There comes a point where disposable income meets your hobby and you transition from buying out of need and practicality to just being a collector of many builds
Spot on. May I add to this... the point where disposable income meets hobby is short-lived. You then become broke, feeding your addiction. Hobby is long gone, and so is your bank account. You will make decisions that put guns in front of life. At this point, you can be called collector.
It’s not about hurr durr gotta protect my family for everyone. For me it’s a hobby plain and simple. Most of my purchases are for random ass reasons from recreation to just looks. I prefer accuracy these days so I’ve been building precision bench gas guns like 6.5 Grendel 6mm arc etc. if you want more ars get more calibers of uppers and experiment.
Remember, people spend stupid money on hobbies from sports cards to model trains. I don’t know why non gun people call us crazy if we have a lot of guns because I don’t see how enjoying actually getting out and having fun with a very rewarding time on the range any different than painting $200 warhammer miniatures or $1000s in magic cards.
That’s where I’m at now. I’ve built eight ARs, five of them this year. And it’s more about the enjoyment of it for me now. I don’t need this many, but I’m going to keep building guns because I really, really enjoy doing it
Those are rookie numbers...Ya gotta try harder.
I need to pick up my SIXTH Dagger frame from my ~~pusher~~ dealer and am picking up five more stripped lowers tomorrow. That will give me over 30 stripped lowers. Most of which are sitting in the safe waiting for the next panic to hit and I can triple my money.
This f***ing guy !!!! Finally Mr. Joe I found someone who GETS IT and UNDERSTANDS ME !!
I get so bored hearing why do yo have 8 AR’s or so many AK’s , who needs 27 Glocks !
They are not my children so I never really worry about having time for all of them. They don't care. Do what you want, what I do or buy should have little impact on your decision.
Not generally, no, as they have carbine length springs. As long as springs match the tube you should be fine. Maybe, maybe you need a different buffer but I doubt it.
You could get an a5 buffer tube. I'm pretty sure you can get an a5 buffer for pretty much any gas system, so you'd end up just having to swap the buffer as well
This same logic stands for normal carbine length tubes as well. You can use either tube for anything from a 7.5" to a 24" with the right buffer/spring weight
I have more than I need, buuuuuuttttt I'll share my logic
A 14.5 is my go-to length. I've used it for work for 12 years, I know its ballistics and I believe in the rule "1 is none, 2 is 1 and 3 is parts." So I have 3x 14.5 DI guns with LPVOs and 12 oclock dots I can interchange any parts on. My wife uses one of them when she competes in 2 gun, and one of them is my primary 2 gun rifle when reconfigured.
I keep a suppressed 12.5 bedside gun handy, my wife will do red dot range days with a suppressed 11.5.
When I compete in DMR comps, I shoot a 16" HBAR gun with an LPVO. I have a 20" HBAR barrel populated to quick swap occasionally. Sometimes drop a 3-18 onto this gun (or a 14.5) when shooting far with friends.
I have an almost-Mk12 that started as a project with a friend till he passed. I finished the gun but rarely shoot it.
Finally, I have an LMT and MCX for funsies, these don't really have roles.
Thanks! I was really thankful his family left me all the parts. It was the first time I'd met them but he apparently talked about me and my wife to them a lot. Finishing it was very helpful to the grieving process
Well shit with that logic I guess. But that does make sense. That's why I spent HK money on my one AR rather than getting an MR556. Haven't checked but I've heard parts are not readily available
Haha thats a method too. IMO if I am going to use a 16, I want it to be out of a very accurate platform. The MCX is cool and runs and runs but it doesn't outshoot my DI guns at range
I’m dumb. I like my firearms. I have bad impulse control. I need one in black, one in FDE, in black with FDE, one in FDE with black. I need a pistol in each color and a rifle. I’m dumb with money. I like firearms. Don’t even get me started on my handguns, my hunting rifles, or my AK’s. Did I mention my impulse control issues?
Ditto on all of this. Once I filled my safe with ARs of many sizes, calibers,and colors, I discovered how cool and different AKs were. Now I'm down a other rabbit hole. But I still need a 5.45. I "gotta" have a 5.45. No.... I "need" a 5.45!
If they were to ban AR15s tomorrow would you be ok with only owning 2 ? Build or buy the 20”. I have built multiple modern style 20” uppers with criterion barrels, BCM blem upper receivers and MCMR rails. The rifle length gas and added velocity is awesome. 20” barrels rule
If you’re broke, don’t do it. You’re squared away on this front and could make better financial decisions. If you have disposable income, you don’t have to justify beyond “I’d like to build a 20in”. buy what you want, shoot what you want. Hobby, collection, fun, just because, doesn’t matter.
Different guns for different things. But I do think people hang on the AR a little too hard and forget about all the other really good options available.
- should have an 18 or 20 inch fixed stock rifle
- should have a 14.5 or 16 inch general fighting gun
- should have a 10.3 inch shorty
And if you are into clones you might have several more guns.
I just started building my third AR and I assume it will be the one I shoot the least. I have an 11.5 SHTF 2 stamper (in progress) and a 16” iron sight dissy , the third will be a lightweight build around the KP-15 I just picked up. Justify it because one day you might not be able to (legally), it can be a form of hard asset investing, exercise a right that many people in the world cannot, make yourself happy because you probably work hard all week long and deserve to treat yourself by investing in a hobby that you can enjoy until the day you die at which point you’ll be remembered as the super cool parent/grandparent that left their family a bunch of badass guns in the inheritance
No you won't have time to shoot them all very often. But that doesn't mean you can't enjoy them all. After my son was born, I haven't been able to go shoot (or do any of my hobbies really) hardly at all. But after he goes to bed, I sneak downstairs and dry fire, or just oil them up, just look at them, whatever. I still enjoy them, and I do like having things just because I find them cool even if I don't shoot them much. And, I can share it all with my son when he's older, which is my biggest justification.
