SpeedAKL
Member
I currently have a Bushmaster carbine with the AK74 muzzle brake, A2 stock, and HBAR barrel. It's an ugly duckling and is post-ban but it runs very well and is quite accurate for a carbine. For an entry into the AR world it has served its purpose well.
Having said that, I am looking to upgrade my AR. I've decided to trade the Bushy in and buy a new gun as the upgrades I wanted to do would have put me in new-gun territory anyway if the original purchase price for the gun was factored in.
I'd like to stay under $1500 and ideally under $1300. I want a carbine with mil-standard QC and ideally fitted with rail system, BUIS, and upgraded adjustable stock. I have been doing pricing by watching gunbroker and Gunsamerica; the local dealers tend to be a bit higher but there are deals to be had. So far I have looked at the following guns:
LMT CQB MRP - has all the features I want, MSRP is a little high but the on-the-street prices seem in my ballpark
Daniel Defense DDM4 V2 - top pick at this point, great features for the $$$
Colt LE6920 and LE6940 -LE6920 can be had for under $1300, LE6940 has more features I want but is pushing it in terms of price and has standard M4 buttstock
BCM Midlength + lower half - Perhaps the most cost-effective option, but they're all out of stock in the configurations I'd want and I'd have to buy a BUIS
S&W M&P-15T - Good bang for buck, though I'd prefer 1:7 twist and something better than the standard M4 stock
Features I really want:
-appropriate quality control features (MPI-tested, HP-tested, properly-staked keys, etc etc)
-1:7 twist....rifle may be used for HD purposes and eventually a carbine class and I would like to use good defensive ammo if possible - nice option to have
-railed forearm
-rear BUIS
Features I want but could live without
-upgraded telestock (Magpul, VLTOR, LMT, etc)
-front flip-up BUIS
Features that are nice but not a huge deal to me:
-upgraded pistol grip
-vertical foregrip
Your thoughts / recommendations?
Having said that, I am looking to upgrade my AR. I've decided to trade the Bushy in and buy a new gun as the upgrades I wanted to do would have put me in new-gun territory anyway if the original purchase price for the gun was factored in.
I'd like to stay under $1500 and ideally under $1300. I want a carbine with mil-standard QC and ideally fitted with rail system, BUIS, and upgraded adjustable stock. I have been doing pricing by watching gunbroker and Gunsamerica; the local dealers tend to be a bit higher but there are deals to be had. So far I have looked at the following guns:
LMT CQB MRP - has all the features I want, MSRP is a little high but the on-the-street prices seem in my ballpark
Daniel Defense DDM4 V2 - top pick at this point, great features for the $$$
Colt LE6920 and LE6940 -LE6920 can be had for under $1300, LE6940 has more features I want but is pushing it in terms of price and has standard M4 buttstock
BCM Midlength + lower half - Perhaps the most cost-effective option, but they're all out of stock in the configurations I'd want and I'd have to buy a BUIS
S&W M&P-15T - Good bang for buck, though I'd prefer 1:7 twist and something better than the standard M4 stock
Features I really want:
-appropriate quality control features (MPI-tested, HP-tested, properly-staked keys, etc etc)
-1:7 twist....rifle may be used for HD purposes and eventually a carbine class and I would like to use good defensive ammo if possible - nice option to have
-railed forearm
-rear BUIS
Features I want but could live without
-upgraded telestock (Magpul, VLTOR, LMT, etc)
-front flip-up BUIS
Features that are nice but not a huge deal to me:
-upgraded pistol grip
-vertical foregrip
Your thoughts / recommendations?
