I've been waiting for this to kind of catch on so sick of seeing guys saying you need this 5000 dollar monster to go to war when most of the people in the world don't have anything anywhere that nice when they actually go to war. Nobody shoots their guns no matter how nice or how shitty.
Amen about the injuries!!!! My Dad and our friend had an extremely severe boating accident in Lenoir City below Knoxville Tennessee when there boat turned over in the spillway at Fort Loudon Dam. They weren't supposed to survive but God had other ideas. My Dad drowned and was in cardiac arrest 3 other fisherman pulled them out of the water. They worked My Dad then put him on the bird and he was flown to UT. He loves to coon hunt so I bought him a smith and wesson victory and a ruger 10-22 charger to hunt with because he already had neck issues from being hit in the head by a tree and with the boating accident he had a compound fracture in his RT arm so he is got a lot more arm and shoulder issues so I know what your talking about
I'm a 62-year-old former Army Infantryman with a few deployments under my belt. In the peak of athletic days, I was 5'8", 175 pounds, I used to run sub-4 marathons, bench 250, squat 400, had 6% body fat...then I got old! Haha! Is there a rifle set up where I can sit in the shade with a cold beer and the rifle will shoot for me? LOL!!! But seriously, is there? LOL! Ok, ok, I just want to say that I have been watching Reid ever since he was with Tactical Response. He was a younger guy but was full of good knowledge even back then. Listen to this guy, he will be the beacon of common sense in the gun community for years to come.
@@JustSumGuy01 my definition of bullshit on a rifle is probably different than your definition of bullshit on a rifle. Let’s just say I like my rifle to weigh in at no more than 6.3 lbs which was the original weight of the m16
I’m curious also. Reid is a constitutional guy 100% so I don’t think he would be there trying to collect guns or violate somebody’s 2A rights. Anybody that would do something like that needs to have their American card pulled and shipped off to the middle of nowhere.
@@Ske3849qw There are a lot of former military and police that are very libertarian these days based upon their experiences. I know I am one of them. It took me until my third tour to Iraq to realize I was nothing but a stormtrooper for the empire.
I had a naked rifle when i first started 7 years ago.....i started adding stuff gradually until last year......i just removed everything back to the basics........huge difference.......great video
I would STRONGLY ENCOURAGE anyone to take Notes & listen to Reid Hendrichs on ANYTHING he says about the 2A COMMUNITY or any kind of Training as much as ANY military on the planet
Thank you Reid. I have always been of the same mind. I prefer the 20" barrel myself. I'm not even attempting to clear any buildings anymore. You share solid wisdom with your viewers. I have always preferred iron sights myself. It's a shame that so many folks have been swayed by marketing and "gurus". Solid training with a basic rifle is all you will ever need. You nailed it Reid. Semper Fi brother, have an awesome day.
I got all sorts of fancy kitted out guns for all sorts of uses. But my AR I actually keep for personal protection/home defense is simple as hell. Red dot, flashlight and that’s it. I have a magnifier I can attach if I wanna take it to the range or gonna be traveling around with it.
Since taking my first Valor Ridge class nearly 3 years ago, I have scaled way back to a simple iron sights, sling, and light on my Daniel Defense rifle. It is light and simply works. I have the bin of shame in the gun room to remind me of all the money I have wasted over the years.
I'm a simple man. On my rifles I believe in the trio: sling, light, optic (including back up irons). I don't knock people for going above and beyond, I'd just advocate that they train hard with their setups
All my pressure pads led to NDs of the light when slinging so I got scope covers for all of em. I prefer a regular button on the flashlight mounted at 11 o’clock, but that doesn’t work so well on the shorties. I also got a bunch of 2” elastic webbing to make sling keepers with
@@libertyseeker8495 100%. I'm sure most of us either don't have the time or money to shoot as much as we'd like. Of course practice with irons, but it's so much easier to land hits with an optic, which is why they're universally used on duty.
@@heythere4970 with proper practice shooting with irons is as effective as shooting with a red dot optic. The fundamentals don’t change. There are advantages and disadvantages to both.
I have personally experienced optics failing in Reid’s class and finished the day with irons. This man speaks the truth folks. Go train with him right away. You will not regret it.
From my family of Veterans from WW2 to the present day we wish you and your family a blessed Memorial Day weekend! Thanks again as always for sharing this with us today!
As an LEO what we use to see with optics a lot was someone running AC on artic mode then pull a rifle from a car. In the humid summers the entire rifle would "fog" up and be as wet as a can bottle of beer. The first time you pulled the optic up it was milky white on those late summer nights. I assume your home AC could do the same thing, iron sights are a must on a fighting rifle! There are better fog proofing chemicals out there these days, but I still don't trust a scope or optic on its own.
I've been watching you since the early days with TR and I have always thought you were right on with your mindset. Thank you for sticking around and helping guys like me try to get it right.
I was listening to you until you said "had on optic fail on me in New Orleans, during a building sweep during Katrina." What exactly were you doing in that building, sir?
@@user-du4ky2fy7q are you forgetting about the over stepping leo going door to door gun grabbing and punching old ladies? That was my concern. I'm will aware of the state of the area even in "good times".
