My AR-15 Comes Out Of Hibernation

[ditto1958]

This report is a little about my shooting “journey” and not so much about the gun itself. The Ruger AR-15 was the first inexpensive ($600 at the time) full featured AR-15 to come out from a major manufacturer (the Smith & Wesson Sport II is very similar, but hadn’t come out yet).

I bought my AR a few years ago for reasons that are a little embarrassing. Our range has an array of steel swingers in various sizes that hang out at 100 yards. I was having trouble hitting those swingers consistently with the guns I owned at the time, and I wanted a rifle that was easy to shoot well. For a combination of reasons, AR-15’s are inherently easy to shoot well.

Since then, through a combination of lots of practice, along with help from two outstanding mentors at the range, as well as some invaluable advice allomg the way from North Country Gal, my shooting ability has improved greatly. I still have A LOT of room for improvement, but I am happy with how far I have come.

Now... this IS supposed to be a range report of sorts. Yesterday, the AR-556 came out of hibernation and went to the range with me. I brought a couple of boxes of cheap PMC Bronze 55 grain ammo. The rifle is bone stock, and wears the peep sights it came with. No targets to show, as all I shot was steel and a few clay pigeons, all at 100 yards. I was generally pretty happy with my shooting. The sights are zeroed almost perfectly for the ammo I was shooting. It was good to get a reminder of just how inherently good an AR can be.

Lemme rummage around and see if I can find a picture of it to post.

[ditto1958]

I’m gonna have to take some pics later. Can’t find any of it.

[North Country Gal]

Glad you had a chance to get in our recent short thaw. I didn't, unfortunately. I have a backlog of gun projects to finish and I need some outdoor range time to get them done.

I do love shooting steel, too. Doesn't lend itself to show and tell type of range reports, but it sure is fun and it's good practice, too. Definitely not the same as shooting paper.

[ditto1958]

I may have also vaporized some small rocks.

[Squatch]

Always good to get some range time. You bring up a good point that's always lost in the media hype that's going on. The AR-15 is popular in large part because it is so easy for the vast majority of folks to shoot well. Light recoil and good accuracy out of the box. They work well for a lot of folks that might have trouble with other rifles due to reasons from strength to disabilities.

[JCN]

My AR needs to be zeroed again. Hopefully make it out soon. Decided it was time to add some magnification so I switched out the eotech for a 1x4 vortex strike eagle.

[Mr Bill]

Those Ruger AR 556s are a great value, surpasses many of the higher priced ARs in both
form and function, I actually sold off my Colt 6920 and kept the Ruger , no regrets here.
I'm gonna be toting mine off to the range this afternoon, 48F and sunny. Yay!
PMC Bronze 55 is usually my go to ammo, good performance for the price.

[JCN]

PMC Bronze 55gr is my choice as well. Usually can be had for $6/box of 20. Great for the money.