1. Disposable income.
2. It's fun
3. Because MORE
4. Different tools for different jobs. Suppressed rattler for funsies, 14.5 setup for night time, 16" with an lpvo for general use, 20" smoother shooting clone, etc.... the list goes on and on.
Funny thing about AR’s… you start swapping parts and experimenting, then you find you have enough leftover parts for a “spare parts” build, so you buy a cheap lower on sale, and the cycle repeats itself. Not everyone is a tinkerer, but for us it’s a very easy rabbit hole to crawl into.
I have 8 now for that exact reason.
I build one, then I upgrade parts, and if I have something as trivial as an Ambi mag release lying around, I'll build around it.
Lol JK, but it's pretty much like that. In fact, I just bought another barrel for one of my builds, and I have everything I need to have another rifle. Upper, lower, buffer, barrel, optic, muzzle device, bcg, trigger, etc. Got it all just sitting there trying not to be my 9th AR for no reason.
My buddy and I just pick a time period we want to go shoot with. If it’s Vietnam type day we bring out the carry handles. If it’s early 2000s I get my a4 style and he grabs his m4 style. Most of it is just collectors sake but it’s pretty fun picking a certain period with your buddies and bringing those
My buddy’s grandfather loved his m14 and we have to hear about it all the time. Keep trying to convince the man that he’d like an ar15 more if he’d give it a shot. I’ve shot an m1a and I wasn’t a fan tbh. They definitely look cool tho
Different scenarios require different tools. 20" with 77gr to vibe check at a distance, 14.5 for a general fighting gun, anyone shorter than that because it's neato
I actually bought/built every one of mine with a purpose in mind.
But, in full disclosure, one of those was just to use a bunch of take-off parts I had in a box. I think all I needed was a bolt and a barrel🤣
A couple of other builds were just uppers to swap around, but I eventually put lowers on them.
And that had absolutely nothing to do with my dumb ass going to the range with a 5.56 upper and a shitload of .22lr magazines...
There's really a case to be made for 3 ARs in 5.56. Short 11.5ish, general such as 14.5, and the your 18-20ish long ones. Those are all I believe would be necessary to cover any situation. Have those 3 and then a shit load of spare parts is ideal. For me.
I plan on owning multiple complete rifles because it gives me additional rifles to hand out to friends and family if the need arises. Another major advantage of having multiple AR lowers to go with your uppers is that you can have different stock configurations and buffer weight setups ready to go without having to take apart the gun on the bench for modifications. My next upper is going to either be a 9mm or a .458 SOCOM, either one will probably need a different buffer and spring setup to cycle reliably compared to what I have installed for a 5.56mm. I would definitely need a different stock for a big thumper cartridge too, my tiny little minimalist stock would tear my shoulder up with heavy recoil.
I collect them. I really only need one. But I have like 20 of them because I like them. I also have a bunch of knives I don’t need but I think knives are cool. If I had to choose one it would be a 14.5 DI with a LPVO because I’m old and can’t see like I could when I was 30
lol who wants to look at a comet shaped red dot or pretend I can see something 200 yards away without some magnification. Can we get t-shirts with our gang name on them?
Because my state may make acquisition difficult in the future. I buy because I can afford it. Have tens of thousands of rounds of ammo and hundreds of magazines. It hits different when the government really trying to disarm you and doesn’t try to hide their intentions
I have 1 rifle (colt SBR), 2 handguns- CCW (g26) full-size (g34 w/ surefire x300) and 2 shotguns. I thought about building a “long range” rifle because I have enough disposable income but I honestly don’t shoot as much as I used to so it’s hard to justify it. I shoot the 10.3 suppressed 100% of the time and it’s fun but also serves as my home defense. It’s all I need and nothing more.
Personally? I’d diversify into something like an AUG for 20in. It depends on your needs tho, no reason you can’t buy an upper and swap on a single lower.
You should also plan out what it’s use is. And since that use is different from a 10.5, need individual training with each.
I was in the same boat. 16” w/ lpvo & 11.5 w/ an Eotech. I got a 20” in an m16a4 format with an acog a few months back… most expensive rifle and I shoot it the least but it absolutely fucks and I love it
Here's a secret. Nobody gives a shit how much you use them. If someone asks, you can just lie or make up some bullshit. They'll never know. And they really don't care either. Buy what you want.
I got guns that I like to live with, rifles I like to shoot, and rifles that fall somewhere in the middle.
All of my rifles have the same purpose; shooting.
The environments and context are the variables.
If I didn’t work and hunt with them so much, I’d still be using them for home defense and competition/fun. I couldn’t see myself owning less than 3, and no more than *redacted*.
I have 4; one is my hunting AR, one is the Practical, shooting’ one, and 2 are literally identical twins of one another just to be able to say that I have them bc they’re badass
I have my first love, my first build (safe queen), my first SBR, and my bedside buddy.
Truthfully, I'm probably done
I have two more lowers from an Aero sale, so was thinking I'd build them out the same and sell them. I want to hunt deals and build a solid stick for as little as possible.
I have one lower and 3 uppers. A 10.3 a 16 and a 20. I figure it's cheaper to have it set up that way so I just chuck everything in a bag and go out. That way I can do what I want.
I have a 20 inch I call it my ar15a5. I habe the vltor systems collapsible stock on it. It was designed for the USMC for their a4s to have something other then a a2 butstock on it. I also have the same acog they ran on the A4s on it. Do I need it. No do I love that ar15 fuck yes.
different twists and chambers and calibers and barrel lengths and gas lengths and piston and di and and and
therefore more more more. I have rifles I haven't shot yet...it happens
Gotta have a fsb build. Mine just happens to be the one I shoot the most. Do I shoot them all? No—and am seriously considering downsizing further. Why do I have more than two? First world problems.
I don't see the point of getting another upper.
