Along with being great for shooting close targets within 300 to 500 yards, it can also offer the everyday homeowner a great way to serve them should they need self defense.
The only question is – how do you set one up?
This is where we come in to lend a helping hand!
To ensure that you are able to get the very most out of your fighting rifle (as well as to ensure that you are able to use it safely) this article is going to be providing you with important guidance to ensure that you are able to set it up correctly and then begin using it safely.
Along the way, we are also going to be sharing with you additional information that will make sure that you are able to safely use your fighting rifle – regardless of whether you happen to be a hunter or you want to shoot and work on your aim at the local range.
Whenever you’re ready, just read on!
What Is A Fighting Rifle?
Before we jump any further into this guide, we first think that it would be a great idea to talk you through what a fighting rifle (Also check out .177 vs .22 Air Rifles: Which is Better?) is, exactly.
Unlike some other types of firearms that you can get, a modern fighting rifle is a little different to other types of weapons and offers a unique construction that sets it apart from the rest.
Essentially, even though there are a variety of different types of fighting rifles out there on the market, as a general rule of thumb every modern day fighting rifle will need to be chambered inside a full power cartridge, as well as offering a semi automatic function.
With this being said, this then means that the fun will need to be chambered to, at the very least, around the 5.56 mark, although keep in mind that a fighting rifle can have the ability to be chambered to adjustments of .308, 300 blackout, 6.5 Grendel and more.
If the fighting rifle has been made to a good quality and high standard, it should ideally have a detachable magazine for convenience – although there are some fighting rifles that are made with their magazine being non-detachable.
As a side note here, while it is generally considered that a fighting rifle having a detachable magazine is the best, keep in mind that there are some states across the country that have certain restrictions in place across fighting rifles that have a detachable magazine.
For this reason, it is important to make sure that you are doing your research prior to purchasing one to make sure that you are not violating any gun laws in your area with regards to the magazine of your fighting rifle.
If you do find that you are in a state that requires all licensed gun owners to have a fixed magazine only, then you will need to make sure that you are purchasing a fighting rifle that has been built to meet this requirement.
Along with this, regardless of what the laws are within your state regarding rifle magazines, it is very important that you ensure that the fighting rifle that you choose for yourself is easily adjustable with the ability to have a variety of different accessories attached to it safely for convenience.
While you might not necessarily discover that you need any accessories at first, this is a nice to have option and will ensure that you are getting the best value for your money while also offering the ability to adjust to what you are using your rifle for.
What Are Some Examples of Fighting Rifles?
Now that we have covered the basics regarding fighting rifles and uncovered how this particular rifle varies from other weapons, we are now going to be providing you with some examples of the most common modern fighting rifles currently out there.
It’s a good idea to make sure that you are familiarized with the various types of fighting rifles out there right now, as this will help to ensure that you purchase the right one for you and your needs.
Whenever you’re ready, let’s take a look at the top examples of modern fighting rifles below:
CZ Bren
AKM Series
SIG 556
FN Scar
AR 15
Keep in mind, there are many other types of modern fighting rifles out there on the market right now – these are just the most popular worth highlighting.
The fighting rifles that we have shared with you above are not only some of the most popular styles of fighting rifles, but they are also some of the most iconic.
As we’re sure you’re already well aware, the fighting rifle has been a staple weapon in the armed forces for many, many years – and this simply comes down to the way that the fighting trifle is so reliable and adjustable.
To follow on from this, even though we don’t necessarily recommend decking your modern fighting rifle out in an assortment of accessories as this will lead to it becoming far too heavy and cumbersome to use – it is necessary to make sure that you are upgrading your fighting rifle with some upgrades.
These accessory upgrades will ensure that you are able to set your rifle up correctly and without any issues, while also ensuring that you get the best performance in line with what it is that you want to use your rifle for. This brings us to our next section!
What Upgrades Will My Fighting Rifle Need?
So, now that we have provided you with the basics about fighting rifles as well as talked you through some of the most common examples of fighting rifles currently out there on the market right now, we are now going to be sharing with you some of the most important upgrades that you will need to attach to your rifle in order to set it up in the best way possible.
Let’s break each type of necessary upgrade down below:
Sling
This is something that we are sure you will have already heard of.
However, if you would look to be familiarized with the term, a sling is essentially an accessory that is designed to be compatible with a variety of different weapons, including the modern fighting rifle.
The main purpose of a sling is to provide you with a way to keep your rifle attached to your body at all times, without necessarily requiring your hands for assistance.
For this reason, it is absolutely essential that you aren’t only making sure that you are using one, but that you are also ensuring that you are investing in one wisely.
By making sure that you are using a high quality, well made sling, you will provide yourself with the ability to be able
to walk, run, dodge and use your hands while all the while ensuring that your fighting rifle is on you at all time.
