Olympic AR-15 Plinker?

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I am an AR novice so please cut me some slack in answering the next few questions.

I am looking to buy an entry level AR-15. I have 2 baby girls at home and would like to not break the bank. I came across an Olympic Arms AR-15 plinker today for $550. My questions are:

1) Is the Olympic AR-15 a total POS or is a decent AR?

2) What is a plinker?

3) Is $550 a decent price?

Input appreciated!
 
If you go the ar15 forum,most will tell you it's a pos.The ones I have been around have been hit or miss.Del ton can you build you for a little less than a 150.00 more or for around 730.00 you can get a stag upper and lower and have a nice ar for the average person.

I went with the stag and really don't have any regrets.
 
Are you wanting to go the AR route simply to get into the AR rifles? Are you wanting one because you want to shoot .223 rounds? What is the reason?
 
Les, that is a great question. I want to get into AR rifles. Some co-workers have them and I would like to join them out on the range and not appear clueless :)
 
Is it this one? http://www.triplebreakproducts.com/Olympic/plinker.htm
1. I have an Oly. It's been decent and reliable for me. There are people that love them and people that hate them. There may have been a period when they were lower quality but I don't have any complaints about mine.
2. A plinker is a fun gun that's usually a smaller caliber and used mostly for shooting at the range or various critters. It's not typically a gun you'd want for SHTF or zombies :D
3. Given the list price was a hair under $600, $550 seems like a decent price if it's new or in very good condition.
You could build one for not too much more. It kind of depends on what you want it for.
 
Gottcha, I do not own any but have considered getting one. Of the ones I found attractive were the ones with the A2 sights and detachable handles. I would look at the ones with these features that are one step above the oly plinker. If the price point is too high with the features then go with the cheapest you can afford. It will be a fun gun which ever you choose.

If you were just wanting to shoot the same round as the AR then you may look at the Saiga that is much cheaper. That is the route I have taken for now. One day I will go for the AR but I wanted to shoot the round for Cheap for awhile.
 
Save your money.

You can get a complete stag upper for $485 shipped and you can buy complete AR lowers for $225ish. Sure it will cost $150-200 more but you'll have twice the gun when all is done.

Or watch for deals on complete used uppers, I see them all the time for $300-350.

Trust me you don't want the cheap AR that breaks all of the time or has issues when shooting with your friends.:neener:
 
Decent gun. The elitist gun snobs don't like them cause the will do most of the things their snob guns will at almost 50% discount.:neener:
 
A few questions about building an AR:

1) which is more important to have the highest quality? The upper or lower?

2) Do you literally buy any lower and any upper and they will fit?

3) Do barrels usually come with the uppers?

Thanks!
 
The elitist gun snobs don't like them cause the will do most of the things their snob guns will at almost 50% discount.
Click to expand...

For an extra $125-150, you can buy a much better gun that will do ALL of the things a higher end AR will do.

Luckily i'm not a elitist otherwise i may be offended.:D

I just likes to pay my money once for something quality.
 
1) which is more important to have the highest quality? The upper or lower? I'd say the upper has more to do with accuracy and reliability, but having a good lower is important too.

2) Do you literally buy any lower and any upper and they will fit? Pretty much any AR15 lower will fit any AR15 upper. Some early Colt guns had different sized pins/holes.

3) Do barrels usually come with the uppers? For your first "build" buy a complete upper which will include everything you'll need except the lower.

Even if you were to buy a complete assembled Stag Arms lower and complete assembled Stag Arms upper and just put them together you'd still save money over buying a complete Stag Arms gun.
 
Gun Nut, Thanks for all of the good info! Are they hard to put together or will I have to engage my smart friends? Also, what would be a good source for the uppers and lowers?

Thanks Again.
 
I have a buddy w/ an Oly Arms ar15 and it has been a nice shooter. He got it pre-ban so it's really the only ture ar in our group :D
 
Note I have sold over 10 of them in my shop. NO one has brought one back.:what:
 
I have an Oly AR and personally, I like it. I was told by some kid at the gun shop that he would never buy one because they are a POS. He never could expand on why they were a POS.

That said, the only problem I have had is that a couple of my beat up mags won't lock. Same story with cheap mags. Get a good set of quality mags and you should be satisfied.

Once you get to the point of upgrading, take a look at White Oak Arms as well as Stag for your new uppers. My dream AR would be a Stag lower with a WOA service rifle upper, 2 stage trigger and all the bells and whistles that come with it of course.

Have fun!
 
Plinkers are pretty OK , they are just a basic AR , for example they are usually equipped with A1 type rear sights in stead of the A2 type , usually not equppied with a muzzle break/flashspppresor . Its just a matter of preference , they aren't pretty or tacticool but plenty good for a first AR .
 
Opinions are like...

A1 sights and full size rifle is not the worst thing to own. I can say that realistically you will set your sights and probably never touch them again. A good battle zero will do the job if you do your part. A plinker is training with what you have. Shoot and learn, you will have an effective tool. Oly was hit or miss in the QC but seem to have regained their stride.
 
Keep in mind that if you buy quality, it will retain its value. You can see how the opinion on the Olympic is running here, so if you decided that you wanted to sell it to either upgrade or get out, you will have a smaller group to sell to, and more than likely take a hit in the resale price.

Here is a thought, and it is Free: Check out the kits here http://jtdistributing.com/store/kits.html it is just one make of kits, there are many. Look at their prices and options. When you purchase one of these kits, it has all the parts you need to put it together, except the lower receiver. The upper is all assembled, that is the hard part, and the bolt and barrel are headspaced. This upper will go on to any AR, so you could sell it later and upgrade if you desired.

It looks like you can get a DPMS lower for @$125 or so, I have seen them for @ 100.

Kit@450-500 + Receiver@125 and you have $575-625, for much more quality and a better configuration, and better resale.

If later you decide you want a (just name the option or different configuration) you have some quality to sell/trade and you have quality to build upon.

Just my thought. It is rather easy to assemble an AR, no special tools or skills. There are folks here and other places that are willing to help, just for the joy of seeing someone else get bitten by the Black Gun Bug:D

Good luck.
 
1) Is the Olympic AR-15 a total POS or is a decent AR?

2) What is a plinker?

3) Is $550 a decent price?

Input appreciated!
Click to expand...

Olympic Arms gets mixed reactions depending on who you ask. Some claim their junk, some claim their fine, nobody claims their the best. I have no first hand knowledge of Oly ARs but have heard that they build rifles out of spec. This means if you later want to add different uppers, triggers, etc you may have trouble.

It is my understanding that the plinker models from Oly are built on cast recievers. If you want a rifle just to blast at soda cans, and paper with every once in a while thats fine. If you want to take a class with it, or shoot in competitions not so much.

$550 is a decent price on a AR, However I built a Stag Arms M4 for $772 (price included shipping, transfer fee from my FFL, and $2.00 background check fee). I can tell you it is top quality and is just as good as my Colt.

Source for Stag Arms build:http://www.title2.com/Stagarms.html

Stag Arms Complete lower recevier with M4 6 pos stock
$235 delivered

16" Chrome lined M4 barrel
Bolt/carrier and charging handle
Side Sling Adaptor
A2 flash hider and forged front sight base
A.R.M.S. #40 A2 Rear Flip Sight
$495
Click to expand...

Buy a complete lower and a complete upper, push two pins in, and viola you just built a top notch AR at a bargin price.
 
I would say buy it, it's a good price. The most important part of an AR is the bolt and carrier in my opinion. It does the most work, and if the gas piston rings don't seal properly, will cause jams and short stroking.
 
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