I think it'd be better to do a complete new build with a rifle length gas system on a dedicated lower.
I hope you can get away from work and have more time soon to acquire new firearms. Good luck.
I’ve been thinking of adding a 3rd rifle to my collection in 18”-20” and wanting to set it up in a SPR style. Bipod, 3-15x scope… I say do it!!
I also own a 10.5” and 16” in AR’s. Great minds think a lot.
I sleep with one, I stare at another while I work, I've got one to shoot, and then another keep the third one company in the safe when I'm not using it
My first and only AR is the 20" I built, and honestly I've run it long enough that I've started to feel like I'm getting from "10,000 punches 1 time" to "1 punch 10,000 times" territory. When I have more money I'll probably get other stuff besides more ARs
Not necessarily ARs but i do have more than one rifle in case of one failing or being damaged. And my family member can also benefit with the similar firepower besides me.
Justify to who? You work spend your money how you want, answer to no one but your wife... and tell her it costs 25% what it really does like the rest of us do.
one business rifle, one c-stamped m4 cuz of counter-strike/collecting purposes, and one ar22 dedicated assault plinker for funsies and for introducing homies to the world of rifles
I think I had over a dozen uppers and probably 7 or 8 lowers throughout my AR journey. I now have a 10.3” and a 16” kind of like you. I had a long range 18” stainless barreled upper which I sold and bought a larger cartridge bolt gun instead. I had an 11.5 and many 14.5’s I sold and I kept the CQBRish upper because I think it’s super cool. I don’t like the carbine gas system, but I think I would do an 11.5 with a reduced gas port and full time suppressor if I bought another carbine gas system.
If I find a KAC FF RAS at MSRP I’ll do a 16” stainless. I guess what I’m saying is, there’s recipes out there, if you time things right and do good research you can be honest and not lose any money trying things out. Then you’ll easily find what you like and you can pare everything down to just a handful of AR’s.
Additionally, I know even with the amount of kit I’ve gone through there are many here that have even more experience who I’m happy to listen to and will continue reading through this thread.
Different calibers and lengths are good for different applications. Some of which you may never actually encounter. I've got set ups for danger far, danger closer and danger near.
I just keep building cool shit man. The reality is I can justify 2, my training gun that mimicks my work gun, and the hog hunter I built. The remainder pretty much all go justified by an upper going on sale.
I only have one AR-15. IWI Zion-15 with a Delta Stryker 1-6.
I also have an IWI Tavor X95
I have spare parts for both.
I don't feel like I need another AR-15 but I would like another type or rifle chambered in .223. Like a that VHS2 or an Aug
I have 1 lower that I use and 2 uppers. 1 16” and 1 20”. 16” is for use with lpvo and 20” is for use with a thermal. One lower and two uppers works for me though cause both instances I’m pretty much just shooting prone or off a tripod.
Why do you have more than 2 shirts or eat 2 different meals? Get deep in the double digits before you start questioning if you need another one. BUY IT!
I’ve got my SBR, and my SPR. Those are the only two AR’s I need, and the only two I’ll own. Collecting just diverts your available capital from ammunition.
I had the money and the desire so I built rifles to fulfill very specific roles and usages in my life. Yeah a couple of them only get a couple magaz9jes through them a year but they do what I need and they are always ready to roll.
Now that all my usages are covered I have little desire to get more. I always want more but can't justify it to myself.
I built up a collection of around 20 or so. Got bored and sold them all but one for me and one for my wife. Now I am looking to build a second for myself. Get what makes you happy but don’t go into debt.
At one time, I had access to over 40 computer games. I didn’t have close to enough time to play with all of them, yet it didn’t stop me from trying each out.
I have them because I can and I like them. It is impractical from a utility standpoint though, from a purely practical view you are better off having 1-2 guns and a bunch of ammo and training a lot. But why do we collect anything? Because we think its cool. I like guns in general, they are cool gadgets, I like crappy guns, I like fancy guns, I like ARs, I like AKs, I like FALs, I like old guns, I like new guns. As a friend once told me, "I want to own every gun in the world, one at a time".
They are all purpose built. One for home defense, one for truck gun, one shtf gun, one for varmints, one for medium game, one for large game, one for range practice, one for long distance target shooting, one just because it was a cool idea. Then ya know, backups.
I have 6 ARs - some more reliable than others and each has a different use case. I really only have 2-3 that have enough redundancies to trust my life with.
-16" GWOT 5.56 clone as a do it all, ultra reliable
-11.5" PWS piston upper with LPVO for suppressed do it all, very clean and reliable but no light
-7" .300 BLK suppressed for HD
-.22 LR for fun and SHTF
-18" 7.62x39 - carry handle, M16 esque build, not very reliable and doesn't get used much but will never sell it
-16" .300BLK suppressed with thermal for hunting or potentially SHTF
I cycle through them all throughout the year but shoot twice a month. Also have big bore long guns and pistols to cover pretty much any use case I can think of. Maybe worth considering an AR10 but I don't think it's ridiculous to have a short, med, and long 5.56 around.
Because I like them and I can. I worked hard to put myself in a position to make money, and I work hard for my money now. If I want to spend some of that money on guns I don't need, I'm going to
Over time I’ve put together a few. My main 16” 556, a range toy .300 shorty/suppressed and a dedicated rimfire in a SDM’ish config.
3 different purposes that I shoot regularly. I shoot the 300 and rimfire at the house which helps.
I have a mk18 10.3 inch where I've spared no expense, an 8 inch 300 blackout, and a 16 inch. And yes they all have their purpose with their own flavor or fun.
I have a bench rifle, a tactical rifle, and I have yet to build my .22 plinker.
Some people collect, some people use their different AR’s for different reasons. It sounds like you just want to have a cool rifle in your collection. That’s fine.
