An AR in my future??

mugs79 · Dec 17, 2007

Anyone who remembers my older posts knows that I've been all over the board when it comes to what gun my Christmas money will be poured into, but I'm narrowing it down!! Lately, the AR type guns have caught my attention.

I know I just need to do my research, and I am, but there's something... reassuring about getting information from real live people. Even if they're real live internet people.

So. My questions fall in these areas:

NATO?: I've pretty much settled on .223 for the caliber. Will most platforms be ok with the NATO round as well?

Price: Unfortunately, this is going to end up being the deciding factor in my purchase. It's difficult to say what the Christmas gifts and bonus will total, but after I pay the bills I've been putting off it could end up buying me nothing but a nifty little .22. Or a Mosin. Or a picture of a Mosin. Don't get me wrong, I'm more than happy to spend the extra dollar to get what's good. I firmly believe that a gun should be something you can pass down for at least a generation or two. But, I don't have that extra dollar to spend. So, realistically, what's the cheapest I could get away with, while still putting together a decent piece of equipment? I'm perfectly happy starting with the bare essentials, and adding more as I can.

Building: I see a lot about this and that uppers and this and that lowers... I know I'll need to just do my research the details, but is it generally better to buy separately, or buy together?

And finally, how do you feel about yours? Really, its a SHTF gun, maybe a varmint gun as well, and a fun plinker. If you could only buy one gun this year, would you go this route?

possum · Dec 17, 2007

get an ar with a 5.56 chamber, an tha way you can use both 5.56 and .223 ammo, it dosen't work the other way around, well it isn't safe or good for the rifle. the side of the mag well should say 5.56 or 5.56/.223

i really like bushmasters i have owned one in he past and own one right now i love them both and i have never had an issue with either if them or the various other bushmasters, that i have used and trainned with.

also stag is making soe great ars and they are at a great price pont a great value.

as far as building goes if you have little to no experince with the ar series of weapos i think you should purchase your first and think about building one later, you might culd have oe built but i wouldn't suggest that you do it yourself until you understand the weapon inside and out. i have been around the ar for over 5 years. on the military and civilian side and i am still hesitant about building one.

they are fun and i would take mine to hell and back.

MMcfpd · Dec 17, 2007

...the side of the mag well should say 5.56 or 5.56/.223

What it says on the barrel is what's important, not what it says on the magwell.

Assembling a lower receiver is fairly easy: Look here for illustrated step-by-step instruction. You can get a Del-Ton or Model 1 Sales kit for ~$460 and a stripped lower receiver for ~$100; with shipping and an FFL transfer that'll get you into a decent, new AR for ~$600.

possum · Dec 17, 2007

good point, though if the gun is a factory assembled, ie bushmaster then there should be no issue. i could see if you had a build with a ar lower and the magwell said 5.56/.223 and the upper wasn't to specs with what the mag well said, again which justifies my point even more, buy the first and learn alot and then build dow the road.

i guess i should have clarified that i was writing in reference to factory built guns.

RockyMtnTactical · Dec 17, 2007

You'll want one in 5.56.

Price... well, for a good one for the money I would recommend Stag Arms. You should be able to get one for under $800.

I build, primarily because it allows me to build a "custom" gun that is exactly the way I want it. Most guys are happy with buying one off of the shelf. What kind of guy are you?

Mojo-jo-jo · Dec 18, 2007

I'm in the process of building one--a 5.56 mid-length flat top. (when Del-ton gets their mid-length uppers back in stock anyway)... This might help you decide.

Description - Supplier - Price
16' mid-length flat top kit - Del-ton - $465.00
Lower receiver (Stag) - Gun show - $139.09
Rear sight carry/handle - Gun show - $65.00
CAR spanner nut wrench - Del-ton - $3.95
A2 sight tool - Del-ton - $5.95
Del-ton shipping charge - - $17.53

Total - $696.52

You can go a little cheaper with a Superior Arms lower shipped for $85 + your dealer's transfer fee. I opted to buy the Stag at the show to avoid the hassle of arranging the transfer, but it cost me about +$30

PhatForrest · Dec 18, 2007

If you think you might want to build your own, which is both fun and informative, check out the tech sections at AR15.com. The few extra dollars you spend in tools will be offset by the amount of knowledge you learn by building your own.

An AR in my future??

mugs79

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possum

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MMcfpd

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possum

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RockyMtnTactical

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Mojo-jo-jo

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PhatForrest

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