Further refinements to my DD Recce Rifle

[Podmonkey]

The "Commie Culler":

Now sporting Magpul Furniture and with rail covers and handstop from Slate Black Industries.
The purpose of swapping the Magpul furniture onto the DD from the NYGF carbine was to allow me to install the LaRue RISR cheek rest-

The cheek pad is spring loaded to allow the charging handle to come back without having to move the stock rearward.
I wanted a cheek rest so I can get a proper, elevated cheek weld to get me behind the scope in a faster, more repeatable fashion.
I had found it a little difficult to hover my face up off the stock in more of a jaw weld. I like to really get lined up firmly on a rifle stock and I find that this cheek riser gives me a solid weld at the perfect height so I am very happy with it. Cheek risers on AR15s are kind of dicey when it comes to interfering with the charging handle and the LaRue product avoids that issue. Got it on sale on their website for $20, can't go wrong at that price.
I also replaced the Magpul MOE with the K2 grip which is more vertical which I find to be better in supported positions. So far I am not really liking the hump on the back but I will give it a chance while I get used to it.
The handstop and cover kit is from a company that the guys from the 9 Hole Reviews channel started up. They are inexpensive, with the handstop and 3 covers kit + an additional 3 covers costing me just under $50 shipped. And they shipped the same freaking day I placed the order. I am also happy with the covers/handstop. Plenty grippy and the handstop is the perfect size and shape.

Future updates? I would like to add a JP Industries Captured Silent Spring buffer spring setup and I would like to replace the non QD scope mount with a QD one. The Scalarworks Leap mount weighs almost exactly the same as the one currently installed with both being right around 5oz. I am also considering replacing the Daniel Defense gov't profile barrel with their light weight version to offset some of the additional mass I have added to the rifle. Even so despite all the extras it is still fairly light and handy.
The rifle remains compelling as a lightweight precision carbine that with 77gr OTM ammo should have the chops to decisively engage targets out to 500 meters. When I have stabilized my financial situation after numerous job changes in the past year I would like to run it in a carbine class to see just how viable at close range it would be.
I can already see it is a disadvantage compared to a simpler, lighter red dot setup.

 

[Curmudgeon]

Nice rig bro!

 

[GOYABEAN]

did you get that detent spring issue fixed on the other lower

 

[Podmonkey]

did you get that detent spring issue fixed on the other lower

That is going to be sent off to @Eddie Gunks as soon as I have time. Probably this Saturday.

 

[GOYABEAN]

That is going to be sent off to @Eddie Gunks as soon as I have time. Probably this Saturday.

I wish he made a batch of 80% land lowers I would luv2 build one

 

[Edwardteach72]

Driving home Just saw this, will be reading the post soon. Looking forward to it.


@Podmonkey damn dude I really dig that OD

 

[Acer-m14]

see what happens when @Podmonkey gets bored in the sleeper .. LOL ..

looking sexy ..

 

[Edwardteach72]

Looks good man

 

[Podmonkey]

So I have spent the evening putzing around with this thing as it is now and as hyperbolic as it sounds the cheek rest has transformed the rifle.
The rest is not just taller but wider than the stock CTR comb and I now get a very fast and easy index right under my cheekbone the way I have always liked it. I now find that where once the sight picture, even on 1x, was fiddly and not especially stable it is now very steady and very fast to acquire. With the proper cheek weld the scope does now seem as fast as a red dot even as I maneuver the rifle around hallways and corners. I can legitimately see using this set up at HD range now. Also at 6x it could be difficult to find the sweet spot behind the scope but now it is not at all difficult to avoid scope shadow. Now the qualities of the Kahles eyebox and FOV are becoming truly apparent.
It's also pretty damn handy in close quarters, maybe a bit long but agile enough to come up to the shoulder quickly and with a solid sight picture all without needing to work for it.
At 1x both eyes open shooting should be a snap.
Also did some reloading drills. As long as the charging handle is operated briskly you don't even notice the extra spring pressure of the cheek riser acting against the CH.
I gotta get this thing out to the range! I gotta take this thing out to a class!

 

[Edwardteach72]

So I have spent the evening putzing around with this thing as it is now and as hyperbolic as it sounds the cheek rest has transformed the rifle.
The rest is not just taller but wider than the stock CTR comb and I now get a very fast and easy index right under my cheekbone the way I have always liked it. I now find that where once the sight picture, even on 1x, was fiddly and not especially stable it is now very steady and very fast to acquire. With the proper cheek weld the scope does now seem as fast as a red dot even as I maneuver the rifle around hallways and corners. I can legitimately see using this set up at HD range now. Also at 6x it could be difficult to find the sweet spot behind the scope but now it is not at all difficult to avoid scope shadow. Now the qualities of the Kahles eyebox and FOV are becoming truly apparent.
It's also pretty damn handy in close quarters, maybe a bit long but agile enough to come up to the shoulder quickly and with a solid sight picture all without needing to work for it.
At 1x both eyes open shooting should be a snap.
Also did some reloading drills. As long as the charging handle is operated briskly you don't even notice the extra spring pressure of the cheek riser acting against the CH.
I gotta get this thing out to the range! I gotta take this thing out to a class!

