AR Sponsor
[ARCHIVED THREAD] - My First AR (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 2/7/2010 11:19:44 PM EDT
|
didn't exactly build it myself, but there isn't a section for custom builds other people did. lol
the list of specs as i am aware of them: dpms AR15 A3 upper, 5.56 NATO, 20" barrel, 1/9 twist, unknown lining, unknown BGC, DPMS Gas Block w/ single picatinny rail double star lower, unknown trigger assy. command arms 6 position collapsable stock command arms upg16 grip KZ UTG 4-rail hand guards w/ ladder inserts. command arms FGA forend grip w/ light mount, 3 picatinny positions and 2 pressure pad areas fenix TA21 torch with 2 strobes, SOS beacon and 9 steady light intensities activated by lockable thumb button on front grip NcStar green laser light activated by foregrip pressure pad UTG folding bipod. NcStar P4 Sniper 3-9x42 NcStar DDAB Red Dot Sight http://www.wartmans.com/Images/ar15/IMG00118.jpg http://www.wartmans.com/Images/ar15/IMG00116.jpg http://www.wartmans.com/Images/ar15/IMG00113.jpg http://www.wartmans.com/Images/ar15/IMG00111.jpg http://www.wartmans.com/Images/ar15/IMG00108.jpg http://www.wartmans.com/Images/ar15/IMG00107.jpg http://www.wartmans.com/Images/ar15/IMG00105.jpg http://www.wartmans.com/Images/ar15/IMG00097.jpg currently looking for ideas. i am thinking i should probably upgrade the BCG to get the groupings down. maybe the trigger assembly. i haven't had a chance to shoot yet so i'm not sure the groupings will be an issue, nor the trigger assy. it's just such a nice weapon, imo, that i'd hate to have it underperforming other AR15's on accuracy. |
| $1400. i priced everything out and that's just about exactly how much it would cost to buy each component at midwayusa.com and places like that, assuming the lower was complete. i also got 2 Easy Mags and a soft case thrown in. was going to ask for an AR multi-tool thingamajig but i forgot. that a decent price? |
|
Quoted:
$1400. i priced everything out and that's just about exactly how much it would cost to buy each component at midwayusa.com and places like that, assuming the lower was complete. i also got 2 Easy Mags and a soft case thrown in. was going to ask for an AR multi-tool thingamajig but i forgot. that a decent price? It's your money so I suppose if it makes you happy it was worth it for you. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
$1400. i priced everything out and that's just about exactly how much it would cost to buy each component at midwayusa.com and places like that, assuming the lower was complete. i also got 2 Easy Mags and a soft case thrown in. was going to ask for an AR multi-tool thingamajig but i forgot. that a decent price? It's your money so I suppose if it makes you happy it was worth it for you. it's my first AR, so i wasn't expecting to get the sweetest deal, but i'm pretty sure i didn't get taken for too much. what would that setup have been worth to you? it's a used rifle from a private seller. i walked around trying to put a rifle together with the scope, foregrip, bipod, torch, rails and red-dot. everything i was coming up with had me at or over $1400. it would have all been brand new though. it was at a gun show, but the guy i bought it from didn't sell guns, he sold accessories. it was his "personal AR" he used as a platform for his products. i'm trying to learn a little here. henry, i was told it was for a cheek rest. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
$1400. i priced everything out and that's just about exactly how much it would cost to buy each component at midwayusa.com and places like that, assuming the lower was complete. i also got 2 Easy Mags and a soft case thrown in. was going to ask for an AR multi-tool thingamajig but i forgot. that a decent price? It's your money so I suppose if it makes you happy it was worth it for you. it's my first AR, so i wasn't expecting to get the sweetest deal, but i'm pretty sure i didn't get taken for too much. what would that setup have been worth to you? i'm trying to learn a little here. henry, i was told it was for a cheek rest. I hate to be blunt, but you got fucked... That rifle was built with the cheapest, chinese crap parts available. It is awful. For $1400 you could have bought a nice Colt 6920 and had some money left over. Lo-pro upper? Nc Star anything? Ouch. Yup, totally bent over. Should have done some research. ***SHUDDER*** - AG |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
$1400. i priced everything out and that's just about exactly how much it would cost to buy each component at midwayusa.com and places like that, assuming the lower was complete. i also got 2 Easy Mags and a soft case thrown in. was going to ask for an AR multi-tool thingamajig but i forgot. that a decent price? It's your money so I suppose if it makes you happy it was worth it for you. it's my first AR, so i wasn't expecting to get the sweetest deal, but i'm pretty sure i didn't get taken for too much. what would that setup have been worth to you? i'm trying to learn a little here. henry, i was told it was for a cheek rest. I hate to be blunt, but you got fucked... That rifle was built with the cheapest, chinese crap parts available. For $1400 you could have bought a nice Colt 6920 and had some money left over. Lo-pro upper? Nc Star anything? Yup, totally hosed. - AG kinda what i was looking for. now, to my understanding, DPMS is a decent upper if i understand what i read right, and i wanted the A3. i also understand that the lower is of little to no consequence. the optics i could probably agree with. i know i don't like the buttstock, as it' wiggles slightly and feels cheap overall. the fore grip has it's problems too. the light holder moves uder pressure on the foregrip, so using it to mount a laser isn't the best option. so the aimpoint knockoff is junk as well? the green laser seems pretty powerful. if i were going to swap out the "cheap chinese crap parts" and get decent replacements, what would you suggest? |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
