My first AR...Advise

You wont be making a bad choice by going any of the brands your picking but when push comes to shove and you need parts, is where having a piston gun would suck.
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In the case of the Barrett, that gets down to the bolt + carrier, the piston system (2 parts), and I guess you'd have to add in the gas plug. So, then the real question becomes, how often do you expect to replace those parts? I'm not sure there's an answer to that yet. I would expect the bolt + carrier to last as long as a DI, the piston system (unknown), and the gas plug (unknown).

Since the gas plug is a non-moving part, and really not subject to wear, I'd expect the worst thing that could happen is that you'd lose it. Not sure how, but nothing's 100% so there's always a chance some how some way.

Then it gets to the piston system. That truly is unknown, but knowing the materials and coatings on it, I'd expect as long or longer than the bolt+carrier. I suppose if you're that worried about it, you could buy a bolt + carrier, piston system, and gas plug when you bought the rifle and be ready for any eventuality. I'm not one to do that, so I just continue to use my REC 7 without spare parts. I'll see what happens in the next 10 years with it.

Personally, DI or piston? I don't care either way. I own one of both styles and have my own thoughts on it, but it doesn't get into to advocating one as being better than the other - they're only different.
 
Thanks everyone, You all have givin me a lot to consider. I do understand I could get a $600 - $1000 AR and It would be a good gun. But what I want is a Top Notch, High end AR and I will have a Great Gun.

Thanks Buckhorn for the Video link, Very interesting.
 
Clane, whatever higher end one you choose, they are a lot of fun. I was never a fan but I wanted one to have anyway, and I have ended up loving the way it shoots
 
I do understand I could get a $600 - $1000 AR and It would be a good gun. But what I want is a Top Notch, High end AR and I will have a Great Gun.
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Maybe to a point, but there is also throwing $ away for no reason. Some of your money could be spent on nothing more than a name. This won't make it a better rifle. I totally agree with those who recommend being able to support the rifle with DI parts. The only reason I can see going with a piston AR is to keep it a little cleaner when using a suppressor. Other than that, the piston is a fix for a non-issue. Go get your Colt or FN and be done with it if you must. I have 2 AR uppers I use for match shooting. They were built by White Oak Precision. If someone came up and said their upper was better, I may or may not agree with them. All I know is the uppers have done their intended job, allowing me to win matches and money. I could spend even more money for an upper, but doing so won’t gain any more points for me.
 
Point taken Tim R, But please understand this will be my first AR, and having No hands on experience with an AR. The only things I can go on is what you Guys are telling me, what I am reading on other forums, Reviews and Articles I have read on-line. Believe me when I say I have done countless hours of research on AR's, and the One thing I realized after all the research is that I had yet to see anything Negative about 3 different Manufacturers...Noveske, Barrett and Danial Defense I have heard nothing but great thing about all 3. I have however heard plenty of Negative stuff about Many other AR's...so thats why I have put Noveske and Barrett on top of my list...the H&K came from my Love for H&K handguns (which is my specialty). I have heard alot of people say the H&K's are great guns..But way to Pricey. I agree they do come with a heavy price tag, But IMO they are the best handguns made. Many people may disagree. but opinions are the reason I posted here. and I appreciate everyone.
 
Well since you will not look at Daniel Defense, Bravo Company, LaRue, LMT and Colt....I guess I will pick Noveske.

PS-I have owned 7 HK USP's over 17 years (big fan) but when it came to evaluating the AR platform there were other excellent options to look at.
 
Blackops, I actually have not heard anything bad about BCM, I have just not heard much about them at all, Just a mention in Forums now and again.

Aiko, I have looked at the Danial defense and Colt, and I would consider a Danial, But seems they have a loooong wait.
 
If you want an AR that's a real hot-rod, look at JP Rifles CTR-02. For some reason, JP Rifles seems to get lost in the Internet echo chamber of "I'd buy that one," and "I own this." The JP-15 has many of the features of the CTR-02 in a lower cost rifle.

Another company that seems to get overlooked is LaRue Tactical. They've been making quality rifles for about 30 years and have sold rifles world-wide to a number of police forces. LaRue is really great to do business with and makes great scope mounts and their "Dillo" bottle opener is...ahh...unmatched in the industry.

If you're in the looking stage and have decided that DI operation is in the running - if you want high quality - then take a look at JP, LaRue, Knight's Armament, and of course, Noveske.
 
I would definitely recommend the DI gun for your first AR. The reason is the ease of finding replacement parts as stuff wears out or breaks. Most DI guns are highly interchangeable and parts are readily available. All of the piston guns that I have seen have propriety components that can only be obtained from the original manufacturer. If we are unfortunate enough to be subjected to another “assault weapon” ban, parts for you piston gun may be hard to find and expensive.

Also, I have been shooting the M-16/AR-15 platform since the mid 1980s and know it to be a reliable platform if maintained in a halfway decent manner. I’m not knocking piston guns in any way. My LWRC M6A2 has been outstanding but would not want it to be my only AR.
 
If you like the JP-15 and haven't opened up the order form, you need to do that so you can see that when you get a JP you're not buying an off-the-shelf rifle, but one that is tailored to exactly what you want.

JP makes quality rifles and they are good to deal with. Don't think you'd be going wrong in any way with the JP-15. The only problem is that if you buy a JP you'll have to wait for it, but the product is worth the wait.
 
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