I am a member of the Army Reserves.  I went through Basic Training a couple years ago.  I absolutely loved my A2!  Since then, I've only been able to fire on one occasion, and that definately didn't stop the urge!  I'm definately not a gun enthusiast (although I'm starting to get into it), so I really don't know how to go about trying to find one.

I'm not looking for anything fancy, just one to head out to the range every now and then.
I wouldn't mind getting an M4 style, but do those usually run for more?
Would it be cheaper to buy the rifle in seperate pieces, or a straight manufactured rifle?

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated, and I do apologize for the 'new guy' style post!!!

Quoted: $89 lower and a kit from J&T Distributing should hook ya up nice!

If you're unit has an armorer (a real one) he could probably build it up for you, in exchange for some frothy beverages.

Come to the Hun Farm shoot (Near Quanah, TX) Nov 20th and get to sample and shoot one of everything.  Then make your decision!

I dont know how much you have to spend, but you may want to start out with your first as a factory built rifle. If you want to keep with what you have issued through your unit than I would stick to the  Basic A-2. You can buy a used one if you look around, but at this time the prices are on the way down and Bushmaster shows their A-2 clone in the area of $800.00 You can check out Olympic for one that is cheaper, but I would go w/ Bushmaster ( that is just me) or someone that chrome lines their product.

Good luck and make sure you stick around the boards, you will learn more here then you will ever learn in your Unit about the AR-15/M-16 type rifles.

Quoted: $89 lower and a kit from J&T Distributing should hook ya up nice!

I just got into the AR guns and thats what me and a buddy are doing. about 6-700 built just how I want it. hippie.gif

Pick up a copy of The Shotgun News.  It's a combination wish book and text book for a newbie.

Here's their website

I can't bring it up right now, but it's OK.  Not near as informative as the actual paper itself, though.

Two good choices are to :

1.  Save the cash...should be able to find a real good used one like a bushy in the $650 range

2.  Start picking up parts at good prices, probably won't really be cheaper in the long run, but you don't have to lay the cash out all at once either.  And getting the pieces and getting a little help on the build will get you to really know your rifle.  

I've bought used, new, and parts, and it's all fun.  Do it sooner rather than later, god only knows what the politicians will try next.

You could put together an RRA A2 upper and lower and spend a total of 650$.

RRA = Rock River Arms  (Assuming, since you're new, you didn't know that already.)

+1    No experience on the build up 11+ years ago.  Built my first ones with a stripped lower and parts kit (all the pieces and parts dropped into a paper bag and a completed upper from a Model 1 Sales dealer at a gunsho, no instructions!).  Used a Marine M16Armorer's manuel from a friend (use the information section here on AR15.com for instructions), stoned any burrs off the pieces, CLPed all parts, and built it right up.  It was a fun project, I learned how it went together, and they shot very well.   11+ years later; I need a bigger safe.  I like the RRA stuff personally, but it's all good.

Here's the deal I got:

$89 mega lower.
$430 or something for a complete 16" car a3 kit from Adco.
$90 arms #40.

= $610.  

Probably could've done it for around $550 if I went with an A-2.

Also would've been cheaper if I had gotten an a-2 stock.