$1400. i priced everything out and that's just about exactly how much it would cost to buy each component at midwayusa.com and places like that, assuming the lower was complete. i also got 2 Easy Mags and a soft case thrown in. was going to ask for an AR multi-tool thingamajig but i forgot. that a decent price? It's your money so I suppose if it makes you happy it was worth it for you. it's my first AR, so i wasn't expecting to get the sweetest deal, but i'm pretty sure i didn't get taken for too much. what would that setup have been worth to you? i'm trying to learn a little here. henry, i was told it was for a cheek rest. I hate to be blunt, but you got fucked... That rifle was built with the cheapest, chinese crap parts available. It is awful. For $1400 you could have bought a nice Colt 6920 and had some money left over. Lo-pro upper? Nc Star anything? Ouch. Yup, totally bent over. Should have done some research. ***SHUDDER*** - AG Yea, it sucks, but you got screwed. You could try to sell all the chinese parts (light, laser, rail, scope, etc.) to help purchase some quality parts. Honestly I cant even price that gun because I would never give it a second look. If I were you, I would take the money from selling those parts, buy standard handguards (they may not look as tacti-kool as all those neato things you have on there, but they will function even better), I guess you could leave the stock and grip but I would try to sell those and get a standard milspec stock and grip of your choice. This will leave you with a basic rifle that will function much better than what you have now. If money allows I would also switch out whatever BCG (idk if its dpms or not since its a "custom" build) is in there for a BCM one. TO THE GOOD NEWS: Now you can read on here and find out what makes up a quality rifle. And I'm not talking about the most popular accessory brands either. There is a wealth of knowledge to be found on here. Just soak up as much as possible. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
$1400. i priced everything out and that's just about exactly how much it would cost to buy each component at midwayusa.com and places like that, assuming the lower was complete. i also got 2 Easy Mags and a soft case thrown in. was going to ask for an AR multi-tool thingamajig but i forgot. that a decent price? It's your money so I suppose if it makes you happy it was worth it for you. it's my first AR, so i wasn't expecting to get the sweetest deal, but i'm pretty sure i didn't get taken for too much. what would that setup have been worth to you? i'm trying to learn a little here. henry, i was told it was for a cheek rest. I hate to be blunt, but you got fucked... That rifle was built with the cheapest, chinese crap parts available. For $1400 you could have bought a nice Colt 6920 and had some money left over. Lo-pro upper? Nc Star anything? Yup, totally hosed. - AG kinda what i was looking for. now, to my understanding, DPMS is a decent upper if i understand what i read right, and i wanted the A3. i also understand that the lower is of little to no consequence. the optics i could probably agree with. i know i don't like the buttstock, as it' wiggles slightly and feels cheap overall. the fore grip has it's problems too. the light holder moves uder pressure on the foregrip, so using it to mount a laser isn't the best option. so the aimpoint knockoff is junk as well? the green laser seems pretty powerful. if i were going to swap out the "cheap chinese crap parts" and get decent replacements, what would you suggest? Sell the following: Stock Scope Laser Light Rail Grip (if you dont like it, if you do then thats fine) Bipod/Light thingy Buy the following: Stock here (but you need one in commercial I'm guessing) Handguards here (I even like the magpul MOE better but its up to you) A pair of iron sights (whatever you like best, troys are my favorite but can be pricey for some; for you I would get this to go on your railed gas block and this as your rear sight or you can go carry handle instead) BCG here |
|
don't be in a rush. ask every question you have in google/preferred search engine...it's been asked before. lurk every resource you can find
i am in the process of a build.... and with any type of project where your safety and that of others' are of concern, as well as the performance of the build-project proper, quality components are necessary. quality is quality period, what's "best" is a matter of opinion. |
|
