AR-15 oppinions

R

Ray HP

New member
I am considering purchasing an AR-15 for my son to compete in high power competition. I know very little about AR's and the different manufactures. :( I have read numerous internet post and read good and bad about almost every brand.

After checking out AR15.com, it appears that Olympic, DPMS and American Spirit are considerable cheaper than Armalite and Bushmaster (Bushmaster did not have prices on their web site, I am assuming they are similar to Olympics prices). In this case does the saying, you get what you pay for apply?

I would appreciate any input on what would be a good choice. I am seriously considering a standard model with NM sights and a trigger job since we are occasional competators now. One of my main concerns is reliability with reloads and over all function.

Thanks in advance.
 
one gets what one pays for...

for serious competion the DCM rifle from bushmaster is a good start

the match chambered more accurate AR will not digest all ammo

dZ
 
If the main consideration is reliability, then with the exception of ASA, any vendor mentioned would satisfy me. A match chamber is not conducive to reliability except with the match ammo for which it is tailored for.

The simple man's path for a NM rifle (per G. Zediker) is to buy a Colt and refit it with a free floating handguard and match trigger and sights. He also mentions that he prefers Colt first, then Bushmaster.
 
If it has to be an AR - the DCM is a solid choice and ready to go right out of the box.

you may also want to consider the HK SL-8 as it is a very accurate .223 rifle that has lot going for it... and priced not much more higher than a full tilt comp gun from Bushmaster or DPMS (Which I think may be the best AR makers right now next to Bushmaster). The SL-8 has a design that is more reliable than the self polluting AR design. It has a cold fammer forged barrel that gives great accuracy with out having to pay extra for a so called "Match" barrel.
HK is a step up from the AR - take your son out and have him look at both. The HK has a different "look" than the AR and people wont automatically kneejerk react to the sight of it as it doesnt look like the assault rifle the army uses.
 
George, I think Ray wants to get his son into DCM "Military" high power matches. The H&K SL8 would have to be used in the "Match" category!

I wouldn't want to use a H&K SL8 in the Match category!

Regards! DaMan
 
I'd buy Armalite first, Bushmaster or DPMS second. Stay away from Colt (sell-outs) and although Olympics are cheap, you get what you pay for. Spend the extra money on a pre-made DCM gun and your son won't complain any.
 
I have a Bushmaster Dissipator (16" with full-length handguards), and a kit rifle I built on a Bushmaster stripped lower using a Sherluk kit. The kit rifle has a 20" stainless bull barrel, free-float aluminum tube handguard, and a flat-top receiver. The kit rifle cost around $100 less than the standard Bushmaster. I know that neither of these configurations are what your son wants for competition, but my experience with them may be relevant.

The Dissipator has worked almost flawlessly from day one (I think I've had one jam, and that was in the first 50 round).

The kit gun had problems with out-of-spec parts and jamming. Sherluk stood behind their product and swapped out parts until it worked. But it was definately a "project." It now works fine and I like it. I don't think it is lower "quality" than the Bushmaster, although some of the small parts probably weren't checked as carefully. Building it was alternately fun and frustrating.

Based on my experience (and a friend's who's experience was very much like mine, but with a kit from J&T rather than Sherluk), I'd say that if you want a rifle that's going to work well from the get-go, pay a little more and get a complete Bushmaster rifle. On the other hand, if building one sounds fun, and/or you have more time than money, and you can stand to spend a few weeks getting everything right (replacement parts, etc.), try a kit. And read AR-15.com a lot.

Good luck.

Doug
 
Buy a lower, any lower (I have an excellent ASA, paid $275), a DCM upper from Rock river Arms ($600), and have them do a trigger job for you ($120 + labor). You will be into a match ready rifle for much lower than all the other options, and save yourself the sales tax and 11% "wildlife tax" that nowadays goes more towards the antis than wildlife.

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I don't have time for busy people
 
Check out www.ar15.com, in the Competition section. Good deals in the For Sale section, too.

Tom


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A "Miss" is the ultimate overpenetration!
You can never be too rich, too skinny, or too well armed!
Wake up and realize that you have the moral imperative of action..!!!
 
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