Posted: 12/26/2005 7:43:08 AM EDT
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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. |
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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. |
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. |
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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. |