AR Sponsor
Posted: 2/17/2005 6:25:02 PM EDT
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Hey Guys... I am getting a nice little tax return this year, and instead of another pistol, I'm wanting an AR. (Or at least a MBR). Currently I have only hunting rifles, and when it comes to tactical rifles I know diddly squat. SOOOO... I started huting around (no pun intended) the local gun shops and I have noticed two things... well three really. 1. Prices seem to vary widely... I've seen price tags ranging from less than 1000, to 4000 dollars. 2. Each gunshop seems to have their "know it all" type of rifle guy, but they cant seem to agree with the guy in the last shop, and the guy in the next shop will say something completely different as far as what would be good for a first rifle. 3. I have no idea what many of these guys are talking about when they start using termonology like "uppers", "lowers", etc... Can someone give me a brief education on "rifle basics". And secondly... can someone PLEASE give me some ideas as to what would make a decent "Newb" rifle... something basic. I would like to stay under 1000 dollars if possible please. And... be honest... if getting an AR for a first rifle is getting in over my head can you suggest another style? (AK47, or whatever) I guess you could say I am looking for the "Glock" of the tactical rifle. Simple... easy to maintain... reliable.... not the cheapest POS available... but not outlandish in price either. Thanks in advance!!! |
I have a Bushmaster carbine and have had zero problems with it. It is well-made and accurate. I definitely agree with getting the flattop because at some point, you'll probably get the bug and start looking at optics. The only other real question is whether you want a 20" or a 16" barrel. I got the 16" first mainly because of looks, but now I want a 20" as well. Whatever you get, it will be just the beginning of a long and expensive sickness.  Good luck.
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How do you have twice as many posts as I do here and not know anything about ar's? That being said, my first was a bushmaster 20" A2 which I do like, but I semi regretted it after being around the 16" guns. So I just had to have both, oh and the pistol. You do realize that you won't be able to stop at just one, don't you? We are all infected with BRD.  If it was me, I would recommend a 16" barrel, very versatile. As for flat top or not, your personal preferance on looks and what kind of optics and other options you think you might want later on. The flat top offers a lot more versatility in that regard as well. Just my $.02 3n8fan |
| I would get a Bushmaster also. When i bought mine i didn;t get a flat top and a year later i changed it out to a flat top. So do yourself a favor get a bushmaster with a flat top. Oh ya and read as much as possible of the ARF.com as possible to give yourself an education about this black rifle addiction. |
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I know it's a big state, but Member SteyrAug here is a Florida FFL dealer with a shop. Perhaps a visit to his shop would help to put you on the path to the knowledge/gun you seek. He would be able to reccomend a configuration based upon what you think you want the rifle to do. |
David, That is a great point, being able to talk to someone face to face is always a better deal than online. I'm sure SteyrAug would take good care of him. |
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Hey Bear! Uh...you've been a member her since 2003 and have 1400 + posts... Did you post this as a joke? No offense Bear, I'm just crurious. The others gave you some great advice, especially about Bushmaster. Work on the price. Most models can be had for around $850.00 |
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Build one! You'll learn alot more about it. A stripped Mega lower for $90 lower parts kit for $50ish Cheap carbine stock w/buffer $50 ( Tapco ) Nice upper, new Cav 16" midlength $500ish? Used bushy, rra upper from EE $450ish? OR Buy the $90 Mega lower and the complete kit to finish it from RustyTX for $575, total =$670 complete rifle. Eotech 512 $320ish YHM flip up rear BUIS $75 A bit over $1K and you have a nice rifle with a great optic.  This is a 16" Midlength I built, a Cav upper on a DPMS lower with Cav furniture and Eotech 552 Companion pieces are what I consider the minimum of what everyone should have ready to go  |
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i say get an AR, in truth i was just like you a couple years back when i got my first AR. ddint know the jargon, upper and lower. still dont know a lot, but from coming here and exposure to shopping for partsd and stuff youll pick it up fast. I got a RRA for 700, fixed handle, but mainly cause i like the looks, to each his own!!!! if your gunna hunt, you may want the 20in barrel and a flat top so you can mount a scope easily. if not, and you want it for home use, go with the shorter barrel. looks cooler!!! also, i dunno if its true and maybe someone else can clear it up for me, but i hear the 'floating grip barrels are better for sniping/hunting maybe im wrong, but i think they are also more expensive. last of all, if your not gunna mount a scope, im gunna sugests against everyone else here, unless you can get a telescoping stock, get a full length, so much better through accuracy on the built in sights. |
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Great to have you here, Bear and you came to the right place for that info It will be inter-mixed with a lot of opinions but good ones for the most part Read read and more reading. Start with the information tab at the top of the page, and look thru all the references here on the site (and picture forums to see what looks right to you) There are so many variables to determine before deciding what type of shooting? budget? interests? etc. either way, you will find the pursuit to be half the fun! Welcome to the site Bear!  edit to add: Not all guns are works of art, but all of Stickman's are. 
