Purchase my first AR yesterday.

[1911 guy]

You didn't get ripped off, if that's what you're asking. You paid about going price for a Colt. Yes, you paid a bit more for the pony on the side, but I'm not sure you paid three or four hundred for it.
What you did get was a rifle built from known good quality parts from a known quality manufacturer that will back it up with a warranty and customer service. It will also hold resale value because of the name.

A red dot will let you hit gongs and torso sized targets regularly at a few hundred yards. If you want paper target accuracy at more than 150 yards, go with a standard scope.

 

[The Earl o Sammich]

ACOG.

Close the thread

 

[1911 guy]

Leave the front sight alone. If you use a red dot, it will simply "float" at the top of the front sight post. If you use a magnified optic, it is too close for the scope to "see" it and all you'll notice is a bit of fuzziness.

 

[Armored farmer]

I think not, however, my rifles are flat tops.

 

[AABEN]

NO you will not. You might look at a Bushnell 4.5-18 -40 for your gun you will need 1in riser for the scope. This way you can have one for out to 500 yards This is what I use on my AR,S works good for close and long range shooting GOOD LUCK

 

[chicharrones]

Will I need to remove the Front A2 sight to be able to utilize a small scope like this? Or is it at least recommended? What are my options for backup sights if I mount a scope like such?

I'd leave the front sight as is on the gun you have.

Here's the view through my AR with a 1-4x on top using a AR height scope mount. My phone camera actually makes the front sight more visible in the photo than it is to my eye.

1x on left, 4x on right. The 1x is a true 1.4x with this scope.

View attachment 782898

As long as the scope objective bell isn't too large, and your scope's eye relief* is long enough to allow forward mounting of the scope, any typical fold down back up sight ought to fit under the scope.

*3.8" to 4.2" depending on 1x or 4x selected with the scope shown below.
View attachment 782900

 

[Intox]

As has been said, if you want optics on it then just drop the coin now and get an ACOG. If you don't now, you will later as you learn more about the weapon and optics for it's range of capability.

But I'll say, any accuracy issues you may feel you're seeing out to 300 yards with peep sights (A front aperture / carrying handle peep sight) is PURELY not being used to them. And I am by no means an AR "fan boy". I own a pre-ban Polytech AKS-762 which anyone in the AK collectors world can attest is in the top echelon of the AK/AKMs, and while I can hit targets at 300 with that AK (well, until that second magazine and the heat turns AK barrel flex into more of AK barrel jump rope) it is in no way as accurate as the AR at range.

Point being, if you want that AR to work as a 200 yard to 400 yard rifle, then take some time with your sights before you drop that coin on optics. The only optics I have on an "AR" I own is my Sig Sauer 716 Patrol (I say "AR" because while it's an AR platform, it's guts are a short stroke piston gas system. AR feel, AK reliability), and that's because it's a .308. My personal philosophy with firearms is the more crap put on a rifle to make it viable, the more crap on it that can fail or break down.

 

[edwardware]

I got to be honest, I'm not really all that impressed. It feels cheap for $1,000 gun. . .

It IS; the AR is as practical as it is soul-less. Not even Gaston Glock's tactical tupperware pistol is as devoid of elegance or soul as an AR. . . but I don't think you can find a more practical rifle for 'the security of (our) free state.'

I bought my third last night.

 

[BSA1]

While I like Colt, $400 was for the name alone...

I agree with Robert. Look at it this way. You brought a expensive big name brand gun and now you have that out of your system.

Up until about 1 1/2 years ago I had not even touched a AR let alone shoot one. I brought some stripped lowers in 2016 just in case HRH won the election but had no intention of building a gun. A co-worker who said he owned a dozen or so AR's and was always building one convinced me that one of stripped AR lowers needed to be a complete gun so I brought a complete upper and built my lower. The results are satisfactory although it is muzzle heavy. I am still trying to decide how well I like the quad rail that is on it.

