Need advice on AR15 purchase

Status
Not open for further replies.
H

havhon

Member
Joined
May 28, 2008
Messages
9
I am looking at purchasing my first AR15. Here are the 4 I have been looking at

http://www.rockriverarms.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=226 - The A4

http://www.lesbaer.com/ar223.html - The TRS and CMP

http://www.armalite.com/ItemForm.as...Category=8e8e5de6-5022-483e-812b-822e58014822



The RRA is about $1250 and the Armalite is about $1300.......Now the Baers are a different story. The TRS is $2500 while the CMP is $3200. I am familiar with shooting AR15's.....but am un-familiar with all the jargon and mumbo-jumbo. What I would like to know is.......

Are the Baers really worth the extra $1-2K than the RRA or Armalite?

Are there any other manufacturers that I should be looking at?

If you had the $$, which of the 4 would you buy and why?

Thanks!!!!!!!!!
 
What do you plan to do with it?

For that kind of dough, I'd look at the JP enterprises. Zak Smith likes mid-south tactical network rifles.
 
Last edited:
I have a les baer super varment .204 and it is THE most accurate rifle I have ever shot. I called them about getting the TRS upper for my rifle and when I heard the price I thought F that i can buy a (insert brand here) complete rifle and have two for that kind of coin. If you want a nice ar that is gaurnteed to shoot .5 moa and you have lots of cash I do not think the baer will let you down. On the other hand if you want a good fun accurate enough AR the RRA's I have shot are pretty nice. I have my eye on a SmW mnp 15 instead of a 1500$+ upper. I don't need a super accurate M4 clone I just want one that works good and is accurate enough. I have let sevral random people shoot my les baer SVR at the range and almost anyone who has a heart beat can shoot sub .5 moa with it. If you are going to shoot in long range matches then you may want to spend the money on a Baer.
 
I have a DPMS L-308 and a standard Bushmaster in .223. The Panther is very very accurate out to 200 yards(about as far as we can shoot in GA).
For the money I recommend the Bushmaster but I guess that's because I don't have the cash for the others.
 
check out DPMS AR's... they are very good quality guns at a more reasonable price than many... also, they offer an awesome variety of configurations...
 
The Les Baer is certainly a fine rifle. If you are really wanting precision out of an AR then they are a great choice. Based on the models that you are looking at I assume that is your primary desire for this rifle.

Check out AR15.com and read first!!!!!!! Rob_s has posted a chart to show the differences in various AR manufacturers.
Click to expand...

This would definitely be the thing to do if reliability was the primary concern with this rifle, but the chart doesnt rank manufacturers based on accuracy.

The suggestion to check out MSTN was a good one, I would also take a serious look at a Noveske rifle. You might get the best of both worlds (reliability and accuracy.)
 
Noveske & LMT do not advertise that they offer a 20" barrel. I would like a 20".
 
given that 2 of the 3 links were for "national match" configs, if you're looking for a competition rifle, get the RRA or a bushmaster or dpms in NM config... it doesn't matter which... and then send it to white oak.

you'll get a better rifle and save a LOT of money compared to the les baer

(compass lake is another option)
 
cbrgator,

What is that you like about the Armorlite that would make you pic it over the RRA..........both are about the same price..........just curious.
 
havhon, you need to figure out what you're doing with the rifle in order to determine which will be best for you.

I can't find any similarities in the 4 that you posted links to that would indicate that intended use.

IMHO the best "all around" AR is the 16" with collapsible stock and Aimpoint. It's good for hits smaller than 6" at 200 yards, which frankly is about as good as the ammo that most people will feed these guns to begin with.

Why do you want a 20"?
 
Are the Baers really worth the extra $1-2K than the RRA or Armalite?
Click to expand...

no.


Are there any other manufacturers that I should be looking at?
Click to expand...

most definitly bushmaster, stag, cmmg, s&w, and dpms.

If you had the $$, which of the 4 would you buy and why?
Click to expand...

of those models i would have to go with the rra based on quality vs. cost.



having said that, if i were to go looking for a new ar, i would try to find a bushmaster just from my experience with them as far as accuracy is concerned. a bushmaster in hbar configuration will even give that les baer a run for its money where accuracy is concerned. they make a great barrel.

i would also say look into a 16". much easier to handle, without sacrificing any accuracy inside 500-600 yds.
 