4” @ 400 yards on a 16” barrel with irons? Would love to see you pull this off in the part 2 video. It seemed like you were pulling numbers out of the air.
Seeing these video brings a smile to my face because all I have on my defensive rifle is a light, red dot, flip sights & sling. Also, I'm getting back into shape. At 34 I've really let myself go over the years.
Glad to hear it & keep up with that. I was in good shape in my 30's, got lazy in my 40's & am now paying for it in my 50's. It gets harder to get back into functional form the older you get.
Optic fail in combat on American soil??? A lot wrong with that statement - Rifle info spot-on with the exception of having optic as primary with a set of quality irons for back-up. Red dots are made to shoot with both eyes open (better field of view) and are threat focused (focus on threat and paint with dot), which in my humble opinion is a game changer in a high stress situation... USMC 0351 myself.
@@MechInvent he’s got a lot of videos and I certainly haven’t seen even half. Totally possible. I’m not accusing him, just want to know. I’m happy to take your word for it.
I'm glad you mentioned that about having a sight on it because that's where my eyes are at on my rifles because my eyes I'd love to be able to make it there and train with you cuz you're a hell of a good teacher
This is a great video! I built my rifles about 14 years ago when heavy profile barrels were sexy. Now i am about to pull them off and put pencil barrels on.
At 68 years old, my effectiveness with iron sights is significantly diminished. An illuminated 30mm, 1x6 VLPO with an etched reticle greatly improves effectiveness and offers the same 'battery free' reliability as irons. In a 'less-than-desirable' situation, my highest risk failure point isn't my rifle or my optic. The greatest risk factor is damage or loss of my glasses. That's why I carry a spare pair in a magazine pouch. Works on a battle belt, a chest rig or my day pack. It's worth noting that should I lose my glasses, iron sights would become nearly useless, but due to it's magnification capability, I can still see through an etched reticle VLPO, even in that compromised situation. I would add that should I anticipate a more CQB environment, a good quality Prism red-dot also serves the need and addresses some of the vision loss associated with dominant eye astigmatism.
Agreed. Althoug for my home defense set up I did install a cup holder, beer bottle opener, and a holster for the Tv remote. It was a splurge but well worth it in the end.
Very reasonable advice - if the techniques that someone presents are only really usable for a certain portion of the population, it may be wise to take a step back and reevaluate. Certainly someone in peak physical condition, if they have the fundamentals mastered, will outperform most when it comes to metrics such as speed, but any technique advertised as being useful for citizens' self-defense/preparedness should apply to a wide range of people.
The comments starting at 12:19 is exactly how I teach jiu-jistu, and it comes from training with Reid and other smart folks like him. Physical attribute-free technique is the Way.
Mr. Henrichs, I really liked the last rifle in your video ( actually all of them but especially the last one ). Could you please let us know the make & model. Thank you for your help!
I know that nothing is more important than being able to see clearly with your rifle in all situations. I have multiple optics on mine and they are setup like a revolver so that I can spin between them, which give me 6 different optics and I can just spin it to the optimal one. I also added a can holder, with a long flexible straw that leads up to the stock. This way while aiming I can hydrate.
But what if I want to carry my 15lb sniper rifle with night vision attachments for when I have a gunfight like Benghazi in my 25 yard long neighborhood yard?
@@RubelessNo such thing in the Army, but I know what you meant. In Ranger Regiment, PLs come and go and nobody gives a crap about them unless they're prior service Rangers or SF, or really exceptional studs, and then they're gone anyway. The junior, mid, and senior enlisted are the ones guys remember, and maybe the BC.
I did some training with 2/75 back in 2018 and I was surprised to see most of the guys carrying M4A1 Block II rather than the Mk18 that I always hear that SOCOM doing. The specialty guys did carry SCAR 17s though.
@@FlayvorOfEvil Ranger Regiment got M4A1s starting in 1994, and were some of the first to get the KAC RIS, ACOGs, Aimpoints, Surefires, and PAQ-4Cs from then through 1997. We deployed with them to Panama for JOTC in late 1997. They even had ACOGs on 240s and Aimpoints on Para-SAWs then. SF didn’t get a lot of that stuff until later, and had some different optics like the ACOG Reflex, as well as 1 out of 4 carbines allowed NT4 KAC suppressors. SOPMOD Block II came later in the 2000s. They had updates to KAC RAS, PEQ-2A, Eotechs, PEQ-15, Surefires, and Mk.46 LMGs, before Block II SOPMOD rails came along from DD. Key leaders got Mk.18s in Ranger Regiment, which also got updates with SOPMOD Block II rails from DD and suppressors.
Man I was in a rifle fight two years ago that lasted an hour, and I learned valuable lessons. The main one being, people are hard to see without some magnification even at 90 yards. I have a LPVO on my patrol rifle but I’ll always keep the back up irons on it.
This kind of setup makes so much sense. My 16” BCM is configured like these - fixed front, red dot, flip up rear, light, sling. The only other thing for me is I have a QD magnifier that I can add or remove. Useful for predator calling and I like having it when the situation calls for it.
Great video. In addition to being very essential and practical as a rifle, my personal rifle has a ferro rod w/striker, a tool kit, spare parts and batteries, 50' of paracord, 200' of tripwire, a cable saw, button compass, micro maglite, and a fishing kit in or on it. The only electronics on it is a low power red/white navigation light.