kinda what i was looking for. now, to my understanding, DPMS is a decent upper if i understand what i read right, and i wanted the A3. i also understand that the lower is of little to no consequence. the optics i could probably agree with. i know i don't like the buttstock, as it' wiggles slightly and feels cheap overall. the fore grip has it's problems too. the light holder moves uder pressure on the foregrip, so using it to mount a laser isn't the best option. so the aimpoint knockoff is junk as well? the green laser seems pretty powerful. if i were going to swap out the "cheap chinese crap parts" and get decent replacements, what would you suggest? I wouldn't know where to start... That is not an "A3" upper. It is a DPMS Lo-pro upper. No forward assist & no port door. You have a plain jane 1:9 chrome moly barrel. Your gun is basically a "Fraken-AR" version of a DPMS "Sportical" with a bunch of worthless junk on it. A Sportical is $600 - $650 new. Your rifle probably is worth about $500. Do you like a 20" rifle? IMHO, they don't balance well with a collapsible stock. If it was mine, I would ditch ALL of the crap. Laser, scope, red dot, bipod thingy, UTG rails, flashlight thingy... Throw them away or try to sell them to an unsuspecting kid on the EE. I'd get a standard A2 stock setup and handguard (about $100). I'd mount a decent little scope on it (burris timberline 2-7x comes to mind $150) in Leupold Rifleman see under rings ($20). I'd then have a serviceable plinking AR. Lower parts and BCG are probably crap as well, but I wouldn't change them until something broke. Those gas blocks suck as well. Held on by set screws. Maybe it will suffice. - AG |
|
Quoted:
kinda what i was looking for. now, to my understanding, DPMS is a decent upper if i understand what i read right, and i wanted the A3. i also understand that the lower is of little to no consequence. the optics i could probably agree with. i know i don't like the buttstock, as it' wiggles slightly and feels cheap overall. the fore grip has it's problems too. the light holder moves uder pressure on the foregrip, so using it to mount a laser isn't the best option. so the aimpoint knockoff is junk as well? the green laser seems pretty powerful. if i were going to swap out the "cheap chinese crap parts" and get decent replacements, what would you suggest? I wouldn't know where to start... That is not an "A3" upper. It is a DPMS Lo-pro upper. No forward assist & no port door. You have a plain jane 1:9 chrome moly barrel. Your gun is basically a "Fraken-AR" version of a DPMS "Sportical" with a bunch of worthless junk on it. A Sportical is $600 - $650 new. Your rifle probably is worth about $500. Do you like a 20" rifle? IMHO, they don't balance well with a collapsible stock. If it was mine, I would ditch ALL of the crap. Laser, scope, red dot, bipod thingy, UTG rails, flashlight thingy... Throw them away or try to sell them to an unsuspecting kid on the EE. I'd get a standard A2 stock setup and handguard (about $100). I'd mount a decent little scope on it (burris timberline 2-7x comes to mind $150) in Leupold Rifleman see under rings ($20). I'd then have a serviceable plinking AR. Lower parts and BCG are probably crap as well, but I wouldn't change them until something broke. Those gas blocks suck as well. Held on by set screws. Maybe it will suffice. - AG +1. Another option could be to try to sell the entire upper to someone (surely somebody might want it) and buy a completely new upper. BCM would be the best bang for the buck IMO. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
kinda what i was looking for. now, to my understanding, DPMS is a decent upper if i understand what i read right, and i wanted the A3. i also understand that the lower is of little to no consequence. the optics i could probably agree with. i know i don't like the buttstock, as it' wiggles slightly and feels cheap overall. the fore grip has it's problems too. the light holder moves uder pressure on the foregrip, so using it to mount a laser isn't the best option. so the aimpoint knockoff is junk as well? the green laser seems pretty powerful. if i were going to swap out the "cheap chinese crap parts" and get decent replacements, what would you suggest? I wouldn't know where to start... That is not an "A3" upper. It is a DPMS Lo-pro upper. No forward assist & no port door. You have a plain jane 1:9 chrome moly barrel. Your gun is basically a "Fraken-AR" version of a DPMS "Sportical" with a bunch of worthless junk on it. A Sportical is $600 - $650 new. Your rifle probably is worth about $500. Do you like a 20" rifle? IMHO, they don't balance well with a collapsible stock. If it was mine, I would ditch ALL of the crap. Laser, scope, red dot, bipod thingy, UTG rails, flashlight thingy... Throw them away or try to sell them to an unsuspecting kid on the EE. I'd get a standard A2 stock setup and handguard (about $100). I'd mount a decent little scope on it (burris timberline 2-7x comes to mind $150) in Leupold Rifleman see under rings ($20). I'd then have a serviceable plinking AR. Lower parts and BCG are probably crap as well, but I wouldn't change them until something broke. Those gas blocks suck as well. Held on by set screws. Maybe it will suffice. - AG +1. Another option could be to try to sell the entire upper to someone (surely somebody might want it) and buy a completely new upper. BCM would be the best bang for the buck IMO. i wouldn't go so far as to say i LIKE the 20" barrel. it feels a little nose heavy for being mobile, but it's got all that.... stuff hanging on the front. that being said, this is my first AR so i don't have previous ownership experience of say a 16" to compare it to, maybe another way to so this would be to describe how i'm going to use it. i want a scope and bipod because i want to be able to use it