Which AR rifle for first time AR buyer?

[JohnnyOrygun]

What with this years election and the very real threat that the white house and congress will be less then gun friendly. I would like to acquire an AR rifle, but I don't really know much about the different companies making them. So for a first time AR buyer what would you recommend? Keeping in mind that I have a budget and wife to deal with I know there are different calibers, but I think 223 is the way to go for now. I am not planning on using this for varmint hunting so I don't need a tack driver, it's just for the "fun" of it and the mutant undead zombie situations

Criteria:
1. Most bang for the buck
2. Parts that are standard or readily interchangeable, to the degree that is possible.
3. Reliable
4. ???? I know I am missing or forgetting something.
These are not in order of importance, other then maybe price. I am on a budget.

Thanks All

 

[BOSS302]

Stag

 

[luft97]

Rock River Arms.

 

[Kino74]

Stag and Rock Rivers are great bangs for the buck and they do shoot good.

 

[ugaarguy]

For a range toy / plinker any will do. For more serious use / potential use there are some good choices, and not all are super expensive.

 

[sernv99]

Dpms

 

[JWarren]

Based upon your criteria, I would say put one together yourself.

I bought a M4 kit customized as I wanted it from Del-ton, and built the Lower Receiver out on a DPMS lower.

The entire process took me 45 minutes sitting at my computer desk.

Without all of my custom parts, I would have saved about $300.00

And If I can build a lower out, anything with opposable thumbs can do it.

-- John

 

[AR-15 Rep]

Start with a lower, some say this some say that but for the most part most name brands are made by the same 4 manufacturers. There are some minor cosmetic differences but as long as it is a forged lower....
Then look at pricing on kits and what they have to offer, you can find a good rifle kit and be in the whole thing for 500 plus your lower.

 

[benEzra]

http://www.rockriverarms.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=219

I'd personally get the chrome-lined 5.56x45mm barrel ($40 over base price).

I have priced these and you can definitely get one for considerably less than the suggested retail price.

 

[H2O MAN]

rob_s is now recommending the Noveske standard for 1st time AR buyers.




.

 

[Avenger29]

LMT. Charles Daly.

Stag OK for a range toy. S&W OK. CMMG OK.

Not a fan of RRA here. Certainly not a fan of DPMS or Olympic.

If you can, buy the upper and lower seperatly. This saves you federal excise tax.

 

[W.E.G.]

 

[Darthbauer]

God I hate that chart.

 

[H2O MAN]

Darthbauer God I hate that chart.

You can read all about that chart right HERE

 

[MassMark]

Anvil Arms Standard Carbine: $825.00

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Hmmm, my favorite AR has only two of the "critical items" shown on that chart. So far in around 4k, the only thing it has failed to digest were XM193PD squib loads. It also lacks even a single feature from the "User Specific" list. Guess it goes to show that there is still considerable amount of debate on what is "critical" in the AR system.

Having said that, most of those are good suggestions that certainly won't hurt your reliability. However, the key issues in AR reliability are good magazines, good ammo, and proper lubrication. Take care of those things first and buy from someone who stands behind what they sell and you'll be fine.

On the basic options, I am a big fan of the 16" midlength AR as a good all-around do-anything rifle; but the 16" carbine AR is probably a bit cheaper if budget is a concern. I would just make sure I upgraded the extraction in the carbine gas systems (black insert, heavy-duty extractor spring, and O-ring cost almost nothing, do affect function positively and have no real downside).

 

[Soybomb]

I'd just buy an LMT.

 

[SSN Vet]

+1 for a 16" middy by any reputable mfg.

or....save a couple hundred bucks and buy the stripped lower, lpk and and complete upper and then put it together yourself.

it's really easy.

 

[JohnnyOrygun]

Great Input, Keep it coming!

Thanks for all the input. I was looking at the RRA website and liked the medium length rifles, they seemed to offer good handling without being too long. I have seen that chart on other threads... I don't fully understand it.
The idea of buying separate uppers and lowers to save the tax seems like a good idea, how do you make sure that all the parts will work together, especially in light of that chart. I heard somewhere that different manufactures use different size and style of pins for different parts of the gun, how do you know which one uses what and what will work together?

Again thanks for all the input and ideas, I knew that I would get good advice from THR. I really love this forum, my wife says when I am on the computer that I spend all my time browsing different threads on "That gun website", I guess I do spend a lot of time browsing. But there is such good information and enjoyable reading.

Keep up the Good work everyone!

 

[Browning]

If you don't mind spending quite a bit of money to just do it right then my first pick for a zombie killing AR15 would probably be a Wilson Combat ($1700 - $1900) if I could afford it. Not everyone can afford it though, so I completely understand if you want to pass on spending that much. I don't have that kind of money either.

http://www.wilsoncombat.com/r_m-4.asp

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My second choice would be a S&W M&P.

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=11101&storeId=10001&productId=65066&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=33803&isFirearm=Y

http://www.gunsandammomag.com/long_guns/m15_021506/index.html

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3rd would be something like the LMT.

http://www.lewismachine.net/

http://www.gunsamerica.com/976947888/Guns-For-Sale/Gun-Auctions/Rifles/AR-15-Rifles-Small-Manufacturers/Lewis_Machine_Tool_M4.htm

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Then you have the good solid, but regular firearms manufacturers like Bushmaster, Rock River, Stag Arms and DPMS. There's nothing wrong with those and they make a good AR carbine at a good price. I've had good luck with Rock Rivers personally, but they're all about the same.

http://www.rockriverarms.com/

http://www.rockriverarms.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=217

http://www.bushmaster.com/

http://www.dpmsinc.com/

http://www.stagarms.com/

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Then you have companies like Olympic at the bottom that are selling parts guns.

http://www.olyarms.com/

I generally go middle of the road and try to buy something dependable that will work well that somehow doesn't end up costing the world. For what you want it for I'm pretty sure that you'll be happy with anything up there (besides Olympic or PWA).

I wouldn't pay much attention to that chart either, it doesn't really tell you what they shoot like or if they last.

That chart is just one guys thought on what features are desirable on an AR15 in his opinion.

Just because it's his opinion doesn't mean it's the truth or that those particular things need to be done that way.

I don't even know who that guy is.

 

[RockyMtnTactical]

Stag Arms M4gery.

 

[H2O MAN]

I like Colt and LMT in M4 trim.

 

[guntotinguy]

RRA or Colt...

 

[ArmedBear]

This may sound really odd, but IMO you should buy a kit.

It's not hard to assemble one, since the barreled upper comes assembled and headspaced.

By putting the parts in yourself, you will have a good idea of what's in it. It appears that people who treat the AR like a black box tend to break stuff.

One place to start: http://www.jtdistributing.com/

Their website kinda sucks, but their parts and prices are great.

 

[strat81]

Off the rack? Stag.