Help deciding on 3 ar-15s, it will be my first AR.
- Thread starter Sobel
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Depending on the amount of money you are willing/able to spend I'd go: (just my opinion) Increasing in price and level-of-want (again, just my opinion)
Good: Palmetto State Armory
Better: Spikes
Best: Colt
Sweet: Noveske or Daniel Defense
Good: Palmetto State Armory
Better: Spikes
Best: Colt
Sweet: Noveske or Daniel Defense
Al Thompson
Moderator Emeritus
Unless that is for rifle number 2, go with what MachIVshooter posted. Otherwise, it's not very economical.
Thats really tempting. Only thing holding me back is my impatience and my fear of the governments all powerful rifle smashing fist.So I think I'll go small on my first ar and then perhaps over a period of time gather the things id like to put on it. Or I could just save up after my first and get another. The rifles you showed me are beautiful.By the time you get done adding all that to your M&P, you will have spent more than you would to buy a lifetime-warranted Armalite A2 rifle.
You would have to add:
A2 buffer, spring and tube: $30 & up
A2 Stock: $50
A2 20" Barrel w/ front sight: Min $150, more for chrome lined
Rifle gas tube: $15
Carry Handle: Min $50 for quality
Rifle handguards: $20+
Flashhider can be swapped from your 16" barrel
Now you're at roughly $700 after tax or shipping/transfer for your M&P, plus at least $315 in A2 parts, and you still won't have a forward assist or dust cover.
Or you could just buy:
Armalite M15A2 Rifle for $950, which has the chrome lined barrel and all mil-spec parts, plus the dust cover and FA you'd be missing:
or go a little higher and buy a Colt AR-15A2 Rifle ($1,150):
Or you could build your lower (~$100) with a PSA A2 lower kit ($120) and stick a DSA A3 20" upper on it ($280) with their BCG ($120), charging handle ($14) and ZM4 detachable carry handle ($44) and have your A2 rifle for $678 plus shipping.
meanmrmustard
Member
You've not a lot to worry about. With foreign policy and the economy in the spotlight, I think the "rifle smashing fist" is a little busy at the moment. If the powers that be were seriously looking to begin another ban or implement any silly, bane laws, they'd have done so. There's bigger fish to fry.
Once paranoia has subsided after Nov. 6th, prices may relax a bit, giving you ample time to save for a rifle worthy of your money. Get a good gun the first time, and you'll never have buyers remorse.
I would recommend you look at Bushmaster. You can get some carbines for just under $700. I have two and would recommend them to anyone. They're not Cadillacs, but they are well functioning Chevy's as far as I'm concerned. From the sounds of what you're looking for, I think they would work just fine.
I strongly recommend not buying Bushmaster, DPMS, Olympic, and the like.
Sure, they make some rifles that work. Sure, a lot of people who never work their guns hard or put many rounds downrange like them. And a lot of people will find excuses and ways to blame other components (ammo, mags, etc) for the failures they get (personal experiences with that, I have).
But there are far better choices, without even having to spend any more money. Choices that have demonstrably better components and materials, and that have a higher percentage of quality guns coming off the line.
Sure, they make some rifles that work. Sure, a lot of people who never work their guns hard or put many rounds downrange like them. And a lot of people will find excuses and ways to blame other components (ammo, mags, etc) for the failures they get (personal experiences with that, I have).
But there are far better choices, without even having to spend any more money. Choices that have demonstrably better components and materials, and that have a higher percentage of quality guns coming off the line.
I can't find a palmetto state armory one for less than like 750 which after all is said and done is 800+ Its a birthday gift so I'm supposed to be being surprised yet i have to choose what i want in a price range of 650 so that it comes out to >700.
Jackal
Member
Check these guys out. Great prices, excellent service. I have spent thousands here and they always take good care of me. http://www.jsesurplus.com/ Jse has become my favorite place to shop for reasonably priced AR gear.