Reid - this is a terrific video. I have watched this one several times now. Great for new rifle owners as well people who have been led astray with tacticool gear purchases.
This man is a wealth of knowledge, we truly are privileged to have this info you give for free Reid. I value every video you release and try to soak up all the information you provide, especially in these times we are in now. Thanks Reid for all you provide 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇮🇱🇮🇱
Only thing I disagree with here is the SOCOM barrels, they’re only 2oz heavier than the ubiquitous “gov profile” and are absolutely dead accurate, and have crazy longevity. I used one my entire military career in SOF, and have one now aswell, the barrels may be the best tradoff on weight vs accuracy/longevity (they’re all rated sub MOA, they’ll outshoot 90% of shooters) I understand the thought process of saying your average person doesn’t need that, but the average person also doesn’t seem to quite understand the SOCOM barrel, the weight and tradoff, it’s a medium profile barrel. Otherwise I like the straightforward nature of the video here, going down optic/light combos for AR15’s and every other price of furniture is a bottomless rabbit hole of bullshit I also did a deployment where my eotech was shattered and the flip up front sight was actually bent/unusable, the EOTECH still functioned.
I have metal flip ups that can co whitness a small red dot and a sling. I need to add a light . Some of my friends rifles feel like picking up a precision bolt gun. Too heavy but they wont listen when i say you dont want to carry that all day.
Hi Reid. Is there a reason you had your front iron sight several slots back from the front of the rail on that second rifle setup? Was that to remain consistent with the sight radius of the first setup, or are there other considerations? Thanks!
Thank you sir. I am in the process of purchasing/ building a do all rifle and this is great advice, especially about the fixed sights, the weight of the rifle, etc. I am going to use this video as a reference guide. Thanks again
Great discussion. I use a pretty basic 20 inch government setup with a light and plain carry handle irons. At 50 yards I can keep 5 shots in about an inch or so. That's more than enough for what I'll ever realistically need the gun to do. Simple and reliable 👍
I'm genuinely curious, on the m-lock rifle you showed, why isn't the front sight placed at the end of the rail? I thought it is better to have a longer radius
My white light is on the same spot on all my rifles. If the front sight was moved forward all the way, the light bounces off the front sight and is blinding and less effective.
Why is your front sight not all the way forward on the FN? Take advantage of the rail space. Would also recommend taking advantage of your Mlok and getting a more ergonomic light setup.
Great video though. I agree that even after all my cool quad rails with all the accoutrement, the pencil barrel A2 is my favorite with a simple Surefire G2X mounted.
My favorite rifle is an AR I modified to resemble a CAR-15 as closely as possible, fixed stock, triangular handguard, carry handle, etc. Still got the 16 inch barrel but it has the basics and is easy to use. Nothing wrong with iron sights, they're what I learned on and what I favor anyway. Plus it looks cool! Good advice.
This is exactly why I respect you Reid you do not sell products you believe in training and shot placement only. I was blessed to spend time on your range and learned a lot. Yes a simple rifle with sights sling and light is all you need. I also suggest securing any light or optic with Zip ties thread locker and or wire.
Thank you for another great video. Tell me your thoughts on a 12.5” barrel? I’m getting older and live in a wooded area. 200 yd shots might be my max. Are these acceptable? Thank you for your time
@@Rubeless thank you. It’s lighter than some of my longer guns and feels best for me holding. Not an excuse just some are heavier that I’ve owned for years when I was younger and hoping the 12.5 would be adequate. Plus I have some IWI 77 gr and Black Hills 77 gran that start expanding at 2”. Again thanks
I can do a 400 lb deadlift. 9 lb rifle still feels heavy and a day at a course wearing that rifle all day was very tiring. I was completely exhausted. Second day, switch to a no frills 7 pound. Life was so much more enjoyable. I have a BCM light weight upper and yes the groups open up once heated and hanging a can from it is not the ideal, but it is so much more maneuverable. Transitions are significantly faster.
I am a proponent of keeping your rifle simple. Know how to be proficient with your rifle. All the fluff can stay home. Reid tells you the truth and doesn't hold back. Very useful advice.
I love, Reid! I love the simple rifle set up mindset too. Nothing wrong with it. However, if you don’t have night vision and thermal you’re dead! Period!
I've got two eotech EXPS-3's (one mounted basic and the other at a 45degree on the right). Iron sights canted on the left(just in case both eotechs get taken out by EMP or something). Two somogear peqs flanking left and right of the barrel slaved to one push button setup. I figured more lasers just makes more sense. I added the m203 because of the modularity and a means to dominate the battlefield.
Reid, you're spot on sir. Like you I am an ex Army infantry ( Airborne) type, though quite a bit older than you. We used the M16 A1's with 20" barrels back in the 1970's. My eyes aren't nearly as good as they once were, but I can still be quite effective with my irons & peep sights, although I do have a red dot co- witnessed with said irons for quick close in work.
one of my AR's has a red dot f marked front sigh and A2 style and a good rear sigh and light. My other one has a 4 power mill dot scope open sights set at 😮😮😮45 degrees to the right and the third one I'm in the process of setting up now as a matter of fact I' working on the lower now.
