Need Some Direction

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deerslayer85

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I know these threads have been done over and over, but I need some help from fellow gun enthusiasts. I'm looking to buy my first AR. I've done some research and came to a couple conclusions for what I'm looking for, but need some help deciphering through all the different options.

Here are the specs I'm pretty sure I want:
1. Chrome lined mil spec barrel
2. 1:7 twist
3. Maybe free floated barrel (If it is worth it)

Gun is going to be for target practice, home defense, maybe some hunting.

Budget: Like to stay around $1000 mark give or take. Also any recommendations on optics would be great as well. Thanks for the help!
 
These days you can get a whole lotta AR for $1,000. A lot of folks will tell you to grab a Colt 6920 now that they're under that price and all over the place.

If your needs/wants aren't more specific than that, you probably might as well go with the Colt and get a case or two of ammo through it and decide if that's just what you want, or if a few modifications would make you happier.

Optics? Well, what do you want to shoot with it? Red-dots (everything from the Primary Arms up to EoTechs and AimPoints...what's your budget for glass?) are popular and work very well out to 200-300 yards for big targets. Something with some magnification will make you a lot happier if you like shooting small groups or longer ranges. There are a bunch of 1-4 or 1-6 variable scopes these days which are optimized for the tactical carbine, and those are more versatile than a simple red dot.
 
On the optics, depending on how much I spend on the rifle will determine the budget. Since I want to use the rifle for home defense as well, I would probably benefit of having something that is able to zero in on target quickly. And like I said before I'm probably not going to be shooting much farther than 100yd. Thanks for the help!

Also, any hunt deer with 5.56 NATO?

I've been looking at both the 6920 and 6940. I just didn't know if the 6940 is worth it.
 
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You have a lot of options. I personally own a Windham ORC. It has a tru-glo red dot and is fine for me. The Windham has been a great rifle. If u would like longer range a Nikon P series scope may be what you want. Redfield also makes a tactical scope for a decent price. I personally like to buy less expensive stuff to try first and then spend more money later on after I get familiar with certain rifles.
 
Hard to beat the Colt 6920. Many (most?) people remove the carry handle (relegated to a shelf as a dustcatcher) and put on a rear sight like the Magpul MBUS, which can be folded down when installing optics. Perfect.

For a scope, check the Bushnell AR Optics 1-4X24, priced at Amazon now for $124.99. I've only had mine at the range once, but it is nice. The BDC reticle is very clear. I've compared it to a similar Nikon priced at $299 and the Bushnell was just much clearer.

For a red dot, check the Vortex Strikefire at $124.00 at Amazon.
 
For a complete AR look at Spikes Tactical. Great company, great warrenty & great quality.
For a little less look at PSA's premium line.
For a little more, BCM. Right now they're offering a free BCG w/ upper purchase. These are the BCGs that others are judged against.

As for optics, since you said HD I'm going to assume you want a red dot.
Look at the Aimpoint Pro or EOTech 512.
 
If I can be so bold as to make a slightly negative remark :))), there's really no good reason to choose an M4 style carbine, especially in the legal 16" barrel length, when you could have a mid-length. (Aside from wanting it to look as close as possible to what the Army carries, if that matters.)

Mid-length gas systems are a little more gentle and reliable, having the front sight block a bit farther forward can only help your accuracy with irons, and you have a bit more handguard length to get ahold of instead of having to use the more cramped short carbine handguards (and getting your fingers burned on the FSB which is so close in to the shooter).

If you're going to go with a real shorty (either the 14.5" real M4 length, or shorter) the carbine gas setup is fine. But it really is a price you pay for that short length. If you're going to use a longer barrel anyway, might as well get all the benefit you can out of it.
 
No, those are both carbine length gas.
It is best on 14.5" and shorter barrels.
A mid length gas (like what I linked) is best with 16-18" barrels.
It is smoother, less violent and more reliable.

