Need advice on AR15 purchase

[bdc]

I've never heard of JP Enterprises, MidSouth Tactical, or Compass Lake.

I take it that they make a quality rifle, but where do they rank in relation to LMT, Colt, Charles Daly, etc. (from the M4 Carbine Comparison Chart)?

They must be small shops comparatively speaking. Am I right?
Are they considered custom or production?

 

[mtlucas0311]

if your interest lies in target shooting, buy a RRA lower for $300 to $350 on gunbroker, then give John a call at White Oak Armament, you will get a rifle superior to anything off the shelf from any of the big names. His uppers are around $700 last time I checked, I don't know if he is backlogged with orders like everyone else though. By the time you ship the upper and lowers and pay the $20 to the FFL for the lower transfer you'll still be less than a complete AR off Gunbroker or at a store.

www.whiteoakarmament.com

 

[Jon Coppenbarger]

John is a great guy and builds quility weapons. I have 3 of his uppers or they started out as his uppers. many barrels after that put on locally. a great reliable platform that will last you a long time. Get the pinned rear sight option for $55 and you will be happy. Being able to adjust the front sight base is a blessing for getting a true zero/ zero setting on your rifle.

 

[taliv]

bdc,
JP and Compass lake build match rifles, with JP more focused on 3gun/practical style and Compass Lake more focused on NRA High Power/CMP.

they don't build M4 style carbines, so you won't find them on the chart at all. they're definitely custom

 

[havhon]

After doing a little research based on a few responses within this thread, I am seriously going to look into the WOA + RRA combo.

 

[nksmfamjp]

Well, let me throw this out there.. .

I bought the standard Armalite M15A2. I loved it. It would shoot pretty consistent 1.5" 5 shot groups at 100 yards with me behind the trigger. This was completely stock.

I thought, boy I want it to be super duper. I paid ~$700 or so to Compass Lake Engineering to fit a Krieger barrel, match sights, their 2 stage trigger and their DCM free float tube. Now it was heavier, but I was like. . .now it's perfect. I took it out and shot 1.25 - 1.5 5 shot groups at 100 yards. Since it was an A2, I never bothered trying to scope it. Moral of the story. . .If it was to be an open sight gun, I could shoot it fine stock. I never regretted that, but always pondered it.

When I sold it, I put the ol' Armalite barrel, shortened to 17" into my new M4gery. Now, with a 1-4x scope, it shoots 1.5" 5 shot 100 yard groups.

Now, the modified gun with a Krieger barrel will probably shoot under .5" at 100 yards, but it would need a 20x or greater scope to do that.

So, if you really want an A2, IMO, any basic M2 will give you a good shooter. If you want great groups, I believe you would be happier a flat top, a free float foreend and an optic of 10x or greater.

The next level up from that would be a ground up build with a Krieger barrel, matched bolt, free float tube and a 20x or greater optic.

For maximum versitility and fun, a nice M4gery with a small optic has a large following at the local range as well as in Iraq.

Also, the spec charts were mentioned. They have there place. Some makers do not meet the mil spec details well. This is not because they are making BAD guns, but because they are making semi auto civilian guns. So, an ultimate spec rifle maybe overkill when you remove the military requirements of: full auto, swimming in mud before firing, wartime cleaning, daily sand storms, etc.

Chromelined barrel choice. . .If you will shoot crap ammo, clean irregularly or both, then it is nice. Otherwise I view it as just a nice option.

 

[mtlucas0311]

I'm not sure what optics have to do with the potential of the rifle? it's the guy squeezing the trigger that is most important. the rifle will shoot the same regardless of optics or open sights. If you were unhappy with the performance of the custom upper you purchased there are any number of reasons why it didn't meet your expectations; wrong weight bullet being the most likely after the shooter himself. Not every one is capable of shooting sub minute groups, sandbags or not, despite what you read on the internet. If it was that easy, it wouldn't be that fun. It takes a lot of practice to shoot well, belieeeeeve me....I don't have any trophy shelves buckling from the weight of match trophies. And if weight is a concern you can get a fine barrel in any countour you wish, you usually just have to ask. WOA has OUTSTANDING customer service.