Which AR brand?

Which AR/M4? Bushmaster, Stag Arms, or Spikes Tactical

  • Bushmaster A3 Patrolman (in stock, ready to ship)

    Votes: 30 23.1%

  • Stag Arms model 2, "Plus package" (2 week delay)

    Votes: 55 42.3%

  • Spikes Tactical ST-15 M4 LE (8-12 week delay)

    Votes: 45 34.6%
  • Total voters
    130
  • Poll closed .
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I've also heard good things about DPMS, but I know next to nothing about ARs which is why I'm on this forum. I also have some stupid questions, so please be kind...BTW, I have tried to find the answers on my own, but couldn't find them. Soooo...here goes:
1. If you can shoot .223 with a 5.56, why do some brands (ex. S&W) list their models as 5.56 or 5.56/.223?
2. What is the best type of system (ex. gas, blowback, etc.) and why? This has been the hardest information to find. It seems that everyone just assumes that we all already know this stuff!
3. Would most of you agree that a chrome lined barrel/chamber is good to have?
4. As you've probably figured out, I don't yet have an AR, but it will be my next purchase. I want to take my time, know what I'm doing and get the best gun I can afford, even if it means waiting awhile. So, if money is no object, which AR would you get and why?
5. If money is an object, which AR would you get and why? I'm asking these questions to help me decide whether to buy now or save my money for a better AR. It will PRIMARILY be used for HD.
6. Which ammo is more inexpensive...5.56 or .223? I do know that I want a 1:8 or 1:9...probably 1:9. Definitely NOT a 1:7.
7. Which ammo do you prefer to use....5.56 or .223 and why?

Thanks in advance for your help!!!!!!
 
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1. If you can shoot .223 with a 5.56, why do some brands (ex. S&W) list their models as 5.56 or 5.56/.223?
2. What is the best type of system (ex. gas, piston, etc.) and why? This has been the hardest information to find. It seems that everyone just assumes that we all already know this stuff!
3. Would most of you agree that a chrome lined barrel/chamber is good to have?
4. As you've probably figured out, I don't yet have an AR, but it will be my next purchase. I want to take my time, know what I'm doing and get the best gun I can afford, even if it means waiting awhile. So, if money is no object, which AR would you get and why?
5. If money is an object, which AR would you get and why? I'm asking these questions to help me decide whether to buy now or save my money for a better AR. It will PRIMARILY be used for HD.
6. Which ammo is more inexpensive...5.56 or .223? I do know that I want a 1:8 or 1:9...probably 1:9. Definitely NOT a 1:7.
7. Which ammo do you prefer to use....5.56 or .223 and why?
Click to expand...

1. if they are marked 5.56, they can safely shoot either, but if they are marked 223, they can only shoot .223.
2. in my opinion gas is still the best system for an ar.
3. i would agree that chrome lining is good to have.
4. if money was no object i'd probably try out a noveske because they say they aint bad.
5. if money was an object i'd probably try out a palmetto because they say they aint bad
6. generally 55g mil-surp is the least expensive (is my guess, ive never bought any because i roll my own, and is fine for a 1/7, 1/8, or a 1/9.
7. i prefer to shoot my own handloads (55g bullets, 22.5grains of hodgdons h322 extruded powder, with cci small rifle primers, all stuck in lake city brass trimmed for length to 1.755",,,,,because they are very cheap to make (500 bullets usually costs me about 40 bux),,,, and i can make them very fast in my progressive press (100 in about 6-7 minutes),,,, they are extremely reliable (25000 rounds or so still waiting on my first malfunction of any kind),,,, and they are extremely accurate (five shot groups @100yds average around 3/4")
 
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Mr.Bill....I done gave up on them. Never heard back from them on any of the issues. Sold upper problems disclosed at a loss to a friend who wanted it for a pistol build that he promised to never take seriously or stake his life on it. The other parts are in the "random AR parts box" that every AR builder has.

Only update is thanks to tax time, I am now the proud owner of a BCM SBR upper in a Vltor VIS. It has been trouble free so far but I haven't really had a chance to run it hard. I do not anticipate any issues.
 
dnilson /5.56 /223

5.56nato has a higher chamber pressure so you shouldnt shoot it in a rifle chambered in 223rem but if chambered in 5.56nato you can shoot either round.
my panther is chambered 5.56 and i shoot 55gr rem fmj 223 and its a little tack driver barrel twist is 1 in 9 rht
 
accurate little barrels

yea , im happy with it. allot of people bag on dpms panther but the coyotes here in kentucky cringe at the mention of my sportical lol:D:D:D
i wish it wasnt such a pain in the butt to clean,,,its my first ar im a ak fan but the ar is great for coy dogs
 
colt/bcm/lmt

they are all great rifles, i was looking at bravo company for a 20" upper for longer range but my $700 panther should do just fine for me.
i just use it for a plinker at the range and to kill as many coy dogs that i see here at home. my SHTF gun is a milled ak47 and 1k rds of wolf ammo
when i purchased my ar it was a spur of the moment thing i didnt even know if i would like the ar platform and didnt want to spend 1500 on a gun only to find out i did not like it.
a good friend of mine told me that the panther 5.56nato sportical was a exelent entry level gun for the ar platform and so far has served me well
thanks
don.s
 
rhino defense

i see that you manufacture surpessers/silencers
i believe that they are legal here in kentucky, have you ever made any for ak,s?
 
