Not so much singling anybody out. Just in many threads that go in that direction it seems as if the OP is forgotten while 2 or 3 posters trumpet their favorite brand back and forth in an ever-escalating duel. I guess I just get a bit bothered when that happens and tried to head it off a little prematurely.
Another AR question - Windham
- Thread starter ErictheRed
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A lot of people are "hung up on" the specifications of the rifle. Which is to say that a lot of people take the materials and processes used in manufacturing the rifle somewhat seriously, and don't want to buy second rate stuff to save a couple hundred bucks on the rifle. Trust me, that is not in any way localized to ar15.com.
dennissinned
Member
thanks for the info guys
fanchisimo
Member
If you're worried about getting a rifle in under the ban, I would recommend buying a few lowers so that you have several options in the future, since one rifle is just the start with these things.
LiquidTension
Member
Between the two, definitely the M&P. I've got one with ~7k rounds through it with zero problems. They aren't a tier 1 gun but they have a solid track record and will serve 97% of shooters well. The carbons have a notoriously spotty reliability record.
I'm not up to date on MD's laws, but when I was up there last week I noticed that black rifles were at least 20% more expensive than they are in SC. Do you have the option of buying one from out of state and having it transferred in? It opens up a lot more options.
Personally, if I knew I only had one chance to buy an AR I would get the absolute highest quality one I could afford - in other words, best value. The M&P represents good value for the money.
As an aside, LWRC is in Cambridge, MD and makes an excellent rifle.
I'm not up to date on MD's laws, but when I was up there last week I noticed that black rifles were at least 20% more expensive than they are in SC. Do you have the option of buying one from out of state and having it transferred in? It opens up a lot more options.
Personally, if I knew I only had one chance to buy an AR I would get the absolute highest quality one I could afford - in other words, best value. The M&P represents good value for the money.
As an aside, LWRC is in Cambridge, MD and makes an excellent rifle.
Excellent idea.
Knightsofnee
member
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2012
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- 25
Avoid anything that has Vulcan, Blackthorne or Hesse on it.
This is a very good idea. Not sure about the laws in MD, but the lower is considered the gun. UPS or FedEx can deliver uppers to me with no paperwork.
I like my M&P, have had no problems. I had a plastic lower, it worked OK, but I did not like the feel or balance of it. Get a couple of lowers, then you will have all kinds of choices on uppers. Different calibers, piston vs gas, rails, scopes, sights... Lots of fun stuff.
henschman
Member
The multiple lowers sound like a very good idea to me. There is very little difference between standard aluminum lowers, and the standard parts kits that go with them for that matter. Get the lowers, and then you can have all the time you want to learn about these rifles before you decide on how to complete it.
Two pages of the usual.
What do you want this rifle to do? Just be an AR15 sitting in the closet? Or do you plan to shoot it? If so, where and how?
Those questions don't get asked often enough. The OP owns guns, has some from what I gather, the point of having the AR is to fill a specific need better than what some other gun will do.
The main qualities of the AR: 1) light 2) uses medium calibers easy to shoot 3) much more accurate because the barrel is mounted on an extension and can be easily free floated 5) factory stock will shoot 2MOA in most cases, which is good enough for most North American game from woodchucks up. If smaller, more accuracy is needed - but the calibers available can still do the job.
Are their lots of choices, yes. BUT it's not confusing when you specify exactly what you want the rifle to do. Don't look at choices - look at what you want it to do. Then pick features that support the job.
You don't buy a two door sports car to haul three kids in car seats around. You get a mini van. So, the effort to narrow down the choices on the AR15 is What target, what range? What target tells you what physical size it's going to be, which determines the minimum MOA it's got to shoot, and what range tells you how much bullet mass you need to hit that far out. That will quickly narrow down the calibers with the delivery.
A bull elephant at 1000 yards, nope. But a bull elephant at 50 paces with a .458 Socom or .50 Beowulf, possible. A rabbit at 1000 yards, might even stick to 5.56, but 6.5Grendel would deliver better ballistics.
In a carbine with barrels as short as 8" - really a pistol - then 6.8SPC. It's already an issue weapon fielded with the Saudi Royal bodyguards. And a LOT of ammo is coming around because of it.
"I want an AR15" shouldn't back somebody into a corner getting something they don't want or need, but at least the AR can be easily changed to what will work. Just specify what target, what range, and you get the most versatility of nearly any gun made with parts available from more than just one proprietary vendor. Literally dozens make parts for the AR - just be specific what you want. That will narrow it down tremendously.
Of the two choices, the S&W for cash right now will do. It's a good middle road choice.
What do you want this rifle to do? Just be an AR15 sitting in the closet? Or do you plan to shoot it? If so, where and how?
Those questions don't get asked often enough. The OP owns guns, has some from what I gather, the point of having the AR is to fill a specific need better than what some other gun will do.
The main qualities of the AR: 1) light 2) uses medium calibers easy to shoot 3) much more accurate because the barrel is mounted on an extension and can be easily free floated 5) factory stock will shoot 2MOA in most cases, which is good enough for most North American game from woodchucks up. If smaller, more accuracy is needed - but the calibers available can still do the job.
Are their lots of choices, yes. BUT it's not confusing when you specify exactly what you want the rifle to do. Don't look at choices - look at what you want it to do. Then pick features that support the job.
You don't buy a two door sports car to haul three kids in car seats around. You get a mini van. So, the effort to narrow down the choices on the AR15 is What target, what range? What target tells you what physical size it's going to be, which determines the minimum MOA it's got to shoot, and what range tells you how much bullet mass you need to hit that far out. That will quickly narrow down the calibers with the delivery.
A bull elephant at 1000 yards, nope. But a bull elephant at 50 paces with a .458 Socom or .50 Beowulf, possible. A rabbit at 1000 yards, might even stick to 5.56, but 6.5Grendel would deliver better ballistics.
In a carbine with barrels as short as 8" - really a pistol - then 6.8SPC. It's already an issue weapon fielded with the Saudi Royal bodyguards. And a LOT of ammo is coming around because of it.
"I want an AR15" shouldn't back somebody into a corner getting something they don't want or need, but at least the AR can be easily changed to what will work. Just specify what target, what range, and you get the most versatility of nearly any gun made with parts available from more than just one proprietary vendor. Literally dozens make parts for the AR - just be specific what you want. That will narrow it down tremendously.
Of the two choices, the S&W for cash right now will do. It's a good middle road choice.
fanchisimo
Member
I forget to state on my multiple lowers suggestion that they all be aluminum. This also goes well with what Tirod said in the different calibers he mentioned, you can build a 6.8 SPC, a 50 Beowulf, and I believe a .458 Socom using a standard AR15 lower. So say you get three lowers, you can have three difference rifles for three different jobs. You could also get one AR10 Lower if you want to get in the realm of .308. That's the beauty of getting the lowers, you have options upon options. If you just get the S&W or Windham (I hear great things about both), you can still do these calibers previously mentioned, but you will just be switching uppers between the same lower.
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