I love reading testimonial of LVPOs being able to fill the red dot roll

 

[Edwardteach72]

So ive never heard of this product but I'm deff going to look at it... mostly because im a gear junky

 

[Podmonkey]

I love reading testimonial of LVPOs being able to fill the red dot roll

I don't know that for a fact yet. I wouldn't really know until I took a class. Or started competing I suppose.
Before however, with more of a chin weld, the sight picture just wasn't stable and it was tricky to get into and stay into. Now it is simple and fast so I suspect RDS like performance is now possible. It also helps that the reticle is very EoTech like.

 

[Podmonkey]

So ive never heard of this product but I'm deff going to look at it... mostly because im a gear junky

Well, its specific to the Magpul CTR stock and only needed if the stock is used collapsed in past a certain point. For this scope and mount I use the 3rd position back and this would impede the charging handle without the reciprocating riser.
The scope's eye relief is 4" and the mount has a standard 2" offset. Height to ring center is 1.5".
For an AR15 I don't think that much eye relief is necessary. I think 2" would be ideal.

 

[Edwardteach72]

I don't know that for a fact yet. I wouldn't really know until I took a class. Or started competing I suppose.
Before however, with more of a chin weld, the sight picture just wasn't stable and it was tricky to get into and stay into. Now it is simple and fast so I suspect RDS like performance is now possible. It also helps that the reticle is very EoTech like.

Well I look forward to further review

 

[Podmonkey]

Well I look forward to further review

You are just going to have to come on down one of these days.

 

[Podmonkey]

A little update since @Edwardteach72 seems to be interested-
I took this rifle to a training class with @OnSight Firearms Training this past weekend and at first I found the scope almost impossible to work with from anything other than a stable, static shooting position. Then it was pointed out to me I was on the 6x setting and somehow I hadn't realized. With that bit of foolishness corrected and running subsequent drills on the 1x setting I found the scope to be usable at close range and while shooting on the move. I also used a red dot equipped carbine for half of the class. What I took from this experience is both predictable yet illuminating, the scope does work adequately well at close range but a red dot is better. A RDS is faster and easier to use, the sight picture is acquired faster and is easy to obtain when shooting from unconventional positions. The scope, even at 1x, is considerably more precise though. Once the offsets and holds are learned the is no guess work involved in placing shots exactly where you want them, particularly when barricading the rifle. One factor I hadn't considered was that as you work from different distances the target may or may not be in perfect focus, I didn't find this to be too distracting however.
So I am confident that this rifle would work well in the role I intend for it, that of an all purpose, generalist weapon, capable of a degree of precision at ranges out to 500 yards yet usable at CQB distances

 

[Defilade]

Seems like a RED dot with magnifier might be a better bet for ya. Nice build!

 

[speedkills27]

So I have spent the evening putzing around with this thing as it is now and as hyperbolic as it sounds the cheek rest has transformed the rifle.
The rest is not just taller but wider than the stock CTR comb and I now get a very fast and easy index right under my cheekbone the way I have always liked it. I now find that where once the sight picture, even on 1x, was fiddly and not especially stable it is now very steady and very fast to acquire. With the proper cheek weld the scope does now seem as fast as a red dot even as I maneuver the rifle around hallways and corners. I can legitimately see using this set up at HD range now. Also at 6x it could be difficult to find the sweet spot behind the scope but now it is not at all difficult to avoid scope shadow. Now the qualities of the Kahles eyebox and FOV are becoming truly apparent.
It's also pretty damn handy in close quarters, maybe a bit long but agile enough to come up to the shoulder quickly and with a solid sight picture all without needing to work for it.
At 1x both eyes open shooting should be a snap.
Also did some reloading drills. As long as the charging handle is operated briskly you don't even notice the extra spring pressure of the cheek riser acting against the CH.
I gotta get this thing out to the range! I gotta take this thing out to a class!

Onsights got a two gun class the weekend after Christmas, in Pittsburgh

 

[Podmonkey]

Seems like a RED dot with magnifier might be a better bet for ya. Nice build!

No, red dot + magnifier is heavier than this scope and is no more precise still having just a simple dot to work with as opposed to a proper reticle.
This setup is adequate to the concept.

 

[Podmonkey]

Onsights got a two gun class the weekend after Christmas, in Pittsburgh

I won't be able to go. I won't have time to replenish my training ammo stock so soon after Christmas.
I expended about 2/3 of my supply at the last class.

 

[Edwardteach72]

Man if life ever gets better her in NY (hahhhahaa) this is the exact LVPO I want to get.

Even been trying to convince a few friends to get one, one of their brothers ended up with one.

Sounds like you are building on your skills @Podmonkey