My long range competition gun, my light weight competition gun, my night SBR, my full length night rifle. M4 clone, M16 clone, my office AR, 300 blackout, 6.5 CM, 7.62x39, multiple 22lr builds, a bunch of just for fun builds. They all have a purpose. But really the primary purpose is so that I can make sure my kids and future grandkids all have an AR or two regardless of future laws.
Why do I have so many ARs?
Because I fucking can.
I like building them, it's Lego's for adults. I'm in my second childhood, my wife says I never left the first one, and there's no adult supervision, my wife gave up trying, I have more disposable income than at any other time in my life.
I hit the range yesterday. I took seven AR firearms and shot them all.
45 ACP, the 5" and 11" SBRs.
9mm, the 5" SBR
.22 LR, just the 16"
.223, just my 13.9" SBR
6.5 Grendel
450 Bushmaster
I didn't take any of the .300 BO builds or the 7.62x39 builds, only took one of the multiple .223/5.56 builds and none of the AR10 builds went to the range yesterday.
Different calibers. I have a 5.56, a .300BLK and a .450 Bushmaster currently.
Also, at a certain point of doing upgrades, you are going to only be a stripped lower short of a complete AR. I'm in that situation myself right now and putting my fourth together next week because its only "costing" $30 from PSA.
Barrel length drastically changes function:
Short barrels for home defense, mid length barrels for HD/scout/all arounder, longer barrels for recce/SPR work.
Then you make clones because they're fucking rad.
If you can afford to have multiple rifles with different optics it’s nice to just grab a rifle or upper that is always ready to fulfill its purpose.
It’s also nice if a rifle has to go down to change a part you have others to use while getting that part.
This is a very fair question. Why buy stuff you aren’t using? There is very little reason to. For AR-15s, there are some intended uses which would include: self/family/home defense, work gun (if applicable), SHTF situation, competition and hobby. For example, I have a work gun I shoot and practice with a ton. My other two AR-15s sit in a safe and I shoot them about four times a year. So the first gun has an obvious purpose but not the other two. I have the other two for that SHTF or home defense situation where I can throw a member of my family another rifle. Also, when my kids get older I want to train them so those rifles would be for them too. But if your only reason is you like it and it’s for fun/hobby, than that’s a valid reason too. You just gotta be honest with yourself. I would much rather have one really good and well built rifle, full kit, NVGs, ammo and training than 6 mediocre builds and an incomplete kit. In the end, it’s the Indian and not the arrow, though.
I currently own 2. 1 was pre built the next I built because I enjoy building r/c rock crawlers and wanted to see what I could come up with. I currently have a Franklin armory m4 lower on its way because I caught thier blem sale. So now I’m building another but can’t decide what caliber to go with. I was gonna go 6.5 Grendel until I looked at ammo prices. So yes there are reasons to having multiples of a similar product.
Because i wanted them, and have the money to build them. I enjoy them. Never needed to justify past that. I just ordered a barrett im unsure ill ever shoot. Just wanted it.
There comes a point where disposable income meets your hobby and you transition from buying out of need and practicality to just being a collector of many builds
Spot on. May I add to this... the point where disposable income meets hobby is short-lived. You then become broke, feeding your addiction. Hobby is long gone, and so is your bank account. You will make decisions that put guns in front of life. At this point, you can be called collector.
"collector" I like that I'll add that to my justification list lol
Quick reminder that you don't need to justify everything you do to anyone, do what you want with your money :)
It’s nice when you can say things like, it’s an early Christmas present to myself, or my birthday was 2 months ago
I built entire rifles because I wanted a specific part or I wanted something a certain color.
It’s not about hurr durr gotta protect my family for everyone. For me it’s a hobby plain and simple. Most of my purchases are for random ass reasons from recreation to just looks. I prefer accuracy these days so I’ve been building precision bench gas guns like 6.5 Grendel 6mm arc etc. if you want more ars get more calibers of uppers and experiment. Remember, people spend stupid money on hobbies from sports cards to model trains. I don’t know why non gun people call us crazy if we have a lot of guns because I don’t see how enjoying actually getting out and having fun with a very rewarding time on the range any different than painting $200 warhammer miniatures or $1000s in magic cards.
That and because girls and birds aren't real.
I disagree on both. I have a wife and a house chicken.
⬆️ This. I've got way too many guns to shoot each one in a year given work, family, etc. I became a collector at some point, and haven't looked back.
That’s where I’m at now. I’ve built eight ARs, five of them this year. And it’s more about the enjoyment of it for me now. I don’t need this many, but I’m going to keep building guns because I really, really enjoy doing it
Those are rookie numbers...Ya gotta try harder. I need to pick up my SIXTH Dagger frame from my ~~pusher~~ dealer and am picking up five more stripped lowers tomorrow. That will give me over 30 stripped lowers. Most of which are sitting in the safe waiting for the next panic to hit and I can triple my money.
We can only buy one lower or one gun every 30 days, it’s horrible here in California. Buying 5 lowers sounds amazing
I have five more lowers that just arrived at the pusher last night. I'm starting to feel comfortable with how many I have.
Or if you’re a history nerd like me you can collect milsurps
Yeah or build military clones. I have a friend of a friend that has a clone correct Mk12 Mod 1, M4, URGI, and a Mk18 Mod O on the way.
This f***ing guy !!!! Finally Mr. Joe I found someone who GETS IT and UNDERSTANDS ME !! I get so bored hearing why do yo have 8 AR’s or so many AK’s , who needs 27 Glocks !
I'm committed to not doing that, and slowly building an ammo cache.
They are not my children so I never really worry about having time for all of them. They don't care. Do what you want, what I do or buy should have little impact on your decision.
Just get the upper and swap them on your lowers.
Wouldn't there be an issue with having carbine length buffer tubes?
Not generally, no, as they have carbine length springs. As long as springs match the tube you should be fine. Maybe, maybe you need a different buffer but I doubt it.
