Which AR would you pick?

[GunFit]

Okay, so I decided to jump into the AR fun. Based on what I can get locally I have narrowed it down to two choices:

The Sig M400 Enhanced with OD Green Magpul furniture, a rear BUIS, and an A2 front sight. All this for about $920.00 (much more than I wanted to spend).

or

The Windham SRC Flat top for $800.00 and then I can add sights later.

The reviews for both have been high praises and the basic specs are similar. I really like the Magpul add-ons with the Sig and it just looks slick. The flat top Windham would do just fine for my purposes and I can always add what I want later. I can add front and rear BUIS along with my red dot optic right now for less than the total cost of the Sig.

My main uses for an AR would be home defense, plinking/recreation, and probably for occasional hunting.

So, if you were buying, which would you choose? I am not looking at buying online due to FFL fees. I really considered building a 16" middy with mostly PSA and Magpul parts but I'll save that for down the road. Input from those who have some experience with either of these would be appreciated.

 

[Inebriated]

If it were me, I'd build it.

But between the two, the Sig. I have shot one, and it was certainly a sweet shooter. The Magpul stuff is also much nicer to have than the standard AR furniture, if you don't plan on a rail up front.

 

[imac98374]

Look around online for a sport

Here's one:
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/...+M&P+Semi-Automatic+223+Remington5.56+NATO+30

You lose on shipping and transfer, but save on tax. Depending on your local tax rate/FFL fees, it's usually a wash. (this rifle actually ships free...)

 

[Upstater]

That Windham rifle is the original Bushmaster rifle co. That came to be after freedom arms group purchased and then closed the mfg. facility and moved it to Ilion, N.Y. . The old mfg. reopened with the original employees, the one I tested had all of the original Bushmaster feel and quality IMO. For the money around $800.00 otd it seemed to be worthwhile.

 

[JustinJ]

My local GS has a variety of Colts, including 6920, for under a grand. How well have you looked?

 

[Captains1911]

Do more research before making a decision

 

[GunFit]

I should have explained this in my original post. I have no interest in buying online. Buds and other places are actually charging more than I could have bought the Sport locally. Due to reasons that do not make sense the stores here have stopped carrying the rifle. The local FFL fees and taxes (when applicable) make online buying a more expensive option and I actually have started leaning toward the two rifles above instead.

For the same reason I am not considering building my own. I would much rather build my own but the guys here are not people I want to give my business and charge way too much for products and FFL fees.

For those of you who have a nice LGS with good prices, great for you but I do not. Sadly Academy is the best place around here. The local guys act like they could care less about treating their customers well and their prices are 10-20% higher. Guns are selling so well that the small shops are selling at a premium, understandably. I will take my business to a big box store.

I have researched this to death. I have looked at every AR that is available in my area and these are the two that fit my budget and have my interest. I am in no rush to purchase but I was curious what people thought about these two options.

 

[Badlander]

You say you can add sights later. What are you going to do with the rifle till you get sights?

 

[GunFit]

Later as in right after purchase. Besides, I have a red dot I can mount already.

 

[gpjoe]

If cost is a factor, you can pick up a decent Palmetto State Armory carbine for around $700. I bought a PA-15 at a recent local gun show in SE Michigan for $680 + tax for a total of $720 OTD. It's a lot of rifle for the money, and compared to something like the Smith&Wesson entry-level carbine, it is closer to a true mil-spec rifle (if that's important to you) and also has a charging handle and ejection port cover. The specs on the rifle, per their rep at M4Carbine:

Finally, a complete Palmetto State Armory rifle ready to go for one low price. Our M4A1 Standard Carbine starts with one of our Chrome-lined CMV barrels in the versatile M4A1 profile, mated to our forged aluminum upper, and finished off with standard handguards and A2 Flash hider. The forged lower is built with our 6 position Mil-spec size buffer tube and stock, Standard PSA lower parts kit with A2-style grip and aluminum trigger guard. It comes with one 30 Round D&H PSA Magazine (where allowed by law) so all you have to provide is the ammo to start having fun.

Barrel: 16", 4150 Steel, M4A1 profile, 5.56 NATO chamber with a 1:7 right-hand twist , chrome-lined, High pressure Tested and magnetic Particle Inspected, carbine-length gas port, and M4 feedramps. Barrels are finished off with a taper pinned, F-marked, front sight post with sling swivel, standard handguards, an A2 flash hider, and are phosphate coated to Mil-specs.

Upper: Forged 7075-T6 A3 AR upper is made to MIL-SPECS and hard coat anodized black for durability. Featuring machined T marks, and a mil-spec finish. These uppers are made for us right here in the USA, and are marked with the Palmetto State Armory logo on the left side, up front, just below the rail.

Bolt: Bolt is made of Mil-spec Carpenter 158 steel, Shot peened, MPI and HPT. Gas key is secured with grade 8 fasteners and staked per mil-spec. Bolt carrier is parkerized outside, chrome lined inside, and laser engraved with the Palmetto State Armory logo.

Lower: These forged lowers are quality made using material is 7075-T6 and are marked "MULTI" for caliber. Finish is Black Hardcoat Anodize per MIL-8625 Type 3 class 2. Mil-spec-sized buffer tube has 6 adjustment positions, is finished with a Palmetto State Armory M4-style stock and has a staked castle nut. Standard carbine buffer is Black anodized and has the PSA logo on the face. The standard PSA combat trigger has a smooth pull and clean break.

Edit: Sorry, I was under the impression, based on the poll choices listed, that you were interested in "other" options but after reading the entire thread closely it looks like there are really no "other" options and the choice is actually between the first two in the poll.

??????

 

[browningguy]

A friend just bought the Sig 400 Enhanced, and I have to say it seems well built, however the trigger sucks (as with most stock AR's). We shot a couple of hundred rounds through it last week with no failures of any kind, reasonable accuracy for the crap ammo they bought, and I do like the magpul MOE furniture.

For the price I think you could get a Rock River, it will be just as well built and have a much better trigger.

 

[GunFit]

I apologize if my post seems rude. I appreciate everyone's input. I am just frustrated with the lack of customer service and selection in my area. I am very interested in PSA rifles. There is a gun show at the end of the month nearby. I will check around for deals. Thanks!

 

[proven]

what are your local ffls charging for transfer fees? around here, it's $20-25. that hardly puts ordering online out of the picture, especially if you shop around. i'm all for supporting my local shops, but the last two rifles i've called about, they couldn't get.