So solid. I’ve been subbed since you were at tactical response with James. Thank you for all the info and perspectives you’ve allowed to absorb over these years!
What do you recommend for rifle lights? Pressure pads or not, and all that jazz. One of the last things I’ve never been able to decide on that’s also budget friendly.
I agree, the key word is works, I hope everyone is taking their rifle out and using it regularly, I may not be a carlos hathcock, but i can make the darn thing work, and I try out different set ups to see what works for me.....still working on that 10 cent group though...
I just came across this channel and I love it. No posing, no tough talk, no advocacy of expensive high-end products to the point of leading you to believe you’re basically unarmed if you can’t keep up (think G*r*nd Th*mb, etc.). Just good, extremely useful common-sense information and wisdom. My new favorite gun channel, along with Mrgunsngear.
Agreed! My go to is my LMT MARS 14.5” build. All LMT with the exception to my Trijicon 1-8 LVO/Trijicon mount and offset Daniel Defense sites. It is truly mean!
I love the principles you are talking about here. I haven’t seen combat but I’ve held an AR long enough to know that ounces are pounds. I will pay more for lighter weight parts to help myself in the long run.
On the sub-topic of barrels, I've become a big fan in the last two years of the tapered profiles like the Criterion CORE I use. It's a great compromise that resists heat buildup better than a pencil barrel, but isn't as heavy (or nose-heavy) as a government or SOCOM barrel.
If you would like to further support my content, please consider joining my Patreon HERE: www.patreon.com/reidhenrichs
I've been waiting for this to kind of catch on so sick of seeing guys saying you need this 5000 dollar monster to go to war when most of the people in the world don't have anything anywhere that nice when they actually go to war. Nobody shoots their guns no matter how nice or how shitty.
Amen about the injuries!!!! My Dad and our friend had an extremely severe boating accident in Lenoir City below Knoxville Tennessee when there boat turned over in the spillway at Fort Loudon Dam. They weren't supposed to survive but God had other ideas. My Dad drowned and was in cardiac arrest 3 other fisherman pulled them out of the water. They worked My Dad then put him on the bird and he was flown to UT. He loves to coon hunt so I bought him a smith and wesson victory and a ruger 10-22 charger to hunt with because he already had neck issues from being hit in the head by a tree and with the boating accident he had a compound fracture in his RT arm so he is got a lot more arm and shoulder issues so I know what your talking about
If you have the money, you can do both!
@fearrogue I don't know what your referring to
@@clydegreenehaywoodco during Katrina police were pulling over boats and confiscating weapons .
Perfect video Reid. Thank you for the WISDOM rather than INFORMATION. We are in the age of information but not in the age of wisdom. God bless!
Outstanding observation. You’re completely right.
I haven’t watched the video yet but this is a great point.
But with information comes wisdom just depends how stupid you are on being able to make sense of it
I'm a 62-year-old former Army Infantryman with a few deployments under my belt. In the peak of athletic days, I was 5'8", 175 pounds, I used to run sub-4 marathons, bench 250, squat 400, had 6% body fat...then I got old! Haha! Is there a rifle set up where I can sit in the shade with a cold beer and the rifle will shoot for me? LOL!!! But seriously, is there? LOL! Ok, ok, I just want to say that I have been watching Reid ever since he was with Tactical Response. He was a younger guy but was full of good knowledge even back then. Listen to this guy, he will be the beacon of common sense in the gun community for years to come.
Im a 51 year old infantryman and I prefer my rifle set up with just iron sights and none of the other bullshit people put on their rifles nowdays.
@@theintrovertedcalifornian5047 Define other bullshit that people put on their rifles?
@@JustSumGuy01 my definition of bullshit on a rifle is probably different than your definition of bullshit on a rifle. Let’s just say I like my rifle to weigh in at no more than 6.3 lbs which was the original weight of the m16
@theintrovertedcalifornian5047 ok but you haven't told me what counts as bullshit on a rifle
@@JustSumGuy01 not in the mood of getting into a long winded discussion with you about it
Reid is as wise and full of common sense as they come.
You were doing sweeps in Katrina? What were you sweeping for and were you finding what you were expecting in these sweeps?
I’m curious also. Reid is a constitutional guy 100% so I don’t think he would be there trying to collect guns or violate somebody’s 2A rights. Anybody that would do something like that needs to have their American card pulled and shipped off to the middle of nowhere.
@@Ske3849qw There are a lot of former military and police that are very libertarian these days based upon their experiences. I know I am one of them. It took me until my third tour to Iraq to realize I was nothing but a stormtrooper for the empire.
I'm curious as well.
It got my attention when I heard him say it
It was a long time ago but that statement gave me the shivers. People can change though and the knowledge he puts out is top notch, I’m staying.
I had a naked rifle when i first started 7 years ago.....i started adding stuff gradually until last year......i just removed everything back to the basics........huge difference.......great video
I would STRONGLY ENCOURAGE anyone to take Notes & listen to Reid Hendrichs on ANYTHING he says about the 2A COMMUNITY or any kind of Training as much as ANY military on the planet
Thank you for your unwarranted permission
@@Rubeless - Can we evaluate that premise?
Are you his hype-man?
