First Time AR buyer needs help...

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Autolycus

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Hello all I am interested in purchasing my first evil black rifle. I am looking at getting an AR-15 style rifle. I have no experience with them and am really desiring one as I suspect they will be banned in the near future.

I am looking at a Colt 6920. I would like the rifle to be .223/5.56 as it seems to be the commonly issued rifle caliber for the military and local LE agencies. It will also act as my SHTF rifle and a big boys toy.

I wanted opinions on this rifle and any suggestions. Is there a better rifle than this particular one for a "newbie"? What about reliability and quality? I was told that the Colt AR rifles are excellent and of the highest quality.

What about Bushmaster, Rock River Arms, and others? How is the quality versus this rifle? What brand of AR-15 magazines do you all recommend? What about scopes/sights, slings, etc. I want to deck this rifle out as well and will hopefully have it sometime all ready by summer. I am on a budget and will have to buy this piece by piece.

Anyways I wanted to thank you for opinions and suggestions.
 
A colt 6920 is a highly regarded weapon in the AR community. As far as standard title one weapons, it is usually the standard by which all others are judged.

RRA, Bushmaster make fine rifles, but IMO, they are not on par with the Colt. I have a RRA and love it, and while I think the finish is nicer on the RRA gun, the Colt has the right parts where it counts. The RRA's also have a 2 stage trigger on them, which is really nice for a production gun. While you will find no true mil spec semi automatic M4 style rifle, the Colt comes the closest. Other than a 16" barrel, lack of automatic fire, unmachined crossweb that acts as a sear block, and .170" FCG pins, they are identical to an M4.

As far as mags stick with USGI, HK or Magpul Pmags. There are no other mags out there that I would trust in a rifle I may need to depend my life upon.

Optics are something that are going to be a personal preference. Some like Aimpoints, some like Eotechs, and some others like ACOGs or other optics. It really depends on what you like personally, and how much you are willing to spend.
 
Well, piece-by-piece brings up a whole new arena. A far less expensive route to go, and IMO is Colt-level quality, is CMMG.

Specifically, here: http://cmmginc.secure-mall.com/shop/?shop=1&cart=905476&cat=33& Specifically, the second and third items down.

Carry handles or standalone, non-folding rear sights can be found for about $40 from a variety of places.

Later, you can swap the stock out for a Magpul or Vltor or whatever you like, as the 4-position stock isn't all that great (although it will certainly work).

A good rail forend will run from $110 all the way up as high as you want to spend. There are a million things you can stick on it... whatever you want is up to you.

As far as optics go, 16" suggests (to me, anyhow) either holosights or low-power scopes. Companies to look up include Aimpoint, EOTech (my favorite), Trijicon, and so forth. Word to the wise--not all holosights are created equal. Price generally reflects this. Expect to pay from $350 on up to $1100 for the ACOG.

Aside from these recommendations, I'm not sure what else to say right now... what sort of "work" will it be geared toward?

And depending on your budget, would building it up from a stripped lower be of interest?
 
I have never done a build before. To be honest this will be my first rifle. I was looking for something production on which to build. I was going to buy the basic rifle now and then a few mags for it. After that I intend to start adding other things.

Essentially this will be my go-to rifle and my SHTF rifle should I ever need to leave my quiet little community.

Is it hard to build a rifle? I have no experience with that or anyhting like that and no workplace. I am a college student and I am on a budget. I will piece the rifle together as I go along.

What about the Sig 556 rifle? I was also looking at that. Someone advised me to purchase an AR-15 as opposed to the Sig 556 because if I ever need it in a SHTF scenario, ARs will more common.

Thanks for the responses guys. What is a good price on the Colt 6920?
 
The Sig 556 is a toy for the rich. An AR is much more practical.

Colt 6920s go for about $1400. http://www.gunsamerica.com/97697236...Tactical-Rifles/COLT_6920_Brand_NEW_in_bo.htm

Definately not a "budget-friendly" gun.

To build an AR from a stripped lower and parts kit, all you really need is a brass hammer, instructions, and a knife. A telestock might necessitate a leather belt and a pair of tongue-and-groove pliers, but that's it.

The icing on the cake, so to speak, is that it costs 1/2 of a Colt, and it's the exact same.

