Advice on an M4?

[Monkeyleg]

I'm daydreaming about an M4-style rifle, and how I want it equipped. Depending upon how soon I could raise the cash, I'd want an EOTech 512 on it, since I'd possibly be using it for a house/yard gun, so there's no need for anything with magnification.

I'd like a telescoping stock, and a vertical foregrip. I'd either start with an inexpensive foregrip and then get a Crimson Trace MVF515, or add a light and laser. Again, it depends upon money.

In looking at DPMS, Bushmaster, Stag and some others, it would seem like the Bushmaster M4 with the removable carry handle and "izzy" flash hider would be my choice, as I prefer the shorter barrel.

Right now I have a Colt Delta Hbar. I've thought about getting a Colt M4 upper, and swapping out the upper and the fixed stock to have two rifles in one. There's three problems I see with going that way: I still only have one rifle; I'd have to switch back and forth if I wanted to use the upper, full stock, scope and cheekpiece; and the greenish color of the 1980's vintage A2 probably wouldn't match the current m4 upper.

Any thoughts?

 

[RP88]

buy the upper and lower separate. That'll save on cash.

Also, the EOtech 512 and a decent upper will run you upwards of a $1000 right there.

Good rails for accessorizing, BUIS, a decent grip, and the accessories themselves can see you running about $1700-2200 for the whole complete rifle after you tack it all on.

It really depends on your budget or patience to build up how you want.

 

[steven58]

Best deal I've seen recently on a mil-spec high quality M-4 is Spikes Tactical.

I second purchasing the upper and lower separately to save on tax.
I prefer Aimpoint sights for battery life and durability over the Eotech.
YMMV

 

[Frankl03]

CDNN has M&P 15s for $599 after rebate. The M&P is right there with your list. CDNN is a great outfit with good CS.

Another idea as mentioned above buy an upper and lower separate.
Aim Surplus has Spikes tactical uppers (ranks better than the list above) for $479.00 and then you could buy a DS Arms lower $200 and have a great rifle for under $700. Also If you wanted to buy a Spikes lower I think they are about $250.00

Hope some of these options work for you!

 

[Monkeyleg]

My cost on the EOTech 512 and a Bushmaster M4 upper would be about $800. The rifle complete would be about $850, and then another $350 for the EOTech. If I figure $150 or so for a decent quad rail (is that enough?), then a flip up rear sight, I'm probably up to $1500.

Sound right?

 

[Mags]

If you have an Eotech or Aimpoint ditch the laser idea. Also ditch the VFG and get an AFG. I personally think you should ditch Eotech and go with Aimpoint. Also you need good back up irons and a flash light. Here I made a prioritized list for you:

1. Back up irons sights
2. Angled foregrip
3. Aimpoint
4. Weapon mounted light

That is all you need for what your desired purpose. You really don't need numbers 2,3 and 4 but it will make things easier.

 

[Hatterasguy]

Their is a guy selling a nice LWRC upper in the for sale section for $700.

 

[kwelz]

Lasers are not that useful. You can find an Aimpoint ML2 for under 300 in various places and it is a better option than the EOTECH.

As for the rifle, do yourself a favor and don't bother with any of the brands you mentioned so far. I suggest you look at S&W, BCM, or even Spikes. Any of them would be a much better choice than BM, DPMS, or Stag.

 

[Mags]

^^^^+1K I have a Bushmaster that I replaced the BM parts with Bravo Company parts including the BCG, all in all is wish I got a BCM to start with.

 

[Bobarino]

i have a setup pretty similar to what you're looking for. i have about $2,200 into it and i went with a cheaper quad rail that just replaces the forearm halves.

one bad thing about the Izzy flash hider is that they are only offered from the factory on the 14.5" barrel meaning it's pinned in place. if you go with a 16" barrel, you can just unscrew and replace the doo-dad on the end of the barrel with whatever toots your horn. I put an A1 flash hider on mine just for grins and giggles i guess.

anywho, here's mine:

16" Bushmaster HBAR, Ergo grip, DPMS gas block, Eotech 512, AAC quad rail, grip pod, and Troy flip down rear sight, Bushmaster flip down front sight, and an A1 flash hider.

 

[RP88]

a decent quad rail for that price range is something like the Daniel Defense EZ rail. They cost under $200 now. A step above is the Daniel Defense Omega rail free-float for around $300.

 

[rygould]

^^^^+1K I have a Bushmaster that I replaced the BM parts with Bravo Company parts including the BCG, all in all is wish I got a BCM to start with.

Best answer yet! BCM is good people with great products. A true upper tier gun for a incredibly reasonable price.

