Hi guys. I have almost no experience with AR type rifles. I shot one 2-3 shots that belonged to a guy at the gun range. It was beat up and seemed like a really poor quality gun. He just wanted to make noise. I have never really had any interest in these rifles. This seems like a very good option for coyote hunting. Hopefully some experts on here can answer a few questions. Presently I use a Remington model 7 in .243.

I really like the bullet options and ballistics of the .223 / 5.56 rifle. It should be an excellent cartridge choice for the distances involved here in Ohio. What are cartridge suggestions? I have no interest in handloading.

What I really like about this rifle is the ability to mount the LED light system that I use. Instead of mounting it piggyback on top of the scope, I hope to mount the light underneath the barrel or to the side of the barrel to make a much more balanced rig. Is this possible?

It seems that everybody wants a 30 round clip and I understand that. However for hunting, is a shorter flush length clip available?

I shoot left handed, so it would be nice to install an ambidextrous safety. Is such an option available?

Who makes good rock solid rings for the rail mount?

Thank you for any suggestions for setting up this rifle in time for when I start my coyote hunting season after Christmas.

Best wishes.

You can get a left hand AR from Stag arms, I am not sure if any other manufactures are making them at this time.

You can get both 10 and 20 round Mags.

Check AR15.com for all of the newest greatest things AR.

Hi there. Thanks for the reply.

I just looked at the Stag website. Thanks, but interested in just an ambidextrous safety. The rest of the gun doesn’t matter. I don’t want to buy a gun that may have limited resale value. When I learned to play guitar - couldn’t play either way so learned righty for selection and resale potential.

I will look at the AR website. There must be a website for everything!

Best wishes.

Your selector switch can be moved to either a left hand safety or a right hand. My M&P is stamped on both sides. LLL

yessir, and don't forget blackrifle.com and rugerownersforum.com too

and for my truck its the chevy2500 forum and the wifes is F150forum and the daughters is tahoeownerforum

I like a light weight setup not seeing a need to have a heavy gun 6.5 pounds with a 2-7x32 vortex

free float hand guards are worth it. this gives you lots of real-estate to mount things and lets the barrel ride fully free floated for best accuracy.

they make 5, 10 , 20 , 30 and 40 round mags

for hunting I run metal 20s they stick out about an inch then 10s stick out about a half inch because you have to have some stick out to get a hold of , my dad runs the p-mag (poly) 10 rounders they work fine and you pay basically the same money 10 , 20 or 30

ambi safety is a very common upgrade

they even make a ambi bolt release now

for mags you will just have to get the release with you thumb as you pull the mag out.

Nikon P-series mounts are very nice they are 2 piece and are symmetrical so they can be run one forwards one backwards to give you a huge number of possibilities for mounting , if your into taking a scope on and off frequently they are not for you but to mount and leave they are very good. they run about 40 dollars


I have one of these in 300 blackout form brownells very strait shooter and with scope scope under 7 pounds loaded makes for easy carrying but I was just shooting it out to 400 yards 2 weeks ago so plenty capable and accurate.
https://www.brownells.com/rifle-par...lok-5-56-prod116352.aspx?sku=100-025-582

this is just the complete upper , it attaches to the lower , the lower is where you add the ambi safety the 2 separate with 2 take down pins you can buy a complete lower or a stripped lower both need to go to a dealer or come from a dealer that is the serialized part

this is a brownell's upper , a vortex 2-7x32 , Nikon p-series mounts this is a Key-mod free float tube and they now come with a M-lock mount which is what you want I got ke-mod because they were clearancing them out and I don't mount much the only difference is the shape of the slot to mount accessories.

the Ruger AR-556 in 5.56 with the 18 inch barrel m-lock free float tube looks like almost exactly what I would build you add a little weight with the 18 inch barrel over the 16 but 0.3 pounds so nto a big deal

that would be a fine predator rifle , just add an Ami saftey or really the saftey would be where you can get it with your index finger a lot of people just do it that way try it the ambi saftety is 20 dollars for a basic one https://www.midwayusa.com/product/451138/ar-stoner-ambidextrous-safety-selector-ar-15-lr-308-matte

the beauty of the AR platform is the parts all fit with any mil spec gun.

Pete - thanks for the info. PM sent.

I know a guy that shoots left handed and operates a right-handed safety with his left index finger just fine, almost seems just as natural as using your thumb. Like others have said, you can get mags that hold anywhere from 5-100 rounds. If you're looking for 5 round magazines due to a restriction in magazine capacity while hunting, you can also look in to magazine blockers. It's just like a plug for your shotgun. It goes in a 30 round mag and limits it's capacity to 5 or 10 or 20 rounds. Then you can take it out and have a 30 rounder for regular shooting without having to buy separate mags.

Hi LG.

Thumb seems easier and a better option. Interested in shorter clips for my preference for hunting. I was unaware of the plugs but not really interested in a blocker plug. For my uses 3-4 clips will last the rest of my life so I don’t mind buying a few. I will probably be surprised by the entire rig, but my biggest interest is to get the light low off the scope and balanced.

I hope the rig will work like that with no light flare. My work season for coyote management begins after Christmas. Time will tell. I will go today to try to make a deal on the rifle to be ordered.

Thanks and best wishes.

Check ebay for ar-15 10 round magazine.
Sig sauer makes good ar-15's.

Today I went to the gun shop. They ordered the Ruger. Hopefully it will be a nice rig.

The owner and his sons were nice enough to bring in their own AR rigs for me to look at just to see various configurations. Contrary to what Hillary says, these AR rifles are warm, fuzzy, and lovable.

Marty - I thanks I will look on eBay for magazines.

Now I need to select the other goodies - safety, bases / rings, scope, sling and swivels, extra rail sections to mount the LED light system. It will be a fun project.

And on to the fun ballistic stuff. Twist / bullet length, etc. it will be interesting to see what this thing will do. Maybe a 300 yard gun?