at range (250 - 400+) with accuracy. i want the foregrip and torch for checking out things around my property. i own 16 acres and most of it is not lit at all. the rest of the stuff kinda just came with it. however, i don't want a basic ar-15 rifle with iron sights. if i wanted that they were available at multiple tables starting around $650. granted i probably should have recognised alot of the stuff for the junk it is. to be honest, now that my wife is at work and not reading over my shoulder, i had been shopping around for about 2 hours and she was ready to go. so yea, i made the mistake of saying screw it and opening up my wallet. i didn't realize i was getting hosed by about $800. i figured with a bit of work and time i could have put the same options on a rifle for around $1200, but i probably would have picked stuff every bit as bad and felt worse because then i had researched it and still came up with junk. lol and is the torch really junk? if so damn, how good is the good shit? the only reviews i found on it were good, and i know it lights up stuff through the scope at around 150yd in the dead of a moonless night. i was able to fiddle with the adjustments on the laser and get it centered on the scope at around 30yd, but i can see the dot on surfaces a good 1000yd away through the scope at 9x. unfortunately i can see the beam as well which is why i probably wouldn't use it except for a psychological use. most people are scared of the dot. IMO the dot is more effective at times than the sound of a round being chambered or a hammer being drawn. the scope is junk, i agree, so maybe i'll look at a burris timberline. i don't like the stock and want to replace the foregrip already, so i'll probably want to swap out the grip as well. 2 out of 3 caa products feeling cheap to a first time owner is enough to leave a bad taste in my mouth about all their products. the picatinny rails, is there really much of a difference in rail systems? i don't think mine were installed properly because they seem to be at a slight angle to the upper and the gas block. maybe 1 degree. don't even see it until you're looking it over and over and over like a toy you just bought. lol so now lets talk the actual functional stuff. a couple people have mentioned BCG's and they were on my mind already. however i didn't realize i got a low end upper. i saw the dpms name and recognised it and figured it would be what i wanted. would upgrading the BCG be worth it on this upper? what about the gas block? is it going to be an issue? would i get better reliability, durability, even possibly performance out of a different gas block? i'm looking for accuracy and consistancy at 250-400yd first. this is why the added weight of all the goofy shit on the front wasn't an issue to me. im not seeing it as a run and shoot type of weapon. it's more of a carry it and get to where you're going, setup and shoot shit type of weapon, while maintaining the ability to stand up and fight close if i have to. |
|
OP: That is a 16" barrel, not a 20"
I would sell everything but the lower at a loss & start all over with quality parts. Actually, I would just see if you could return to the seller for a complete refund & go from there. Nothing about that rifle screams quality & sorry you got screwed. 
|
|
Don't spend MORE money on it.
Just unbolt some of the goofy shit off it and shoot it! There's no reason that rifle won't be a fine range weapon as is, minus some claptrap. I'd lose the vertical grip/light/bipod thing, choose one sight or the other (scope or the red dot) and don't sweat the rest. replace what you feel you NEED to replace after shooting, not to keep up with a bunch of people on the internet. |
|
Quoted:
OP: That is a 16" barrel, not a 20" seriously? i'll have to actually measure, but it looked longer than the one on the next table advertised with an 18" barrel. actually thinking about it i'm pretty sure the guy said it was 20" but i might have misheard or heard a piece of another conversation and thought it was him talking. |
|
Quoted:
Don't spend MORE money on it. Just unbolt some of the goofy shit off it and shoot it! There's no reason that rifle won't be a fine range weapon as is, minus some claptrap. I'd lose the vertical grip/light/bipod thing, choose one sight or the other (scope or the red dot) and don't sweat the rest. replace what you feel you NEED to replace after shooting, not to keep up with a bunch of people on the internet. that's probably where i'm going to end up. my wife would not approve the purchase of another upper just days after buying that one. lol. i just hate knowing that the quality of one of my more highly valued possessions is less than par. what i'll probably end up with is a new scope, removing the red dot, the entire front set of attachments, and then putting the torch on the right rail with the standard base button for turning it on and off. i was hoping to get a mid-long range rifle first, then build a CQB rifle, than an mk12 mod1 . but getting off the wishlist for a moment let me ask this. does anybody do idpa 3-gun shoots? my friend is trying to get me interested, i already have a browning hi-power and plan to get a mossberg 590 or a benalli m4 (most likely the mossberg due to cost) to round out the 3-gun set. does anybody know what range is ideal to setup for the rifle portion of a 3-gun shoot? or even what a decent, affordable 3-gun build might consist of? |
|
where did you buy it?
