I was told not to get a Ruger AR-15, that the gas piston system they used was bad, that Ruger is not really pro second amendment. That it would always work except in the one critical moment when I would need it the most then it would suck and I would die. Well all things considered I am glad I ignored the rantings of the haters and went ahead with purchasing one.

I considered getting either a Sig M400 or a Colt as my first AR pattern rifle, but at the time none were available from any of the shops where I live. So I decided to get the Ruger because it had certain features that other ARs did not have. One was the long smooth fore end, I am not a fan of quad rails. It also had an air of solidity to it and it was cheaper than any other complete gas piston AR rifle that I could easily find.

I bought this thing along with about 40 rounds of the cheapest ammunition I could find, took it out to Derby Dam, one of my favorite shooting spots, stuck a cheap Tasco red dot on it that I keep around specifically for testing all my new rifles and fired three shots offhand at 50 yards. Without having sighted in the optic I produced a group that I could have covered with a quarter. Oh yes, I was impressed.

Over the course of the next few months I added rail sections, a much better optic, sling, and a Grip-Pod knockoff. Firing off any flat surface I could hit almost anything I aimed at at ranges out to 300 yards with boring regularity. The gun was also reliable, the only malfunctions I have ever had with it were when I was running it on the wrong gas setting to induce a malfunction and one time when I was firing some old frangible ammunition and the bullet collapsed. Neither of these were the rifles fault.

However it’s not all good, when I replaced the stock flash hider with a Smith Enterprises Vortex I had to take it to a gunsmith to get the job done. Ruger sticks it’s muzzle devices on with LocTite. Also the M4 style butt stock is one seriously flawed piece of equipment. I will never own another gun with an M4 style stock. The stock also makes a terrible counterbalance to the rest of the gun which is so solid, as such this rifle has a rather uncomfortable feel to it. Boston has said that a rifle should feel alive in your hands, in stock form this gun does not.

As such I have decided to part company with it, I will be selling it along with the Glock 21 I mentioned in an earlier blog post. I have already transitioned to another weapon which is significantly better balanced. It damn well should be, I made it myself, but more on that story later. During the process of building the new weapon I found an easy solution to the balance problem, install a more solid stock.

If you are interested in meeting me I will be at the Reno gun show on Saturday the 22nd of December. I will be carrying the rifle unless it has been sold, if it has I will unfortunately probably be the only person wearing a Freedom Feens button.