-pounds, then restake. For the restaking, I recommend the MOACKS Carrier Key Staker from Michi-Gun (www.mi-guns.com). 3. Blown primers Many makers install barrels with the throat and leade more appropriate to a match rifle than a combat rifle, but the .223 Remington and 5.56x45 NATO chambers are not identical--the former is optimized for accuracy, the latter for reliability. Feed your .223-chambered AR something hot, like Federal XM-193, on a summer day and you can blow primers. The solution is simple: Ream the throat and leade to 5.56 NATO specs. Always insist on a 5.56 chamber, even for a varmint gun. 4. Headspace If you load properly and prudently and your brass breaks in two or three loadings, you probably have too much headspace--an unfixable problem. The only solution is a new bolt, a new barrel or both. Too little headspace mimics the problem of too little gas, namely that the bolt short-strokes. The solution, once you determine that's what it is, is to ream the chamber--unless your barrel is chrome-lined, in which instance you must swap bolts until your headspace is correct. Worst case scenario? Install a new bolt and barrel, properly headspaced by the manufacturer. 5. Failure to eject Usually caused by a combination of small faults. One common combination is a rifle with a sharp-edged ejector firing cases that are a little on the soft side on a hot day. After a couple hundred rounds, little bits of brass shaved off from each firing will build up and eventually tie up the ejector. The best solution is to have your gunsmith knock the sharp edge off the ejector.--Patrick Sweeney
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SLINGS, MOUNTS, ADAPTERS

Blackhawk, www.blackhawk.com, 800/694-5263 Bravo Company USA, www.bravocompanyusa.com, 877/272-8626 DPMS/Panther Arms, www.dpmsinc.com, 320/258-4448 Blue Force Gear, www.blueforcegear.com, 877/430-2583 Buffer Technologies, www.buffertech.com, 877/628-3337 Bushmaster Firearms, www.bushmaster.com, 800/998-7928 Fulton Armory, www.fulton-armory.com, 301/490-9485 GG&G, www.gggaz.com, 800/380-2540 Midwest Industries Inc., www.midwestindustriesinc.com, 262/8966780 Tactical Link, www.tacticallink.com, 866/822-5465 Troy Industries, www.troyind.com, 413/243-9315 Vltor, www.vltor.com, 520/408-1944 Yankee Hill Machine Company Inc., www.yhm.net, 877/892-6533
STOCKS
Ace Ltd. USA, www.aceltdusa.com, 530/346-2492 ArmaLite, www.armalite.com, 800/336-0184 Bravo Company USA, www.bravocompany usa.com, 877/272-8626 Bushmaster Firearms, www.bushmaster.com, 800/998-7928 Command Arms Accessories, www.commandarms.com, 267/8031518 Galati International, www.galatiinternational.com, 800/444-2550 Magpul, www.magpul.com, 877/462-4785 Model 1 Sales, www.model1sales.com, 903/546-2087 Tapco, www.tapco.com, 800/554-1445
UPPER ASSEMBLIES
ArmaLite, www.armalite.com, 800/336-0184 Bravo Company USA, www.bravocompanyusa.com, 877/272-8626 DPMS/Panther Arms, www.dpmsinc.com, 320/258-4448 Fulton Armory, www.fulton-armory.com, 301/490-9485 Galati International, www.galatiinternational.com, 800/444-2550 GG&G, www.gggaz.com, 800/380-2540 JTAC Supply, www.jtacsupply.com, 918/465-3257 LWRC, www.lwrifles.com, 703/455-8650 Sabre Defence Industries, www.sabre-defence.com, 615/333-0077 Stag Arms, www.stagarms.com, 860/229 9994
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THE 'FATHER' OF THE ACCURATE AR Early-generation M16 and M16A1 rifles were not renowned for accuracy and performance, and it was not until the advent of the M16A2 version (and the subsequent civilian AR-15A2) in the early 1980s that the M16 and AR platforms began to show match-accurate capabilities and suitability as sport/hunting arms. The primary work in developing the M16A2 was done by the technicians of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit at Fort Benning, Georgia, led by gunsmith Gene Clark, who was also instrumental in developing custom breakthroughs in getting these guns to shoot well enough to surpass the M14/M1A in service rifle competition. For these contributions he