Which AR rifle for first time AR buyer?

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Don't overlook Charles Daly. I handled their new AR at the NRA show, and it was top notch.
I had a DPMS that never gave me any problems at all, even though it did not conform to the outdated "list" seen above.
 
Another vote for Stag. Especially if you're on a budget.

If you have a little more money: LMT (which will be my next purchase).

I got mine, all new Stag, for about $750ish.

I know I always say this to first time AR buyers, but it needs repeating:

Buy in pieces. Not a kit that you have to put together, I'm talking a complete upper, and a complete lower, and just slap them together. It will save you money.
 
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?
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Most manufacturers use a standard size for fire control group and takedown pins. The exception is Colt, which at different times used different types of fire control and takedown pins (and now is back to using standard pins in their LE series).

If you are just matching a lower to an upper, then almost all ARs match (though there can be occasional problems with some uppers fitting too tightly or hitting a shelf in the lower). Your main worry would be to just not match a Colt upper/lower with different takedown pins to any other brand (but you could buy an adapter to do it if you really wanted to).

If you get a lower with larger fire control pins, it will just mean that you may be limited in your choices of aftermarket triggers.
 
Everything I've stuck together works fine.

Still, if you buy, say, from J&T and put the upper on a DoubleStar lower, you'd be getting the same thing as you'd be getting if you just bought a finished rifle. Ditto for Stag, etc.
 
in the last year, I've shot a Bushie, DPMS, Colt, RRA and two S&W. in the military, I shot the M16, M16A1 and M16A2. of the civilian rifles, all of them were fine, but the RRA and the used Colt were the best bang for the buck, literally. the RRA carbine ran circles around the DPMS and S&W carbines; the ban-era Colt and Bushie A3 (modified) were accurate, but not as accurate as the S&W heavy barrel, which cost more than the Colt and Bushie put together.

the most versatile configuration, imo, is an A3 with a 20" barrel (heavy or not is your preference).

you can always buy a 16" upper if you want, and/or a collapsable stock. collapsables are good if your wife wants to shoot it, or you wear body armor, but I don't think they are that necessary for a shooter. same goes for tac rails. buy them later.
 
I'm puzzled by the omission of Armalite too. I have one and I think it is top-notch. Only complaint is tiny: I wish they hadn't put loctite on the buffer tube. Assembly fit and function is great, it's totally reliable, and they have some nice features, especially now with the standard 2-stage trigger.

I also have two generic (Ameetec) lowers that I put with separate uppers, one Bushmaster 20" dimensioned like an M16A2 (or close) and another generic Ameetec 16". They both run fine after break-in and thorough lubrication. The Armalite ran fine from shot one, though.

I have yet to see any real junk ARs, though I haven't handled anything from Olympic and from what I hear (not what I actually know) that might change the situation. I have seen a Model 1 Sales upper and it looked quite good, especially for the price. And of course have handled many other common brands.

One note - if you would ever want to resell after a new AW ban takes effect, assuming that were even possible, there is some uncertainty about the legality of selling as a complete rifle something you put together from a separately purchased upper and lower. I get this from another lawyer friend who is more into guns than I am. The issue is whether, even though the lower is regulated as a firearm, the BATFE would view the assembly of the upper and lower as manufacturing. You can't manufacture something and sell it without the right FFL. I don't know of a conclusive ruling on this issue, but if resale is big in your mind I would buy a complete rifle instead to avoid the concern.
 
dont buy dpms havent herd many good things about them id look at stag i have one on order and have herd lots of good things for the price
 
dont buy dpms havent herd many good things about them id look at stag i have one on order and have herd lots of good things for the price
Click to expand...


Such as?

I am very happy with my DPMS LR-308-- as are most that have one.

I built my AR on a DPMS Lower that was fine, as well. I plan on getting a few more of the lowers.


-- John
 
There doesn't seem to be a lot of love for S&W here...however mine has shown itself to be nearly unstoppable...what I mean by that is...it won't stop unless the the gun is EXTREMELY dry and dirty.

And before somebody says it...S&W's are no longer, in any way, made by Stag

Keep it wet and it will run...Period.
Very accurate.
Fit and finish is great.
Pmags work in mine...but I'd rather have good GI mags.

My M&P 15...
121_2179.gif

And a 100 yard 10 shot group with reloads...
121_2174.jpg
 
From your specification of being on a budget a DPMS M4 profile would be the way to go - there are no inherent problems with them and if there were they have a great warranty. If you want to spend a bit more go Stag or Rock River. Then a SIG.
 
I wish you the best of luck on what ever you choose. I own a Armalite upper on DPMS lower. It shoots great. My other two are a RRA Varmint upper 16" with Anvil Arms lower. They shoot great as well. You are going to hear so much as what is good and what is bad. It all boils down to what you like the best, how much money you have to spend, and what your doing with it. Every brand of gun may have someone who has experienced some problems with XXX brand (at least that is what you hear on the internet). The only problems I have ever seen with Colt, LMT, RRA, ARMALITE, and DPMS was the operators. Once again good luck...
 
Classicarms.us has some very nice Ar's built with Colt lowers for a staggering price of $599, which is the cheapest I've seen anywhere for a complete rifle. They were built by Century, my friend who is a bushmaster dealer bought one and he says it's as almost as good as his two which cost twice as much.

check it out.
 
Great Ideas!

Great info everyone, keep it coming.
Z-Michigan brought up a good point, would a gun I put together be legal to sell if I ever wanted to. Not that I really like to sell any of my guns, but sometimes financial needs do arise.

JohnBlaze, I checked out classicarms.us and those AR's look like a really good deal. How are they able to sell so cheap I wonder? I have seen kits for more than that. It's an interesting idea, have to think on one of those.

Thanks everyone, I am really learning a lot, before I started this thread I would have never thought of putting together a gun either using a kit or separate uppers and lowers. So everyone keep up the great work.

Thanks
Little John
 
I've never heard of selling an AR that was pieced together being illegal. Then again, I'm no lawyer.

But if the lower is the registered part, and is considered the "firearm", then technically, you aren't manufacturing a firearm, by slapping an upper on a lower. In my mind, you would have to be actually machining a lower from a block of material to be manufacturing a firearm, as far as AR's are concerned.
 
Anvil Arms makes a great lower receiver. Just be wary if you decide to have it laser engraved.
 
Z-Michigan brought up a good point, would a gun I put together be legal to sell if I ever wanted to. Not that I really like to sell any of my guns, but sometimes financial needs do arise.
Click to expand...

There is a possible issue with excise taxes on assembled ARs that BATF has never made any attempt to enforce in the past. Whether they might try it in the future and whether they would be successful if they did is anyone's guess; but from a practical standpoint, I don't think they could implement it if they wanted to.

If you want the details, try this link:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=313409&highlight=excise+tax
 
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