????'s ABOUT AR15

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target1911

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I am looking at getting my first AR style rifle.

I just wanted some opinions (I know they will vary) mostly on brands.
Bushmaster...Colt...DPMS...M-P...etc
I know one thing for sure is that I want a removable carry handle. Other than that I am not sure about much else. My biggest conflict is what length to get. I would like the Varmint style but I thing the shorter bbl would be a more compact SHTF gun. I will be shooting this rifle as often as I can.

Thanks
 
They are all pretty decent these days, I still don't like Olympic Arms.

DPMS makes a few heavy barrel varmint carbines that would probably fit the ticket for a good price.
 
buy the configuration you want the worst now, then buy new uppers.

I have a DPMS Lite-16, it so far has been reliable ( I only have less than 200 rounds through it )........................no removable carry handle however.............which was my compromise
 
I've got 16" barrels and I'm happy with them. The longer barrels are really for longer distance precision shooting. 16s work for most stuff.

I've got Colts and I'm happy with them, but you can get into a decent AR cheaper than what a Colt typically costs, although some top tier marks rival Colt in price.

Stag, Bushmaster and RRA are very popular and get good reviews. I've got one with a CMMG lower and that seems to be pretty decent hardware.

DPMS gets gripes, as does Olympic. And they have their defenders. Pretty much anything with a recognized name besides Vulcan/Hesse is probably OK.
 
My biggest conflict is what length to get. I would like the Varmint style but I thing the shorter bbl would be a more compact SHTF gun.
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Ah, but that's what so nice about the AR. Buy one lower receiver and as many upper receivers as you want. You can buy a basic short barreled flattop upper for plinking and a long barreled varmint upper (such as the Rock River Predator) for serious long range shootin'.

:)
 
I have a DPMS w/ 16" barrel. I have had no problems with it, and it is far more accurate than I even though it isnt a varmint model. It is very light and quick to aim. My only complaint is that the trigger sucks, although this seems to be a trend with most rifles these days. Im currently considering a drop in match trigger.

If I could do it over again though, I would drop an extra couple hundred $$ and get one with a removable carry handle. Oh well, hindsight is 20/20.
 
I have an AR with a Stag lower and CMMG upper. Upper is a 20" govt profile with 1/7 twist.

CMMG is a bit more expensive. They use 4150 barrel steel. They also will build you just about any style AR with lots of options available.

ZM
 
My favorite brand is Lewis Machine & Tool Company. Their quality (and price) is equal to Colt Defense.

You'll pay a price premium, but if you want the best, LMT is it.

LMT sells complete rifles and carbines, but they don't yet list them in their catalog. Check your local gun stores.

If you decide on a 20", check out "government profile" barrels. A govt. profile barrel is lighter weight than the HBAR or heavy barrel. HBARs feel front heavy to me and I don't like the balance.

Good luck.
 
I have been told that the chrome lined bbl doesn't last as long as the others and the only way one will help is if you are doing precision match shooting.
is that true?
 
Ah, but that's what so nice about the AR. Buy one lower receiver and as many upper receivers as you want. You can buy a basic short barreled flattop upper for plinking and a long barreled varmint upper (such as the Rock River Predator) for serious long range shootin'.
Click to expand...


the prob here is that on the varmint I would like the fixed stock and the other a colapsable...I was at the gun show today in FTW and got the idea off diff uppers...yes I know I am bein difficult but most decisions are. I guess I will have to flip a coin and get the other later...HMMMMMMMMMM...what do i do?????
 
What you do is to buy a stripped lower, lower parts kit and an A2 stock.

Build up the lower and have one lower with a collapsable stock and one with a fixed stock.

Then start saving for AR number two.
 
Why are you so determined to have the removable carry handle? If you mount optics, you won't be able to keep them zeroed. The convenience of the removable handle kind of goes away when it messes up your optics alignment every time you use it. You can invest in a good quality 2-point sling that will allow you to handle the weapon without sacrificing alignment.

Also, why do you want a fixed stock and a collapsible stock? If it's for aesthetics, that's one thing. I have a collapsible on my Stag and my Saiga AK and they are just as solid and comfortable as any fixed stock.

Just something to consider that might increase your options.

Jim
 
I have been told that the chrome lined bbl doesn't last as long as the others and the only way one will help is if you are doing precision match shooting.
is that true?
Click to expand...

You have it backwards...
The chrome lined ones are what the military uses. They are longer lasting and easier to clean and won't rust.

