How to expand my AR collection?

[TheLastBoyScout]

Right now I have a Bushmaster postban 20" A2...

For about the same cost, I could:

Get an M4A3 upper and a flattop 20" upper

or

Get a complete M4A3


I want to hold on to my A2 upper as it is for CMP, and I would want the flattop as a scoped long range platform.

Basically the question is whether you would rather have 1 lower and 3 uppers, or 2 complete rifles.

 

[Texas Gunman]

As you already know, you can have one lower and many uppers.
I went for two complete rifles,one has the 20" heavy barrel and the other is M4gery with 14.5 barrel & phantom f/s.

TG

 

[ddc]

One thing that occurred to me is that with two lowers you have the ability to have two different triggers.

With the M4, assuming it's roll is :SHTF", home defence, etc., you want a reliable, combat trigger. The stock one is probably fine.

If you had a separate lower for the competition rifle then you could install a more competition appropriate trigger.

The thing is, if you go the other way I think you'll find it's only temporary. Nobody is going to have a single lower with 3 uppers for very long. Those extra uppers will invariably attract another lower (or two) into your safe. I'm not sure how that happens, but one morning you wake up and there it is! AR15 magic, I guess.

 

[444]

DDC beat me to it.
If you have any kind of a "match" trigger on one lower receiver, you don't want to depend on that trigger as a SHTF rifle. No, it doesn't matter which trigger we are talking about.
On the other side of the coin, if you have a "match" trigger on one lower, this will be perfect for that 20" flat top.

 

[TheLastBoyScout]

444 and DDC

So you're saying that I should get the M4, and as money permits get an aftermarket trigger and an A3 upper for my current rifle?

Makes sense.

 

[Duke of Lawnchair]

Get the complete rifle.

Like other members have said, different uppers for different shooting situations. Lowers are no different.

-Jim

 

[Chris Rhines]

Phew. You and your tough questions!

Did you know that the NRA now allows A3 uppers in Service Rifle competition?

Here's what I'd do - I'd see if you could swap your 20" A2 upper for a flattop M4 upper (pro'ly an LMT,) then plop that flattop upper on your existing Bushmaster lower. Add a YHM fixed rear sight, optics and other chi-chis as cash allows.

Then I'd order a RRA National Match A3 upper with the detachable match-sight carry handle, and an RRA National Match lower (it's a bit cheaper ordering the upper and lower vs. the complete rifle.) I'd get a LaRue QD mount for my scope. That rifle works for Service Rifle with the irons, and long-range plinkerism with the scope.

Then, you have two complete rifles, with the best of both worlds.

Is this a good idea, or is this a good idea?

- Chris

 

[TheLastBoyScout]

is there really any trade value left for an upper without the evil features?

 

[NMshooter]

While you are probably stuck with the A2 upper receiver, the barrel will come right off and go onto a flattop receiver. If you like that barrel, that is.

 

[wally]

Like other members have said, different uppers for different shooting situations. Lowers are no different.

Disagree, you got to have at least one lower with collapsable stock to complete the evil features in your collection

I prefer complete guns, instead of extra parts. If the SHTF, my anti-gun friends will see the errors of their ways and become troops in my platoon.

--wally.

 

[redneck2]

And perhaps the most important thing is that complete rifles look way cooler in the gun safe. Having parts and pieces just isn't the same

 

[Duke of Lawnchair]

Disagree, you got to have at least one lower with collapsable stock to complete the evil features in your collection

Reread my post.

 

[NEtracker]

I have an M4gery complete, plus a varmint upper. The only reason, the second is not complete is budget. When I get to it, I'll have another lower with an NM trigger group.

 

[Stinkyshoe]

My thought is that you should only have complete rifles. The upper is the most costly part of the system, so in my mind, one should invest in complete guns. However you may think about this differently.

I went through the same thing myself. I think the M4 is a very handy rifle to have and think everyone should have one. I don't compete, but unless you are loading heavy 5.56 bullets, your range and long range ballistics is going to be limited, and the bullet will be subject to being blown about. I am not a 5.56 fan for long range.

I agree with having different triggers for different purposes.

 

[444]

I own a whole bunch of AR15s.
I owned one in the early eighties (an SP1) and foolishly traded it away.
A couple years ago I received a promotion at work and decided to treat myself to a present. I chose to buy myself an AR15. I got a Bushmaster 20" with A2 sights. Included with the rifle was a Bushmaster catalog. It wasn't long before I started spending a lot of time looking at that catalog and thinking how cool it would be to own a 16" carbine. It just so happened that I was in a small town gun shop and noticed that they had the exact Bushmaster 16" carbine I had been looking at, so I bought it.
That broke the flood gates. I started reading and studying about the AR15 platform and realized it would be easy to put them together myself, so I had to try it.
Anyway, to make a long story short, I ended up with a bunch of complete rifles. At this point I think I would have been better off with a couple lowers and just uppers for the rest of them. I could see having something in a collasable stock, something with a match trigger, and something with an A1 length fixed stock for serious applications. If I wanted to play around with uppers, those three lowers would satisfy all my needs.

 

[ddc]

444,

If I wanted to play around with uppers, those three lowers would satisfy all my needs.

Yep, your needs would probably be more than satisfied... but what does that have to do with it?

(evil laughter in the background...as the AR15 devil contemplates luring another unsuspecting soul (TheLastBoyScout) under it's spell)

 

[TheLastBoyScout]

Thanks guys-- I'm (hopefully) off to the funstore. pics will probably follow.

 

[444]

"....but what does that have to do with it? "

Well, you might not believe this. But, I have been aquireing guns since I was 9 years old. Other than a brief marriage of four years, I have basically spent all my surplus cash on guns or some other hobby goodies. I have actually gotten to the point where I don't shoot 90% of the stuff I have and I consider it silly to keep buying stuff. I long ago got to the point where storing all this stuff has become an issue. So, for me, not buying more complete rifles actually makes sense.
For what it is worth, out of all the AR15s I own, I really only shoot two of them. I have one with all the cool stuff and an Aimpoint. That is my primary AR and has been through Gunsite Basic and Advanced Carbine classes and Frontsight Pracatical Rifle class. In all these internet SHTF senarios, this is the carbine that I would grab. I also have an M4 with an ACOG on it that I am playing with right now just to see how I like the ACOG. The rest of them havent been fired for a couple years.

 

[ddc]

444,
I hear ya and I was just funnin ya and trying to make a joke about how AR15's tend to multiply. My apologies if it came across in any other way.
ddc.