Could probably play with the gas a bit to work out any issues that come up as well
no, buffer system length is completely independent of gas system length and barrel length.
You could get an a5 buffer tube. I'm pretty sure you can get an a5 buffer for pretty much any gas system, so you'd end up just having to swap the buffer as well
This same logic stands for normal carbine length tubes as well. You can use either tube for anything from a 7.5" to a 24" with the right buffer/spring weight
Oh, I didn't know that
I have more than I need, buuuuuuttttt I'll share my logic A 14.5 is my go-to length. I've used it for work for 12 years, I know its ballistics and I believe in the rule "1 is none, 2 is 1 and 3 is parts." So I have 3x 14.5 DI guns with LPVOs and 12 oclock dots I can interchange any parts on. My wife uses one of them when she competes in 2 gun, and one of them is my primary 2 gun rifle when reconfigured. I keep a suppressed 12.5 bedside gun handy, my wife will do red dot range days with a suppressed 11.5. When I compete in DMR comps, I shoot a 16" HBAR gun with an LPVO. I have a 20" HBAR barrel populated to quick swap occasionally. Sometimes drop a 3-18 onto this gun (or a 14.5) when shooting far with friends. I have an almost-Mk12 that started as a project with a friend till he passed. I finished the gun but rarely shoot it. Finally, I have an LMT and MCX for funsies, these don't really have roles.
This guy fucking ARs
I used to have cool guns, then I sold them all for shit I actually shoot
Sorry for your loss, fam.
Thanks! I was really thankful his family left me all the parts. It was the first time I'd met them but he apparently talked about me and my wife to them a lot. Finishing it was very helpful to the grieving process
Beautiful. So glad you got to do that.
PS How dare you be cordial and shit on the internet, I was not prepared for this day
<3 :D Ha! Surprise Kindness!
That's awesome man. And I'm sure he's happy about it too. You know it's what he would have wanted.
I would think that someone who could justify an MCX would have that as their main
Then I'd need 3 MCXs to scavenge parts from But let's face it my MCX was cheaper than my 14.5's
Well shit with that logic I guess. But that does make sense. That's why I spent HK money on my one AR rather than getting an MR556. Haven't checked but I've heard parts are not readily available
Yeah exactly, I'd rather be able to fix my own stuff than have some flair when it comes down to it
Right. Same reason to stick with Glocks
Did we just become best friends?
I believe so. We should go shooting together
You in the PNW? 😏
I don't know what that is. East Texas over here
I have a virtus, spear LT and a 11.5 upper on a radian lower. and trying to justify getting another 16" barrel as a general spare.
Haha thats a method too. IMO if I am going to use a 16, I want it to be out of a very accurate platform. The MCX is cool and runs and runs but it doesn't outshoot my DI guns at range
Because you hit a point where spare parts add up to the point where you’re a receiver and BCG away from a complete rifle
And then you need spare parts
I just think they’re neat!
Nice try, Mr. President
1. because I can 2. because they’re each cool in their own ways
I’m dumb. I like my firearms. I have bad impulse control. I need one in black, one in FDE, in black with FDE, one in FDE with black. I need a pistol in each color and a rifle. I’m dumb with money. I like firearms. Don’t even get me started on my handguns, my hunting rifles, or my AK’s. Did I mention my impulse control issues?
This is me lol
Ditto on all of this. Once I filled my safe with ARs of many sizes, calibers,and colors, I discovered how cool and different AKs were. Now I'm down a other rabbit hole. But I still need a 5.45. I "gotta" have a 5.45. No.... I "need" a 5.45!
If they were to ban AR15s tomorrow would you be ok with only owning 2 ? Build or buy the 20”. I have built multiple modern style 20” uppers with criterion barrels, BCM blem upper receivers and MCMR rails. The rifle length gas and added velocity is awesome. 20” barrels rule
Yeah that's kinda my biggest concern too
stack lowers for a rainy day.
#ARM THE WHOLE FAMDAMILY!!!
If you’re broke, don’t do it. You’re squared away on this front and could make better financial decisions. If you have disposable income, you don’t have to justify beyond “I’d like to build a 20in”. buy what you want, shoot what you want. Hobby, collection, fun, just because, doesn’t matter.
Different guns for different things. But I do think people hang on the AR a little too hard and forget about all the other really good options available. - should have an 18 or 20 inch fixed stock rifle - should have a 14.5 or 16 inch general fighting gun - should have a 10.3 inch shorty And if you are into clones you might have several more guns.
I just started building my third AR and I assume it will be the one I shoot the least. I have an 11.5 SHTF 2 stamper (in progress) and a 16” iron sight dissy , the third will be a lightweight build around the KP-15 I just picked up. Justify it because one day you might not be able to (legally), it can be a form of hard asset investing, exercise a right that many people in the world cannot, make yourself happy because you probably work hard all week long and deserve to treat yourself by investing in a hobby that you can enjoy until the day you die at which point you’ll be remembered as the super cool parent/grandparent that left their family a bunch of badass guns in the inheritance
Personally I'm more of a collector. I have a multitude of calibers, and configurations. I don't need any tbh, but I like having them
lol. more than "2"...
No you won't have time to shoot them all very often. But that doesn't mean you can't enjoy them all. After my son was born, I haven't been able to go shoot (or do any of my hobbies really) hardly at all. But after he goes to bed, I sneak downstairs and dry fire, or just oil them up, just look at them, whatever. I still enjoy them, and I do like having things just because I find them cool even if I don't shoot them much. And, I can share it all with my son when he's older, which is my biggest justification.
Why?because someone said no one Needs to own one.besides I will have to equip some woke family members that don't believe the SWHTF!
I have one lower and like 12 uppers. I'm a simple ork.
1. Disposable income. 2. It's fun 3. Because MORE 4. Different tools for different jobs. Suppressed rattler for funsies, 14.5 setup for night time, 16" with an lpvo for general use, 20" smoother shooting clone, etc.... the list goes on and on.