Its better than nothing but man for that price I dont know what to say
Really every expense looks to have been spared by whoever put that together and they had no problem taking your money If I were to aquire that for some unknown reason Id just sell the whole thing and start over. You unfortunately will get nowhere near what you have into it. Sorry OP but I dont even know what to say 
|
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Don't spend MORE money on it. Just unbolt some of the goofy shit off it and shoot it! There's no reason that rifle won't be a fine range weapon as is, minus some claptrap. I'd lose the vertical grip/light/bipod thing, choose one sight or the other (scope or the red dot) and don't sweat the rest. replace what you feel you NEED to replace after shooting, not to keep up with a bunch of people on the internet. that's probably where i'm going to end up. my wife would not approve the purchase of another upper just days after buying that one. lol. i just hate knowing that the quality of one of my more highly valued possessions is less than par. what i'll probably end up with is a new scope, removing the red dot, the entire front set of attachments, and then putting the torch on the right rail with the standard base button for turning it on and off. i was hoping to get a mid-long range rifle first, then build a CQB rifle, than an mk12 mod1 . but getting off the wishlist for a moment let me ask this. does anybody do idpa 3-gun shoots? my friend is trying to get me interested, i already have a browning hi-power and plan to get a mossberg 590 or a benalli m4 (most likely the mossberg due to cost) to round out the 3-gun set. does anybody know what range is ideal to setup for the rifle portion of a 3-gun shoot? or even what a decent, affordable 3-gun build might consist of? I dont shoot match but there is a whole section on this forum designated to setup of weapons and tips and pointers. This whole site is a great resource tool. My advise is read read read and then make decisions 
|
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
OP: That is a 16" barrel, not a 20" seriously? i'll have to actually measure, but it looked longer than the one on the next table advertised with an 18" barrel. actually thinking about it i'm pretty sure the guy said it was 20" but i might have misheard or heard a piece of another conversation and thought it was him talking. So its a gun show rifle? If it is a 20" is the first Ive ever seen with a carbine length gas system(which would make no sense) |
|
There are many different "schools of thought" in regards to what is (and isn't) quality.
It all boils down to this: if it does what you want it to, and fits your current need, the price you paid may not have been such an "over-expenditure". Depending on how you look at it - yes, you could have pieced one together and spent a little less money for a new (un-used) rifle. Yet, if this specific setup caters to your ideal, then the pricetag you paid shouldn't be of total consequence. You can very well, over time, shape the rifle as it exists into a more specific trait that doesn't catch the attention of ARFCOM's naysayers. Reading as much as possible, and talking to as many knowledgeable people as possible will always help you make a very informed decision. Other than combing AR15.com, start here by educating yourself on some specifics for your next build. Enjoy the use of that rifle, and don't listen to hype.
|
|
If you're going to shoot the hell out of it and enjoy it for a number of years you did ok. If you're not going to be running recon ops in some far off land then how will any of those lesser quality parts really affect you? Under the hood it's a hobby grade AR15 that will run just fine.
On the other hand if you paid 1400 for it and you're going to now swap out everything on the rifle for high end shit then you got hammered. I would either keep it and enjoy shooting it or sell it and get a higher quality rig. I can promise you though if you want a rail, light, laser, optic, bipod, other than issue grip and stock, vert grip you're going to be well north of $1400. For example - an $1100 dollar Colt and a $300 LaRue rail = $1400.00. TO build that rifle with "the best" kit will run you $2500.00. |
|
I'll use my first build as an example of sorts for comparison.
AeroPrecision Lower w/ DPMS Lower Parts Kit ($120 for the kit) Bravo Company 16" Mid Length Upper ($425) Bravo Company Bolt & Carrier Group ($140) Bravo Company Standard Charging Handle ($22) Magpul MOE Stock ($60) Standard Milspec stock kit w/ standard carbine buffer ($60) Magpul MOE Grip ($20) Magpul AFG ($40) TROY MRF-M 9" Mid Length Rail ($199) Magpul XTM Rail Panels (3 sets) ($20) Standard Magpul PMAGS x7 @ $12.50 ea ($88) Magpul ASAP Sling Attachment (replaces standard receiver backplate) ($30) Magpul MS2 One Point Sling ($50) Magpul MBUS Rear Iron Sight ($55) Vortex SightFire (Aimpoint type red dot - went with an inexpensive optics solution that I found had decent reviews.) ($150) If my addin' skills is good on this'n, it works out to be about $1480. I'm not military, nor am I a member of law enforcement. This rifle will be used for home defense, and for fun. Each piece purchased was after careful consideration using resources branching from AR15.com, other sites / forums found using Google to research, and friendly advice from knowledgeable people. I could easily have built a "standard" AR15 for around $750, but went with more expensive items in certain areas due to research starting with this chart. Hope your future ventures prove successful and satisfying! :) *edit to add some helpful links* AeroPrecision - Lower Bravo Company USA - You could build your whole rifle with these guys and come out smelling sweet. Primary Arms - optics and more Larue Tactical - High Quality, needs tailored implements Midway USA - fast shipping, good prices, wide selections Wideners - great prices on bulk ammunition Rail Systems can be purchased from many different manufacturers. I chose TROY for the application type, price, and recommendations. |
|
The DPMS upper is excellent. Don't buy all the hype about forward assists and doors; they might be needed on some rifles, in special cases; you probably don't need either feature. The lower receiver is fine. The trigger group is probably okay. The bolt carrier and bolt are probably okay.
