CMMG Bargain Bin AR Reviews?

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UpTheIrons

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I've seen a few comments on the CMMG Bargain Bin ARs on the forum, and they look like a pretty good deal to me. To those of you who have one, how would you rate your rifle? I'm thinking of getting one as a "learner" rifle, with an eye towards building my own in the future. In your experience, do these guns shoot well enough to keep around? Or is it 'just' a good platform from which to build an 'improved' version?

I'm new to EBRs and I'm going into this with my eyes wide open to the fact that building and shooting the AR platform can develop into a rabid disease that runs unfettered in most owners. ;) Sure, I could go all out and get a Tier One rifle, but if the CMMG gets me in the door, it could save me money in the long run, right?
 
You save money in the long run by purchasing quality from the start.

The problem with the Bargain Bin rifles is that you don't know what you are getting. It might be a CMMG which isn't bad, or it might be a DPMS which is crap.

Now for just getting started you might be ok, but it is going to depend on the type of shooting you will be doing and what you expect out of the gun.
 
^ Only with the lower. On their site they specify that the upper is, as of this post, a CMMG M4-type upper, and the lower receiver may vary.
 
Oh. Sorry about that. CMMG is middle of the road. Not the best but an ok starting point. I personally would rather be one or two places further to the left.
 
The bargain basement seems to be a good deal given the price. CMMG is hard to pin down vs. the "tier 1" guns because they run a made-to-order system off their site and offer so many options. I'd assume the bargain bin guns are built off base specification, in which case Azizza's comments would apply.
 
The Bargin Bin guns are cosmetic blems and leftovers. Over stock parts etc.
The Upper alone is worth what their charging. And lets face it, after some real training, any AR is going to look worse than the bargin guns.

I'd rate them fairly high, above Stag. Some models even come with 1/7 barrels and now M4 ramps!
 
If nothing else, use it as a starting point. Shoot it, replace the parts you don't like and evolve it into the perfect AR for you!
 
I bought one 2 years ago, Great rifle!!!

I had the 16" M4 style, I put 500rds on it with NO issues!!!
 
41magsnub said:
If nothing else, use it as a starting point. Shoot it, replace the parts you don't like and evolve it into the perfect AR for you!
Click to expand...

Thanks for all the replies so far.

41mag is on the track of what I was wondering. I know I need to get started somewhere, but I don't want to wait until I have the cash built up for a tier one gun. I can get one of these later this year, and then figure out where to go in another year or so when finances are much more flexible.

By then, I'll have a good idea of what I want/don't want based on my experience with this rifle. (That is if my wife doesn't take it away from me and call it her own!)

I just wanted to 'think out loud' with those of you who have one of the CMMGs to see if I was thinking it through right or not.

NOW - 16" 1/9 or 18" 1/7? :evil:
 
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CMMG is a lot better than what people give them credit for. Aside from their bolts, they do everything the right way, assuming you get one of their LE/gov't profile guns. Get a CMMG, swap the BCG for one from Bravo (or choose a secondary option like their LMT bolts they offer), and you pretty much got a milspec gun if that is what you're looking for, and for a little less than what I see S&Ws going for if you're lucky.
 
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they still offer 16" middies. That's what I got. Twist is 1x7

100_0477.jpg

had it for only a year and some change now. it eats everything and I can shoot penny groups at 30 yards. Still need to get out and see how it does at 100 yards, though.

However, mine isn't a bargain bin. For the bargain bin price, you can buy a nice upper, and just save up for the lower later.
 
RP88 said:
CMMG is a lot better than what people give them credit for. Aside from their bolts, they do everything the right way, assuming you get one of their LE/gov't profile guns. Get a CMMG, swap the BCG for one from Bravo (or choose a secondary option like their LMT bolts they offer), and you pretty much got a milspec gun if that is what you're looking for, and for a little less than what I see S&Ws going for if you're lucky.
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What's the deal with their bolts? First time I've heard that mentioned.
 
Wow there's a lot of snobbery surrounding AR15s.

