Book Review: "The Gun Digest Book of the AR-15" by Patrick Sweeney

 

Book: The Gun Digest Book of the AR-15 by Patrick Sweeney (2005), 288 pp. (Amazon Link). Available in a paper-bound version or for Kindle.

     Short summary: This is a book intended to introduce the reader to the AR-15, both its history and its mechanics, how to maintain and operate the rifle, and then reviews particular rifles or carbines provided by a bevy of manufacturers. The book was published in 2005, shortly after the end of the Assault Weapons Ban (AWB), and is somewhat dated as to the rifles and other products reviewed with many references to post-ban (i.e., after the AWB took effect) weapons and products. It obviously doesn't include some of the latest coatings and products. Nevertheless, it also contains a significant amount of information that is still relevant. It may not be worth the $40 for the paper bound versions, but the $14.99 Kindle version would probably be useful for someone wanting a more detailed look at the AR-15 than you can get from reading a few articles here or there.

    The book is split into 29 chapters. Chapters 1-14 are the chapters that actually cover the useful materials for today's reader, and represent approximately 75% of the book. The remaining chapters (15-29) are reviews of firearms that were provided to the author from various manufacturers. Most of these are post-ban weapons and, therefore, probably not even offered anymore. They may be of interest to the person that is thinking of purchasing a weapon manufactured in the 2004-2005 period, but I will not be discussing them in this review.

    Chapters 1 through 14 are:

1. History
2. How it Works
3. Barrels
4. Ammo
5. Testing
6. Cleaning and Maintenance
7. Magazines
8. Myths
9. AR vs. AK
10. Patrol Rifle Conversion
11. Competitions
12. Carry Gear
13. Training
14. Legalities

    The history portion of the book is, as you would expect, primarily a history of the development of the M-16. In my Survival Weapons post on the AR, I dug quite a bit into the history of the weapon because it was at least useful, if not necessary, to understand why certain decisions and features were made--more so than most any other rifle--because the AR was quite a departure from its predecessors and contemporary weapon systems.

    The chapter on "How it Works" explains the details of (1) the gas system, bolt, and carrier, and (2) the fire control mechanism. This is as good of an explanation of the mechanics of the AR system as I've every read, and probably the best. Sweeney goes beyond just the mechanics of the system, however, and also explains the various ready positions and how to ready your rifle for shooting.

    The chapter on barrels goes into a discussion of the different twist rates and the impact on accuracy with different bullet weights, different barrel materials and coatings, and the different parts of the barrel: i.e., barrel extension, the chamber, the bore, gas port, and muzzle. And words of advice: "Almost no malfunction of the AR system can be cured by drilling the gas port to a larger diameter." He also discusses barrel marks and how different manufacturers attach the front sight post or gas block. Finally he addresses cleaning. "The BoreSnake is great on the range, in training, or for a quick clean in the field when you don't have a lot of time," Sweeney remarks. "But a thorough cleaning takes more." He recommends using a solid rod and bore guide. The rods he recommends are the Dewey coated rods or Hoppes carbon fiber rods because they won't damage the barrel.

    Sweeney describes his regimen. First he cleans the chamber, and then moves on to the bore:

1. I swab the bore clean with a powder solvent.
2. I apply a copper solvent, with brush and patch, and clean until the patches come out clean. My current solvents of choice are Shooter's Choice Copper Remover, and Hoppes Copper Remover.
3. I load up a patch with J-B Bore compound, and scrub the bore for 25 passes. I replace with a fresh, loaded patch and repeat.
4. I use powder solvent to remove the J-B residue.

Sweeny adds: "After that, bores get cleaned when I have a chance to clean them, as in after a high-volume class, or annually." He doesn't see much use in cleaning the gas tube, and, at least for the amount of shooting he does, he only cleans the locking lugs annually. He recommends at least wiping out the upper and lower, "[o]r better yet, us a bucket full of solvent [e.g., mineral spirits] to scrub them clean." 

