Considering buying an AR15 type rifle, advice?

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Lol well I would be in a feeding frenzy if I had money. Right now I am just researching. I was not expecting such a great reply from everyone too.
 
...I'll be buying one from CMMG. I've built 'em before, but like I said, you can't build with new parts for that price...
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Actually you can! $200 for a complete lower and $275 for a partial upper.

http://www.dsarms.com/Model-ZM4-Com...Stock-Assembly---DSZM4R2/productinfo/DSZM4R2/

http://www.dsarms.com/DSA-ZM4-Forged-7075T6-A3-AR15-Upper-Receiver---DSZM4CBU/productinfo/DSZM4CBU/

Then add a bolt carrier group for $100-140, charging handle for about $25.

BTW, this tactic requires no assembly other than what you'd do when field stripping the AR.
 
I was just randomly searching through their website, and I had an incling that that was correct. The only thing I would have to have shipped or buy locally is the lower though, correct?

I think my mind is beginning to get made up... :)
 
... I am looking to do the BUIS and sling and so on and so forth...
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Yeah, none of us are bringing that up in detail since they're choices you'll have to decide on. Myself, I love a standard carry handle and only occasionally detach it and pop on my scope from another rifle. With top end optics you'll spend more on them than an entry rifle!
 
Yes, a stripped lower (that you must complete yourself) or that complete lower from DSA would have to be shipped to a local FFL - not to you. The upper and just about everything else can come to your door.

Of course the bargain bin CMMG or any complete rifle also would be shipped to an FFL since the lower is included. BTW, you pay an 11% federal excise tax on a stripped lower - or on a complete rifle. Anything attached to that lower will get the extra tax. That's why many people buy the stripped lower separately - to save the tax on 90% of the rifle.

ETA: gasteffens, since you're in IL which is not a gun friendly state, make sure you abide by state and city laws. Especially when having anything shipped to you.
 
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My first AR was a build and so is my second. Both work very well. My A2 is a Rock River mid length upper on a Fulton Armory lower. I really like the balance. The rifle is very accurate. My second is a Armalite upper with a Spike Tactical lower. The finish on the Spike lower is very nice and so is the Jolly Rodger symbol.

I don't think I will ever purchase a prefab AR. They are so easy to build, you can just slap them together. Check out this site. I want to buy anouther upper and have been checking them out. http://www.mapartsinc.com/

Also, here is Spikes site http://www.spikestactical.com/z/index.php

I found a video online outlining how to put the lower together. It was so easy, I did the first one at my kitchen table.
 
Like ol' scratch, I went with an ArmaLite midlength upper. Very happy with it and if doing it over would buy it again. It fit perfectly on the S&W lower.
 
The other thing they will tell you is that if your rifle is a Frankengun, it ruins the value.

I THINK; that A: It's a Frankengun that I know was built correctly because I did it myself, and B: I don't plan on selling it anyway. If I break it, I can fix it. If I need another rifle while one is broken, it's easier and cheaper to have two I'm working with at any given time.

My current project, is to build the ultimate lower with all parts I like, and a LOT of stuff from Magpul's website, (You're gonna LOVE that one,) and top it with a basic Noveske M-4 upper. It will cost more, but when you buy the little pieces one at a time, it's easier to justify it. :)
 
Here's a very good rundown on putting together a very good AR relatively cheaply.

http://www.tacticalyellowvisor.net/8343/25301.html

And do be aware that you get what you pay for, whether you are talking about parts kits or assembled uppers/lowers. Putting together your own can save you paying for labor (and cut the excise tax), but if you compare a prebuilt rifle with quality parts to a homebuild with the cheapest pot-metal parts on the market, the price difference is really apples to oranges. Be sure to shop intelligently, and learn as much as you can before you actually write any checks.
 
WYcoyote... that is exactly what I am looking to get. .223 cal and 5.56mm are interchangeable, correct? All I have to supply in addition to that is sights of choice, magazines, and any other accessories I want?

How is the quality of that rifle? It is a matched set, so that has to be a good thing...
 
I made my first trip to the range today with my CMMG Bargain Bin 18" barreled rifle. I fired 80 rounds of Winchester 5.56 X 45 55 grain FMJ with no problems and respectable accuracy. I will be keeping my "Cheap" AR-15........:D
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.223 cal and 5.56mm are interchangeable, correct?
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If you have a 5.56mm chamber (most do), you can consider 5.56mm and .223 completely interchangeable. If you have a .223 chamber (mostly high-end target guns), you should stick with .223.