Last fall I decided to build a budget gun using PSA complete rifle kit on a Anderson lower. All I say is I love this gun. I spent $45.00 on the lower, $350.00 on the complete PSA rifle kit and splurged another $30.00 for a Magpul ASAP endplate that has a sling swivel on it or all of $425.00. At 25 yards it will put four out of five rounds touching with three of them going in to the same hole. Winter set in before I could serious 100 yard shooting so I am looking forward to warm Spring weather.

I am planning on getting a scope mount and putting a Leupold scope I have on AR #1. It is tentatively designated as a hunting rifle.

AR #2 is for self-defense and lots of fun shooting. It wears iron sights.

I am working on AR builds #3 and #4 mostly at the same time as I am buying the parts when I catch them on sale. I plan on having all of the major parts brought before the November elections as guns and ammo are going to disappear if the Democrats win the House of Representatives.

AR #3 is what I am calling my One Eyed, One Horned Purple People Eater and AR #4 is going to be a lighter weight build using a pencil barrel, handguard and buttstock for my wife. With the exception of the BCG they are both total parts builds.

Then I need another budget AR (#5) as one of the daughters has claimed AR #2 as hers.
Who knows what my boys will decide to claim.

A Red Dot sight is on the future for at least one of them. Maybe Sparc. My wife has decided she likes a laser on her pistol so maybe a laser on the AR (already happen to have one on order).

So give your AR a chance. I know they are not for everyone but they sure are addictive (and I have so little money)

 

[Sushigaijin]

I wasn't impressed with my AR in 5.56 either. I built an upper in 300aac, and slowly upgraded the lower, and then had an epiphany at the range when I free floated the barrels - suddenly it was much, much more accurate. I suggest a JP captive buffer spring ($125), a free-float barrel with handguard of your choice ($80-500), an improved grip (the MOE one that is rubbery is great, $20.) and one of the slop-reducing sets available to lock the lower and upper together better. With those improvements, my AR feels much more like a scalpel than a toy gun. The sproingy-ness from the standard buffer spring is a huge part of the problem, as is slop between the receiver parts. I would consider these mandatory for future AR builds in my house. I now have 4, I might have sold the first if I hadn't seen what these upgrades do.

As for sights, I have a cheap scope (Nikon p-series, I paid $180 for scope and mount used) and several red dot/holographics to choose from - I like the Vortex magnifier if you are using a red dot, I recommend Vortex Sparc II, sightmark mil-spec (about $200/ea your choice), or any of the EOtechs - I have a 600 series that is great, buy used. The EOTech reticle has some BDC marks that make long shots easier, but you'll need a real scope to make precision hits past about 100 yards. Battle accuracy is fine with any of the red dots with a 3x magnifier out to about 300 yards.

Good luck!

 

[Mosin Bubba]

Anyways I bought a Colt M4 carbine. I picked her up for a little under a grand, and took her out to the woods this morning. While I'm shot plenty of AR variants, this is my first time shooting one that wasn't covered with a bunch of tacticool stuff.

I got to be honest, I'm not really all that impressed. It feels cheap for $1,000 gun, the round feels weak when compared to my AK or SKS, and the accuracy isn't anything special with iron sights (for me). I'm sure if I keep shooting it my accuracy will improve, but after getting it sited in, I was no more accurate at 75 yards than I am with my AK or my lever 30/30.

Plastic handguards, rattling buttstocks, chintzy magazines, yeah, ARs tend to feel cheap.

The one thing they don't lack though is accuracy. Try putting a few more shells through it and get used to it, I can't imagine you'll end up disappointed. I have a $500 Del-Ton Sport with a $25 Chinese peep sight, bottom of the barrel as far as the AR world. I'm sure the guys on ARF.com would never let me hear the end of it. Sighting it in at 50 yards, my first group was about the size of a nickel. I was shooting my SKS on the same day, just for S&Gs because I had never shot in on paper before, and its groups were probably 3 times the size.

 

[someguy2800]

They are not particularly impressive until you fix the awful trigger. After that they grow on you.

 

[Armored farmer]

It IS; the AR is as practical as it is soul-less. Not even Gaston Glock's tactical tupperware pistol is as devoid of elegance or soul as an AR. . . but I don't think you can find a more practical rifle for 'the security of (our) free state.'