. http://www.jsesurplus.com/ Jse has become my favorite place to shop for reasonably priced AR gear.Look harder.
PSA 16'' M4 Premium Carbine
$699.99
http://palmettostatearmory.com/inde...o-state-armory/psa-16-m4-premium-carbine.html
Do you mean that you want it to come out to <$700? (you listed >700, which is greater than 700)
Never forget to consider whether or not the rifle you are looking at comes with sights. Remember that "optics ready" is a code word for "does not come with sights"
bowserb
Member
Don't throw away good money. Save it until you can afford a Colt. Then come back here and say thanks!
meanmrmustard
Member
Then you might want to reconsider the Sport.
Is there something about the colt that makes them better than everything else? Why isn't there some government agency that checks for quality control making sure that every manufacturer has safe guns that aren't going to blow up in your hands or fall apart after 100 rounds?
Better than everything else? Probably not.
Better than something like a Bushmaster or S&W? Probably yes.
You sir are a wizard. Apparently I've been told to wait longer but ill get a nicer rifle what that means is beyond me. I could start planning for $750 or less. Its the last year I'm getting a birthday gift so with the approach of Christmas ( can I say that on here? ) maybe I'll get a birthmas gift instead of 2 different ones.Look harder.
PSA 16'' M4 Premium Carbine
$699.99
http://palmettostatearmory.com/inde...o-state-armory/psa-16-m4-premium-carbine.html
Do you mean that you want it to come out to <$700? (you listed >700, which is greater than 700)
Never forget to consider whether or not the rifle you are looking at comes with sights. Remember that "optics ready" is a code word for "does not come with sights"
A quality AR would seem fitting of going for a birthmas gift.
I would feel MUCH better about a PSA than Bushmaster (or similar). I would feel even better about a Colt, but I would judge the gap from Bushy -> PSA as much more significant than PSA -> Colt.
meanmrmustard
Member
If by "features" you include things like superior materials and manufacturing processes. Otherwise, it's more than features that differentiate a S&W Sport from a Colt.
meanmrmustard
Member
If that's what you're into, then yes.
I prefer 4140 to 4150.
I also prefer melonite, and I'm sold on the 5r 1:8 twist barrel. I'd like a Colt with melonite.
Colts bolt (158) is indeed pretty buff stuff. MPI is a good thing fo sho.
As for feed ramps, proper staking, and lower receiver materials (minus the replaceable trigger guard) its mirrored on the Sport. I've also experienced superior accuracy with the Smith, which I do find important. Maybe it's the shooter!!!
I myself will be buying another Colt, or another Sport, oooorrrrr...a PSA. I'm taking great interest in this thread.
The chome lined barrels of 'combat' rifles don't lend themselves towards bullseye shooting accuracy.
meanmrmustard
Member
No kiddin. Not inaccurate, but less nonetheless...and I'm not talking pure bench shooting.
Okay so i found another PSA and after what you said im starting to think that its what I want. My friend has a carrying handle that he wouldnt mind gifting to me so I found this.
http://www.classicfirearms.com/long...armory-ar-15-rifle-m4-optic-ready-w-fn-barrel
a couple questions tho. Can i shoot 5.56 out of it or am i stuck using only .223?
Of course I then found del-ton rifles not sure how they stack up but they have some nice price tags.
http://www.classicfirearms.com/long-guns/deltonechowremovablecarryhandle
and
http://www.classicfirearms.com/long-guns/dtportwhandle
Centurian22
Member
In my own hunt for more research and prices on the M&P Sport I came across this DPMS under $700
http://www.kygunco.com/dpms-panther-oracle-556-rifle-16-barrel-30-round-black-36744
Any opinions?
http://www.kygunco.com/dpms-panther-oracle-556-rifle-16-barrel-30-round-black-36744
Any opinions?
Now im hoping the price doesnt get jacked up before i can order it. 30 days is a loooong time. I didn't know Fn made ar-15 barrels
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