To me you are asking if you should buy a Chevy Nova, Oldsmobile Omega, Pontiac Ventura or a Buick Apollo. Essentially the same vehicle with different trim packages and accessories.
Do you want to tinker and make it racier? Get the Nova it is the most basic of the lot and has the most room for you to work towards Sporterizing it. Beyond that, buy the one that best suits your needs, all of us will have a different opinion about the Brand you buy.
 
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It's usually less confusing in discussions of this nature to leave out boutique brands, like the ones you mentioned, and Noveske is another popular one. Sure they are great rifles but you don't really gain much in terms of reliability with those makes.
Click to expand...

Top of the line triggers, barrels, bolts, and you dont think they aid in reliability?
 
Given the choices, I would have no issues buying the Bushmaster. Honestly the three rifles you listed, I would just go with the lowest priced one and use the leftover money for optics (if your into that) and ammo.

I, myself, have been looking seriously into a Palmetto SA rifle. Probably a kit gun though, not an assembled rifle in order to save money.


You may also want to look into some of the DPMS line, they get a bad rap, thats trutfully not deserved in my opinion.
 
tarosean said:
Top of the line triggers, barrels, bolts, and you dont think they aid in reliability?
Click to expand...
There is no trigger more reliable than the standard USGI trigger made with quality parts that comes with a Colt, LMT, BCM.

The higher quality barrels that come with the boutique brands can certainly provide better accuracy and perhaps longevity depending, but they do not make the gun more reliable than a standard chrome-lined barrel made of 1195E steel and with the proper QA/QC processes. Same with the bolt made of Carpenter 158.

Don't get me wrong, Noveske, LaRue, KAC and some others build very nice rifles, they are just nicer for reasons other than providing more reliability. So don't think that by paying $500 to $1000+ more you are buying reliability, you certainly are not.
 
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While I'm not the most knowledgeable about AR's I'm ordering my first AR platform and it is a Stag.
 
Ryanxia
While I'm not the most knowledgeable about AR's I'm ordering my first AR platform and it is a Stag.
Click to expand...

I was tempted on the Stag. I'm able to get the Spike's for almost $130 less than the Stag with the Plus package. The only draw back for me is that I'm looking at a LOOOOOOOOOOOOONG back order wait. :(
 
Daniels Defense, Light, good balance, and.....

If money no issue, you can find A daniels Defense online today $1400 or so new. They are very light rifles and mil-spec. Get the real The real deal if you can,, not just a Daniels, but the other higher end AR's that are $300-4600 more...
OR like someone said a DPMS panther will do just fine for mild to medium use once in a while out plinking around. Not to mention the Carbine/ Shorter barrel Dpms will work for defense, truck gun, ETc.. JUst as well as a top tier Mil- spec rifle.
LWRC are very nice as well as COlt, and the rest of the Gang. BUT>>>>>>>>..
IMO the extra 300 or so for a higher end model will make your time even more of an enjoyment when spending it with the rifle thats the one satisisfaction you can get out of that.. :) ( Without that lingering thought of just after shooting your first 300 rounds or so on its first outing, and you sit down with your new rifle and admire the hardware you have just bought and shot :) , Or maybe during the cleaning ritual jsut after range trips,
YOu Know,<< whatever bring's you to look at it in detail after just shooting the first mags)
ANyhow,
Best of luck to the o.P. and have fun searching for the new hardware, THats part of the fun.
 
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1/7 is really a waste it you are not going to be shooting the heavier stuff. Results vary, but I have found that 55gr works just find in 1/9, 62gr likes the 1/8, and anything heavier likes the 1/7/ In general, heavier bullets like faster twist. Barrel profile is another thing to look at too, but if this is just a range, what if...? gun, and you are only planning to shoot the economical 55gr, then a lot of the upgrades you are looking at won't do all that much for you. It is like the people that shoot 3000 rounds a year and convince themselves and everyone around then that they NEED a piston gun. If you shoot 3000 round a WEEK, then maybe, but the direct impingement guns have served many of the most elite groups of the military special forces community just find for a while. Most of us are not going to demand from our weapons, what they do (most;))
 
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