I bought my third last night.

I share those thoughts as well.

 

[barnbwt]

Being that I live in a state that is starting to get stupid with the gun control stuff, I decided to buy an AR yesterday. I had been considering getting a mini 14 or 30, but got talked out of it after posting a thread on the subject.

Anyways I bought a Colt M4 carbine. I picked her up for a little under a grand, and took her out to the woods this morning. While I'm shot plenty of AR variants, this is my first time shooting one that wasn't covered with a bunch of tacticool stuff.

I got to be honest, I'm not really all that impressed. It feels cheap for $1,000 gun, the round feels weak when compared to my AK or SKS, and the accuracy isn't anything special with iron sights (for me). I'm sure if I keep shooting it my accuracy will improve, but after getting it sited in, I was no more accurate at 75 yards than I am with my AK or my lever 30/30.

I'm still glad I purchased it, as this is one of those rifles that undoubtably won't be available at some point. I'm thinking about putting some type of Optics on it. I figure if I'm just as accurate using iron sights with my AK, I might as well utilize the range of the 5.56 cartridge on my new AR with Optics.


I've used red dot systems with 22 long rifle and on some of the ARs that I have shot. I thought they were pretty neat, but they were made for closer Ranges than I'm looking to shoot.

What are my options with Red Dot sights designed for longer ranges? Any suggestions on smaller tactical style traditional scopes instead?

Congrats on the gun.

Do you feel any different about accepting further infringements on guns now that you actually have skin in the game?

Mil-spec ARs are about as cheap as a gun can be made, and that's what Colt sells for a grand.
-Nicer triggers are out there
-Smaller front sights too, which will help
-Optics will help even more
-6.5 Grendel 'feels' nicer than 5.56 and is quite accurate (hits like 308 at longer ranges, too)
-Free float handguards are out there
-Better stocks are out there
-Accuwedge is useless, but will make the gun feel more solid.

Enjoy the gun while you can, since if your attitude matches your state's it won't be yours for much longer.

 

[Demi-human]

I share those thoughts as well.

I, do not!

 

[Bigmike79]

I agree with Robert. Look at it this way. You brought a expensive big name brand gun and now you have that out of your sytem

Meh, I have an entire safe of expensive big name-brand guns. I also have a lot of cheap guns as well. I got a $200 Kel-Tec p32 in my pocket as I write this. I would absolutely trust my life to the thing.

This is the deal, the way I look at it is that if I'm buying a rifle of this type, I'm looking at it as something that I might not ever be able to replace or even legally get parts for at some point with the way things are going. To me, that means durability and high-quality parts that aren't going to break or wear out are worth paying a premium for. While I'm sure a $600 AR will do everything that $1,000 Colt will, the question is will it do it for as long and trouble free? From the research that I've done, that answer is no according to a lot people that work at gun ranges with rentals or have shot thousands and thousands of rounds from several different makes of these rifles.

As someone that owns a few AKs, I can tell you that my centurian 39 looks better, shoots better, and is just as reliable as my Norinco type 56. However, after just a couple thousand rounds it is evident that that my c39 is nowhere near as durable as an actual com-bloc or Chinese AK. While I'm just learning about ARs, one would have to think that using things like chrome-lined barrels, mil-SPEC parts, higher grades of aluminum ect probably results in a more durable product. Add to this the Colt has over half a century of experience in building these rifles. That's gotta count for something too. To cap this off, the fact that colt has maintained military and police contracts for so long speaks for itself.

That is what I paid another three or four hundred dollars for. I walked out of a gun store worry-free with a rifle that I knew was the gold standard of said rifles. I walked out a gun store knowing that that I didn't buy an entry-level product that would eventually be sold and upgraded if I like the platform. The Peace of Mind alone was worth the money for me.

 

[barnbwt]

Is a bump stock also on your list for the same reasons?

200$ for rapid fire may seem silly, but you haven't experienced "not worth it" until you've shot any transferrable machinegun purchased at today's prices.