All I have to supply in addition to that is sights of choice, magazines, and any other accessories I want?
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Yes. You could actually get it shooting with something like a Magpul MBUS polymer flip-up rear sight (~$55) and a couple of Magpul PMAG magazines ($12-$14 each), but if you don't intend to ever run an optic, you might want a rear sight that's adjustable for elevation/range. If you zero the rear at 50 yards, you're pretty much good to go out to 250 or so without an elevation-adjustable sight.

How is the quality of that rifle? It is a matched set, so that has to be a good thing...
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It's no-frills, but it should work OK, given proper maintenance (keep it well lubricated) and good magazines (use PMAGs). Its long-term reliability would probably be enhanced by having an AR gunsmith make sure the gas key screws are properly staked in place so they won't loosen over time (if they loosen, the rifle won't cycle properly, and it gets too hot for loctite to work) but they may be staked OK from the factory.

As far as accessories go, you can add any 1" flashlight relatively cheaply with this:

http://www.botachtactical.com/caam4frsimod.html

and this

http://www.botachtactical.com/gg1mori.html

so that doesn't have to be expensive, either.
 
I just read the reviews for that doublestar and I think I have mine picked out. I just have to wait for my paycheck...

FMJMIKE that is a really nice looking rifle. For the price being so similar, I would go for this new one from bud's, seeing as I have terrible luck with anything "used"
 
5.56 and .223 are ALMOST identical. The 5.56 has a thicker case wall to handle being loaded a little hotter, they are also sized differently, according to SAAMI specs. If you get a 5.56 or .223 Wylde (hybrid) chamber, you can shoot anything. If you get a .223 chamber, and you shoot 5.56 in it, you are more likely to have failures to extract and stuck casings. (This is why I said it gives me the willies if CMMG is selling rifles and not specifying which chamber they have.)
 
thanks benezra.

I cannot believe how many great responses I got in such a short amount of time on this forum. No other forum I belong to for any hobby is like this. Thank you all!
 
gasteffens said:
WYcoyote... that is exactly what I am looking to get. .223 cal and 5.56mm are interchangeable, correct? All I have to supply in addition to that is sights of choice, magazines, and any other accessories I want?

How is the quality of that rifle? It is a matched set, so that has to be a good thing...
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Read the reviews of the rifle in the link, you cannot get much more positive than that.
Most all these are chambered in 5.56, in which you can shoot .223.
But a dedicated .223 you cannot fire 5.56, due to a shorter throat length which causes a high pressure condition.
Most every AR platform rifle can be nearly infinitely customized with a myriad of options and price points.
But be warned, they are so much fun to shoot and trick out, it is highly addicting.
 
I was reading down, and the only things stopping me now are waiting to get paid, and waiting for an email back regarding where they could ship the gun.

The fact that it's addicting, is totally cool with me. I am an avid gearhead, and could use another hobby to spend some time with.
 
Doublestar is ok, not the best but pretty good for that price and Bud's Gunshop usually gets good reviews, too. I would verify the chamber, hopefully it is 5.56 so you can use both .223 and 5.56. If you have to pay extra for 5.56 and a chrome lined barrel I would do that. I'd still read all I could about ARs in the meantime, there are better choices for not much more money.

Good luck and whatever you get let us know how you like it!
 
I will. I appreciate everyone's quick, detailed and polite information. I wish more individuals I work with in my day to day were like you guys!
 
Quentin said:
Doublestar is ok, not the best but pretty good for that price and Bud's Gunshop usually gets good reviews, too. I would verify the chamber, hopefully it is 5.56 so you can use both .223 and 5.56. If you have to pay extra for 5.56 and a chrome lined barrel I would do that. I'd still read all I could about ARs in the meantime, there are better choices for not much more money.

Good luck and whatever you get let us know how you like it!
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Good advise,
for just $300 more I would go with a BCM and have one of the best no compromise battle rifles made, but that DS is a good buy for the $$$.
 
My CMMG AR-15 was NEW!!! It was as nice as any Colt or RRA rifle I previously owned. Not a mark on it. When CMMG has a surplus of parts they assemble the parts into rifles and sell them as Bargain Bins.
 
my starter ar15 was a dpms 16inch barrel. Got it for under 800. might be a better idea to get use to the ar before building a custom one. Good luck on your selection
 
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