ok so I picked up an AR15 in trade from a guy at work. he has done a tone of stuff to it and realistcially there isnt much aside from a trigger, and scope to make it done the way I would want it. My questions would be, is a trigger upgrade necessary? It currently only has Magpul MBUS sights on it and I was going to just get a 45 degree mount for them and then add a scope. Talked to a guy at the local shop here and of course he recommended that I sell them and buy the Magpul offset sights... I figured I would just do the 45 degree mounts and then what I saved by not getting the true offset sights, I could get a trigger or something else. Also what scope would you put on that gun? would you use a
QD attachment? Im trying to use the money I have to the best options....

The guy at the LGS is probably right. If you sold the MBUS you could probably buy the true offsets with the money you were going to spend on 45* mounts. Although I don't think any of that is necessary really. Leave the MBUS where they are and buy a scope. You don't need to use back up sights unless your main optic goes down anyway hence the name back up sights. I put all my optics in QD mounts with return to zero guarantees like Larue and American Defense. Larue is all I run mount wise and they're awesome, but they're pricey I have an LT139QD I run on my 1-4x scope and LT145QD 20MOA I run on my 12x scope and LT660 I run on my microdot. The LT139 is $232, LT745 is $210, and the LT660 is $107 a lot of money tied up in mounts, but I feel they're worth it. I can take them off and on the gun and switch them out on other guns, but they'll return to zero when put back on.

Can't really answer what scope without knowing what the purpose of the gun will be.

As for the trigger I shoot a regular AR15 trigger in my AR, but on my LR308 I run a Geissele SSA and it is night and day it just depends on if you want to spend the money. On my SBR I don't really care and choose to run the factory trigger, but for my longer range rifle the trigger makes a huge difference. Maybe one day I'll upgrade the trigger in my SBR, but I keep finding other things to do with my money.

Make sure they are true MBUS sights and not the cheapo PTS versions. I think there is supposed to be a stamping on them somewhere.

Also they'll have a flat head screw going through them, not the hex head. Hex head is the Chinese air soft version.

Agreed with above. Do it the right way the first time. I personally think offset 45 degree sights are silly. Keep the regular MBUS, and get a quality QD mount for your scope. If your scope fails, pull the scope off and flip up the back up sights.

As far as triggers, get a trigger job done for less than a drop in, use that money elsewhere.

With optics, you must first describe what you're using the gun for.

I appreciate all the advice. I didn't know you could get a trigger job done on one of these since all I saw was drop in replacements. They are true MBUS sights and not the knock offs. As far as the use for this gun... I would say that I will be using it for coyotes, hogs, varmints, and maybe the here and there deer hunt. I am really trying not to overcomplicate this thing. I would like the advantage of a QD mount that is return to zero so that I can be on and off. Seen a lot of guys recommending the VXR with firedot, but I have no experience with it. It already has most anything someone would want as far as upgrades. I debated putting an angled grip up front, but it feels pretty good with the rail that is on there alone. Just looking for as much educated advice as I can get

What ranges can you expect to be taking shots at?

Well Ive never had a .223 so Im not certain on what ranges most guys shoot at. But in my life 400 is my furthest shot. I think that should be plenty.

If this is your intended use, I would get rid of the backup iron sights all together. Sell them off and put that money into a nice drop in Giessele SSA-E or SSA. The difference is night and day as KRoyal stated earlier. It shrunk my groups down considerably over the milspec trigger. Put as much money as you can into Glass and trigger.

I've only understood offset sights for either guys who go from engaging distance to CQB really fast and can't use their optics that close, or I have seen some guys on three gun competitions where the targets progressively get further out. So they use offsight irons for 0 - 50 yd, then switch to glass to finish the course.

Unless you have a real need for it, It will just be extra weight I guess.

The 223 will get out to 400 yards no problem. The question is will it have enough gas to get the job done. On some varmints maybe, deer and hog unless you're a expert marksman and want to put on in their eye from 400 yards I wouldn't even attempt to shoot a deer or hog from that far with a 223. Not saying it can't be done, but I wouldn't do it. I would say hog/deer hunting with a 223 is about 200 yards and in, and thats pushing it. With that kind of range I'd look at the SWFA 1-4x mil/mil scope. Excellent glass at a great price. It also doesn't make your gun big and bulky with a huge scope on top.

This X100

By the way when you say everything possible is already done to it, what exactly do you mean?

I can tell you from experience simple is better keep all that extra addon crap off the rifle.

I don't use backup irons on any of my AR's. I don't really have a need or desire for any extra weight or bulk.

I agree, sort of...if I only had one, I'd want it truly modular. Right now I have two, one decked out, lights, short-range optics, BUIS, etc.; just to keep close at hand at home. I also have a lightweight travel variety, pretty basic stuff... depends on the purpose

I know some that have NV on one, and daytime optics on another. Suppressed or open?

Solid advice, but a good 'smith can do wonders with your stock trigger for a lot less than a drop in.

well what i meant by everything is done is that it already has a great bull barrel, spikes lower and upper, fortis lightweight rail, fail zero nickel boron bolt carrier, extended mag release, gunfighter charging handle, one of the higher end magpul buttstocks. so as far as i can tell, i would only need to do something with the trigger, figure out what kind of sling i want to use and what kind of glass. i made the mistake and wasted money on a red dot for a 300 blackout i had a while back, dont want that mistake again.

I can do a trigger job on a stock AR for 8 bucks or so and have a good 3.5 lb trigger with no take up or over travel. Poor man's trigger job is a good trigger job.

wish you were closer!

Mail the trigger to him. My Armalite had a horrific 8 pound trigger. After some polishing and a spring replacement it became 3.5-ish pounds. Tightened the groups right up.

Put the money into optics! SS 1-6X Mil/Mil FFP has had my eye for a couple years.

^ what he said. Mail me the lower. I'll do it pro bono. You pay for springs.

I can help you with the sling: VTAC
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/2729218204/vtac-padded-2-point-sling?cm_vc=ProductFinding

I second everything that is said about offset sights. Keep the back ups on top or ditch them all together. As far as optics, red dots are fine but require practice to shoot 300-400yards. For a scope, are you wanting low power 1-6? or mid 3-12? or higher? Do you want MOA/MOA or MIL/MOA? Capped or adjustable turrets? And what is your budget?

That 1-6x is nice I just couldn't afford it yet so I went with the 1-4x instead it is a great scope for the money.

Sounds like you have a nice AR but without a good trigger it will still shoot like a old crappy mil spec AR

Buy Once cry once. GEISSELE trigger !!!!!!!!!

Not sure what my budget is on a scope. I'd say 300 and less. Is a Giselle realky better than a trigger job?