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Posted: 6/27/2010 5:52:16 AM EDT
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Newbe to AR 15.com. I've been on other forums, mostly hot rod, so I have a vague idea of the ettiquete, even tho I can't spell it. Live in Texas, best place on Earth! 62, too old to care what people think of me.
Just started my first AR project, I shot NRA HI-Power, and Palma until I had retina problems. Mostly bolt guns and pogo sticks. Been around guns all my life, Life member of the NRA, and TSRA. I never cared much for the AR, was never around them much, except on the course, and didn't shoot one until a friend bought a 9mm and we went to the range. I realized how comfortable this little jewel is. I bought some reference material, and am open to any suggestions for other reading material you guys think I should study. A little knowledge can be dangerous and expensive, so I'm ready to take the heat for any stupid questions I ask. I've started with a Spikes multicaliber lower, and this weekend installed an A2 buttstock, and ambi safety. I'm a lefty, but I THINK the only thing I really need to be ambi is the safety, as I can use my right hand for the things you guys use your left hand for. What I want is just a good old "beercangun". I'm thinking A2 butt, 20" A3 upper, in case I have to go to optics as my eyes fail more, with a carry handle. As blind as I am, I still enjoy shooting iron sights. I'm beginning to think a standard 20" chrome moly barrel will be fine. I like the smooth look of no comp on the front, but I'm thinking I will buy a threaded barrel and put a thread protector, in case I change my mind. And, I don't know that I want the weight of an H-BAR. That's the part I'm in love with this rifle. It's the small block chevy of rifles, if you like to work wrenches and screwdrivers, like I do, this is THE rifle for you! OK, you've probably guessed by now I can talk with the best of them, so when you guys get tired of my drivel, do what everyone else does and say, Mike! SHUT UP!! Thanks 
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welcome aboard. i would say that for what you want, you could probably do just fine with a 16" barrel and have a lot less weight towards the front of the rifle. going with a govt or even a lightweight profile, it would make an excellent backyard beer can killer. if you're dead set on the longer sight distance the 20" upper offers, which i understand well, then you may want to look at a dpms or bushmaster A2 standard.
unless you want to get into building rifles, those will both provide you with exactly what you described at a good price, and don't be afraid to buy used. the only rifles i'd say to stay away from are olympic arms, and anything with hesse or blackthorne stamped/engraved on it; some of these products have been ok, but overwhelmingly people have problems with them, so its better to just avoid them. other than that, you'll probably be fine. stick around and ask lots of questions, we're here to help your black rifle disease progress to the incurable stage. |
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Quoted:
welcome aboard. i would say that for what you want, you could probably do just fine with a 16" barrel and have a lot less weight towards the front of the rifle. going with a govt or even a lightweight profile, it would make an excellent backyard beer can killer. if you're dead set on the longer sight distance the 20" upper offers, which i understand well, then you may want to look at a dpms or bushmaster A2 standard. unless you want to get into building rifles, those will both provide you with exactly what you described at a good price, and don't be afraid to buy used. the only rifles i'd say to stay away from are olympic arms, and anything with hesse or blackthorne stamped/engraved on it; some of these products have been ok, but overwhelmingly people have problems with them, so its better to just avoid them. other than that, you'll probably be fine. stick around and ask lots of questions, we're here to help your black rifle disease progress to the incurable stage. Thanks, My son had an Olympic back about 15-20 years ago, and comparing it to my Spikes, it isn't in the same league. I looked at used at the Ft Worth show this weekend, and I can get near the same new for what a lot of these guys are asking used. And the closer I get to having a finished rifle the less I want to wait! I have an old Gibson guitar to sell that will cover the cost of my build, and I'll play with the AR a lot more than the Gibson. My wife is enduring heavy doses of chemo that takes up a week at a time, and our shedule doesn't lend itself to scouting around for bargains, so I may order a built upper. I've been looking at Model 1, and Rock River. I'd like to put a Spikes upper on this Spikes lower, but I'm afraid it's going to be above my pay grade. |
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Welcome fellow Texan. I found that picking up and concentrating on the front sight every day or so helps fuzzy eyes.
Doing sighting drills have retuned my eyes so I can clearly see the irons on my CAR again. For me, the smaller .052 KNS bead post I use is sharper than a blocky square post. YMMV Another good exercise for eyes is to go to GD and click on BOTD. Although used incorrectly, it has been known to actually cause blindness. |
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Mike, welcome to the site.
I know the normal "look" of a A2 stock would be the 20", but you could also be served fine with a 16". I'd suggest taking a look at Bravo Company, they have an add along the top of the page with vendors. They make great uppers, and they are a site supporter, so you can kill two birds with one stone. That is where I would start as far as uppers go. If you come up with questions, feel free to ask them here, this thread, or at least this fourm. There are lots of helpful people here. If you are looking for things to read, if you are ok with webpages, take a look at the options here in the AR-15 area. There are sections for uppers, lowers, building it yourself, buying it, ammo, optics, mags, and just about everything else you could think of. If you can't find it here, I'd be shocked. Once you know what you want, then you can look over the Equipment Exchange, where you'll be able to find every thing you might need(and alot of things you didn't know you needed  ) Both new and used, and I'm pretty sure you'll be able to save yourself a good bit of money on stuff.
Good luck!!!! 
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Quoted:
Mike, welcome to the site. I know the normal "look" of a A2 stock would be the 20", but you could also be served fine with a 16". I'd suggest taking a look at Bravo Company, they have an add along the top of the page with vendors. They make great uppers, and they are a site supporter, so you can kill two birds with one stone. That is where I would start as far as uppers go. If you come up with questions, feel free to ask them here, this thread, or at least this fourm. There are lots of helpful people here. If you are looking for things to read, if you are ok with webpages, take a look at the options here in the AR-15 area. There are sections for uppers, lowers, building it yourself, buying it, ammo, optics, mags, and just about everything else you could think of. If you can't find it here, I'd be shocked. Once you know what you want, then you can look over the Equipment Exchange, where you'll be able to find every thing you might need(and alot of things you didn't know you needed ) Both new and used, and I'm pretty sure you'll be able to save yourself a good bit of money on stuff.
Good luck!!!! Thanks. One of the groups I've been looking at is Del-Ton. I don't know anything about them, but then again, I don't know any of the AR people so.... I'm going to make as many of the shows as I can, and I make the huge Tulsa show twice a year so I'll have a good exposure to used stuff. I'll probably run out of paitence first. I'd build my own upper except I'm leery of buyiing tools I may never use but once. How hard is it to find a mechanic to mount a barrel? I could do all the rest myself, and Spikes has some blemished uppers for sale right now cheap. Nice thing is I now have my lower, and I can get an upper anywhere, so if I do find one out of town at a show no problem bringing it home. 
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It's easy to buy already to shoot complete uppres if you don't want to install it yourself. I've built around thirty and I'm no rocket scientist. You will need tools though and that can be a considerable cost if you only build one.*
Larue Tactical posted earlier and they make a very fine upper. They are top end, not budget, but are worth every cent. Upper's are available from a multitude of places, EE on this sight and GunBroker to name a couple. You can buy new uppers directly from virtually every maker in the country ready to shoot. I like midweight barrels. I dislike bull barrels, at least on the muzzle end of things. I don't need a hernia from shooting. Good Luck and welcome. *Good luck building just one when the tools are available at home just waiting to be used. Also, give Stag a look see, they build dedicated left handed receivers of good quality. |
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