Posted: 1/16/2004 8:23:36 AM EDT
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I'm planning on going to the Indy 1500 Gun Show this weekend and I am hoping to find an AR or two to purchase. I want to find a preban with a collapsable stock & a shorter (16") barrel. Since I have never purchased an AR at a gun show, (and do not have a whole lot of experience with this type of gun) what should I look for, and what should I look out for? Thanks for your help Jon |
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Look for "preban" verification of the serial numbers on those lowers. Hopefully someone can produce a link to the numbers so you can print them. IMO, it's risky to buy now, as unless they renew the current domestic ban (or pass something else), the magic of 'preban' in the AR world disappears September 14th of this year. Of course, the other side of that is that the prices are now lower than they have been for years in anticipation of this date. |
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16" barrel is the magic number. Did you really want "less than 16 inch barrel?" or just a shorter barrel? 16" is pretty short and much less expensive. Over 16" barrel is OK. Pre-ban will be in the $1500 range. Under 16" means much red tape. NFA weapon. There are only so many already registered that way, thus the 10,000 price tag. |
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I'm going to the 1500 after work this afternoon. At the last show there were a lot of AR-15s, post ban and pre ban. The posties were going cheap. I saw an Armalite for $650.00 If it were me, I'd wait for the AWB to sunset or at least get a little closer to get a good idea of what might happen before I bought a pre ban. They are still fairly pricey although they have gone down a bit in recent shows. If you do buy a pre ban, look for the obvious things like a muzzle brake and a bayonet lug, then look at the receiver. Rock River Arms makes a very good receiver, but they weren't around in pre ban times. It will most likely be a Colt, Armalite or a Bushmaster. There are other brands, but I can't think of them right now. Good luck. |
| I hate to say this, but if buying at a show, and you are not knowledgeable in what to look for, you are asking for trouble. I would advise going with someone or arranging to meet a veteran arfcommer at the show. There are many charlatans and ripoff artists that scour the underbelly of gunshows looking for the unsuspecting. ARs are easy to bastardize and some are not beyond throwing a preban upper on a post ban lower and calling it a preban when it is simply an illegal rifle. One of our reputable local dealers pointed just such an event to an unknowing poor SOB at the last show I was at. He had bought a private sale special only to find out that the lower half of his rifle was not in fact pre-ban. Please be careful out there if you are buying from anyone but an FFL with proper paperwork, and then, please know what you are buying and from whom. Get their business card. Caveat Emptor. |
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Quoted: I'm going to the 1500 after work this afternoon. At the last show there were a lot of AR-15s, post ban and pre ban. The posties were going cheap. I saw an Armalite for $650.00 If it were me, I'd wait for the AWB to sunset or at least get a little closer to get a good idea of what might happen before I bought a pre ban. They are still fairly pricey although they have gone down a bit in recent shows. If you do buy a pre ban, look for the obvious things like a muzzle brake and a bayonet lug, then look at the receiver. Rock River Arms makes a very good receiver, but they weren't around in pre ban times. It will most likely be a Colt, Armalite or a Bushmaster. There are other brands, but I can't think of them right now. Good luck. I'm heading over there in 1 hour 16 minutes (do I sound anxious to you?). For any other ARFCOM'ers, will you have anything distinguishing you from the masses? Personally, I will be wearing a flannel shirt and have a purple "Furman football" ball cap on. If any y'all see me, stop and say "hello". sloth |
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Quoted: Look for a reputable NFA dealer for the SBR you describe. Plan on spending $6000-$10,000 and a 3-4 month wait for your Class III license, presuming your state allows NFA weapons. For an SBR, price should be normal pre-ban of post-ban AR price. Just have to pay a $200 tax and find an NFA dealer and wait a few months. SBRs are not like machine guns. They are not banned, and thus are not rare. |
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I'll be at the show on Saturday morning (10am or so), if you need help. As previously posted, though; I'd wait until the AWB sets if you want all the pre-ban goodies. You're going to pay a premium at the show and in 8 months, you will be able to get the whole deal for under $1000. If you get a post-ban, you can replace the stock and add a flash suppressor (will require some tooling) and bayonet lug. This will add cost, but you won't have a ten year old rifle, either. Or, if you can wait, you can buy a stripped lower now (for $100 or so) from Rock River, and add all the goodies in 8 months. Plenty of options, but I do believe the AWB will sunset. |