I am not sure what I want to do with the rifle yet.

I do know that I would like a rifle that will remind me of my military service. This is why I would like to stick with a 20" barrel and full stock. Also, wouldn't a 20" barrel be a tad more accurate than a 16"??? Logic tells me yes, however I know very little about guns.
 
There are several things a longer barrel will do, improving accuracy is not one of them. IMHO..

Longer barrel will provide a higher velocity which will keep the trajectory flatter, and may improve the stability of the bullet depending on what your shooting and or reloading.

As everyone here has stated"what are you going to do with the gun", are you a hunter, a target shooter, a survivalist, want the gun because you like the looks of it, or are you a SHTF guy just wanting longer rage protection than a handgun offers?
 
if you just want an AR like the one you used in the service, you can grab an A2 style AR15 that LOOKS exactly like the National Match ones you linked to, but doesn't have the NM internal pieces parts. you don't have to spend the $$ for NM stuff if you have no intention of competing in CMP/NRA HP.

at the gun show this weekend, i saw several used A2 style AR15s. all of them were $1200
 
I would not rule out the DD M4. At $1500 it comes with a lot of extras that some others do not. I love mine. Of course if you want something to hunt with then I would void my comments. It is a tactical weapon. Just my .002
 
havhon, ArmaLite is generally superior to RRA in the overall. It has M4 feedramps, chrome lined bore, etc. and is a step up from the budget AR's like RRA, Stag, DPMS.
 
I recently got into shooting competition, and I built my AR-15 from used parts. I built a 20" rifle in basic configuration. The only thing that I do not like is that the upper I purchased has a carry handle. I thought this was an advantage to me, but in the long run has become a limitation instead of a bonus.

I think a standard A2 configuration is a good place to start. You never run out of batteries, you do not loose zero, and if you need you can change the forearm later so that you can have rais to hold a laser or other what-nots. ex. coffee maker :p

If this is your first AR15, and you are getting it for SHTF senarios. I would get a basic no frills AR15 that is reliable, and use the other money to buy ammo. A2 sights are good to 600 yards, and very, very accurate.

This is just my $.02, and is way off from your OP. I hope you get what you are looking for, but don't think the AR15 in a 20" A2 design is limited because you cannot hang 20 pieces of equipment off the side/top/bottom of the rifle.
 
lesterg3,

I guess my main use would be target shooting.......maybe a little of the SHTF stuff. But I have to tell you, I do like the look of the stainless barrels on these weapons. As far as a NM grade weapon is concerned........I want the best fit/finish I can get for what I am willing to spend. I dont know why because I am not the best shooter out there - but that is just the kind of guy I am.
 
If the rifle is really for target shooting, then basically any manufacturer will be just fine. Just stay away from a select few like Vulcan and Hesse. There might be a couple other notorious brands, but aside from that, any are adequate.
 
If for target shooting....


I have a Colt HBar as mentinoned, and the gun is a supreme rifle. If you want a stainless NM rifle 20" version then I suggest this.

Buy a lower from RockRiver with a 2 stage trigger, go to White Oak Armory or White Oak Precission, and order a Pre-Ban 20" Upper in 1:7 twist.

It will come with 3/800 A2 upper, a stainless NM barrel, adjustable for windage front sight post, dual pinned rear sight, chamber in Wylde .223, and be a smokin' Service Target rifle.

This combo should cost around $1000 to $1100, and you will be set for shooting 77 Grain Sierra MatchKings and 80 Grain Sierra MatchKings.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

T
  • Locked
Armalite M15A2 Service Model, Questions?
Replies
13
Views
2K
AnimeFanatic5602
A
Milkmaster
  • Locked
I drank the AR koolade today for the first time.
2
Replies
38
Views
2K
fpgt72
F
PO2Hammer
  • Locked
AR-15 advice? How does this look?
Replies
11
Views
827
Avenger29
A
ms6852
  • Locked
7.62 vs 5.56 ar, please help me!!
2
Replies
37
Views
11K
sansone
S
C
  • Locked
AR10: RRA vs Armalite
Replies
17
Views
2K
Caliper_Mi
C
Back
Top