MY THREE GUNS
LETTING THE MISSION DRIVE THE GEAR
THE “ONE AND DONE” CARBINE
Last year I finished setting up what I considered a very capable carbine, my “one and done” (OaD) carbine as shown below.
ALL THE TOOLS NEEDED FOR SEVERAL SPECIALTIES
NIGHT FIGHTING
With a Perst4 IR/GRN Laser and SF IR/WHT Vampire light the gun was ready to fight at night covertly or overtly.
LONG RANGE
PID and range estimation was made easy with the Eotech VUDO 1-10x scope and mildot reticle scope.
SUPPRESION
For obscuring my shooting position and providing hearing protection it had a SureFire can.
STANDOFF
A (VDG) “Vertical Down Grip” to aide in shooting off hoods or other items as well as provide a cover stop.
COMPACTNESS
It was short enough for use inside structures at 16” OAL with the can on it via an SBRd 12.5” barrel.
ACCURACY ENHANCEMENT
It had a great two stage trigger via a Geissele SSA-E trigger.
The “One and Done Carbine” was a very capable carbine for sure, but at the cost of a weight penalty, 1LB on the Night Fighter & GP Rifle and 3.25LB on the Scout Rifle.
A penalty I was willing to put up with given its extended capabilities, that is, until I found the following while reading through the section on Scout carbines in the CM-2.
After reading that paragraph, I was convicted that I had put “the cart in front of the horse” on my “OaD carbine” and that while it could perform most tasks of any mission-set well, it was overqualified for other things like the role of a Scout carbine.
If it were my only AR15, then I would have no issues with its configuration, but since I have three, it seemed better to set them up for specific mission-sets rather than have only one setup as a “jack of all trades” that also comes with a weight penalty, especially in the Scout carbine realm.
The carbine I needed for Scouting would be almost 3lbs lighter than the “OaD Carbine”, which is a significant amount of weight loss, being almost 30% less.
A Scout carbine is meant to be carried for long periods of time with hopefully none too little shooting involved.
Unlike a GP Rifle or Night Fighter Setup, the goal of a Scout Rifle is the same as all Scout gear, to go as light as possible while having the tools needed for observation and reporting back on an extended patrol.
Focusing on weight alone, however, will cause you to sacrifice either reliability or your pocketbook, as is the game of “ultralight” anything is a rabbit hole not easily escaped.
IMO, the job of the Scout Carbine on patrol differs in a few areas than what my “OaD” carbine was setup for.
After reading that section in the CM-2, I had first thought to split the abilities of my “OaD” carbine between two ARs (GP and Scout) but changed my mind and went with three setups (Scout / GP / Night Fighter) to get the most out of the three missions I could see myself needing to accomplish.
THE SCOUT CARBINE
Use would be for Scouting / RECON patrols lasting more than a day and/or greater than two miles out, where the goal is observation without being observed and wanting to travel as light as possible.
The characteristics of the Scout Carbine are more about what is NOT on it than what is.
WHAT THE SCOUT CARBINE SHOULD NOT HAVE
This is a list of the most important considerations for building a dedicated Scout rifle as far as I’m concerned.
WEIGHT
The ability to move without detection being critical, means the lighter the loadout the easier this goal is accomplished. The carbine should be in the 7-8lb range and no heavier IMO.
WHITE LIGHT
There should be no white light allowed on RECON missions IMO, that means on your carbine also. The temptation to use it is too much and the likelihood of giving your position away from doing so, too great.
That doesn’t mean I will not keep a TLR-1 (with batteries blanked) in my LBE that can be quickly added to the carbine if absolutely needed, but a WML is a spare tire I would not intend to use on a RECON mission and definitely would not keep mounted on the weapon, ensuring that there can be no white light NDs.
HEAVY MAGNIFICATION
For me, the ACOG 4X is a perfect scope for the Scout Carbine in that you have enough magnification to PID any threat in the 0-200M range and can make hits beyond the BZ in the 300-600 with its BDC if pressed. All that in one of the lightest and toughest scopes made. The TA01NSN versions can be had used for $600 and it’s still one of the best options out there IMO.
Being a RECON mission, you will have binos and/or a spotting scope for seeing farther out, it’s not needed on a rifle scope in this role as engaging targets is the last thing you want to do, but a mid-magnification scope like the ACOG will get the job done if needed.
The ACOG can be used as a passive aiming device if the NOD is placed in front of the scope, but light gathering is severely reduced on <50% moon illumination nights. It is a functional option with a “high end” PVS-14, but it will never be a PVS-30.
WHY NOT JUST USE A RED-DOT?
Because you can’t make hits on what you can’t see and anyone behind cover shooting at you is going to present very little to target just as you would for them. At best you are likely to get a target the size of a head presented to you.
When was the last time you shot an 8” target obscured in a tree line with your dot?
Dots are all the rage, but outside of 0-50 or CQB where they shine, they should not be considered for use as a “primary scope” on a Scouting/Patrol carbine.
Add a 3X or 4X mag to the mix and we are talking a capable setup again, but those setups tend to increase your snag hazards and personally I’m not a fan of a flip over mag as too much FOV is covered up with such a setup. Until you get out and patrol with it, you won’t know if that’s a viable option for you, but me, I didn’t care for it.
FULL LENGTH RAILS
For something that you are carrying a lot and not shooting, the need for a fully enshrouded barrel is not warranted.
You are not adding lights on the end or lasers that are affected by flex, and the weight is not worth such “benefits” of preventing external influence on the exposed barrel.