A model airplane is harder. :)
 
To build an AR from a stripped lower and parts kit, all you really need is a brass hammer, instructions, and a knife. A telestock might necessitate a leather belt and a pair of tongue-and-groove pliers, but that's it.

The icing on the cake, so to speak, is that it costs 1/2 of a Colt, and it's the exact same.
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You cannot build an AR for $700 that is the same as the Colt.
 
check this out, right now cmmg.com has what many people are saying are brand new ar's for I think 625.00 or so plus a couple of dollars for shipping. they have them in 18in and m4 models right now. while I do not think they would be up to the quality of a 6920, you can not beat them for the price. cmmg has a stellar reputation for quality and I can speak for their uppers as I have one. I do not have anything from them that was bought as a complete rifle, just the uppers and they work fine for me. You can build one if you like but you won't be able to do it for the price of the cmmg especially if using colt uppers or lowers. The colt barrels are running right at 300 or so for an m4 and then you still have to buy the bolt and carrier plus the upper receiver which will run you another 300 or so. colt lowers are anywhere's from 600-650 apiece for the 6920's or the 6721's. If you look around a little you can find a 6920 for around 1200 or so and you can get the 6721 which is basically the same rifle without the m4 barrel for around 1000-1150 or so. the real place to look for these rifles in these configurations are on ar15.com. that site is geared to sales and info specifically on the ar15 and all variant's. RG
 
Outlaws: You cannot build an AR for $700 that is the same as the Colt.
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SHTF rifle... big boy's toy... I am on a budget.
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If it were for police or military contract work, or for competition, I'd suggest differently (like LMT). For the above mentioned uses, however, there is nothing that a build will do that a Colt will do better. Over time, one can eventually upgrade "piece by piece" to a Colt, but until then it's not much more than a prancing pony on the side.
 
FWIW building a lower is a piece of cake and about the only thing you need to make it easy is a set of roll-pin punches from Brownell's and a brass hammer. You can get by without the roll pin punches, but they do make your life easier and are worth the $10-$15 they'll set you back.

You could easily build up a lower, pick up an RRA upper and be in business. (The advantage of the RRA is that you're supporting an Illinois business that's trying to keep you from losing your rights to own their products)

Just my .02

What part of Illinois are you attending college in? If it's in Central Illinois I'd be happy to try and help you out with your lower build. Once you've done one they're a piece of cake.

Have a good one,
Dave
 
FWIW...my 2 cents!

Got an old Colt (so old it doesn't have forward assist) with fixed stocks/triangular hand guards etc and when the AR ban was lifted, bought a RRA Entry Tactical for about $1K.

Did a lot of research before buying, and the general consensus AFA accuracy/reliability seemed to be Colt or RRA, and since the RRA was cheaper, easier to order, and customizable...well, the choice was clear!
Was always leery of Bushmasters-nice stuff I guess, but as a company I always thought they might be putting out too much stuff and I wondered if they could maintain their quality (I assume they have/had quality to start)?
Anywho...FWIW, after I bought my RRA, I read an article 'bout the DEA selecting RRA for their new rifle. The article stated that of all the guns submitted for testing, only 2 passed all the DEA's tests. 'Course, the RRA was one (their choice), but the writer would not tell which other company's gun received a passing grade. Heck, he wouldn't even tell which other companies submitted entries!
Don't know exactly what kind of tests they were submitted to, but I view it as just another notch in RRA's belt?
 
You cannot build an AR for $700 that is the same as the Colt.
Click to expand...

You can get a CMMG 16" upper that will have all of the same quality parts in it as those used by Colt for <$500. MPI and HP tested. M4 feed ramps, 'F' front sight, the FA BCG, etc,etc. Apples to apples yes it is the same.

A CMMG lower receiver, LPK, and 6-pos stock can be had for $225

So not quite 700 but pretty close.
But you can also find new 6920s for 1200$
 
FWIW building a lower is a piece of cake and about the only thing you need to make it easy is a set of roll-pin punches from Brownell's and a brass hammer. You can get by without the roll pin punches, but they do make your life easier and are worth the $10-$15 they'll set you back.
Click to expand...
I've never used roll pin punches. I have a cheap pair of vise grips that have the jaws polished smooth though, just for the bolt catch roll pin. The triggerguard pin gets tapped in with a plastic hammer.
 
