First AR....need help

B

browninghunter86

New member
I am looking at gettting an AR .223 rifle used for shooting at the range and really nothing more. might keep it out in house with a good round in it for home defense down the road. Not looking to break the bank on my first one.... Any suggestions on what I should be looking for? Used from pawn shop and then add on when I get to that point or buy new? Definately has to be under $850/$800


Thanks for any input
 
You asked.

My view is that you should not buy the cheaper ones, since the chances are too high that you will have problems. Yeah, some people will report no problems with the their Olympic Arms, or Bushmaster or what have you. But they probably haven't used those guns all that much.

The least expensive one I would recommend is the S&W M&P15, of which there are several models. I own one of those.

A used Colt is not a bad idea at all. They do show up for sale.

Do some reading at Lightfighter forums (for which you must register and do not post dumb stuff, as they are good at royally embarrassing people who do) and M4Carbine.net. There is also AR15.com.

Bart Noir
 
My problem is you want to use it for fun at the range and then MAYBE use it for HD. For a range toy get any old thing as most of them work fine. But if you at all want to trust your life to a gun you want to make sure you get a good one. Most cheap AR15's are $800-900, budsgunshop.com has colts down around $1000-1100. Finally, there is a difference between shooting a gun and fighting with one. Professional instruction on the latter is a very good idea.
 
the palmetto state armory AR15, the DPMS sportical and oracle models and the S&W MP15 are all under $650 in most cases and all very worth it. I own a DPMS sportical that shoots MOA at 345 yards with cheap ammo and I would never think of getting rid of it
 
If I were you I would go to gun broker and get a nice carbine upper in the 375-425 dollar range, they are there to be had from Del-Ton, Bushmaster, Armalite, etc. Next get a stripped lower for around 59 bucks, these can be had at gun broker as well. I like the surplus arms and ammo lowers by aero precision or the LRB arms marked lowers from Wiedeners. Get a stock kit from Palmetto and a lower parts kit. Building the lower is easy and fun. Just print off the parts diagram and an instruction guide to help. You can get yourself a heck of a rifle for around 650 this way.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=271611227
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=271641642
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=271586433


Karri's guns or Palmetto will get you what you need at a good price.
 
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try ar15.com in the weapons exchange/classifieds. you should also look into the Delton guns which have a low price point... try to stay away from the fixed carry handle, you can always get one that locks onto the flattop which will allow you more options down the road. I also strongly suggest getting a mid length handguard/gas tube and to skip out on the carbine length handgards both for function purposes but also because of the lengthened sight radius. you can also find fairly inexpensive kits and slap together a upper and lower...
 
Spikestactical.com. Look at the 16" LE M-4. They make one of the best AR's out there and have GREAT Customer Service!
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+1 to Spikes. I have a 16" M4LE and the quality/reliability is superb. I would put it on the same level as Colt, Daniel Defense, BCM, etc.

It's definitely a few steps higher in quality than what you will get from Bushmaster, DPMS, S&W, or Rock River, for about the same price.
 
Spikes is great...if you don't mind waiting a couple months after plunking down the cash. I was all set to get one until I found the Sport.
 
Check out Palmetto State Armory for a lower them do some searching of Shot Gun News adds. Can piece your own unit together for fairly cheap.
 
Spikes is great...if you don't mind waiting a couple months after plunking down the cash.
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Got mine from Gunkings.com. Shipped in about 5 days and the price was less than advertised on Spike's website.

There are a number of other vendors that also occasionally have Spikes uppers and rifles in stock (Joebob's and Aimsurplus, for example). You just have to keep your eyes open.
 
