AR-15 at local shop. Good deal?

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Nightwing

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Ok. $800 bucks. On consignment. Could maybe offer like $50 bucks less.
The guy calls it an "Olympic Arms" or something like that. But, the main body of the gun is definitely a kahr aluminum alloy body (I think that's what it was... kahr might be wrong). .223 I'm sure this was put together. It has the heavy competition barrel, and the solid composite stock with a butt weight in it.
Trigger is about a 4.5lb trigger
Comes with 5 x 20rd magazines, a nice leather strap, and about 200 - 250 rounds of ammo (most likely reloads. In fact I'm positive they're reloads).


Sight unseen, does this sound like a good deal? I think it does but it is a big commitment financially and I want to make sure I'm getting a good investment piece that i'll be able to sell (if need be) for as much as I purchased it for.
Or is it smarter for me to keep saving and just get a brand new one?
I do want the solid butt stock. I don't want optics (and it has permanent handle). It's a little heavier with that competition barrel on it, but I think I would like that. Feels very nice.
It's got some dings and scratches, but overall it's in good condition it seems.
 
it sounds like a gun set up specifically for a game (NRA HP/CMP). lf so, that's a pretty reasonable price for a competition gun (assuming it can shoot)

if you're not interested in shooting NRA HP or CMP competitions, I'd probably look for a different gun
 
I'm not interested in competition. I want the gun for no other reason than self defense. Also, to take to the cabin my buddy owns, becasue we've had groups of people wander the woods out there and it seems weird. Especially when a few of them end up on your porch. They're close enough to wonder what the hell they're doing there. Scary.
But.... you know.. end of the world, blah blah blah. Don't want a target gun. Want a protection gun.
 
Dunno. A few years ago you could come up with a used, factory-made AR for $600 if you looked hard enough. The extras are about $150 worth of gimme -- tough to call without more info. Frankly, you might be better off with an AK on price alone. Any number of quality ones can be gotten for around $600 with shipping, or even less for middling ones, and you can spend leftover money on non-reloaded commercial or surplus ammunition of your choice.
 
then that is definitely not the configuration you want, nightwing.

get an M4 style, or something from the CMMG bargain bin.
 
The HBAR barrel is a bit heavier, but there's no need to get the M4 barrel over it. However, you indicated that the carry handle is one piece with the upper -- that's a deal breaker right there for me, because it limits the flexibility of sight/optics options.
 
I'd agree that a game gun is the wrong way to go if self defense is to be involved. Less is more, there. I'd honestly recommend saving some money and just getting a good 12 ga Remington/Mossberg pump shotgun and several hundred rounds. Actually, you could probably afford that plus a training course on your budget and be really well off.

But if a rifle is in the works, AKs are hard to beat for simplicity and function.
 
I'm going to start crapping on the shotgun threads, and tell them to go with a rifle. This is getting ridiculous.


I wouldn't buy a used Oly for $800. I wouldn't shoot reloads of unknown origin. I wouldn't use a match trigger in my HD gun, and I wouldn't use a lead weight in my HD gun, unless I was planning on clubbing people with it.


My local FFL was selling brand new ADS 1:7 twist M4's for $800. All you needed was a rear sight.
 
For $800 there are quite a few other choices that are equal or better quality.


That gun is made and setup for highpower competition. Yeah, you could use it for defense, but it isn't ideal at all. I can find a lot of rifles or carbines that are better for $800. There are a number of AR's out there, and there are even a lot of AK's too which will do the job much better and be a better quality rifle overall. But assuming you want to stick to AR's ..I'd look into a 16"

What's nice about that gun for the price is the 5 mags, leather sling, and 2-stage trigger. That's probably a $250 value depending on the make of each.

I would NEVER shoot someone else's reloads. I never shoot "gunshop" reloads or local brands either. You know, the ones that are sealed in a plastic bag or come in a plain white box with a basic label....

Olympic as a brand is toward the bottom in terms of popularity and reputation for quality.
 
16" Bushmaster with collapsable stock. You get a 4150 chrome lined barrel. Overall fit, finish and quality will be higher than Olympic. Better resale. Better AR. This has the carry handle upper like you want. Actually, it has the A1 style which is BETTER since there's no way to screw up the adjustments on the rear peep. Should be able to find it locally for similar price. If not, the saved money in tax should help offset shipping + FFL to buy it online.