NON-chrome barrels are cheaper and "might" shoot a "little" better than a chrome bore but not much. Now MATCH rifles use non chrome bores as they are precision made and highly accurate....the barrel life is also about 5,000 rounds compared to the chromed barrel's ~20,000 rounds.

Whatever accuracy benefit you get (if any) from a non-chrome barrel is wasted if YOU aren't good enough to tell the difference.

The question is......what are you going to use the rife for??? Match rifle? No brainer...

Occasional shooter?? Cheaper rifle....non-chrome bore saves you a few bucks..not much but if you are on a budget.... go fo it.

Regular shooter/SHTF etc... go chrome...you'll never go back.
 
Now MATCH rifles use non chrome bores as they are precision made and highly accurate....the barrel life is also about 5,000 rounds compared to the chromed barrel's ~20,000 rounds.
Click to expand...

That isn't exactly true. Match barrels are often replaced around 5-7k because they are no longer good enough for High Power competition at that point; but that doesn't mean they are worthless or inaccurate though. A military barrel is supposed to be replaced when it exceeds 7.2MOA at 300yds (doesn't always happen though). At that point, it is pretty much unsuitable for aimed fire.

If you use the same rejection standard for both barrels, then the difference in lifespan is a lot less dramatic than the quoted comment would indicate. Chrome still seems to have an advantage; but it is more on the order of 2-3k rounds from the anecdotal data I've gathered.

the prob here is that on the varmint I would like the fixed stock and the other a colapsable...
Click to expand...

You might consider something like the Magpul UBR. It is a collapsible stock that is as solid as a fixed stock. I use the earlier M93 version on my own rifle and you cannot tell the difference between a fixed stock and the M93 in use.
 
Non-Chrome bores will shoot a whole lot better than chrome lined but you won't see the difference if you are shooting at a 100 meter range.

Military Match shooters can and will change barrels in as little as 500 rounds if they feel the barrel isn't shooting up to par.

Most military issue M16 rifles have somewhere in the neighborhood of 20,000 to 40,000 rounds fired through them before they are sent off for repair and they are usually sent in for some other problem where Depot deems the barrel unservicable.
Unit Armorers rarely send rifles back for bad barrels unless the barrel is hopelessly bent, don't laugh, this is way more common than you might think.

Here is a little secret. Most Manufacturers do not make their own parts they assemble guns from outsourced parts.

Those that use the best parts that I have seen, Colt, DPMS, Stag Arms, Double Star in that order

Those that actually make the best parts, DPMS, Prairie River Machine, Lewis Machine and Tool, Colt.
 
My 2 coppers

I build ARs for fun and really like the platform. I just found a new lower that I had never used and the price was right. They are Superior Arms from somewhere in Iowa. I was skeptical but what the heck, they were $97 for a stripped lower. Pretty decent price and I figured what the heck. I bought 2.

I used a FN parts kit and a DPMS parts kit in the builds and they went flawlessly. The only negative to these lowers was the fact that whomever stamped the words into the side of the receiver was a blindman with a hammer. The other weird thing is there were 2 holes where the grip mates into. Not sure what the other one is for and it came with a screw in plug. Not sure what it was for.

So, now I have 2 more complete lowers with nothing sitting on em. If anyone has a couple uppers for sale, let me know. hehe.

I am going to finish one of them as cheaply as possible and send up some photos and prices.

The other one? hmmmm, any suggestions?
 
I Thank everyone for the feed back and keep it coming.

One thing that I have noticed is that noone has yet mentioned Bushmaster. Why is that. I HEAR more ppl talk about them (good and bad...more here lately tho) than any other.
 
RRA Middy, My bro who spent a year and a half straight in Iraq said nothing but the highest praise for it. Yes he used his carbine on hostiles.
 
I like Bushmaster barrels.
I also like Olympic barrels.
The rest of the stuff those Companies offer I can buy for better prices and better quality elsewhere.

Bushmaster and Remington have been bought by the same investor group that recently purchased Dodge/Chrysler.
Don't be too suprised if you see these two Firearm manufacturers merged in some way.
 
Bushmaster and Remington have been bought by the same investor group that recently purchased Dodge/Chrysler.
Don't be too suprised if you see these two Firearm manufacturers merged in some way
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WOW......does that mean I will be able to buy a Dodge/Master AR-318...or a Rem-Bush AR-440...??? I MUST WAIT TILL THOSE MODELS COMES OUT before it buy one.... It will look Great in the back window of my Dodge Ram.
LOL...sorry couldnt resist that one....
 
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