AR SEARCH

I know what you mean, can`t go top of the line right out of the box. To be real honest I don`t buy new AR`S all that often any more. But I haunt the pawn shops, want adds in the paper, and just by word of mouth a the range you shoot at or one that is just close to you. I watch for a good brand AR to come up. and then go take a look. We have bought several AR`S from people that need the money or that have to sell for some reason. You will not do this every day but we have bought some very nice rifles at much less than a new price. My Son and I just recently bought a real nice ARMALITE for for what I belive was less than 1/2 a new price. And I have a weakness for ARMALITES. You just have to look at the condiction for the gun,the brand , and if i can I like to meet the person selling. And if he is a RAMBO I might pass. AS I said we have bought a number of used AR`S and the acesisory they have for there rifle, such as ammo, optics, cases, and tools. We have yet to get taken all the rifles have shot well. If you like it buy it and if you have second thoughts just pass.
Good luck on your seach. ken
 
The least expensive one I would recommend is the S&W M&P15, of which there are several models. I own one of those.
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I disgaree. I think the S&W's are over priced. If you are just messing around, a Delton or an Olympic will be fine. The difference between these and the higher end guns is the round count before things start wearing out- but we're talking 5-10K rounds.

A level above these would be Bushmaster and DMPS, with Stag pulling a head of the pack. I suspect the Spikes are in this class, maybe at the high end. Then you have the S&W. These are all middle level guns, plus or minus. Rock River Arms fits in here too. All good guns.

At the top of the pile you have Colt, Noveske, Bravo, etc.

You can pay a lot of money and for the plinker, get no real benefit.
 
I disgaree. I think the S&W's are over priced.
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You are kidding, right? I paid $599 for my S&W M&P 15 Sport, and it is really nice. It has been super reliable, and accuracy off the bench is just over MOA. I am glad I waited 20 years to finally get an AR, because I can't imagine one better than this and I got it for less than $600 with the folding stock, adjustable removable sights and a scope mountable flat top. I have no complaints about it at all. I think the S&W M&P 15 Sport would be more than adequate for more than 90% of the AR owners out there. The only downside to them is that they are a little hard to find right now since they are in such demand. Also that demand will ultimately result in the price on them rising. (basic economics of a free market)
 
I owned and used a Stag for awhile.. I would put them above Bushy and others... specially considering their parent company CMT sells receivers and other AR parts to 75% of the industry.. most notably Noveske uses CMT receivers.

I abused mine and it kept on ticking.

I now have a BCM that I love.. but my Stag honestly ran and held up as well as my BCM has.
 
For $599, that is a good price. Was that a retail price or used? I thought they were selling in the $1K range. Although, now that I think about it, that may be the piston guns...
 
Look at the PSA rifles, complete or kits, no one comes close to PSA prices. No other brand sells a new rifle with mil-spec barrel, bolt and RE for $600.
 
A completely milspec gun will wear out the extractor in 5-10,000 rounds, don't let the price guarantee it's indestructible. If what this AR will do is shoot some rounds for fun, the S&W will do nicely. The $400 you saved can then go to a auto handgun, which is far superior to carry and use in HD. A used Glock in 9MM or .40 will get that done a lot easier, allow off hand use of a flashlight, fit on your nightstand, and not bang the hallway walls and doorways moving around sleepy in the dark.

If the nearest house is 1,200m away, a rifle is HD, otherwise, most Americans use a handgun, and most encounters are less than 4 shots anyway. Exactly why the revolver is still a good choice, plus can be a lot cheaper.

Pick a nice plinker at the price you can afford, and enjoy it. If anything, don't shoot the cheapest import junk you can find, and it will be reliable.
 
I agree with the PSA, it is a much better rifle than an Olympic or S&W or DPMS. I would also say the same about Bushmaster, much better built than some of the cheaper stuff but seems to always get a bashed on these forums. The Bushmaster and the PSA both use 4150 steel in their barrels, and have chrome lined bores. The Olympic,DPMS and S&W have 4140 steel barrels and non chrome lined bores. Could someone please tell me how this internet myth got started that a S&W M&P15 is a better rifle than a Bushmaster? Cheaper maybe, not better. Not even in the same class.
 
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