AR15: Purchasing a new rifle, but which and why?

Which to buy?

  • Del Ton Dissipator

    Votes: 5 5.5%
  • Sig M400

    Votes: 16 17.6%
  • PSA PA-15CR

    Votes: 10 11.0%
  • S&W M&P Sport...again!

    Votes: 26 28.6%
  • A PSA middy upper, BCM BCG, lower to be named "franken rifle"

    Votes: 34 37.4%

  • Total voters
    91
  • Poll closed .
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Ummmm....not interested. No Bushy, DPMS (although I do like the Prairie Panthers), Olympics or ASA. I'm really on the fence over those listed. Thanks for chiming in though.
ok ,, I love my K8mag , good luck , lots to pick from ,
 
not much experience with del-ton other than small parts. customer service was great however. your other choices are fine. i'd probably go with the franken rifle. i would NOT, buy the cheapest lower you can find though. buy a lower with a good following and reviews. an out of spec lower ruins your build.
 
meanmrmustard said:
Hateraid? Haven't heard that one in years! I don't hate Colt rifles, I don't like how Colt conducts business. I'm sure that seems petty, but it is what it is.

Yeah, I read a lot of good things about DT. Actually, nothing negative thus far.
Not at all. Business practices are the reasons I'll not own SEVERAL brands (PSA included).

And same here. I'm probably going to end up with a DT myself.
 
Build it!

I've been happier with those which I build vs. those which I purchased. Like being able to put in the exact parts I deem to be acceptable/proper for the build.
 
What are you going to use the gun for?

You just missed out on PSA having 16" carbines with an aimpoint pro for $999. That was probably the best deal going.

Of your choices I would either get the PSA rifle or the PSA upper with BCM BCG. For under $1k you could also go with a BCM upper. What I would do would be based on A) what I was going to use it for B) what else I knew I for sure wanted. If one is going to add a different trigger, grip, hand guards, etc from what comes on a built rifle then getting an upper and assembling a lower with what you want might put you money ahead.
 
What are you going to use the gun for?

You just missed out on PSA having 16" carbines with an aimpoint pro for $999. That was probably the best deal going.

Of your choices I would either get the PSA rifle or the PSA upper with BCM BCG. For under $1k you could also go with a BCM upper. What I would do would be based on A) what I was going to use it for B) what else I knew I for sure wanted. If one is going to add a different trigger, grip, hand guards, etc from what comes on a built rifle then getting an upper and assembling a lower with what you want might put you money ahead.
Just a plinker/farm rifle. I'm thinking a build is going to be best, based soley on what I'm getting for what I'm paying.

I'm probably going to get a lower locally. My LGS has RRA, S&W, and New Frontier. Prolly going Smith on that.

I'm seeing a lot of happy Sig fans too, mainly with the Enhanced MOE. Many good reviews thus far, however, no one seems to know what barrel steel is used.
 
Well, it seems my mind has been made up for me. My fiancé has gotten involved, obviously a wee bit pissed that I'm putting the effort into another rifle and the research I'm doing (think its because I've taken over the iPad :rolleyes:).

After having priced literally every configuration that I can think of and I want to buy once, cry once. So, that being said I've thought hard to swallow my pride a bit. She wants a Ruger SR22/Railmaster combo like I have, so that's got me stretched. I try to keep her happy if possible.:barf:

So, boys n girls, I've decided to buy the rifle locally so that I can inspect it and know what I'm getting. I prefer it this way. I wanted to do the build, but I'll be buying the rifle and pistol simultaneously, so I might as well buy locally and have it done in one fell swoop. What rifle, you ask? Drumroll please...

6920.

I'm going to give them another chance, but this time I'm inspecting everything prior to purchase. Why that one? Purely because of barrel steel, nothing more. LMT is uber expensive, BCM isn't bad, but I can check the Colt out and have piece of mind that the GK is staked right this time. Maybe that way ill never have to use their crappy CS. They get my money, I get a platform standard. I looked at DD as well, but I'm keeping it as close to $1000 as humanly possible. I'm not adding any crap, no optics, rails, nothing. I'll be using the KIS principle, firing with irons and keeping it as light as possible. I thank you all for your input, comments, and experiences. In the end, I'd be trying to build to the reliability standards I have for an AK, without buying another AK:)
The Colt, while not a Krebs Custom or SGL 101, is as close to a reliability as an AR is gonna get. This time, I'm making sure its right the first time.
 
In the OP you also listed HD (home defense).

Is that no longer a use of the rifle?
Yeah, it is. I incorporate that into the "farm use" category, but nobody would know that, so there that is. But, it doesn't matter. I'm getting a rifle that, after having been inspected to make sure it's all kosher, I won't have to sweat when it comes to a multi use, simple carbine. Truck gun is an AK. Plinker is an AK. I have SD pistols. I'm really just wanting a do-all carbine in 556. That being said, after checking to make sure it's built properly this time around, it's going to be a Colt.
 
Well, if I were in the market for a new middy with a $1k budget, I'd buy an Armalite. Good gun, lifetime warranty.

But these days, I'd rather save some money, so I'd build with a DTI middy rifle kit on a decent lower and get 'er done for under $600.
 
Yeah, it is. I incorporate that into the "farm use" category, but nobody would know that, so there that is. But, it doesn't matter. I'm getting a rifle that, after having been inspected to make sure it's all kosher, I won't have to sweat when it comes to a multi use, simple carbine. Truck gun is an AK. Plinker is an AK. I have SD pistols. I'm really just wanting a do-all carbine in 556. That being said, after checking to make sure it's built properly this time around, it's going to be a Colt.

