AR Sponsor
Posted: 2/22/2007 1:55:25 AM EDT
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I am in the middle of a build that will put in my possession an LMT lower w/ an LMT 14.5" perm FH upper. I plan to add a dozen 30 round mags, BUIS on the rear and an EOTech of some sort (and a sling). Now I find myself thinking that this will be everything I'll ever need, but there is a little voice that says "If you get another (with slight variation for interest) you would have every spare part you could ever need". While that is an option, I wonder... Would you feel comfortable, (assuming you could build it anyway you want), with only 1 AR? Yes you could have spare parts, but list which ones you would really need rather than just saying one of everything (if you need a spare everything, then really, you want a spare rifle!). So there you have it.... Is one enough? |
EXACTLY what concerns me. I really WANT to make this decision based on logic and need. BRD is addiction, and I cannot afford addition. At least not until hundreds of other financial obligations are met.  BUT - I don't want to regret not getting what I needed when everything is cheap and accesable (I remember 94 all too well).  SOooo if one rifle IS enough (especially with a few $$ of spare parts, then that is the way to go.  HOWEVER, if there is too many $ in spare parts needed, then a nice KISS Middy might not be a bad call either!!!... 
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I expanded my collection out to 7, and then gradually back to 3 as I honned in on exactly what I wanted/needed and used the money from the "extra" AR's to buy the expensive accessories for the keepers. But it all started with spare parts and the mindset that I could have one lower and then just re-configure and swap uppers on my one lower. That mindset lasted a very short time. I now have what are the "essentials" for me. SBR. Small. FUN! Eotech because it is not a long range rifle. BUIS mostly just for looks. 4 rails with vert grip and rubber covers so it can be shot either with the vert grip or not. I also have a 9mm SBR upper for it. M4gery with TA31F ACOG. 4 rail with vert grip. Mostly simple. Most versatile. 20" govt. profile simple. Every collection needs a bare bones model. I just cannot see myself with less than this. 
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OK, (putting on zombie resistant armbands and tinfoil hat) If you actually "needed" your AR, and something broke right in the middle of that "need", which of these would be more do-able? 1) Call a time-out while you determine the problem then remove the bad part and install the spare part 2) Transition to your sidearm (with garlic tipped silver bullets of course) and fight your way to your second, fully functional AR (removing zombie resistant armbands and tinfoil hat) Just trying to do my part to spread the BRD contagion.
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HAHA yah I know the feeling you're going through. I've got 1 AR now and I love it. I want to build more but I don't want to spend a TON of money on the rifles...so here's what I've come up with as a solution. I wanted the following DPMS 16" AP4 flat top (the one i have now) 20" A2 20" USMC A4gery (though I need to read up on this one to see what the upper is, it might just be a flat top, in that case DPMS is going to supply it so I can use the removable handle with it) 20" SPR/MK12 Mod1 16" 9mm carbine So if you add up the cost of the lowers alone to that, you're up around $1000, I can save about 700-800 if I only build 2 more lowers complete with stocks (I'm using standard A2 stocks and the M4 6pos stocks so they're a dime a dozen and fairly cheap). But with just 2 more lowers I will have the following DPMS 16" AP4 flat top (current one) Lower #1 with A2 stock 20" A2 20" A4gery 20" SPR/MK12 mod1 Lower #2 with 6 pos stock (though this may become a spare) 9mm carbine So essentially I have 3 complete rifles but one has 3 different uppers for it. So with that $800 I save I get 1.5 or 2 uppers (money wise not in parts). This is at least the things I want to get before any possible ban comes into play. Of course if possible I'm going to get lowers for the other uppers eventually, or at least keep the stripped lowers with parts kits sitting in a safe waiting (for $96.30 OTD a stripped DPMS lower locally I can't really complain) As for spare parts, I'd say keep an extra BCG or two sitting around and keep an extra few lower parts kits handy as well as buffers and springs. General rule for spares, keep 2 around. -Mike |
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I orginally thought that one AR was good enough. Then I had another idea on what type of AR I wanted so I bought another one. Then one really caught my attention so I bought it. I sold one  but replaced it with one I really liked  ; its an ongoing cycle. Now I might add one more and say that's it for a while 
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+1 on that!!!! Bought plenty of spare parts then stripped lowers and tossed them in the vault. Made the mistake of walking back into the vault, looked at the stuff, then started building. Damn!