I know it seems like an AR15 can’t be seen as a serious weapon without the latest KeyMod super skinny rail, but the platform has had non-free-floating rails much longer than floated rails and did just fine all those years.
MY SCOUT CARBINE GOALS
Be as light as possible without sacrificing reliability using parts I have now.
Be able to ID an 8” target and make hits at 100M and make COM hits at 300M.
Passive NV fighting abilities as a secondary ability if possible.
No possibility of WL NDs, priority one is to remain unseen.
Did I mention… Be as light as possible.
MY SCOUT CARBINE
Exposed 16” Semi-Pencil barrel for a compact, light, reliable setup.
Trijicon ACOG® 4x32, excellent glass with enough mag to accomplish PID goals.
No WML on rifle. No chance of NDs.
BCM Stock which is lighter than my favorite LMT SOPMOD.
Lightweight Haily D3 sling.
THE GENERAL-PURPOSE CARBINE
A general-purpose carbine to me, is one that tends to accomplish various missions but not excel at most of them as well as a dedicated “mission specific” carbine would.
Usually, they sport an LPVO from 1-4/6/8/10x for reaching out past a BZ and a nice trigger to help make longer hits on targets past 300M.
Most are 16” because there is little ballistic reward for going longer, but penalties incur in the form of velocity drops for going shorter. Also, a 16” barrel is still nimble enough for CQB.
MY GP CARBINE GOALS
Unlike a Scout Carbine, the GP is setup to excel at no particular given task but be able to accomplish any daylight task needed when pressed.
If anything, it lends itself to an “overwatch” gun when I’m not using a dedicated .308 bolt with 6-24x magnification.
It needs to be able to make hits on a smaller target (like a head) at 200M or COM out to 600M+ means magnification needs to be in the upper 6-10x realm IMO.
Better ballistics using a 16” barrel.
Suppression for hearing protection and shooting position obscurity. This normally carried off the gun and used for overwatch duties.
PID at distance without needing binos or a spotting scope.
Backup irons, just in case.
Good 2-stage trigger for making longer shots.
Simple light sling.
This is the carbine I plan to carry around the homestead during SHTF during the daylight hours. The one I would grab first if I had to run out the door at hearing a REACT call from neighbors on the radio during the day.
The reason this is the carbine I would choose to bring to a REACT is that I’m most likely to approach the property hailing the distress signal cautiously and getting eyes-on from a distance if little is known of the situation.
Being able to engage from 500M could easily be required and this LVPO setup best gives me that ability where my other carbines do not. With the offset T1 it also has the ability to engage up close movers. Lacking only night fighting capabilities, although I could force a passive shot through the offset T1 with a helmet mounted PVS-14.
Because it is a 16” barrel without the can, I plan to carry the suppressor on my Chest Rig and run the gun without it, adding it for overwatch shooting or if knowing a fight is about to happen.
This gun is not for “going to a fight” but can definitely take a fight to someone. Most of the time though, it’s being packed around the property ready for reactive action. It along with my chest rig and slick plate carrier is all I need for REACT work.
MY GP CARBINE
16” Troy upper.
Iron sights, front built into rail for backup.
Surefire SOCOM556-MINI2 suppressor.
Eotech VUDO 1-10x LPVO w/ Mildot reticle for range estimation and PID.
Offset Aimpoint T1 on Larue LT724 mount for up close movers.
Blue Force Vickers Padded Sling w/ AK loop for tree anchoring.
THE NIGHT FIGHTER CARBINE
MY NIGHT FIGHTER CARBINE GOALS
Unlike a Scout Carbine or GP Carbine, this rig is setup to excel at night from 0-100M but can reach out to 200/300M at night if needed via IR laser. It also makes for a good CQB setup with white light capability and a red dot.
If I was doing a neighborhood night patrol, this is what I want with me. If there is a bump in the night, this is the gun I’m grabbing as it’s the only one with a dedicated WML and time permitting I can throw my bump cap on and not give away my position by using NODs.
Short compact and lightish carbine.
Ability to fight at night with passive and active targeting.
Suppression for hearing protection and shooting position obscurity.
Ability to switch to white light for CQB is needed, or enter with IR.
MY NIGHT FIGHTER CARBINE
12.5” LMT Upper on SBR lower
Active NV fighting setup with ZenitCo Perst-4 gen.4.1 dual green+ visible/IR tactical laser designator ($400 before import ban), Surefire M340V IR Scout Light Pro, helmet (Team Wendy EXFIL® LTP) mounted PVS-14 (TNVC Tube Specs)
Surefire SOCOM556-MINI2
Aimpoint CompML2 red dot with NV setting for passive targeting. While the trend is to go to smaller dots, the Comp dot helps with alignment by being taller and more forgiving and is what I had on hand. I did need to raise it with a (Unity Tactical FAST - Optics Riser) quite a bit to get to 2.26” height.
Forward VDG for barrier / cover offset work and consistent indexing on Laser/Light buttons.
PMAG D-60 drum because the first mag is the most important if you are expecting a fight and this rig is for that expectation. Adds balance to the heavy front end on this gun also.
Blue Force Vickers Padded Sling.
Using a 36YD zero, the gun is very capable with a dot.
Just a thought, and I don't disagree with you on weight and need for certain additions to your scout rifle (or any rifle really), 100 Concepts makes a cover, that goes over the business end of a white light flashlight. It's a cool addition to prevent accidental discharges of white light under any use. Great article!