What's the best AR for an AR noob?

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Thanks Bart Roberts. The DPMS I was looking at does not have a chrome lined bore. Thats not a deal breaker for me. No more than I get to shoot lately I am sure it will take me well over 200 hundred years to wear one out.

How hard is it to change out the barrel for a light weight barrel? Would the barrel be all that was needed and will the original parts fit without replacement?
 
O baby, I think I just found one, a Bushmaster A3 DCM, my only question is, do they come with flash hiders, and is their a noticinle difference in the 1MOA, .5MOA, and .25MOA adjustments? I just wish that the price wasn't $1250!!!!! I might need to settle with a DPMS.....
 
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PB Walsh it must come with the HBAR with a listed 9 pound weight. That is the same weight as my Lyman Great Plains Rifle. Tote that around awhile and you will see why I want lighter.

I really liked the Bushmaster I looked at. I didn't like the buttstock and I do prefer the longer barrel.

If I could find what I wanted I would buy it right now. I want an A-2 with the light weight barrel, a chrome bore, solid buttstock and a triangular hand guard. It would have to have a bayonet lug and flash hider. I hope it would weigh 7 pounds or less. Is that to much to ask?
 
Well yeah, and so could you.:neener:

Too bad we don't live live closer together. We could buy the stuff and build a couple. It might be like muzzleloaders. After I built the first one a new kit was ordered before the previous one was test fired.

I have been around guns for years but know nothing about these rifles. I have always been a bolt and lever fan. I didn't own a semi-auto until a few years ago. I will buy one when I find what I want. I am patient.
 
I don't know who is telling you not to buy a two stage trigger. The standard AR trigger is in my opinion crap. Mine have had a TON of creep that was inconsistent and the pulls were far too heavy, in the 8-10lb range. Not fun to use shooting at paper or at game. Maybe it works fine for a CQB setup but not for anything I shoot. The RRA NM trigger on the other hand had a great second stage breaking right over 4lbs. There are better aftermarket triggers, both single and double stage, but they are going to run a good $200+. For the $100 the RRA trigger costs it is one of the best upgrades I ever made.

Some people aren't fans of a two stage trigger but I don't mind them and for freehand shooting seem to prefer it. Off a bench I like a crisp short single stage but when I'm swaying in the wind I like to have the initial take up of a two stage.

As for the sights it really depends on what you are shooting at and how far. Shooting at say 600 yards that 1 MOA adjustment is a little over 6 inches while the .25 is only a little over 1.3. On the other hand if you are shooting ground hogs at 50-100 yards the difference between adjusting .5 MOA and .25 MOA may not matter in the slightest. If your goal is to shoot paper for score I would take .5 if not .25 MOA adjustments. If you are hunting fairly close it won't matter much at all. I will say though that I do like to keep windage and elevation the same so if you go .5 MOA on one do it for both. I have listened to too many storied of a shooter having the windage and elevation adjust at different rates and screwing up a shot or two by counting for the wrong adjustment increment.

As for the DCM and DPMS stuff I'm not familiar enough with those specific models to be of any help.
 
I just sent an email to DPMS regarding the barrel set up, if it's an HBAR, then I'm going with DPMS, if not I'm going with RRA NM-A4, simple.

Does anyone know the wait time on DPMS or RRA?

Thanks :)
 
Wow, 300-400 rounds without cleaning, I didn't know that the DI were that reliable, that's WAY more rounds than I would fire during a whole year!!!!!
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Any well lubed AR should shoot that many rounds with out any issues. I've shot 500rnds of dirty smelly wolf ammo in my DPMS in a single range session with no issues.

PS the DPMS rifles are really nice but so are the RRA's. I own 3 DPMS BTW!
 
CDNN was selling 16 inch AR's (IIRC, they were CMMG) for under $1k. I'm not sure the sale is still on, but if it saved you a couple bucks it would be a good place to look.