Thank you Reid. I have always been of the same mind. I prefer the 20" barrel myself. I'm not even attempting to clear any buildings anymore. You share solid wisdom with your viewers. I have always preferred iron sights myself. It's a shame that so many folks have been swayed by marketing and "gurus". Solid training with a basic rifle is all you will ever need. You nailed it Reid. Semper Fi brother, have an awesome day.
I got all sorts of fancy kitted out guns for all sorts of uses.
But my AR I actually keep for personal protection/home defense is simple as hell.
Red dot, flashlight and that’s it. I have a magnifier I can attach if I wanna take it to the range or gonna be traveling around with it.
7.4lbs unloaded
the ar or the 5 head?
You are absolutely right. A red dot and flip up irons are the ticket. Simple, reliable, effective, and rugged.
Same here, plenty of fancy to choose from, but the simple one is the go-to.
Since taking my first Valor Ridge class nearly 3 years ago, I have scaled way back to a simple iron sights, sling, and light on my Daniel Defense rifle. It is light and simply works. I have the bin of shame in the gun room to remind me of all the money I have wasted over the years.
Same. Wanna buy some?
That's all I run with and occasionally a red dot
GAFS is your friend.
“Bin of shame” 😂 Don’t we all? At least the lasers make great cat toys.
Irons are Objectively, Physiologically inferior to most Modern Optics.
Hope this helps 👍
I'm a simple man. On my rifles I believe in the trio: sling, light, optic (including back up irons). I don't knock people for going above and beyond, I'd just advocate that they train hard with their setups
All my pressure pads led to NDs of the light when slinging so I got scope covers for all of em. I prefer a regular button on the flashlight mounted at 11 o’clock, but that doesn’t work so well on the shorties. I also got a bunch of 2” elastic webbing to make sling keepers with
Spoken by the man that performs the 100-7 with iron sights and gets good hits! Truth!
Thanks Reid. Enjoying American Rifleman
Under pressure why limit yourself? We have great tech use it.
@@libertyseeker8495 100%. I'm sure most of us either don't have the time or money to shoot as much as we'd like. Of course practice with irons, but it's so much easier to land hits with an optic, which is why they're universally used on duty.
It’s not much easier with optics when your optics fail.
@@wittmer341 In that very unlikely event use backup irons.
@@heythere4970 with proper practice shooting with irons is as effective as shooting with a red dot optic. The fundamentals don’t change. There are advantages and disadvantages to both.
It's always a pleasure to sit and learn about reasonable effectiveness... thanks
I have personally experienced optics failing in Reid’s class and finished the day with irons. This man speaks the truth folks. Go train with him right away. You will not regret it.
From my family of Veterans from WW2 to the present day we wish you and your family a blessed Memorial Day weekend! Thanks again as always for sharing this with us today!
As an LEO what we use to see with optics a lot was someone running AC on artic mode then pull a rifle from a car. In the humid summers the entire rifle would "fog" up and be as wet as a can bottle of beer. The first time you pulled the optic up it was milky white on those late summer nights. I assume your home AC could do the same thing, iron sights are a must on a fighting rifle! There are better fog proofing chemicals out there these days, but I still don't trust a scope or optic on its own.
I've been watching you since the early days with TR and I have always thought you were right on with your mindset. Thank you for sticking around and helping guys like me try to get it right.
I was listening to you until you said "had on optic fail on me in New Orleans, during a building sweep during Katrina." What exactly were you doing in that building, sir?
Looking for guns to steal and americans to arrest.
You dont remember what happened during Katrina? That entire town was worse than Mogadishu.
@@user-du4ky2fy7q are you forgetting about the over stepping leo going door to door gun grabbing and punching old ladies? That was my concern. I'm will aware of the state of the area even in "good times".
4” @ 400 yards on a 16” barrel with irons? Would love to see you pull this off in the part 2 video. It seemed like you were pulling numbers out of the air.
THANK YOU! As a former infantryman that carried M16A1 & A2 the iron sights are the most reliable and durable! Tell it!
Seeing these video brings a smile to my face because all I have on my defensive rifle is a light, red dot, flip sights & sling. Also, I'm getting back into shape. At 34 I've really let myself go over the years.
Glad to hear it & keep up with that. I was in good shape in my 30's, got lazy in my 40's & am now paying for it in my 50's. It gets harder to get back into functional form the older you get.
@@chizorama 🫡 thank you for the words of inspiration. It's crazy how fast time flies by.
Once again picked up a nice tip from Reid. Love the simple way he has the strap bungled up on the FN. Slings suck, this should make it suck less.
Katrina? Surely Reid wasn't going door to door confiscating firearms.
We might need an answer to this. 🤔
Optic fail in combat on American soil??? A lot wrong with that statement - Rifle info spot-on with the exception of having optic as primary with a set of quality irons for back-up. Red dots are made to shoot with both eyes open (better field of view) and are threat focused (focus on threat and paint with dot), which in my humble opinion is a game changer in a high stress situation... USMC 0351 myself.
@@ExtremeUnction1988are you actually serious? He's answered this many times in the last 10 years... And it's an obvious no.
@@RobertSmith-nh9quyou can target focus with iron sights with both eyes open. Like a shotgun bead.