All the rest is the absolute dismal bottom of the barrel junk. Noobs should always walk before they try to run. They should also buy a rifle assembled by one of the major manufacturers to enjoy until they learn their way around AR's; a Colt, Bushmaster, Armalite, or DPMS all would be a great place to start. |
|
*sigh* i wish i had checked here as well.
just for clarification, i am not planning on dumping tons of money into this rifle. i may have, had i bought a decent platform. there are a couple of things i have found that i want to replace. the stock, the optics, the foregrip, and have the rails reset. the rail system is not straight as i mentioned before. other than that, it will be used for typical civilian stuff. plinking at groundhogs and whatnot. i found the cantalever system that the scope mounts with does not lock the scope into place. it can wiggle slightly. not very good for the consistancy i mentioned earlier. other than the changes i just mentioned, i'm not dumping more money into this upper. i have my AR to shoot and fondle, i can take my time researching and buying piece by piece to make a high quality upper to replace this as my primary rifle without feeling the need to get it done right now. i can't believe i didn't notice it didn't have a dust shield or a forward assist. i looked at so many rifles it must have slipped right past me. yea it was bought at a gun show and i have no doubts the guy saw newb written on my forehead and is laughing with his buddies right now. expensive lesson for me, but then, those are the ones you remember most vividly... |
|
Here is my $.02 on what you should do.Take it or leave it...
Assuming this is just gonna be a range toy there is no reason to get rid of the upper, as long as it runs fine. So keep the upper, BCG and lower, again, as long as it runs keep it. Sell the optics, rail, flashlights, lasers and VFG. With that money buy front and rear MBUS from Magpul and standard handguards. This will give you a basic AR with everything you need to learn the rifle and have fun shooting. If you want you can also sell the stock and buy a standard one but its up to you. I say keep the rifle because if you sell it you will take such a huge loss you wont have money to buy another. If the rifle wont fire then it would be a good idea to get a new rifle. ETA: while you did overpay you did not get raped as bad as some here say. Half these people probably overpayed during the Obama ban scare anyway. Congrats on the new rifle Im sure youwill enjoy it. |
| The Doublestar lower is fine quality wise..not sure on the lower parts kit that your rifle came with, though. The UTG rails are essentially airsoft gear. Made to look like the real thing, but not necessarily function quite as well..which you're already noticing due to the cant, and i'm guessing there's probably some wiggle to it. The Fenix flashlight is good quality, so that's not something to throw away or sell at a loss. Sadly, the flashlight probably is worth more than your rails, stock, and grip combined. |
|
I'd hunt the guy down that sold you that shit and at least try to return it.
If it was some bubba with no FFL you are probably SOL. But if it was a store that goes to gun shows or even a home based FFL you may have a chance (very slim) at returning it. Even if they charge you a "restocking fee" I would take that over the cheap gear they sold you. |
|
Quoted:
bubba with no FFL that's pretty much what i'm looking at. the i was browsing the table and the guy saw me looking at it and started talking. i asked how much, he said he didn't sell guns, it was his personal rifle, and to sell it he'd want $1400. while revenge, ie kicking the guys ass might feel good, it's really my own fault. the rifle shoots fine, but we have 2ft of snow so i haven't really been able to do much but stand about 150ft away from my backstop and shoot. no targets up so i couldn't even see if it was near where i was aiming. you were right about the rails wiggling. i really like the look and usability of picatinny, plus i mentioned the absolute need for a torch, so i'll probably replace the rail system with something from bravo or a knights armory. speaking of bravy company, i was browsing their site and notice the stripped uppers that come with the ejection door and the forward assist are relatively inexpensive. would it be worth it to get another upper, or am i just picking at minor things if i'm not going to be deploying with it or using it for LEO? my main concerns are tight groupings at 250-400yd and reliability. shedding light in dark places and tight groups. those are my primary concerns. if i can't get a decent grouping with this rifle and it's current set of internals, then i'll really look into replacing the upper reciever group. i'm just wondering if i could make the same gains with a stripped reciever and a Bravo BCG oh and i checked the staking on the gas key and it looks just like the staking in the link provided on the previous page. i'm assuming it's a stock DPMS BCG |
Do not get discouraged. You have a new toy, learn how to use it. Take it out and shoot it, learn the operation of the AR, and get familiar with it. Spend time in the tech forums here, read, and learn all you can. If you decide that the AR is for you you can start to build one how you want it, after you learn the ins and outs. Then you can take some classes, and by then the disease should be full blown and you will probably have 5 or 6 of them. 