Kris
 
I wouldn't look to the factory to buy a rifle right now. Last I heard wait times for an order placed today are over a year most places. That said a lot of dealers/wholesalers had their orders in a long time ago and get items in much faster, though you don't get to specify what comes at what time. I would look around until you found someone with the model you want in stock and then pay the extra money for shipping and a transfer if they happen to be a ways away.
 
Any of the manufacturers will do as long as the chamber is specified for 5.56 and the price range is what you like.

Disregarding individual customer options, most of the AR-15s in a certain price range are about the same quality.
 
In regard to the A2 v. A4 decision, I'd suggest an A4, and I have both.

Specifically, I'd get a flat-top with a detachable carry handle. Everybody should have some quality time shooting with iron sights. Worst case scenario, you spend an extra $20-40 bucks for it, find that you prefer iron sights, and the lost $20-40 is soon forgotten.

Still, you'll at least have the option of properly mounting an optic if you so desire.
 
Ok, I've been looking at the RRA Match Grade Carry Handle, is it worth $165?Would a cheaper $40 carry handle be good? I'm getting A4, I've made that decision, and I belive I'll settle with a two-stage trigger.

Here's what I'm thinking; RRA Match Grade A4 or RRA Standard A4, RRA A2 lower with standard, or two-stage trigger or a Stag Arms A2 lower. I will be adding either a RRA Match Grade carry handle, or a cheaper $40 carry handle.

I'm contemplating weather I should get the free-floated A2 hanguard from RRA ($165), any advice? Or should I just get a VTAC to be free floated ($178). I REALLY want the VTAC, and will get one even if I get the free floated A2 handguards

Thanks :)
 
I want a 20" barrel.....

If I get a piston it's gonna be a POF, LMT or Bushmaster, but I haven't heard alot about the HK 416 or 417.

How much are the HK 416's or HK 417's?

Thanks :)
 
Thanks Bart Roberts. The DPMS I was looking at does not have a chrome lined bore. Thats not a deal breaker for me. No more than I get to shoot lately I am sure it will take me well over 200 hundred years to wear one out.
Click to expand...

I've got around 4,500 through my unlined stainless steel barrel and it is still MOA and quite reliable despite getting shot pretty heavy (and suppressed). Having said that, the chrome lining does seem to help when the rifle gets hot.

How hard is it to change out the barrel for a light weight barrel? Would the barrel be all that was needed and will the original parts fit without replacement?
Click to expand...

Not that hard to change; but you may need a new front sight block to go with your new barrel and you would need the tools (barrel wrench, punches, action block, vise). The rest of your parts you could reuse (assuming same gas system) - although a spare gas tube isn't a bad idea when working on a barrel.

As far as two-stage triggers go, they are fine. It is just that none of them are as reliable as the military trigger. The Rock River is a good design and a good value; but even it has its weak points. However, for P.B. Walsh, the RRA would probably be a great trigger - cheap, nice feel and fairly rugged as two-stage AR triggers go.
 
I would buy a Stag, CMMG, or DPMS over a Bushmaster or an RRA. Although I hear RRA is better than they used to be. That's a personal preference though. They are all pretty decent though for an AR that doesn't break the bank.
 
I would skip the $40 carry handles. They aren't made to near the quality control, especially if you are going to spend a bit of time using the Irons. If they are only going to be a side thought and a rare use then the cheap sights aren't terrible but still not up to par with the more expensive stuff. The RRA NM handle is worth the price if you want the more precise clicks. A good carry handle is going to run around $100 with A2 sights in it. Switching to NM sights will run a bit more on top of that and push you over what the RRA NM handle costs. So if you want the NM adjustments its a good buy but if you will be happy with the A2 adjustments most any of the good (~$100) handles will work well.
 
P B Walsh
I bought my AR15 as a complete upper then bought a complete lower. It was cheaper for me.

POF upper on a Spikes lower.
 
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