    Sweeney's discussion of ammunition covers the different types and bullet weights, as well as a very detailed look at the performance on barriers and terminal ballistics. On the latter point, he notes that "[b]arrel length has a lot to do with terminal performance. The slowest load, in the shortest [barrel], may not create bullet breakup, even at close range. The hottest, in the longest, could at 200 yards." He also compares the performance of steel cased ammo versus brass cased ammo, and looks at some of the different calibers offered in the AR platform at the time of his writing the book. Unfortunately, that doesn't cover some of the newer hunting and target loads that we've seen come out in the past decade.

    Chapter 5 covers his testing and testing methodology, as well as different types of scopes and sights. Again, due to the age of the book, it doesn't cover many of the red-dot sights and scopes that are currently popular.

    Sweeney covers disassembly and maintenance in Chapter 6 of his book. An important note:

You should not need a hammer to take the AR-15 apart, except for a brand new, unfired rifle. The pins and springs on a new rifle may be tight enough to need some "encouragement" in coming free. But only a little. If you have to use a hammer to get things apart or back together, then either your rifle is fitted improperly, or you are doing something wrong.

The bulk of the chapter is about disassembly and cleaning of both the lower and upper receivers (including the trigger guts and the bolt carrier group), including a discussion of specific tools, brushes and mops that will make the task easier, and lubing things before putting it back together. While the AR is generally run "wet" there are times that you might be dusty conditions that preclude "wet" lubes. I haven't tried it, or even heard of it before, but Sweeney recommends TW-25 dry lube for dusty conditions. Finally, he discusses different checks to make to spot potential breakage or wear before they become a problem, and then reassembly. 

    Chapter 7 discusses magazines for the AR. This was before Magpul magazines, so they are not included. But Sweeney discussed different materials for the magazine, different models of magazines, the differences between 20 and 30-round magazines, markings, manufacturers of the G.I. magazines, and magazine maintenance and troubleshooting, and upgrades. On the subject of troubleshooting, Sweeney observes:

Magazine failures come in three ways: failure to feed early; (commonly the "bullet-shaker magazine") failure late; sometimes the "bolt-over-base" failure, often a trapped empty or failure to strip the top round off (sometimes failure to lock open when empty) and failure randomly and frequently.

    Chapter 8 covers the myths of the AR-15 such as its supposed unreliability, fragility, bullet tumble, misuse of the term "assault rifle", false belief that it is easy to convert to full auto, penetration against walls or shoot too far, etc. 

    The next chapter is really a continuation of the subject of myths as it compares the AR versus the AK. 

    Chapter 10 discusses specific attributes, features and modifications that a police or sheriff's department would want for a patrol rifle, including a discussion of why full-auto is not very useful for law enforcement. Sweeney includes a generic patrol rifle policy for use by law enforcement agencies. 

    Chapter 11 discusses the attributes, features and modifications needed for a rifle used in competition, whether 3-gun or target shooting (e.g., NRA High Power, bench shooting, etc.). 

    The next chapter, on carrying or transporting the weapon and extra magazines, discusses the use of slings and sling attachments, web gear, how to actually hang it off your body; and carrying in a vehicle with a rack or in a case.

    Chapter 13 covers training; and, primarily, different trainers and training schools. 

    Chapter 14 covers legal issues: primarily, different requirements under the National Firearms Act (NFA) and cautions and warnings about "full auto" parts that might be floating around out there. One of the concerns Sweeney has concerns the use of an M-16 bolt carrier; something that appears to be a moot issue. But he also discusses the difference between the full auto hammer and certain other parts so you don't fall afoul the NFA just by having a collection of parts that could be used to make a "machine gun" even though there is no way they would fit in your lower receiver. Also, because this book came out immediately after the expiration of the AWB, Sweeney addresses concerns regarding magazines or rifles marked as "Law Enforcement Only" during the ban, and modifications of a post-ban weapon with parts and furniture newly allowed with the sunset of the AWB.

    All in all, I found the book helpful and interesting. I think it would be a useful addition to the bookshelf (or Kindle) of any owner of an AR. I think Green Eyes and Black Rifles is a better reference for just maintaining and using an AR, but this provides more detailed explanations as well as historical context that might actually make it more useful to someone new to the AR platform. Obviously the last chapters reviewing particular rifles is probably of little use 16 years on, but the other chapters are helpful. The chapters on cleaning and maintenance are probably, alone, worth the price of the Kindle version.