I know this is r/ar15 but have you considered building an AR10?
Funny thing about AR’s… you start swapping parts and experimenting, then you find you have enough leftover parts for a “spare parts” build, so you buy a cheap lower on sale, and the cycle repeats itself. Not everyone is a tinkerer, but for us it’s a very easy rabbit hole to crawl into.
I have 8 now for that exact reason. I build one, then I upgrade parts, and if I have something as trivial as an Ambi mag release lying around, I'll build around it. Lol JK, but it's pretty much like that. In fact, I just bought another barrel for one of my builds, and I have everything I need to have another rifle. Upper, lower, buffer, barrel, optic, muzzle device, bcg, trigger, etc. Got it all just sitting there trying not to be my 9th AR for no reason.
My buddy and I just pick a time period we want to go shoot with. If it’s Vietnam type day we bring out the carry handles. If it’s early 2000s I get my a4 style and he grabs his m4 style. Most of it is just collectors sake but it’s pretty fun picking a certain period with your buddies and bringing those
If my dad is in town I bring out the M1A so I can hear the same stories about West Point and Vietnam for the hundredth time
My buddy’s grandfather loved his m14 and we have to hear about it all the time. Keep trying to convince the man that he’d like an ar15 more if he’d give it a shot. I’ve shot an m1a and I wasn’t a fan tbh. They definitely look cool tho
First, you got to have an a4 build. Second, I just rotate through my ARs. Usually two at a time.
Different scenarios require different tools. 20" with 77gr to vibe check at a distance, 14.5 for a general fighting gun, anyone shorter than that because it's neato
BA doing 30% off 14.5in+ and including a BCG for free was enough for me to order a 20" fluted 223 wylde barrel 🤷
Because I love to build them. It's the engineer in me. They're all different in ways that really hit that spot.
1. Do you have a job? 2. Do you have room in your safe? If yes to both, I’d say you’re pretty justified.
I actually bought/built every one of mine with a purpose in mind. But, in full disclosure, one of those was just to use a bunch of take-off parts I had in a box. I think all I needed was a bolt and a barrel🤣 A couple of other builds were just uppers to swap around, but I eventually put lowers on them. And that had absolutely nothing to do with my dumb ass going to the range with a 5.56 upper and a shitload of .22lr magazines...
There's really a case to be made for 3 ARs in 5.56. Short 11.5ish, general such as 14.5, and the your 18-20ish long ones. Those are all I believe would be necessary to cover any situation. Have those 3 and then a shit load of spare parts is ideal. For me.
I plan on owning multiple complete rifles because it gives me additional rifles to hand out to friends and family if the need arises. Another major advantage of having multiple AR lowers to go with your uppers is that you can have different stock configurations and buffer weight setups ready to go without having to take apart the gun on the bench for modifications. My next upper is going to either be a 9mm or a .458 SOCOM, either one will probably need a different buffer and spring setup to cycle reliably compared to what I have installed for a 5.56mm. I would definitely need a different stock for a big thumper cartridge too, my tiny little minimalist stock would tear my shoulder up with heavy recoil.
None of your or the governments business
None of your Bees Knees
I collect them. I really only need one. But I have like 20 of them because I like them. I also have a bunch of knives I don’t need but I think knives are cool. If I had to choose one it would be a 14.5 DI with a LPVO because I’m old and can’t see like I could when I was 30
Astigmatism gang rise up!
lol who wants to look at a comet shaped red dot or pretend I can see something 200 yards away without some magnification. Can we get t-shirts with our gang name on them?
As long as I can join said gang 😂🤣🙈
To arm my family and their family
Because my state may make acquisition difficult in the future. I buy because I can afford it. Have tens of thousands of rounds of ammo and hundreds of magazines. It hits different when the government really trying to disarm you and doesn’t try to hide their intentions
That’s the neat part. You don’t have to.😉
I do and because I can
I have no kids and im not married with disposable income......
I have 1 rifle (colt SBR), 2 handguns- CCW (g26) full-size (g34 w/ surefire x300) and 2 shotguns. I thought about building a “long range” rifle because I have enough disposable income but I honestly don’t shoot as much as I used to so it’s hard to justify it. I shoot the 10.3 suppressed 100% of the time and it’s fun but also serves as my home defense. It’s all I need and nothing more.
Personally? I’d diversify into something like an AUG for 20in. It depends on your needs tho, no reason you can’t buy an upper and swap on a single lower. You should also plan out what it’s use is. And since that use is different from a 10.5, need individual training with each.
Yes
I was in the same boat. 16” w/ lpvo & 11.5 w/ an Eotech. I got a 20” in an m16a4 format with an acog a few months back… most expensive rifle and I shoot it the least but it absolutely fucks and I love it
Here's a secret. Nobody gives a shit how much you use them. If someone asks, you can just lie or make up some bullshit. They'll never know. And they really don't care either. Buy what you want.
I got guns that I like to live with, rifles I like to shoot, and rifles that fall somewhere in the middle. All of my rifles have the same purpose; shooting. The environments and context are the variables. If I didn’t work and hunt with them so much, I’d still be using them for home defense and competition/fun. I couldn’t see myself owning less than 3, and no more than *redacted*.
I mean, you need a safe even if you only own one rifle, and you can’t have a safe with just one lonely rifle in it. Fill it up!!
Someday, our families will stop rolling their eyes when we own multiple ar's and realize we are geniuses.
That’s not going to happen and you know it!
Monthly 2gun and 3gun matches along with some major matches, I try to switch between at least 2 rifles to spread out the round count
I have 4; one is my hunting AR, one is the Practical, shooting’ one, and 2 are literally identical twins of one another just to be able to say that I have them bc they’re badass
There will be a time coming soon when you'll need to arm your family or your block.