$802.99

http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/programming/expand.asp?Prodid=303



16" DPMS. Very similar in configuration to the Bushmaster above. Differences? Doesn't have the M4 profile barrel which is totally meaningless, doesn't have chrome lined barrel. That's more meaningful. However, this one comes with 2 mags instead. DPMS isn't as good as Bushmaster, but they are better than Olympic by far. In my opinion, they are the best of the price/performance AR's when you are on a tight budget.

$699

http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/programming/expand.asp?Prodid=50



On this page, you'll find all kinds of high-quality AK-47's (or AK-74's if you want). From Armory, Vector to converted Saigas. Bulgarian, Polish. A lot of really high quality, well made AK's for under $800...many for under $600. That leaves you money left over to buy more magazines and more ammo. Buy a case of ammo. Or, buy yourself a tritium front sight post. Those are so under-rated and unmentioned for some reason. Those sights made by XS/Trijicon are excellent. You gain nighttime capability without having to compromise with optics that can fail or can be trouble and more expense. They are around $60 and are BOMB-PROOF and they work.

http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/programming/listview.asp?CatId=2



Sorry, no preference for atlantic firearms, they have decent pricing and a lot of selection, just using it as an example since it was convenient- there are other sites to consider also.


Bottom line is, shop around and research some more. You're looking for a defensive rifle, and you are willing to pay $800 --- you can do a lot better than that highpower rifle in that shop.
 
The HBAR barrel is a bit heavier, but there's no need to get the M4 barrel over it.
Click to expand...

If this is a high-power comp gun, the 'heavy barrel' is waaay beyond an HBAR profile. My comp gun weighs in around 9.5lb before the lead I put in the stock. and it's all in the barrel.
 
$800 for an Oly? No way.

HBARs are cheaper to manufacture because they require less machine time. Lots of AR companies call their HBARs "match" barrels when they really aren't. Buyer beware. There are some benefits of a heavy barrel but most folks won't realize them.

20" Government barrels are a bit harder to find. Short of high-end stuff, CMMG, Bushmaster, and Model 1 sell them.

Get a 16" Stag kit from ar15sales.com and call it a day if you just want a quality carbine for HD/SD/SHTF. The 20" is not as quick or handy as the 16", a heavy barrel less so. http://ar15sa.fatcow.com/store/page2.html for the kit. Just add a stripped lower which can be had for $90-$150, depending on rollmark.
 
I'm going to start crapping on the shotgun threads, and tell them to go with a rifle. This is getting ridiculous.
Click to expand...

I think I'm the only one who mentioned a shotgun. Since the OP didn't specify that he was only in the market for a rifle, or whether he had a collection of similar firearms, I offered a less expensive and well-suited alternative. I didn't put down the idea of going with a rifle over a shotgun. But for the 'budget minded' fellow, spending $250 on a utilitarian shotgun may make more sense than spending $800 on a rifle (that will still require other accessories like mags, etc.).

Either way the AR, AK, or shotgun will all make excellent defensive tools. Set a price, learn what the 'reliable' makes are, and then find one that fits you well.
 
Any forum that you mention Olympic Arms you get, BOO, HISS, YUK, AHH!!!! I think that the general conciseness in the AR community is to stay away from OLY, especially for $800.00:what:
Tim:D
 
The only used ARs I'd pay $800 for would be ones that came from somebody I know (and who kept it VERY well) and is an excellent brand (as in a Colt, LMT, or similar).

At a local shop, that same $800 would get a new Rock River Tactical or a S&W M&P15 (after rebate), among others. I picked up a CMMG new build for $650 this past weekend at a gun show.

So no, I would NOT drop $800 on even a new Oly.
 
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Look at a mil-spec or near-mil-spec carbine instead for HD, try for a semi-auto M4 clone. It will be lighter and more compact, thus easier to maneuver in close quarters. Furthermore, you will be able to easily add CQB optics if you feel that would be the best route for HD.
 
For woods defense and fun I would buy a CMMG bargain bin rifle before they stop the program, CMMG also sells mags for about 11.00, you could spend the extra 200 on a carry handle sight, mags, a sling, whatever you want. you can get a good amount of basic AR stuff for 200 plus the bargain bin ARs are really a steal.

I got mine last week, they say there may be dings, but mine is almost perfect. That's my recommendation!
 
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