Also welcome to the site. Edit: Get out and shoot the rifle, let us know how it functions, and groups, then we can tell you if you should buy the Bravo Company upper or not. I mean you should probably buy one, but it is not needed until you tell us how reliable your upper is. |
|
Quoted:
To shed some light on the situation, I'm sure you won't make this mistake again. Research prior to a purchase goes a LONG way. yea. i usually research everything and find the best option available. i do it with my cars, took 2 months and finally found the exact car i wanted 1000 miles away, i do it with my quads, hell i did it with my paintball gun (though i screwed up and got a R/T which is not legal for competition). why i thought i'd get a decent weapon without making sure of what i was buying is beyond me. trust me i've been kicking myself all day. been a string of bad luck since 2010 started and i guess part of me was hoping something would go right for a change. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
To shed some light on the situation, I'm sure you won't make this mistake again. Research prior to a purchase goes a LONG way. yea. i usually research everything and find the best option available. i do it with my cars, took 2 months and finally found the exact car i wanted 1000 miles away, i do it with my quads, hell i did it with my paintball gun (though i screwed up and got a R/T which is not legal for competition). why i thought i'd get a decent weapon without making sure of what i was buying is beyond me. trust me i've been kicking myself all day. been a string of bad luck since 2010 started and i guess part of me was hoping something would go right for a change. Did you overpay? yes. You could have done much better for that kind of cake, no doubt. However, look at the bright side...you have and AR-15!! Now quit sulking about money you won't get back and go shoot it!! That'll put a smile on that mug. Sell of the superfluous crap and get a few hundred bucks backs, strip it to the bone, and Shoot shoot shoot. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
bubba with no FFL that's pretty much what i'm looking at. the i was browsing the table and the guy saw me looking at it and started talking. i asked how much, he said he didn't sell guns, it was his personal rifle, and to sell it he'd want $1400. while revenge, ie kicking the guys ass might feel good, it's really my own fault. the rifle shoots fine, but we have 2ft of snow so i haven't really been able to do much but stand about 150ft away from my backstop and shoot. no targets up so i couldn't even see if it was near where i was aiming. you were right about the rails wiggling. i really like the look and usability of picatinny, plus i mentioned the absolute need for a torch, so i'll probably replace the rail system with something from bravo or a knights armory. speaking of bravy company, i was browsing their site and notice the stripped uppers that come with the ejection door and the forward assist are relatively inexpensive. would it be worth it to get another upper, or am i just picking at minor things if i'm not going to be deploying with it or using it for LEO? my main concerns are tight groupings at 250-400yd and reliability. shedding light in dark places and tight groups. those are my primary concerns. if i can't get a decent grouping with this rifle and it's current set of internals, then i'll really look into replacing the upper reciever group. i'm just wondering if i could make the same gains with a stripped reciever and a Bravo BCG oh and i checked the staking on the gas key and it looks just like the staking in the link provided on the previous page. i'm assuming it's a stock DPMS BCG Uppers can be had for about $90 or so. This would get you a level base to go with the lower which Im sure is fine. Id imagine the barrel is a standard 1/9 twist non chrome lined which is fine for what you will do with it. The only thing about swapping upper recievers is you need a vice/upper block and barrel wrench to do it easily. Id sell all that cheap junk and reinvest whatever you get out of it into a Troy or Magpul rear flip site. Get rid of that rail too and buy a Magpul MOE. That gives you the basic rifle which you will be happier with. It is a expensive lesson but youll be ok. 
|
|
Quoted:
Do not get discouraged. You have a new toy, learn how to use it. Take it out and shoot it, learn the operation of the AR, and get familiar with it. Spend time in the tech forums here, read, and learn all you can. If you decide that the AR is for you you can start to build one how you want it, after you learn the ins and outs. Then you can take some classes, and by then the disease should be full blown and you will probably have 5 or 6 of them.
Also welcome to the site. Edit: Get out and shoot the rifle, let us know how it functions, and groups, then we can tell you if you should buy the Bravo Company upper or not. I mean you should probably buy one, but it is not needed until you tell us how reliable your upper is. yup. i'd have shot all 200 rounds i bought yesterday by now if i i didn't have to walk through 2ft of snow with 3.5ft drifts to put the targets up. lol. i am fairly certain the AR is the weapon for me. i researched AR's vs AK's vs mini-14's etc etc. like i said, i'm already infected and before i had my first AR, i was looking at 15+ gun safes and decided i was going to need 3 rifles to satisfy all my shooting urges. i decided to use all AR's because of the modular design of the AR. i've been inspired since a child by distance shooters. the squad sniper. yada yada. before long i learned about the mk12 system and fell in love. had there been an mk12 mod0/1 at the gun show yesterday, you'd have been seeing pictures of that. looking back on yesterday, i find it ironic that i said to my wife "don't let me buy the first rifle i look at", and true to her word, she made me keep looking. but in the end, i bought the first one i had looked at... *sigh* |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Do not get discouraged. You have a new toy, learn how to use it. Take it out and shoot it, learn the operation of the AR, and get familiar with it. Spend time in the tech forums here, read, and learn all you can. If you decide that the AR is for you you can start to build one how you want it, after you learn the ins and outs. Then you can take some classes, and by then the disease should be full blown and you will probably have 5 or 6 of them.