Along with offering you the ability to easily provide yourself with less restrictive movement while also allowing you to keep your fighting rifle on your body, it is also important to keep in mind that a fighting rifle will also allow you to easily switch from a rifle to a handgun in one sweeping motion.
Instead of having to go down the lengthy route of locating your handgun (especially in the event of a self defense situation or emergency) having a sling on you will mean that you are able to create a two gun system in which you will be able to easily drop one weapon for the next in a second.
In addition to all of the above, opting to wear a sling will also make it difficult for anyone else to try and take the gun off you.
It is also worth mentioning that slings also have the ability to prevent your fighting rifle (or whichever weapon you have held inside the sling) from being turned over to face you. For this reason, we think that it’s a must-have accessory for any fighting rifle owner.
High Quality Magazines
As we have already mentioned above, one of the most important aspects of your fighting rifle is the magazine that you are using on it.
Along with this, as there are many different magazine restrictions within each state across the country, it is important to make sure that you are taking the time to do your due diligence prior to using a magazine – as there are some states that do not require you to have a fixed magazine which will allow you to use detachable magazines which are generally considered to be the best type of magazine to use with fighting rifles.
However, there are some states across the country that require you to ensure that all fighting rifles have a fixed magazine – which is something to keep in mind prior to purchasing any.
Along with taking into account which type of magazine you are going to be required to use in the state that you are living in, it is also important to make sure that you are using high quality magazines.
Even though it might seem tempting to purchase cheap magazines, these often tend to be extremely low in quality and can often break very easily after just a few uses.
The goods news, however, is that there are a variety of different magazines on the market right now that are of a very high standard and are also under $20 – so they’re definitely worth investing in,
Iron Sights
When setting up your fighting rifle and ensuring that it is going to be able to offer you the best performance possible, another accessory investment that you should be sure that you are making is that of iron sights.
Even though it is preferable to use an optic (which we are going to be getting into next) irons sights are trustworthy, reliable and great to have in your accessory arsenal.
Just like the name suggests, iron sights can be attached to your fighting rifle and will provide you with the ability to enjoy increased visuals of your target.
This will then help you to enjoy more accurate shots, regardless of whether you are shooting a close range target or going for a longer distance.
Weapon Light
Another essential accessory that you will need to make sure you have when setting up your fighting rifle is a weapon light.
As we’re sure you’re already well aware, the times that you have to use a weapon are often unexpected and untimely – so making sure that you are equipped with additional, vital accessories such as a weapon light can be a real lifesaver.
By making sure that you have set your fighting rifle up with a weapon light, it will mean that you will have the ability to clearly see your target before you hit the trigger and fire the rifle.
Optic
Last but certainly not least, one of the final accessories that you should make sure that your fighting rifle has is an optic!
We’re sure that this one should already certainly go without saying, however, making sure that your fighting rifle is equipped with a high quality optic will not only make shooting a lot more easier – but it will also allow you to enjoy far more accurate shots, time and time again.
There are many fighting rifles that already come with the addition of an optic, but if you happen to have a fighting rifle that doesn’t have one of these, you can quite easily purchase a high quality one online.
Over To You
Ther we have it! You have made it to the end of our fighting rifle guide.
Now that you have taken the time to read through everything that we have shared with you above, we are hoping that you are now feeling much more confident about how to set up your fighting rifle.
Along with this, we are also hoping that you now have a much better understanding of the various accessories that you will need to ensure that your fighting rifle has been set up correctly.
Just remember, in order to make sure that you are able to get the very most out of your fighting rifle after you have set it up (and even during) it is absolutely essential that you are taking the time to get in as much training and practice as you possibly can.
While this one should certainly go without saying, taking the time to train will not only help you become more experienced with your fighting rifle, but it will also provide you with the ability to test out your fighting rifle and locate any flaws in the current set up that you happen to have on it.
By training regularly, you will be able to easily correct any weaknesses that you spot in the performance of your fighting rifle, which will then allow you to proceed to make the necessary adjustments as you see fit.
It is absolutely essential that you take the time to not only learn how to use your fighting rifle, but also the various accessories that you will use alongside the rifle, too.
From the sling to the optic, taking the time to understand how to use the various accessories will ensure that you are able to use your fighting rifle more efficiently.
Who knows…it might very well save your or someone else’s life one day!
Hello, my name is Tim Roth and I have lived in Texas all of my life. I have seen it all - tornadoes, flash floods, and other natural disasters that have come our way.
I have kept a survival kit for all my family members in my basement since I was in my 20s. Every time a new member comes along, I make them a new kit. No one in my family will be caught out in a disaster - I make sure of it.
I teach a survival class at the local hall as well. It’s free for anyone who wants to learn about keeping themselves and their family safe, should the worst happen. We cover how to help children and the elderly, make your own evacuation and survival kits, and much more.
