Re: SIR systems
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ORD</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The ARMS SIR system were the best thing going...10 years or so ago! Nowadays, they are just outdated and not as nice as more modern offerings from mfgs like Daniel Defense, Larue, etc. There are a host of reviews on these floating around on ARFCOM, M4carbine.net, etc. with addt'l info, but in terms of "drawbacks"...they are HEAVY, the lower portion of the system is polymer and is prone to cracking/coming lose in extreme temps (hot and cold), and the rail sections that are attached to the lower polymer portion are also prone to coming lose.
As to your "plans" for the SIR...I think that you'll find that under prolonged fire, any AR-15 or other AR in general will heat up like crazy. Perhaps the best solution (other than not shooting extended periods of time unless you have to in comps, etc.) is something like one of the JP Heat sinks...see here:
http://www.jprifles.com/1.4.5_hs.php </div></div>
To add to what ORD said above, the ARMS SIR systems were the best when they were one of the ONLY rail systems available (KAC, ARMS, PRI). Now its a whole different story.
The only thing I buy that is ARMS is the bipod mount for the harris. ARMS #32. That might be changed with the introduction of Larue's integrated throwlever LT706 or the Atlas.
Also the older ARMS SIR handguards had a polymer plastic bottom section (not sure if they changed this now) which I did not care for and the "riser" created by the sleeve that attaches to the upper receivers flat top is something that I want to negate in my AR's. It is also something that isn't needed with the abundance of scope mounts available now for the AR family of rifles.