is regarded by many as the "father" of the modern, high-performance M16A2. "An accurate M16 is a combination of three essential hardware elements and projectile developments," says Clark. "The first thing is a good trigger with clean break and fast lock-time. Most people overlook the difference between fast and slow triggers. Lock-time is actually more important than the pull. You can learn the feel of your trigger; you can't make it work faster. Particularly at long range, conditions can change enough while a courtesy, U.S. Army Marksmanship slow trigger action is working to make the difference between the X-ring Unit and the 9-ring. "Next comes a really good rear sight. A good rear sight is harder to make than a good barrel. We make our rear sights here in-house at the USAMU and mate them to each specific upper receiver. It's also critical to match the sights to the individual shooter's eyesight, particularly aperture size for older shooters due to the relatively short sight radius on M16A2 and AR-15 rifles. "Finally, of course, the heart and soul of any rifle is the barrel. There are really a lot of good barrel makers out there. Take the time and pick out a good one. Due to dimensional tolerance variations, both good-performing and not-so-good-performing barrels come from even from the very best of makers. Rifling twist has to be matched to the bullets used. "As for what it takes to get the most you can from your own rifle, the first step is to buy the best components you can, and be willing to buy different ones until you find what really works. But the real key isn't hardware, it's you. There is no substitute for range time, training, practice and competitions. In particular, you need to work with as many different ammunition loads as long as it takes to find the best combination for your rifle."-Dick Metcalf HORNADY'S NEW .450 BUSHMASTER Welcome the new "big bad" of AR chamberings: a 250-grain SST-ML (.452 diameter) Flex Tip bullet housed in a cartridge that's the same length as the .223. Hornady isn't releasing the ballistics just yet, but this new cartridge promises to be a real thumper--and a great way to get added capability.
Just change out the upper and you can be shooting prairie dogs on the plains one day and fearlessly taking on wild boars and bears the next. www.hornady.com
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CHAMBERINGS: A SELECTION
.223 Remington/5.56 NATO The standard for the AR-15 platform. 40- to 75grain bullets, muzzle velocity 3,100 to 3,800 fps .243 Winchester 55- to 105-grain bullets, muzzle velocity 2,900 to 4,058 fps .260 Remington Seeing renewed interest from the tactical crowd. 100- to 156grain bullets, muzzle velocity 2,733 to 3,333 fps 6.5 Grendel Introduced in 2004 by Alexander Arms. 108- to 144-grain bullets, muzzle velocity 2,450 to 2,4700 fps 6.8mm SPC Introduced in 2004 by Remington, based on the .30 Remington case. 115-grain bullet, muzzle velocity 2,625 fps 7.62x25 Tokarev. 86-grain bullet, muzzle velocity 1,390 fps 7.62x39 110- to 150-grain bullets, muzzle velocity 2,000 to 2,600 fps .308 Winchester/7x51 NATO The standard for the AR-10 platform. 110- to 200-grain bullets, muzzle velocity 2,400 to 3,200 fps .30-06 100- to 220-grain bullets, muzzle velocity, 2,400 to 3,400 fps .300 WSM 150- to 180-grain bullets, muzzle velocity 3,000 to 3,300 fps 9mm Parabellum 88- to 147-grain bullets, muzzle velocity 975 to 1,500 fps 9x39 Subsonic Russian round for suppressed weapons. 250- or 246.2-grain bullet, muzzle velocity 950 fps .40 S&W 135- to 180-grain bullets, muzzle velocity 900 to 1,300 fps .458 SOCOM Introduced in 2000 by Teppo Jutsu. 300-grain bullet, muzzle velocity 2,000 fps .50 Beowulf Introduced in 2002 by Alexander Arms 325- to 400-grain bullets, muzzle velocity 1,900 to 2,500 fps

THE AR COMES CLEAN A properly functioning rifle doesn't ask much of you. The most important things to remember are: keep the chamber and the locking lug recesses clean, and don't brush the gas rings off when you go after the carbon on the bolt.