@@MechInvent he’s got a lot of videos and I certainly haven’t seen even half. Totally possible. I’m not accusing him, just want to know. I’m happy to take your word for it.
Agreed 💯% with you with the no Iron sights! Got to have the Iron in case of any of the above reasons you have mentioned!
I'm glad you mentioned that about having a sight on it because that's where my eyes are at on my rifles because my eyes I'd love to be able to make it there and train with you cuz you're a hell of a good teacher
This is a great video! I built my rifles about 14 years ago when heavy profile barrels were sexy. Now i am about to pull them off and put pencil barrels on.
Thank you for your service brother. Semper Fi
Love the content Reid. Keep at it we find a lot of value in it!
Reid is the best! Seriously y’all if you haven’t subscribed do it, so worth it!
Sling, scope and backup irons.
your realistic approach is why I keep watching your video's .
APPRECIATE YOU BROTHER
At 68 years old, my effectiveness with iron sights is significantly diminished. An illuminated 30mm, 1x6 VLPO with an etched reticle greatly improves effectiveness and offers the same 'battery free' reliability as irons. In a 'less-than-desirable' situation, my highest risk failure point isn't my rifle or my optic. The greatest risk factor is damage or loss of my glasses. That's why I carry a spare pair in a magazine pouch. Works on a battle belt, a chest rig or my day pack.
It's worth noting that should I lose my glasses, iron sights would become nearly useless, but due to it's magnification capability, I can still see through an etched reticle VLPO, even in that compromised situation. I would add that should I anticipate a more CQB environment, a good quality Prism red-dot also serves the need and addresses some of the vision loss associated with dominant eye astigmatism.
IRLS - Irons, Red dot, Light, Sling
Agreed. Althoug for my home defense set up I did install a cup holder, beer bottle opener, and a holster for the Tv remote. It was a splurge but well worth it in the end.
In Real Life S#!+
That's all I in my Daniel Defense DD4V7 SLW Arid Rattlecan and Palmetto State Armory PA15
@@docgillygun9531if you ain't got the remote holster then ... YOU NEED TO SAVE UP N GET 1 DAMMIT !!!
Bout ready to give micro prisms a shot as my eyes get worse by the year.
God, I can't believe it's be _10 years_ since you opened Valor Ridge! Congrats man!
A breath of fresh air from you Sir. Great video with common sense information. Very nice to see. New subscriber now.
Great information. The next video needs to be Reid or anyone shoot 4" groups at 400+ yards with a red dot.
Very reasonable advice - if the techniques that someone presents are only really usable for a certain portion of the population, it may be wise to take a step back and reevaluate. Certainly someone in peak physical condition, if they have the fundamentals mastered, will outperform most when it comes to metrics such as speed, but any technique advertised as being useful for citizens' self-defense/preparedness should apply to a wide range of people.
The comments starting at 12:19 is exactly how I teach jiu-jistu, and it comes from training with Reid and other smart folks like him. Physical attribute-free technique is the Way.
Thankyou for your knowledge it's worth more than gold!
Mr. Henrichs, I really liked the last rifle in your video ( actually all of them but especially the last one ). Could you please let us know the make & model. Thank you for your help!
Care to explain the building sweeps after Katrina?
yeah, HUH?
🤦
What's the weight difference between a 16" pencil barrel and 16" M4 ?
I know that nothing is more important than being able to see clearly with your rifle in all situations. I have multiple optics on mine and they are setup like a revolver so that I can spin between them, which give me 6 different optics and I can just spin it to the optimal one. I also added a can holder, with a long flexible straw that leads up to the stock. This way while aiming I can hydrate.
You had me for a minute! LOL!
I have a red dot, back up irons, a white light and a sling, nothing else needed for my needs.
@@Rubeless its belt-fed
I’ve been really considering taking off my Sig MSR LPVO and using iron. I can’t fit back up iron unless I side mount them.
But what if I want to carry my 15lb sniper rifle with night vision attachments for when I have a gunfight like Benghazi in my 25 yard long neighborhood yard?
The best information I heard in a while! Iron sights🎉 Semper Fi. 0311 OIF.
Good advice.
I served US Army
1984-1988 Ranger 2/75 Bravo Company, Ft. Lewis , WA. all we had was 20” barrel M16A1
it worked fine.
@@Rubeless- Lt. Col. Peter North.
@@RubelessNo such thing in the Army, but I know what you meant. In Ranger Regiment, PLs come and go and nobody gives a crap about them unless they're prior service Rangers or SF, or really exceptional studs, and then they're gone anyway.
The junior, mid, and senior enlisted are the ones guys remember, and maybe the BC.
When did you get A2s? I thought it was during that time. 2/75 had A1s in Grenada '83, and A2s in Panama '89.
I did some training with 2/75 back in 2018 and I was surprised to see most of the guys carrying M4A1 Block II rather than the Mk18 that I always hear that SOCOM doing. The specialty guys did carry SCAR 17s though.
@@FlayvorOfEvil Ranger Regiment got M4A1s starting in 1994, and were some of the first to get the KAC RIS, ACOGs, Aimpoints, Surefires, and PAQ-4Cs from then through 1997. We deployed with them to Panama for JOTC in late 1997. They even had ACOGs on 240s and Aimpoints on Para-SAWs then.