Plus, if you add a rail later down the road you have more room to mount things. Even without a rail the longer hand guard is more comfortable and less cramped.
 
its gonna be your AR and there are thousands of opinions...make your own and go with that instead of buying an AR you turn out to be unhappy with and blame it on someone on this site.
 
Sam are you talking about the Colt's I posted links to?
Click to expand...
Well, yeah, I am -- even though I suggested one of them back in post 2! :)

They are pretty much m4 carbines, with a 16" barrel. If you look at the picture on that site, you can easily see there's near about as much barrel out forward of the front sight block (gas block) as there is behind it. The handguards are only about 7" long or so. A mid-length gas system (and hand guards) is about 2" longer, for the same barrel length. While a long float tube which covers (a low profile) gas block gives you the most real estate for gripping the gun, an m4 carbine gives you the LEAST, and puts the hot gas block right where you'd probably MOST want to put your support hand. (Ouch.) A middy is more generous to fit your stance.

You also (if everything is balanced right) get a bit gentler cycling with a 16" middy, as there is the proper amount of dwell time (length of barrel after the bullet passes the gs port) and the gas port is a little smaller.

So, for a variety of reasons, while the M4 (or "M4-gery" civilian version) is a just fine rifle, I like the way a mid length carbine is set up a bit more.
 
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tiamat said:
<insert first recommendation for Ruger's AR-556 here>
Click to expand...
I was going to recommend that one as well (for the OP: the new AR-style rifle that Ruger just announced seems to be a lot of gun for an excellent price. Street price likely to be $599 or less) but I don't recall it having a chrome barrel. OTOH, I don't think it really much matters.
Regarding the discussion on length of barrel, though it is appealing to have a longer hand guard and perhaps a softer shooter, if spec'ing rifle for HD and all other things being about equal it seems to me that a shorter barrel is preferable.
B
 
It also doesn't have a 1:7 barrel (but has 1:8 instead) but i'm going to recommend it anyway.
 
Thanks for all the help! No one will be buying the gun for me.lol I will make the end decision. It's just nice to get some advise from guys or gals that have been down this road before.
 
Regarding the discussion on length of barrel, though it is appealing to have a longer hand guard and perhaps a softer shooter, if spec'ing rifle for HD and all other things being about equal it seems to me that a shorter barrel is preferable.
Click to expand...

Sure, but the real M4 carbine uses a 14.5" barrel, which would make it an NFA-regulated "short barreled rifle" under federal law. Some "M4-geries" use a slightly longer barrel and a permanently affixed flash-hider to reach the legal minimum of 16" (including flash hider).

However, the Colt 6920 rifles use an actual 16.1" long barrel and a regular, removable flash hider. So they're actually quite a bit longer than a real M4, in fact, they're the same length as a 16" barreled "mid-length" rifle.

So the ONLY thing you're getting out of that deal is shorter gripping length and gas system, which are both negatives.
 
Now that I've read up on the mid-length gas system compared to carbine. Besides the Spikes what are some other options out there.

I do really like that Spikes though....

How hard is it to changed up the "barrel guard" (if that is what it is called.lol)?
 
Sam1911 said:
Sure, but the real M4 carbine uses a 14.5" barrel, which would make it an NFA-regulated "short barreled rifle" under federal law. Some "M4-geries" use a slightly longer barrel and a permanently affixed flash-hider to reach the legal minimum of 16" (including flash hider).

However, the Colt 6920 rifles use an actual 16.1" long barrel and a regular, removable flash hider. So they're actually quite a bit longer than a real M4, in fact, they're the same length as a 16" barreled "mid-length" rifle.

So the ONLY thing you're getting out of that deal is shorter gripping length and gas system, which are both negatives.
Click to expand...
Understood. I'll only add that I have a 14 1/2 with a permanently fixed muzzle device and a 16" with one and the first one is shorter. It may not be enough to be significant, but I can attest to their being a difference.
B
 
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