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Can't have just one. At LEAST you need another one as a dedicated .22LR rifle for training purposes.... At least that's what I told me. Then I went and got one for a suppressor. Now I'm desperately fighting the urge to get a 4th, in 9mm.... AAARRRRGGGGHHHHHH!!!! Woody |
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You people are crazy. Maybe it was just the '94 AWB, but I knew from the start that I would need at least five AR's, and maybe duplicates of each; 1. Truck gun -done- 2. Precision AR -current project- 3. Super badass suppressed SHTF Carbine -pending- 4. 5.56 suppressed SBR -pending- 5. 9mm suppressed SBR -just waiting on the stamp- Now don't get me started on magazines and ammo, there is no such thing as enough. |
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FWIW, i always build in duplicates. i want an M4, i build two, though one is usually a "KISS" rifle, while the other has all the gadgets. i do this because redundant systems are good. i can take a pair to a course, and if one goes down, i can switch to the other and be 100%. the other thing is, it's always nice to have extra, especially in today's political climate. these could potentially be investments, or even the last guns we ever see. i'd like to be able to have enough to pass out to my kids some day, when this equipment is heavily restricted and a "transferable" AR-15 is going for $14K... |
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I thought I had enough with my Bushmaster M4orgery with all the extras, and a plain jane Armalite A2 Then I shot a A1, so now I have built one Then I shot a dissipator and I will get one Now I also want a Recce type and it will be a delight Now my son wants one, so a lightweight CAR type build will be done Its a sickness I tell ya |
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When I first started looking at buying an AR, I was somewhat shocked that people would spend $700 or more on a gun. Then I shot one for the first time. Shortly after that I bought one for myself. That one quickly became 2, then 3.  Then I bought tools for myself so I could do basically any gunsmithing work I wanted... Now I have 8 finished and 2 builds in progress. Yes, I live like a pauper and drive a shitty car, but I have lots of money to spend on this relentless BRD that has consumed me. Be very careful or you may end up like me....or worse.
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This is exactly what I'm planning to do! I'm working on my carbine right now but I'm already planning builds 2 & 3: a SBR and a 20". |
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shiiiit, AR15s are like lays potato chips, or more like an alcoholics rational (well it will be ok to have one, ehh, another one wont hurt, might as well have one for the road, well since im still here might as well have another one.....) hell i got my first AR, said that should be enough, then got a 9mm pistol, said eh, thats good, then got the 223 pistol to keep the others welcome, then the 9mm rifle since i found how fun the pistol was, now i just bought another AR but nicer than the first, then ive got 2 lowers with LPKs in em for the-not-so future future builds, plus another one with the HK style selector markings(and its not a POF lower, think spider) and also wheeling and dealing to come up with the cash for a new .22 upper that the AR guy i goto just came out with(and its the correct 1/16 twist, both in pistol and rifle length) so yeah, if you equate owning AR15s to an alcoholic, then im in AA (AR's Anon) |
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I'll share my take. I think you need 3 total. One 14.5" carbine with a red dot optic One scoped & accurized 16 or 18" midlength & One KISS gun (you're own choice of configuration) That'll cover your needs. Anything longer should have a bigger cartridge. Anything smaller should have a smaller cartridge. YMMV. Also wouldn't hurt to have several lower recievers tucked away somewhere special. |
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Well, I guess I'll just start with the one, and see how far I go! I know the rails and optics are the real killer, and they really don't turn me on so much, so perhaps the costs won't get too out of hand. --- though I have seen some NV pics that were super cool! Anyway, I've ordered my lower, so HERE WE GOOOO!
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How about 5 is 5 to many? Not really I have 1 service rifle and a 1 M4 clone completed and 3 lowers left over I am planing on a 6.8, 9mm and maybe a M12 clone as well. Plus there is the Magpul lower I want and a special buy I am getting in on a DPMS USMC SDM-R rifle. So I guess 7 is a good number. |
+1 I buy mine three at a time from JKiser for a slightly reduced price. |
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