Bushy, Stag, and DPMS don't compare in quality and true milspec. Spikes is a nice deal for a nice rifle, but don't get caught up in the hype, they have yet to produce anything that validates the claims that they make. Until then, they aren't in the same class as BCM, LMT, or Colt.

 

[C-grunt]

You can get a BCM M4 upper complete for a little over 600 bucks. Then a Spikes lower for a little under 300 and you are paying the same price as the Bushmaster but have a better rifle.

I have a Troy drop in rail that costs 160 bucks and it is a fantastic rail.

 

[taliv]

BCM just sent out an email... summer sale is starting. up to $150 off uppers

 

[Monkeyleg]

Thanks, everyone. I haven't heard of BCM, so I took a look at their site. Unless they did a ton of retouching on the photos, the fit and finish on their guns is excellent.

I'm just curious, C-grunt: why would I put a BCM upper on a Spikes lower, rather than go BCM all the way?

As for my interest in a laser/EOTech (or Aimpoint) combination, I'm just figuring it would be good to have something for low light or no light. The Crimson Trace MVF515 fore grip is a really nice laser light combination for that purpose, IMO.

 

[taliv]

bcm isn't a big "fit and finish" shop. their uppers have quality pieces parts and are assembled very well. the finish is ok, but if you get one that doesn't really match, don't freak out.

except for the magazines, the vast majority of stuff that affects reliability and accuracy is in the upper. therefore, people often buy nice uppers (e.g. BCM) and put them on the cheapest lower they can find, and wind up with something that shoots well for less money.

that said, resell value is very low on builds

 

[Darthbauer]

You can go even cheaper than a quad rail and get a magpul MOE forend and get rails for it as needed.

 

[C-grunt]

Thanks, everyone. I haven't heard of BCM, so I took a look at their site. Unless they did a ton of retouching on the photos, the fit and finish on their guns is excellent.

I'm just curious, C-grunt: why would I put a BCM upper on a Spikes lower, rather than go BCM all the way?

As for my interest in a laser/EOTech (or Aimpoint) combination, I'm just figuring it would be good to have something for low light or no light. The Crimson Trace MVF515 fore grip is a really nice laser light combination for that purpose, IMO.

Like Taliv stated, I was just getting you a cheaper lower to save money. If I were buying it personally I would either go full BCM or maybe a LMT lower.

BCM sells full rifles now. Call them and ask how much a M4 model costs. Or G&R Tactical should have complete rifles in stock.

 

[Monkeyleg]

Thanks again for the replies. From looking at G&R Tactical, I can get a BCM lower with a Colt tele stock for $370, a mid length BCM upper without a bolt carrier group (I have extras) for $435, a Daniels Defense quad rail for $148, and a Magpul rear folding sight for $55. That's a whole rifle for $1008. Not bad.

It would be nice to see one before ordering, though, but I can't find anyplace near me (Huntsville, AL) that stocks them.

How come nobody has mentioned Daniels Defense? I've seen their M4's, and they look good. Don't know about their construction, though.

 

[trigga]

buy the upper and lower separate, i saved about $100 on mines. or build one if you want to save.

 

[Monkeyleg]

buy the upper and lower separate, i saved about $100 on mines. or build one if you want to save.

The prices I mentioned are upper and lower separate.

 

[ccjcc81]

My only bit of wisdom is this:

IMHO, if your getting a flattop upper, don't get one with a fixed front sight. When I bought mine, my mentors told me that the front sight would never get in the way, and it was cheaper. Well the front sight always annoyed me. I eventually switched it out.

 

[killchain]

Like this one?

Stock Bushmaster M4A3. It's got no bayonet lug and a pinned Izzy because I rescued it from NY. Barrel is parkerized.

KAC rails and grip with some Magpul covers, Surefire 660 Weaponlight.

MATECH BUIS, and an EOTech 511.

It eats absolutely everything I feed it, accurate enough that I won't dare remove the 511 to read the S/N.

In the end after buying all the googads the rifle ran me about $1700.

 

[trigga]

My only bit of wisdom is this:

IMHO, if your getting a flattop upper, don't get one with a fixed front sight. When I bought mine, my mentors told me that the front sight would never get in the way, and it was cheaper. Well the front sight always annoyed me. I eventually switched it out.

for mounting a scope? i mounted one on my flat top and the front sight just blurred out as if it wasn't even there. i have a 16" barrel, might be different on longer barrels... or you can mount it to the handle. could be annoying for red dots thought.

 

[PoolsClosed]

DPMS all the way. /thread