No, the CMMG bargain bin rifles are not LMTs or JPs, but they're still probably the best basic AR for the money.

I've had mine for a couple years and I've NEVER had a failure with it. Of course I've been slowly replacing and upgrading parts all along the way, but really for what it cost its an excellent entry level AR (mine is built on a DPMS lower)
 
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So you bang away with the bolt that comes with the gun until you need to replace it (then its what $150 or so for an LMT?).


What is more important than the rifle is trigger time ... so you can twiddle your thumbs while you save up for one of those magic high dollar rifles OR you can get the Bargain Bin gun now, burn through a few thousand rounds and then upgrade down the road when you've developed the skills to really make it worth the higher end hardware.
 
Zundfolge said:
So you bang away with the bolt that comes with the gun until you need to replace it (then its what $150 or so for an LMT?).


What is more important than the rifle is trigger time ... so you can twiddle your thumbs while you save up for one of those magic high dollar rifles OR you can get the Bargain Bin gun now, burn through a few thousand rounds and then upgrade down the road when you've developed the skills to really make it worth the higher end hardware.
Click to expand...

THIS! OK. Now I know what I needed to know. We have a winner!
 
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You can leave the bolt carrier alone. Just swap the bolt for a BCM bolt when needed. It's cheaper that way. I hardly see any failures of the carrier, usually just the bolt, gas rings, and bolt cam pin.

I don't like swapping carriers unless I swap in a fresh reciever as well. The two parts mate/fit together as they break in.

Buy your CMMG BB with confidence, its a good rifle.
 
Zundfolge said:
So you bang away with the bolt that comes with the gun until you need to replace it (then its what $150 or so for an LMT?).


What is more important than the rifle is trigger time ... so you can twiddle your thumbs while you save up for one of those magic high dollar rifles OR you can get the Bargain Bin gun now, burn through a few thousand rounds and then upgrade down the road when you've developed the skills to really make it worth the higher end hardware.
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Bingo. Most people own guns that are more accurate than they are. A normal AR is not a sniper rifle. Yo should not be shooting sub MOA groups at 500 yards...

Learn the rifle and what you can CONSISTENTLY do with it. Get plenty of trigger time with as many types of 5.56/.223 ammo you can, and replace any parts that break.

Recoil time is way more important than "I paid X amount for my gun" --especially if you can't hit your target...
 
The BB have been around for quite a while.

They were all the rage for decent starter ARs over at ar15.com when CMMG first brought them out.

Since the shine has worn off the penny so to speak, you don't hear about them so much.

But I have had one for 2+ years with no problems.

Doublestar lower, CMMG upper (M4).

As others have noted, there is a great deal of snobbery and internet commandos in the AR world.

YMMV.

Lumbergh
 
What's the deal with their bolts? First time I've heard that mentioned.
Click to expand...

their bolts are batched-tested on MPI-ing and pressure testing - not individually tested. They are not shot-peened. They also do not use the black extractor insert, but instead use the blue one.

However, their carriers are properly staked (at least now they are). Mine was fine, but I swapped it out along with the bolt for a BCM group isntead, and now keep the CMMG sitting around as a spare.

The bolt carrier group is the most critical part of an AR, so always make sure you get a good one.
 
I suggest a BCM not an LMT but you can get the BCM for under 150 and then sell the one that came with the rifle for about 100 bucks. So add only about 50 bucks to the cost of the rifle to really increase the reliability. I am even considering it myself for my next beater build.
 
I picked up one of the M4gery types a year or so back and I am happy with it. Mine has a double star lower and no idea on the rest of the parts. Oh, no chrome 1/9 barrel too. It shoots good enough and nothing has broke on it. I have used it in three gun matches and it performs as good as anything else I have fired. It is not a top of the line performance rifle but it is a good reliable starter type AR15.
BTW, I am a firm believer in a basic no frills rifle. I keep the bling at an absolute minimum and even hunt using (match type) iron sights (I use an A2 type for deer hunting.)
 
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