AR15 Buyer's Guide?

[snakyjake]

I'm interested in getting my first AR15. I've been reading multiple forums, and becoming more lost than when I started.

I would like to ask for some help in locating some resources to really help a newbie out. Perhaps a book or a web resource that can explain in more details and facts.

What I'm looking for is something like a "AR15 Buyer's Guide". What to look for? What are some of the feature ideologies? What's cheap, budget, and quality?

Maybe some good comparison reviews between different manufacturers. What does brand X do different than brand Y?

I may also consider assembling my own, but I haven't yet found a good resource that explain and help guide what to buy, the why's and how come. Perhaps a newbie should not be assembling an AR until they are a lot more familiar with an AR? Perhaps buy an assembled AR for the first, then perhaps in the future build one?

A bit more of what I'm looking for:

• First AR.
• No bells/whistles, but room to grow as future needs are discovered.
• I envision a rifle used for target/sharp shooting. Probably adding some sort of optics.
• Want to attach a light for night.
• May want to attach laser (but perhaps light/laser integration).
• Like to steer away from any bastardized legal version (kinda like emission controls on a car that make your car run lousy, but appease the environmentalists).
• Budget: If I know the money is spent on quality, I don't mind spending extra. But I have to know what the quality is.
• Don't want to buy cheap parts. I want the craftsmanship done right. But I don't even know what that means.

I don't want to buy out of ignorance, so your help would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Jake

 

[ugaarguy]

THR Member Rob_S has made just such a guide - http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=pwswheghNQsEuEhjFwPrgTA&hl=en . Pick up the Dec issue of SWAT magazine with his article in it for even more info.