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| I like RRA, if you can find one. Their carbines are on the heavy side though since they do a heavy profile under the handguards. Their rifles are straight shooters and I've rarely heard anything bad about them. I've got 2 and would trust my life to the factory gun, the other one I built and it hasn't been proven yet. I'm sure it will be just as good though. Make sure you learn to use iron sights before you start adding optics and such. I think a 20" flat top with a LMT backup iron sight is best to start with. Longer sight radius makes for easier aiming in my opinion. MJD |
+2 for a basic AR, try not to pay more than $900+tax (M4 stock, carbine bbl, flatop, and all top quality stuff, like chrome-LINED bbls and 5.56 chambering) some shops' folks know it all; some know nothing 'lowers' is the lower portion w/ the stock and firing mechanisms (trigger components); 'the upper' is the upper portion that has the chamber, bolt, and bbl.--the upper and lowers are detachable and most are interchangeable via a coulple of pins; when building, stripped lowers and uppers are available--the lower is considered the firearm and requires an FFL transfer ARs have better style, ergonamics, quality, and ACCURACY AKs are usually cheaper, lacking in accuracy, less quality, and less parts/maintainance both are fun to shoot; 7.62x39 ammo is cheaper (on-line)--if you are looking for the "glock" of tactical rifles, its an AK get the AR  , you wont regret it
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look up top www.ar15.com/forums/board.html?b=5 |
I see said the blind man. In that case welcome to the disease Bear.
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No joke Brother... Ive spend ALL my time in the "handguns" section... up until now its all I have been interested in. |
AH HAA! NOW This is starting to make sense. So the Upper, and the Lower are interchangable!! Im beginning to understand now when people say they have the X upper, and the Z Lower... they have taken parts from 2 or more different rifles and made one rifle. (Am I understanding this correctly) Geeze... too bad there isnt a book called "ARs For Dummies" like there is for everything else in the world. OK so let me ask this queston... I have heard that an AR lacks reliability especially if not kept absolutely spotless... how true is this? Is the AR the better SHTF weapon? |
Aight Bear, Yes upper and lowers are interchangeable. You basically undersotood that correctly. Many people often have several upper they use on one lower. You are currently logged onto "AR for Dummies" Saying AR's aren't reliable is like saying the sun won't rise tomorrow morning. It's BS. They got that stupid characterization from the early days. Modern AR's will and can run like tops pretty much no matter what. I've shot several thousand rounds of Wolf through mine without a hiccup. They just like to run wet. Dirt, and dust didn't stop it. AK's will run longer in general but thats b/c the tolerances are what they are. AR's will be JUST as reliable. You won't make a bad choice going with any of the companies mentioned above. |
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A RRA or Bushy would be an excellent first rifle. Building your own would be an excellent option too because, as stated above, you will learn a lot more about the rifle. I'd probably get the RRA/Bushy built rifle to start out with, you will learn about the operation very quickly! AR's are also VERY reliable to answer your other question. The key is to just do basic matenance. Take care of your gear and your gear will take care of you!! The other key is to use good magazines!! Get some USGI's with at least green/orange followers. Get some magpul followers if you are really concearned. Wolf is decent ammo, but i have only run XM193 through mine, but due to the recent shortages in M193 and M855 i bought some American Eagle Ammo and it is good stuff, i would recommend you use it as your primary ammo for now. I am considering finally giving that wolf stuff a chance, but i just really prefer using American made brass ammo. GL with your rifle! |
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