Tecumseh, keep in mind on the 6920 it is marked "Restricted LEO/Military Use Only" Even though it can be owned, in a HTF if a cop sees that he might get ideas and it was said "Cops wont get the subtle nuances of the AWB" if you have to explain it's legal. Good gun but I would get a Bushie especially after one of the mods experience with RRA.
 
heck the m-4 forums they have an awsome chart which spells out the differnces between the brands. If it was me I would get the Colt6920. Actually I bought one myself yesterday
 
I considered the Colt Defense 6920, but I bought a LMT instead.

Considering the only different between Colt Defense 6920 and the US Military M4 is a 16" barrel, "stepped" lower receiver (to make it harder to add full auto parts), and it's semiautomatic. Otherwise, it's built to the same military specification as the M4.

If you're going to buy a Colt Defense 6920, keep in mind that you're a civilian buying a gun from Colt Defense and not Colt Manufacturing. Colt Manufacturing makes 1911s, Single Action Armys, and politically correct ARs for civilians. Colt Defense makes the US Military M4 as well ARs for law enforcement officers. Hence the "Military and Law Enforcement Only" rollmark on the Colt Defense 6920.

I suggest you check out Lewis Machine and Tool Company if you want a milspec AR. Bushmaster, Stag Arms, Smith & Wesson, and Rock River Arms do not build milspec rifles. LMT and Colt do.

An LMT will cost the same as a Colt Defense 6920, if not more. Arguably, the quality of an LMT AR is better than a Colt. Colt fans will at least admit the quality is "the same, but not better."

With all that said, buying a milspec rifle doesn't necessarily mean it's a better rifle. However, if you want a rifle that's as close to the military spec as the M4, a Colt Defense 6920 or an LMT is as close as it gets.

As for magazines, Magpul PMAGS are very durable. H&K magazines are great, but way overpriced for what you get. Brownells magazines have a good reputation. I suggest trying a Brownells and a PMAG to compare the two. After which, buy a bunch of your preferred mag.
 
not meaning to jump in on this but i too im looking at buying my first ar this weekend. i looked at the colt 6920 and 1600 isn't in the budget. im looking to spend no more than 1200, any suggestions? i cant build not yet, i've torn these things down day in and day out in the military but i dont think i have the gunsmithing knowledge to build one from scratch. i was looking at the dpms ap4 but i dont like the handle id rather have a flat-top.
 
tiko, check out cdnninvestments.com's current catalog. they're quite a bit cheaper than 1600
 
I'm sort of in exactly the same boat as you Tecumseh. I plan on making my next buys all AR related.. which is odd because I don't even really want one. It's just something I think I should have. I'm on a tight budget to do it, so I'm definitely doing a build rather than purchasing a completed gun. I'm not concerned with the difficulty at all, especially since I do a lot of my own trigger work and general parts fitting these days .. I figure how hard can an AR be. I've worked it all out, and it seems to me a very high quality flatop A4 type 16" bbl gun can be built for around $700 to $750 total or so.. and that's about all I can afford.. hehe Maybe an expensive colt might be more accurate or something, but I can't honestly see how it would be worth it for anything less then competition.
 
Tiko_Joe - You don't need to spend anywhere near 1600 to get a good reliable AR. Pick one in the configuration of your choice from Bushy or RRA and you're set. (No experience with DPMS) If you study the differences between Colt/LMT and say a Bushy or RRA it's not necessarily a quality difference, it's a "testing" difference. I don't have the specs in front of me, but from memory I believe that the bolts are magnafluxed on a Colt, and other QC things like that. It's not to say that a non tested part is of less quality, it's to say that the part hasn't been tested.

Just my .02

Regards,
Dave

FWIW - In the buying frenzy immediately after the expiration of the AWB I went bought a Bushy "M4 Clone". I've only put maybe 2500-3000 rounds through it, but it's been absolutely dead solid reliable and goes bang everytime I pull the trigger. I think I paid $1100 for the rifle and that was from a dealer who was gouging . . I'm pretty sure I could buy the exact same rifle today for slightly less than 900.
 
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