I want to get an Ar soon (around Feb.) and had a few questions.

1. Can I have one that fires 5.56  &  9mm.  (you can just switch the uppers & barrels right?)

2. What brand has the best reliability? (this outta open a shit storm.)

3. Is it better to buid your own or buy a factory gun?  ( for reliability)

4. What price range should be fair for a used rifle?

I might have more questions in the future but I know you guys will have ALL the answers.

Thanx guys in advance.

Ps. I don't care about what name is on it (Colt, Bushmaster....) just that it is reliable, fair price.

Quoted: I want to get an Ar soon (around Feb.) and had a few questions. 1. Can I have one that fires 5.56  &  9mm.  (you can just switch the uppers & barrels right?) 2. What brand has the best reliability? (this outta open a shit storm.) 3. Is it better to buid your own or buy a factory gun?  ( for reliability) 4. What price range should be fair for a used rifle? I might have more questions in the future but I know you guys will have ALL the answers. Thanx guys in advance. Ps. I don't care about what name is on it (Colt, Bushmaster....) just that it is reliable, fair price.

1)Get the .223/5.56 first and then get the 9mm upper (no need to switch barrels)

2)Colt, Bushmaster, Rock River, Armalite, CMT all make fine guns

3)Get a factory gun first, learn how to take it apart and put it back together, then build a second.

4) Don't go used, you could possibly be getting someone elses headache.  A brandnew Bushmaster M4 should run $780-$910 bucks, possibly more depending on what it has one it.

Keep in mind that 9mm AR's are the most problematic of the AR's.

1. Can I have one that fires 5.56  &  9mm.  (you can just switch the uppers & barrels right?)
Yup. You just swap uppers (I think the 9mm upper would come with its own B/C/CH).

2. What brand has the best reliability? (this outta open a shit storm.)
You said it, brother. Some guys insist on the A,B,C, and R priority, but it depends on what you are willing to pay, and what features you want.  

3. Is it better to buid your own or buy a factory gun?  ( for reliability)
Hard to say. I've put over 2000 rnds thru my carbine since March of this year, and didnt have one problem. Its a forged Olympic lower, with an LMT Upper and LPK. I think a lot of it has to do with the builder. If you have someone experienced in the workings of the gun, you may just be as well off as a factory gun for reliability's sake. But, factory produced rifles and carbines having a warranty is worth something.

4. What price range should be fair for a used rifle?
Depends on what it is. Used rifles sell in all different price ranges, depending on the manufacturer, features and condition.


I might have more questions in the future but I know you guys will have ALL the answers.

Thanx guys in advance.

Ps. I don't care about what name is on it (Colt, Bushmaster....) just that it is reliable, fair price.

Quoted: 3. Is it better to buid your own or buy a factory gun?  ( for reliability)

Is this your first AR15? If so, I would buy a factory one.  Most of the factory assembled(Armalite, Bushmaster, DPMS guns etc) are pretty good.  Shoot that gun until you can get a real decent group at 100 yards, and then decide what you want.  I would also get a chrome-lined chamber and barrel because it will much longer, and the effect on accuracy is negligible.

I built my first from scratch, and had 0 problems with it.

Whoever the precursor to M&A parts was in Lake Zurich, and an Essential Arms forged lower. IIRC it was $379 for the HBAR kit, $80 for the lower, $10 for the USMC M16 Armorer's guide and $30 for tools. If you can follow directions (and get one of the pre-headspaced kits) it's actually pretty easy.

But for foolproof? Buy a pre-built.

(Of course, before it got stolen , I'd put less than 300 rounds through it in the 9 years I'd owned it... something about a lack of shooting room had something to do with it. )

It's a great way to learn your weapon.

Sounds like you Need a RockRiver, They offer there ARs in 9mm and 5.56mm from the factory, this sounds lik the easiest way to go for you, get a RRA M4 and a RRA 9mm upper, and Magblock, along with a DPMS hammer, and magazines fro both.