SF didn’t get a lot of that stuff until later, and had some different optics like the ACOG Reflex, as well as 1 out of 4 carbines allowed NT4 KAC suppressors.
SOPMOD Block II came later in the 2000s. They had updates to KAC RAS, PEQ-2A, Eotechs, PEQ-15, Surefires, and Mk.46 LMGs, before Block II SOPMOD rails came along from DD.
Key leaders got Mk.18s in Ranger Regiment, which also got updates with SOPMOD Block II rails from DD and suppressors.
Man I was in a rifle fight two years ago that lasted an hour, and I learned valuable lessons. The main one being, people are hard to see without some magnification even at 90 yards. I have a LPVO on my patrol rifle but I’ll always keep the back up irons on it.
Where was this rifle fight? Did you, at least, have any snacks and water?
A gun fight that lasted an hour? wow your a legend. You must have had the unlimited ammo cheat code.
What is the best way to go about acquiring one of the builds you displayed or something close to it? Thanks again. Great info
This kind of setup makes so much sense. My 16” BCM is configured like these - fixed front, red dot, flip up rear, light, sling. The only other thing for me is I have a QD magnifier that I can add or remove. Useful for predator calling and I like having it when the situation calls for it.
Great video.
In addition to being very essential and practical as a rifle, my personal rifle has a ferro rod w/striker, a tool kit, spare parts and batteries, 50' of paracord, 200' of tripwire, a cable saw, button compass, micro maglite, and a fishing kit in or on it. The only electronics on it is a low power red/white navigation light.
You mounted all of that on your rifle?
Reid - this is a terrific video. I have watched this one several times now. Great for new rifle owners as well people who have been led astray with tacticool gear purchases.
Thank you for sharing your thought sir.
This man is a wealth of knowledge, we truly are privileged to have this info you give for free Reid. I value every video you release and try to soak up all the information you provide, especially in these times we are in now.
Thanks Reid for all you provide 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇮🇱🇮🇱
Only thing I disagree with here is the SOCOM barrels, they’re only 2oz heavier than the ubiquitous “gov profile” and are absolutely dead accurate, and have crazy longevity. I used one my entire military career in SOF, and have one now aswell, the barrels may be the best tradoff on weight vs accuracy/longevity (they’re all rated sub MOA, they’ll outshoot 90% of shooters)
I understand the thought process of saying your average person doesn’t need that, but the average person also doesn’t seem to quite understand the SOCOM barrel, the weight and tradoff, it’s a medium profile barrel.
Otherwise I like the straightforward nature of the video here, going down optic/light combos for AR15’s and every other price of furniture is a bottomless rabbit hole of bullshit
I also did a deployment where my eotech was shattered and the flip up front sight was actually bent/unusable, the EOTECH still functioned.
I have metal flip ups that can co whitness a small red dot and a sling. I need to add a light . Some of my friends rifles feel like picking up a precision bolt gun. Too heavy but they wont listen when i say you dont want to carry that all day.
Hi Reid. Is there a reason you had your front iron sight several slots back from the front of the rail on that second rifle setup? Was that to remain consistent with the sight radius of the first setup, or are there other considerations? Thanks!
To prevent the light from illuminating the front sight.
Thank you sir. I am in the process of purchasing/ building a do all rifle and this is great advice, especially about the fixed sights, the weight of the rifle, etc. I am going to use this video as a reference guide. Thanks again
Great discussion. I use a pretty basic 20 inch government setup with a light and plain carry handle irons. At 50 yards I can keep 5 shots in about an inch or so. That's more than enough for what I'll ever realistically need the gun to do. Simple and reliable 👍
more than enough for most if they are honest about it .
Mine runs with iron primary and a backup rmr on a 45° offset. When its 0200 in the backwoods a red dot is king.
I'm genuinely curious, on the m-lock rifle you showed, why isn't the front sight placed at the end of the rail? I thought it is better to have a longer radius
My white light is on the same spot on all my rifles. If the front sight was moved forward all the way, the light bounces off the front sight and is blinding and less effective.
@@ReidHenrichs awesome, thank you. Hope to take your class this November!
Why is your front sight not all the way forward on the FN? Take advantage of the rail space. Would also recommend taking advantage of your Mlok and getting a more ergonomic light setup.
Great video though. I agree that even after all my cool quad rails with all the accoutrement, the pencil barrel A2 is my favorite with a simple Surefire G2X mounted.
My favorite rifle is an AR I modified to resemble a CAR-15 as closely as possible, fixed stock, triangular handguard, carry handle, etc. Still got the 16 inch barrel but it has the basics and is easy to use. Nothing wrong with iron sights, they're what I learned on and what I favor anyway. Plus it looks cool! Good advice.
Thoughts on thermal
This is exactly why I respect you Reid you do not sell products you believe in training and shot placement only. I was blessed to spend time on your range and learned a lot. Yes a simple rifle with sights sling and light is all you need. I also suggest securing any light or optic with Zip ties thread locker and or wire.