I think a lot of people might recommend differently knowing that you intend to use the rifle in a potential life/death role rather than just plinking or varminting around the farm.

In other words...I think it does matter.

Unless you believe that any and every AR you could buy will have an identical reliability, durability, and consistency. Or unless you don't care if you buy a less-reliable HD gun to save a few bucks.
 
Boom, called it.

Not really... but sort of.
Not without some soul searching did I make this decision. It's not on my poll, wasn't even a consideration until this morning. But, like I said, I don't trust them. If the rifle is manufactured correctly (this time) ill buy it. I'll never need to call them, hopefully.
 
I think a lot of people might recommend differently knowing that you intend to use the rifle in a potential life/death role rather than just plinking or varminting around the farm.

In other words...I think it does matter.

Unless you believe that any and every AR you could buy will have an identical reliability, durability, and consistency. Or unless you don't care if you buy a less-reliable HD gun to save a few bucks.
Well, I see your point. But, you must understand that my farm IS my home. So, making things easier on myself, and ponying up a few hundred more overall, I'm going to buy the fiancées pistol and my new AR at the same time. I'd like another Sport, but they're getting harder to find locally. Colts round these parts are dime a dozen. So, barring a positive check for proper build quality, I'll be owning another 6920 in early Dec.

It's nice that you show concern. You really DO love me!!!:D
 
A most excellent rifle!
But crappy CS. That being said, I'm buying this rifle FTF so I can make sure it's copacetic. If so, it's coming home. I'll never need CS, and that doesn't hurt my feelings at all.

I know Colts are fine rifles, when properly built. I'm excited, but not without my wariness. I'm going to make this my last AR, might as well be THE AR. I will not be changing a thing; it will be box stock and sitting next to dozens of loaded Pmags. Other than sighting, practice, and humps on the back 40, it's going to be at the ready.
 
I think you are definitely taking the right approach with a "buy once cry once" philosophy. In the AR world there is a huge range of quality and price. The colt is a very good rifle and think is a good balance of price and quality. Its not the best one can get (or even necessarily the very best value), however it is better than a lot of other options and a good rifle. I'm excited for you and your new AR. I have one (not a colt though) that is coming to me in a couple weeks so I share the excitement.

I'm not adding any crap, no optics, rails, nothing. I'll be using the KIS principle,

I do think that keeping a gun as simple and as light as possible is a very good guiding principle. That stuff is only "crap" if A) it doesn't enhance what one is doing with the rifle B) the user doesn't know how to use it.

A QUAILITY optic like an aimpoint is almost always a good addition. A micro adds very little weight. For any kind of defensive use a light is, IMHO, a necessity. However, for most folks point B) above applies. My personal guiding principle, that informs my effort to keep a weapon simple and light, is "does this truly make the weapon better for its intended uses and am I proficient in its use."

The Colt, while not a Krebs Custom or SGL 101, is as close to a reliability as an AR is gonna get.

The colt should serve you very well. I'm not sure I'd agree that one couldn't do a bit better on the AR front. However, for 99+% of users it probably wouldn't matter one bit. People that have been exposed to lots of different ARs (typically people teaching carbine course who fire tens of thousands of rounds a year and see hundreds of thousands of rounds a year go through many many different rifles) will tell you that you start to see the differences when guns are used in a way most folks don't use them, shooting high round counts quickly and doing so for a while, getting the guns hot and dirty. One thing that really separates guns out is doing the above but with a suppressor. Off a dealers shelf I doubt you can really do better than a colt at your price range.

BCM isn't bad

BCM not only isn't bad, they are very good, and very well proven rifles. They have won the support of a lot of very knowledgeable and discerning users. I'd just as happily take a BCM as a Colt for a hard use gun. Personally I prefer a Noveske over all of them simply because one is unlikely to find another gun that is as accurate while still retaining the extreme reliability the Noveske exhibits even when run hard and/or run hard suppressed. Noveske barrels are built and the chambers cut in a manner and with QC the others simply cannot match, hence their price. Although if one is a savy shopper a N4 uppered gun can be had for around $1k. I have no reservations buying a Noveske sight unseen. The QC is top notch.
 
^maybe not "crap" but rather useless items on my rifle. They will not be used. I'm an optic friendly user, proficient in use specifically with red dots. I tend to stick to magnified optics on my hunting rifles. I shoot faster, more accurate at short to medium ranges, and more consistently so with good irons over a red dot. If this rifle ever gets an optic, which I'm doubtful, will be an Eotech 512.

Most I've put through an AR annually has been 3,000+ through a Sport. No hiccups. Why a Colt? Because I can. I'll probably never even see close to as many rounds through the Colt as I did the Sport, so I'm sure it'll do fine. I do train and practice, but I don't compete, only run n gun on the farm. With 6,000 acres to play on, my rifles get dirty.:)

I'm only buying the Colt over BCM due to availability within driving distance. I'm impressed with BCM. I'll let you buy me a Noveske.;)
 
Could I drive there to see their rifles, or do they purely sell to dealers?
I'm not 100% if they sell out of the store or not. I'm suppose to go down there later this month and take a tour (since our shop in waynesville is one of their dealers) The 6920 is a great gun, CHF CMMG barrels are made the same......just saying lol jk. I think you'll be happy with it, I've carried one (basically) for the last 8years and it hasn't let me down yet. My current units M4s are made by FN.
 
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