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Well, I have been on the fence trying to decide between a Ruger Mini 30 and an AR
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You would be majorly disappointed with either Mini, as they don't reward shooting skill very well. Plus, getting workable magazines (except the factory 5-rounders) is expensive or impossible.
So I am going for the AR15. I am looking especially at Olympic, Hesse and Bushy. Anybody had any experience with these makers or have any other makers that you recommend or suggest avoiding? I am planning to get a basic 20" A2, no major frills, flattop or with a removable carry handle so I can mount a scope.
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Avoid Hesse. They are absolutely the worst AR maker. I *strongly* recommend a Bushmaster, because they are RELIABLE, mostly due to the chamber. They also use higher-quality barrel steel, so they last longer, and hold their accuracy better.
Given that you want a non-standard configuration (i.e., you aren't likely to find a complete gun in that configuration), what you'll want to do is buy a complete lower receiver assembly from your FFL dealer. That's the part that's considered the "gun", and requires the paperwork, etc.
Then, call [url]www.gunsmokeinc.com[/url] and order a complete Bushmaster upper receiver assembly from them. Specify the following:
- Flattop upper receiver (for your scope)
- 20" [b]A2 "lightweight" or "government"-profile[/b] barrel, with the bayonet lug removed and their two-slot muzzle brake permanently attached.
You do NOT want the standard Heavy Barrel (HBAR), as this barrel is more than a pound heavier than the A2-profile barrel, with almost no benefit other than it's cheaper to produce. It's also harder to carry around, and slower to point.
I would recommend NOT having the front sight removed, because having it there will not significantly interfere with using a scope, and you could still put a carry handle or backup sight on it later if you wanted to (or needed to) use iron sights.
With quality ammo, you can eventually shoot 10 shots into a 1" group with this gun. [:)]
You might want to read some of the "Rifles, Uppers, Lowers" forum for other opinions, or I'd be happy to help via email or this forum if you have more questions. I'm sure others will be happy to help too. We want you to enjoy your experience; not be burned by spending a bunch on a lousy rifle.
-Troy