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To test for proper friction of your gas rings, extend the bolt from the carrier assembly and stand it on end. If it collapses, you need new rings. Your cleaning order: Scrub the chamber and locking lugs with a chamber brush. Scrub the bore from the chamber end, using a one-piece rod and a rod guide. Strip the bolt assembly from the carrier and scrub the powder residue off of both of them. Make sure your extractor spring has its little blue or black buffer inside. Make sure your gas rings are in good shape and ignore the advice to move them around so the gaps don't line up. I've never had a problem with that and have never talked to anyone who has had a problem with "ring gap alignment." Make sure your carrier key is tight. Wipe the inside of the upper, removing as much gunk as possible. If you feel the need to scrub the upper interior with solvent, go for it. Lube everything. Check gas-ring friction before you install the bolt and carrier assembly. To check, extend the bolt from the carrier and stand the assembly on its head. If the weight of the carrier causes the assembly to collapse toward the tabletop, you need new rings. If it stands, you're good. On the lower, use an aerosol can of cleaner/degreaser to hose out the gunk, then lube the moving parts. Wipe off the excess lube, do a safety and function check and put the rifle away. How often should you clean your AR-15? You can do all that after every range trip. Or once every thousand rounds. Or once a year. As long as your rifle keeps working, you're doing it often enough. --Patrick Sweeney NO FLASH IN THE PAN Flash hiders--the cone-type flash hiders used on some Lee-Enfield carbines in World War II, for example-attempt to preserve a shooter's night vision by shielding his eyes from muzzle flash, but they do little to prevent an enemy from seeing it.
The A2 birdcage style flash suppressor (left) is standard on M16s and AR15s, but new, improved designs shown at right such as the Yankee Hill
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Phantom (right) (www.yhm.net) and the Smith Enterprises Vortex (www.smithenterprises.com) increase efficiency. A flash suppressor, on the other hand, reduces or eliminates flash so the enemy cannot locate the shooter. The gases that follow behind a bullet exit the barrel at or faster than the speed of sound, creating a shock wave of high pressure. This pressure generates a great amount of heat, which reignites the unburned gases and results in the flash that lights up the night. A flash suppressor is designed to break up and rapidly mix the exiting gases with ambient air, thereby reducing shock-wave pressure. Suppressors also break up the gas cloud, so resulting fireballs are much smaller and dimmer than would result from one large gas bubble. With as much research, testing and engineering that goes into the development of flash suppressors and hiders, they are not cheap, and performance varies, so it is a good idea to shop around to find one that suits you.-Doug Larson
PROFILE: EUGENE STONER

Eugene Morrison Stoner was born in Gasport, Indiana, on November 22, 1922. During World War II, Stoner enlisted in the Marines, serving in the South Pacific. Afterward, he took various aircraft industry jobs. He also designed firearms on his own, and in 1954 Stoner became chief engineer for the new firearms manufacturer ArmaLite.
Stoner made his big splash in 1955 with his AR-10. The space-agelooking rifle had an aircraft-grade aluminum receiver, plastic stock and handguards, and an integral carry handle. Chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO, the AR-10 entered the competition for the U.S. Army's new battle rifle. It lost out to the M-14, but Army officials asked ArmaLite to work up a smaller, lighter version. Stoner hit upon the revolutionary idea of employing the relatively miniscule .222 Remington round, beefed up to .223/5.56mm. In 1958, the Army conducted field tests with the new AR-15; it became the Army's standard battle rifle in the 1960s (with some changes) as the M16. Stoner left ArmaLite in 1961 for Colt, which had purchased the designs to the AR-10 and AR-15. In 1963, he designed the Stoner 63, a modular weapons system that could be configured as a carbine, an assault rifle and various light-machine-gun models, the latter using belt-fed 5.56mm. "Very few people actually know that he designed a 40mm grenade launcher that SACO Defense made, the Mark 47," says Reed Knight, president of Knight Armaments. At Knight in the early 1990s, Stoner created the Stoner Rifle-25, a .308 semiauto. The Navy adopted the rifle as the Mark 11 Model O Sniper Weapon System. When he died in 1997 of cancer, Stoner was working on the .50-caliber SR-50 rifle, which he never finished. "Gene was so innovative," adds Knight. "Where does he rank among gun designers? Certainly in the top five of history."--Brian McCombie
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America's Rifle: The AR

fromGuns & Ammo May 2007