Seems like you were actually wanting an AR10, to be honest (more powerful, generally nicer)

 

[Bigmike79]

Congrats on the gun.

Do you feel any different about accepting further infringements on guns now that you actually have skin in the game?

I was never accepting of further restrictions. I merely stated that I was okay with waiting periods for first-time gun owners, which has been on the books for a very long time and my neck of the woods.

Not sure what you mean by the skin in the game comment. I own grips of rifles that are just as evil and scary is an AR as well as evil accessories likes suppressors and drum magazines. Anyone that owns a gun has skin in the game.

 

[Robert]

If we're talking about off the shelf assembled rifles, Colt makes a $700 version of the same rifle that I purchased that is meant to compete with other ARs in that price range. Surely there are differences between said rifle and the thousand dollar version that I purchased which is built to be the closest thing you can get to an actual M4, no? From what i was told, the LE9620 is actually about as cheap as it gets to buy an assembled high quality mill spec AR.

Accuracy is sorta subjective with quality here, because this rifle is definitely set up for combat and not long range shooting or hunting. View attachment 782892

Please don't get me wrong, if I came across a 6920 for a decent price I'd grab it. But, to me, Mil Spec is the minimum standard. There are lots of non Mil Spec rifles that far exceed that standard. My parts gun is Mil Spec in so far as all the parts have met that standard. I do love the 20" 1:7 Colt barrel I have on there though. Man that thing shoots!

 

[barnbwt]

Well, I ask since most times folks will support restrictions because they won't impact them personally, and they think it may take the heat off of issues that do affect them.

It sounds like the first-timer restriction doesn't apply to you either, if I understand you correctly.

So now that you bought an AR to have before it's banned, will you be getting a bump stock before it's banned as well? Might be a good investment, if they're grandfathered, you know. They're just as fun and silly as an AR used for target practice.

 

[Bigmike79]

Well, I ask since most times folks will support restrictions because they won't impact them personally, and they think it may take the heat off of issues that do affect them.

It sounds like the first-timer restriction doesn't apply to you either, if I understand you correctly.

So now that you bought an AR to have before it's banned, will you be getting a bump stock before it's banned as well? Might be a good investment, if they're grandfathered, you know. They're just as fun and silly as an AR used for target practice.

No, I'm pretty good at bump firing with just my finger. While I've never tried it with an AR, I can't see it being much more difficult than it is with an AK. Bump firing in general is silly unless one is made of money.

I would never buy something just because it might be banned unless it was something that I thought was worth while owning.

 

[readyeddy]

Shoot Federal XM193 and your groups should shrink to less than 2 inches. Cheap imported ammo usually gives me 3-4 inch groups.

AR iron sights can give good accuracy if your eyes are good. A RDS will mainly help you shoot faster.

 

[Armored farmer]

What are my options for backup sights if I mount a scope like such?

My rifle has offset irons mounted at 45 degrees cant.

 

[LiveLife]

I was in your shoes many years ago in CA and ended up buying Bushmaster 20" HBAR with 1:9 barrel twist rate.

My introduction to AR was shooting M16s in the Army and my ARs shoot more accurate than M16s I shot.

I have built many ARs on Spike's Tactical, S&W M&P15 and Anderson lowers using 1:7 and 1:8 twist rate barrels and found different barrels shoot more accurate with different bullets/weights.

Over time, it didn't really matter much which lower I started out with as my lowers were mated to various 16"/18"/20" uppers in 5.56, .223 Wylde and .300 BLK.

And that's the beauty of the AR platform - versatility. If you want greater accuracy, get a better upper and upgrade your trigger/stock.

If you want fun cheap plinking, get CMMG 22LR conversion kits. I have two kits and they let me enjoy my ARs more along with AR/variant 9mm/40S&W/45ACP carbines.

Welcome to the AR club!

 

[Arkansas Paul]

My father and brother both have that Nikon that Armored farmer has, and they love them.
Mine still wears iron sights, but when I put an optic on it, it will likely be that one.
They're not too expensive and get the job done.