Am I the only one, or has anyone else

[S.B.]

become disappointed with all the changes to the AR-15 platform? Stoner designed it light and easy to carry and now it's far from that. In the beginning it was the perfect survival weapon(in my opinion). Now with it's extra weight, longer, even changes to the operating system(gas to piston), sights are different from original, it's getting too gadgetry, not to mention bipods. Didn't it start out at about five and one half pounds, what is it now?, I've seen over eight pounds listed, and with a match barrel most prefer, ten even twelve plus pounds? In the recent middle east conflicts they use more optics and folding stocks, has anyone ever tried going prone with one of these, in a hurry?
Maybe I'm the lone ranger but, I'd go back to the SP1 if I could find an affordable one.
OK let the rants begin.
Steve

[SMOKEY]

Wont own one of the new fangled AR's until they can figure out how to hook up a coffee pot on the picaninny rails. They have everything else but no coffee. Weighs as much as the M1A

[Johnny in Texas]

My go to is a looks like SP1 carbine 16" iron sights. I took my 13 yr. son and some friends rabbit hunting with AR's a while back and I shot twice as many as any of them because I could get on target quicker. Also better on running target at close range. I never use over a 4X scope on an AR other than a very heavy 20" flat top with a 10X scope for varmints out to 300 yrds. it is more of a paper puncher the Carbine kills more than any of them.

[broom jockey]

Ya mean those first aluminum/Tupperware rifles? 8-)

[S.B.]

Ya mean those first aluminum/Tupperware rifles? 8-)

Yes. Guess I'm just old, and old fashion. I've even seen fiber framed(PLASTIC) ARs.
Steve

[p246]

Nice part about them is you can buy or build whatever you want except for a coffee pot.

[joem]

My grandaughter wants my retro SP1 AR15. Maybe after I'm no more she can have it.

[Tuna]

My granddaughter also wanted my SP 1. She enjoyed it so much that I bought a S&W MP Sporter right at the beginning of the last panic for a very good price. I figured she could shoot this as much as she wanted and would keep the round count down on my SP1. She has taken to it and has already put about 600 rounds through it in the short time she has been able to shoot it. She is an excellent shot but now she wants a scope on it as she has seen so many others like that.

[Major Tom]

I, too, loved my Colt SP-1 that i bought in the mid 70's for $250. Wish I still had it. I now have a DPMS M4 which is nice, but, heavy.

[epa223]

As a builder and collector of the "old" AR-15s since 1985, I found my "home" with RetroBlackRifle.com. All my builds are based on the 600 and 700 series rifles/carbines with one exception... an M4gery with a flat-top replicating the 977/979.

[Andouille]

RetroBlackRifle has oodles of good information but its forums haven't seemed to catch on like the Retro forum in ARFCOM. Plenty good information stickied there too and much more active.

http://www.ar15.com/forums/f_3/123_.html

S.B., there are some mostly complete A1 parts kits floating around various places. A new lower receiver and a new barrel and you're in business. Bounce over to ARFCOM for lots of inspiration. Lots of them there are all ate up with NODAK Spud lower receivers for authenticity, but if you don't mind an A2 lower receiver will work just as well and so will a fast twist lightweight barrel from somebody like DEZ arms. You can get that done for half to 3/4 the cost of a decent SP1, especially if you can do most or all of the work yourself.

[Dolt]

I understand the need to "GI proof" a rifle, but I think that a weapon firing a 5.56 cartridge needs no more weight than about 6 pounds max. without loaded magazine. It is ridiculous to heft an AR that weighs close to 10 pounds.

[gwp]

Here is something you might like. It is reported to be under 4 pounds.

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2014/11/23/weekend-photo-ultra-light-ounces-pounds-ar-15/

[Dolt]

Now that's what I'm talkin bout!

[Shooter5]

become disappointed with all the changes to the AR-15 platform? Stoner designed it light and easy to carry and now it's far from that. In the beginning it was the perfect survival weapon(in my opinion). Now with it's extra weight, longer, even changes to the operating system(gas to piston), sights are different from original, it's getting too gadgetry, not to mention bipods. Didn't it start out at about five and one half pounds, what is it now?, I've seen over eight pounds listed, and with a match barrel most prefer, ten even twelve plus pounds? In the recent middle east conflicts they use more optics and folding stocks, has anyone ever tried going prone with one of these, in a hurry?
Maybe I'm the lone ranger but, I'd go back to the SP1 if I could find an affordable one.
OK let the rants begin.
Steve

Am not sure which particular model you are looking at in terms of weight or other characteristics. Anyway, the AR/M16/M4/whatever you want to call it is completely modular and you can literally put together a rifle of hundreds of thousands of combinations. That is 100,000s.
You want one with carbon fiber, titanium, 7 inch barrel to 24 inch, nearly any caliber you can dream of, etc etc etc. It is like a LEGO toy, mix and match. You can find what you want. Their are many different uppers from crossbows to 50 cal BMG. You want Plain Jane? You got that too.
Someone and anyone can put whatever they want or don't want on it.
It has evolved and proven itself to be a global standard in combat. Its not perfection but it works with proper training and maintenance.