Thank you for another great video. Tell me your thoughts on a 12.5” barrel? I’m getting older and live in a wooded area. 200 yd shots might be my max. Are these acceptable? Thank you for your time
@@Rubeless thank you. It’s lighter than some of my longer guns and feels best for me holding. Not an excuse just some are heavier that I’ve owned for years when I was younger and hoping the 12.5 would be adequate. Plus I have some IWI 77 gr and Black Hills 77 gran that start expanding at 2”.
Again thanks
Reid GREAT CONTENT...especially, for the elderly! Would you comment on a combat magazine loadout? Thanks
Strength definitely makes things easier but a lighter gun is always easier to carry and hold regardless of how strong you are.
I can do a 400 lb deadlift. 9 lb rifle still feels heavy and a day at a course wearing that rifle all day was very tiring. I was completely exhausted. Second day, switch to a no frills 7 pound. Life was so much more enjoyable. I have a BCM light weight upper and yes the groups open up once heated and hanging a can from it is not the ideal, but it is so much more maneuverable. Transitions are significantly faster.
I am a proponent of keeping your rifle simple.
Know how to be proficient with your rifle.
All the fluff can stay home.
Reid tells you the truth and doesn't hold back. Very useful advice.
How you aim with Iron sights under Nods?
Spend $10,000 on NODs and training to get the answer!
I got nods and you can't activate or passive aim with just iron sights...@@charliefoxtrot5001
I love, Reid! I love the simple rifle set up mindset too. Nothing wrong with it. However, if you don’t have night vision and thermal you’re dead! Period!
A lot of these comments are people without those items coping.
Colt lists a rack grade carry handle CR6920 at 6.9lbs
This is an A2 Govt. Carbine, but yes, the 6920 is still a very handy rifle.
I've got the fancy $$$ guns.
My favorite is the lightest, not the coolest.
What is that light mount?
Impact Weapons?
I just seen this video. Thank you.
I've got two eotech EXPS-3's (one mounted basic and the other at a 45degree on the right). Iron sights canted on the left(just in case both eotechs get taken out by EMP or something). Two somogear peqs flanking left and right of the barrel slaved to one push button setup. I figured more lasers just makes more sense. I added the m203 because of the modularity and a means to dominate the battlefield.
Right on Reid! 100% on all aspects of opinion and theory. Amazing how many shooters confuse need vs want, practical vs fantasy.
Great simple, practical advice, as always Reid. Hope you and The Nurse have a nice Memorial Day. Semper Fi (77-97).
Reid, you're spot on sir. Like you I am an ex Army infantry ( Airborne) type, though quite a bit older than you. We used the M16 A1's with 20" barrels back in the 1970's.
My eyes aren't nearly as good as they once were, but I can still be quite effective with my irons & peep sights, although I do have a red dot co- witnessed with said irons for quick close in work.
I have a LWRC very heavy a great weapon but heavy. Thank you SIR
My favorite rifle is still my iron sighted winchester 94 in 3030. It is still light fast snd reliable. I have had it since the late 80s
"The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone..." We all have a responsibility to train. Great video.
one of my AR's has a red dot f marked front sigh and A2 style and a good rear sigh and light. My other one has a 4 power mill dot scope open sights set at 😮😮😮45 degrees to the right and the third one I'm in the process of setting up now as a matter of fact I' working on the lower now.
So solid. I’ve been subbed since you were at tactical response with James. Thank you for all the info and perspectives you’ve allowed to absorb over these years!
What do you recommend for rifle lights? Pressure pads or not, and all that jazz. One of the last things I’ve never been able to decide on that’s also budget friendly.
I agree, the key word is works, I hope everyone is taking their rifle out and using it regularly, I may not be a carlos hathcock, but i can make the darn thing work, and I try out different set ups to see what works for me.....still working on that 10 cent group though...
I’m 31 and after swapping from lpvo to red dot and now a prism.
I setup my hd upper with good ole irons and a flashlight.
I just came across this channel and I love it. No posing, no tough talk, no advocacy of expensive high-end products to the point of leading you to believe you’re basically unarmed if you can’t keep up (think G*r*nd Th*mb, etc.). Just good, extremely useful common-sense information and wisdom. My new favorite gun channel, along with Mrgunsngear.
Carry-Handles and their simplicity, are making a comeback!!! GET SOME
Thanks!
Thank you for sharing the wisdom!
Those that know more carry less. A voice of expereince. Excellent points, sir.
I keep going back and forth on this issue, what to have and how to use it, for the AR platform. this vid helped in my final setup!
What brand are those fixed irons on the FN?
Which iron sights would you recommend?
So when you were going door to door clearing structures in combat during Katrina, were you confiscating people's firearms?
Snarky. I bet you're a cool dude.
@@matthew7291Not really, tbh. I make pretty good steaks though.
Would you recommend a single point sling?
Agreed! My go to is my LMT MARS 14.5” build. All LMT with the exception to my Trijicon 1-8 LVO/Trijicon mount and offset Daniel Defense sites. It is truly mean!
I love the principles you are talking about here. I haven’t seen combat but I’ve held an AR long enough to know that ounces are pounds. I will pay more for lighter weight parts to help myself in the long run.
On the sub-topic of barrels, I've become a big fan in the last two years of the tapered profiles like the Criterion CORE I use. It's a great compromise that resists heat buildup better than a pencil barrel, but isn't as heavy (or nose-heavy) as a government or SOCOM barrel.