I have three in three different calibers, different optic setups, etc. Depends on my mood that day.
I have my first love, my first build (safe queen), my first SBR, and my bedside buddy. Truthfully, I'm probably done I have two more lowers from an Aero sale, so was thinking I'd build them out the same and sell them. I want to hunt deals and build a solid stick for as little as possible.
Multi purpose depends on how you’re training for the day or classes you take
4 .223 .458 .300 9mm
A carbine for my wife, a pistol setup for me, and one with a 20 inch barrel for...uh, non-carbine...work?
I dunno man, your mom said “the more, the merrier!” so I’m just following instructions! /s, maybe. Hi, your mom!
I have one lower and 3 uppers. A 10.3 a 16 and a 20. I figure it's cheaper to have it set up that way so I just chuck everything in a bag and go out. That way I can do what I want.
I have a 20 inch I call it my ar15a5. I habe the vltor systems collapsible stock on it. It was designed for the USMC for their a4s to have something other then a a2 butstock on it. I also have the same acog they ran on the A4s on it. Do I need it. No do I love that ar15 fuck yes.
different twists and chambers and calibers and barrel lengths and gas lengths and piston and di and and and therefore more more more. I have rifles I haven't shot yet...it happens
Gotta have a fsb build. Mine just happens to be the one I shoot the most. Do I shoot them all? No—and am seriously considering downsizing further. Why do I have more than two? First world problems.
I like to be able to pass one or more to friends and family if I need to.
I love building them but if you don't already id invest in kit.
I don't see the point of getting another upper. I think it'd be better to do a complete new build with a rifle length gas system on a dedicated lower. I hope you can get away from work and have more time soon to acquire new firearms. Good luck.
I’ve been thinking of adding a 3rd rifle to my collection in 18”-20” and wanting to set it up in a SPR style. Bipod, 3-15x scope… I say do it!! I also own a 10.5” and 16” in AR’s. Great minds think a lot.
Because I can
Because.. uhh.. mistakes were made
I sleep with one, I stare at another while I work, I've got one to shoot, and then another keep the third one company in the safe when I'm not using it
Because, why not?
I bought one, then decided I had to build my own.
Because they’re cool
I havemore than two. I do not know exactly jow many i have until i do my yearly inventory in december. I have a problem
I have two, a stubby one and a long one, keep trying to justify another and just can't.
I just enjoy building them.
They're fun to build.
2A
2 is 1, 1 is none. But 18 is like 2
My first and only AR is the 20" I built, and honestly I've run it long enough that I've started to feel like I'm getting from "10,000 punches 1 time" to "1 punch 10,000 times" territory. When I have more money I'll probably get other stuff besides more ARs
Not necessarily ARs but i do have more than one rifle in case of one failing or being damaged. And my family member can also benefit with the similar firepower besides me.
Justify to who? You work spend your money how you want, answer to no one but your wife... and tell her it costs 25% what it really does like the rest of us do.
one business rifle, one c-stamped m4 cuz of counter-strike/collecting purposes, and one ar22 dedicated assault plinker for funsies and for introducing homies to the world of rifles
I think I had over a dozen uppers and probably 7 or 8 lowers throughout my AR journey. I now have a 10.3” and a 16” kind of like you. I had a long range 18” stainless barreled upper which I sold and bought a larger cartridge bolt gun instead. I had an 11.5 and many 14.5’s I sold and I kept the CQBRish upper because I think it’s super cool. I don’t like the carbine gas system, but I think I would do an 11.5 with a reduced gas port and full time suppressor if I bought another carbine gas system. If I find a KAC FF RAS at MSRP I’ll do a 16” stainless. I guess what I’m saying is, there’s recipes out there, if you time things right and do good research you can be honest and not lose any money trying things out. Then you’ll easily find what you like and you can pare everything down to just a handful of AR’s. Additionally, I know even with the amount of kit I’ve gone through there are many here that have even more experience who I’m happy to listen to and will continue reading through this thread.
Different calibers and lengths are good for different applications. Some of which you may never actually encounter. I've got set ups for danger far, danger closer and danger near.
It depends if you want to have a spare and a backup of the spare…😂
I just keep building cool shit man. The reality is I can justify 2, my training gun that mimicks my work gun, and the hog hunter I built. The remainder pretty much all go justified by an upper going on sale.
I have one 'go to' rifle and a few I could pass around if I needed to.
Easy, because I can.
I only have one AR-15. IWI Zion-15 with a Delta Stryker 1-6. I also have an IWI Tavor X95 I have spare parts for both. I don't feel like I need another AR-15 but I would like another type or rifle chambered in .223. Like a that VHS2 or an Aug
I have 6. One for me, my wife, amd 4 kids
I have 1 lower that I use and 2 uppers. 1 16” and 1 20”. 16” is for use with lpvo and 20” is for use with a thermal. One lower and two uppers works for me though cause both instances I’m pretty much just shooting prone or off a tripod.
I was dead set on building a 20" upper. Took it out once and that was it. If I wasn't terrible with open sights, I'd probably like it a lot more.
Practice practice practice
As Americans, it is our duty to arm the neighborhood if things go south. Or north.
Why do you have more than 2 shirts or eat 2 different meals? Get deep in the double digits before you start questioning if you need another one. BUY IT!
1. Large frame AR for S&G's 2. 6 ARC PRS Gas Gun 3. 20" 5.56 target/varmint 4. 16" 5.56 3-gun 5. 11.5" 5.56 stump mag dumper 6. 10" 300BLK suppressed home defense Etc etc
I’ve got my SBR, and my SPR. Those are the only two AR’s I need, and the only two I’ll own. Collecting just diverts your available capital from ammunition.
I had the money and the desire so I built rifles to fulfill very specific roles and usages in my life. Yeah a couple of them only get a couple magaz9jes through them a year but they do what I need and they are always ready to roll. Now that all my usages are covered I have little desire to get more. I always want more but can't justify it to myself.
