2nd go on an AR-15

Status
Not open for further replies.
S

sleepyone

Member
Joined
Oct 28, 2009
Messages
724
Location
The Great State of Texas
Last year I got the AR bug as did many people who feared Obama would go after "assault" weapons, so I went out and got one before it was too late. For better or worse, he focused on assaulting our health care. Anyway, after tricking out my S&W M&P AR-15 Optics Ready model with all the bells and whistles and ending up with a heavy and cumbersome weapon, I lost interest and could not find a use for the laser, strobe light, etc... So sold it to move on to something else.

Now I want to get another one because it really was fun to shoot with my daughters, and I would like to use it as a hog gun and for long range target shooting. I don't need it for HD as I have several revolvers, autos and shotguns for that. I want to stay basic on accessories with only an upgraded hand guard, grip, two-stage trigger, AR scope and bipod. I might consider BUIS but they would not be used much at all. I would like to stay mil-spec on everything as much as possible. I'm leaning towards another S&W M&P because they seem to meet the mil-spec on everything except the barrel twist. I also will probably go with a completely flat top version again as I like the options you have w/o having the front sight fixed on the gas block. My budget is $1,200 including my accessories.

I have looked at Spike's, BCM, RRA, Stag, CMMG and S&W. I want to stick with a company that will be here should I ever need service. Which of these brands would be best?
 
Of those listed, Spikes and BCM are the closest to milspec with the Spikes LE carbine and midlength a real bargain these days. S&W isn't quite as good since the barrel steel doesn't meet military specifications and of course has the 1:9 twist but otherwise is a good choice.
 
btw, has anyone else fallen into the same trap of buying every attachment possible for an AR-15 and then wondering why the heck you had just spend 2 grand, or more, on something that you had no practical use for other than showing your friends how cool it looked? I have talked to a couple of guys who did the same thing on their first AR and then on the next one they kept it basic and had a lot more fun with it; and saved a wad of cash too.
 
sleepyone said:
btw, has anyone else fallen into the same trap of buying every attachment possible for an AR-15 and then wondering why the heck you had just spend 2 grand, or more, on something that you had no practical use for other than showing your friends how cool it looked? I have talked to a couple of guys who did the same thing on their first AR and then on the next one they kept it basic and had a lot more fun with it; and saved a wad of cash too.
Click to expand...
I know of someone who has all the bells and whistles, including a bayonnette.

For my own, the only thing I added is a Leupold Vari-X-I 3-9 scope on the handle with a see-through top mount and quick-detachable rings.

The rings hold zero very well, when removing and re-installing the scope.

I don't miss all the bells and whistles and prefer to keep my gun as is. I did drop a $200 Timney 4# Drop-In Trigger Assembly into it and am happy I did!
 
I would go BCM, but S&W makes a good product and I read somewhere that the new ones come with a 1in7 barrel.
 
As stated above, Spikes is a deal right now. Last I checked, AIM still had mid-length complete uppers for $479,delivered, and Brownells has complete Spikes lowers for $249. I went this route recently, and am quite happy with this rifle. From everything I've read, Spike's customer service is outstanding.
(edit: AIm's website says the uppers are sold out, but they were sold out when I ordered mine,I called and they had more coming, and arrived a few days later.)
 
Last edited:
Looking forward to that chart. It's difficult at best to sort out what you get with a shooter when the factory is sometimes less than talkative.

The OP said: I want to stay basic on accessories with only an upgraded hand guard, grip, two-stage trigger, AR scope and bipod. I might consider BUIS but they would not be used much at all.

Wanting to shoot long distance, the list of goodies is practical. It's not really basic, tho. Handguard, $90 to $300, grip, $25-40, two stage trigger, $90 to $250, bipod, $50-100, scope, $250 to $600. $505 up extra to the price of the gun.

What's missing is the scope mount, add another $100. Plus the $1200 for a decent long range M16 with 20" barrel, $1805. That will be a nice prairie dog gun.
 
Thanks for the link to that very nice spreadsheet you've got there, longdayjake! Very helpful.


I guess I did it backwards from many first time AR buyers/builders - I assembled my first and only AR last summer but built it as a plain jane middy. Still real happy with it and have resisted upgrades. And resisted a second AR so far (which is real hard!)
 
hold firm Quentin! I think the AR is at its best when left as a basic config. Purely functional upgrades like grip, trigger, bipod, decent rail handguard and scope are needed. Use the rest of your money on ammo and shoot the heck out of it. I paid $1,100 for my M&P 15 in May '09 and saw the same one at Academy for $899 today. Actually, at the Fort Worth Gun Show last month I saw a new one for $750! I'm hoping to find something like that this weekend.
 
longdayjake said:
Here is a chart that I am working on here and there. It won't give you mil-spec only, but rather is shows which makers offer which options. There are many other options that I haven't added yet but this is actually a pretty good list for generic ar options.

https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AjbDKGrapZCOdFZmUlRUcEtxdy13XzVqVnV3LTQ1S2c&hl=en

Hope it helps when choosing a new AR.

EDIT: Sorry, the chart should work now.
Click to expand...
Oh No! not the chart. Is this the chart I have seen referenced on other sites? Actually, it is very helpful. I tell you what. If SW had the 1:7 twist, I think they would be mil-spec all the way.
 
Since you brought it up, I too am the quest for another AR. My first is a M-16a1 look a like. I had to have the iconic look, beside the triangle handgaurd is awesome. So I was wondering if a trigger makes that big of a deal. I was satisfied with standard lower parts kits trigger. So how great is an aftermarket drop in trigger?
 
You will want to take a serious look at a BCM Lightweight upper. "Pencil" or lightweight barrels, like found on the M16A1/ARs of the earlier years, are making a comeback.
 
i had a rra entry tactic and i had the surefire rail and light and a bunch of other stuff and i NEVER used that crap. soo i sold it and bought a oly arms k16 and put a scope on it and that ar has been perfect. i have over 4,000 rnds in this ar with no probs, people talk about how much of a pos oly arms is, well i spent $656 for my oly and it shoots 1/2moa with black hills match ammo! i use this way more then i did my rra. and its fun to shoot the coyotes with.
 
I think the AR is at its best when left as a basic config. Purely functional upgrades like grip, trigger, bipod, decent rail handguard and scope are needed.
Click to expand...

None of those "upgrades" are truly needed, at least not for every user. That's the mentality that starts one down the road to needless accessorization. For a good, lightweight carbine, a basic AR15 with its standard grip, handguards and trigger will do nicely.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top