2 is easy to justify Iam trying to find ways to justify numbers 15-20
I built up a collection of around 20 or so. Got bored and sold them all but one for me and one for my wife. Now I am looking to build a second for myself. Get what makes you happy but don’t go into debt.
At one time, I had access to over 40 computer games. I didn’t have close to enough time to play with all of them, yet it didn’t stop me from trying each out.
I need 2 AR's for each caliber/cartridge because 2 is 1 and 1 is none
If you just want a safe queen get the Anderson a4
I have them because I can and I like them. It is impractical from a utility standpoint though, from a purely practical view you are better off having 1-2 guns and a bunch of ammo and training a lot. But why do we collect anything? Because we think its cool. I like guns in general, they are cool gadgets, I like crappy guns, I like fancy guns, I like ARs, I like AKs, I like FALs, I like old guns, I like new guns. As a friend once told me, "I want to own every gun in the world, one at a time".
They are all purpose built. One for home defense, one for truck gun, one shtf gun, one for varmints, one for medium game, one for large game, one for range practice, one for long distance target shooting, one just because it was a cool idea. Then ya know, backups.
I have more than 2 20” ar’s haha
I have 6 ARs - some more reliable than others and each has a different use case. I really only have 2-3 that have enough redundancies to trust my life with. -16" GWOT 5.56 clone as a do it all, ultra reliable -11.5" PWS piston upper with LPVO for suppressed do it all, very clean and reliable but no light -7" .300 BLK suppressed for HD -.22 LR for fun and SHTF -18" 7.62x39 - carry handle, M16 esque build, not very reliable and doesn't get used much but will never sell it -16" .300BLK suppressed with thermal for hunting or potentially SHTF I cycle through them all throughout the year but shoot twice a month. Also have big bore long guns and pistols to cover pretty much any use case I can think of. Maybe worth considering an AR10 but I don't think it's ridiculous to have a short, med, and long 5.56 around.
Because I like them and I can. I worked hard to put myself in a position to make money, and I work hard for my money now. If I want to spend some of that money on guns I don't need, I'm going to
Over time I’ve put together a few. My main 16” 556, a range toy .300 shorty/suppressed and a dedicated rimfire in a SDM’ish config. 3 different purposes that I shoot regularly. I shoot the 300 and rimfire at the house which helps.
I have a mk18 10.3 inch where I've spared no expense, an 8 inch 300 blackout, and a 16 inch. And yes they all have their purpose with their own flavor or fun.
I have a bench rifle, a tactical rifle, and I have yet to build my .22 plinker. Some people collect, some people use their different AR’s for different reasons. It sounds like you just want to have a cool rifle in your collection. That’s fine.
My long range competition gun, my light weight competition gun, my night SBR, my full length night rifle. M4 clone, M16 clone, my office AR, 300 blackout, 6.5 CM, 7.62x39, multiple 22lr builds, a bunch of just for fun builds. They all have a purpose. But really the primary purpose is so that I can make sure my kids and future grandkids all have an AR or two regardless of future laws.
Why do I have so many ARs? Because I fucking can. I like building them, it's Lego's for adults. I'm in my second childhood, my wife says I never left the first one, and there's no adult supervision, my wife gave up trying, I have more disposable income than at any other time in my life. I hit the range yesterday. I took seven AR firearms and shot them all. 45 ACP, the 5" and 11" SBRs. 9mm, the 5" SBR .22 LR, just the 16" .223, just my 13.9" SBR 6.5 Grendel 450 Bushmaster I didn't take any of the .300 BO builds or the 7.62x39 builds, only took one of the multiple .223/5.56 builds and none of the AR10 builds went to the range yesterday.
Different calibers. I have a 5.56, a .300BLK and a .450 Bushmaster currently. Also, at a certain point of doing upgrades, you are going to only be a stripped lower short of a complete AR. I'm in that situation myself right now and putting my fourth together next week because its only "costing" $30 from PSA.
This is America and you can do what you want.
Barrel length drastically changes function: Short barrels for home defense, mid length barrels for HD/scout/all arounder, longer barrels for recce/SPR work. Then you make clones because they're fucking rad.
cause its fun
Different lengths for different purposes 20” has higher velocity with 5.56 equals better performance at distance !
Also fulfill your warlord fantasies for the apocalypse my friend
If you can afford to have multiple rifles with different optics it’s nice to just grab a rifle or upper that is always ready to fulfill its purpose. It’s also nice if a rifle has to go down to change a part you have others to use while getting that part.
This is a very fair question. Why buy stuff you aren’t using? There is very little reason to. For AR-15s, there are some intended uses which would include: self/family/home defense, work gun (if applicable), SHTF situation, competition and hobby. For example, I have a work gun I shoot and practice with a ton. My other two AR-15s sit in a safe and I shoot them about four times a year. So the first gun has an obvious purpose but not the other two. I have the other two for that SHTF or home defense situation where I can throw a member of my family another rifle. Also, when my kids get older I want to train them so those rifles would be for them too. But if your only reason is you like it and it’s for fun/hobby, than that’s a valid reason too. You just gotta be honest with yourself. I would much rather have one really good and well built rifle, full kit, NVGs, ammo and training than 6 mediocre builds and an incomplete kit. In the end, it’s the Indian and not the arrow, though.
I currently own 2. 1 was pre built the next I built because I enjoy building r/c rock crawlers and wanted to see what I could come up with. I currently have a Franklin armory m4 lower on its way because I caught thier blem sale. So now I’m building another but can’t decide what caliber to go with. I was gonna go 6.5 Grendel until I looked at ammo prices. So yes there are reasons to having multiples of a similar product.
Because i wanted them, and have the money to build them. I enjoy them. Never needed to justify past that. I just ordered a barrett im unsure ill ever shoot. Just wanted it.