Also welcome to the site. Edit: Get out and shoot the rifle, let us know how it functions, and groups, then we can tell you if you should buy the Bravo Company upper or not. I mean you should probably buy one, but it is not needed until you tell us how reliable your upper is. yup. i'd have shot all 200 rounds i bought yesterday by now if i i didn't have to walk through 2ft of snow with 3.5ft drifts to put the targets up. lol. i am fairly certain the AR is the weapon for me. i researched AR's vs AK's vs mini-14's etc etc. like i said, i'm already infected and before i had my first AR, i was looking at 15+ gun safes and decided i was going to need 3 rifles to satisfy all my shooting urges. i decided to use all AR's because of the modular design of the AR. i've been inspired since a child by distance shooters. the squad sniper. yada yada. before long i learned about the mk12 system and fell in love. had there been an mk12 mod0/1 at the gun show yesterday, you'd have been seeing pictures of that. looking back on yesterday, i find it ironic that i said to my wife "don't let me buy the first rifle i look at", and true to her word, she made me keep looking. but in the end, i bought the first one i had looked at... *sigh* Look at the bright side. You have a lower, so you could set up the other AR variants you're looking for by simply buying an upper. No FFL fees.. can just have it shipped right to your door and configure it how you like it without paying gunshow prices. |
|
I would offer this: As long as it shoots and is safe, enjoy the hell out of it! In the mean time, save up $$ and buy high-quality parts here and there in the EE and from the site sponsors and probably after a year or so {depending on how much $$ you make} you will have a second, very kick-ass AR15 that you can stand up and be proud of. The only thing I would get rid of is that VFG, It is hideous and probably makes the rifle very unbalanced and front-heavy. Replace the stock if you got the money, but personnally, I wouldn't. Just save your $$ and build another rifle after doing lots of research |
|
stretch: this magpul moe? http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/Magpul-MOE-Enhanced-Handguard-BLACK-p/mag405%20blk.htm
nco: it kind of does make it front heavy, but not much, and it puts the torch in a nice position with the thumb button to momentarily activate the torch, or the ability to lock it in the on position. i want a foregrip because it feels more natural in a tactical position. however, the CAA foregrip is horrible and ugly, you're right. i am going to get a standard foregrip and mount the torch on a siderail. shadow: that's a large part of the goal i was going for, not so much the FFL fees part, but the ability to have 2 different rifles by swapping out the uppers. you have to imagine it would be easier to lug around an mk12 upper then an entire mk12, logistically. hell you could put the second upper in a tactical chart tube and molle it to your gear. guys, don't get me wrong, i'm disappointed in myself. especially knowing the rifle i could have/should have had for $1400. that being said, i'm still grinning from ear to ear. it's 15 degrees right now, or like i said, i'd have shot all day long. i was freezing my wife out last night, opening the door a crack and sticking the ar out to line up the laser at 40 yards, which is now in a box on my dresser. lol. i mean yea it adds wow factor and a slight advantage by showing you generally where your bullets will hit without having to have a proper sight picture, but it also adds bulk and weight.i want to sit in an upstairs room and open a window and try to zero in the scope, but even way out here that's pushing the boundries of a friendly neighbor after dark. i still pulled it out when one of my shooting buddies came over and felt a good bit of pride. |
|
Quoted:
stretch: this magpul moe? http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/Magpul-MOE-Enhanced-Handguard-BLACK-p/mag405%20blk.htm nco: it kind of does make it front heavy, but not much, and it puts the torch in a nice position with the thumb button to momentarily activate the torch, or the ability to lock it in the on position. i want a foregrip because it feels more natural in a tactical position. however, the CAA foregrip is horrible and ugly, you're right. i am going to get a standard foregrip and mount the torch on a siderail. shadow: that's a large part of the goal i was going for, not so much the FFL fees part, but the ability to have 2 different rifles by swapping out the uppers. you have to imagine it would be easier to lug around an mk12 upper then an entire mk12, logistically. hell you could put the second upper in a tactical chart tube and molle it to your gear. guys, don't get me wrong, i'm disappointed in myself. especially knowing the rifle i could have/should have had for $1400. that being said, i'm still grinning from ear to ear. it's 15 degrees right now, or like i said, i'd have shot all day long. i was freezing my wife out last night, opening the door a crack and sticking the ar out to line up the laser at 40 yards, which is now in a box on my dresser. lol. i want to sit in an upstairs room and open a window and try to zero in the scope, but even way out here that's pushing the boundries of a friendly neighbor after dark. i still pulled it out when one of my shooting buddies came over and felt a good bit of pride. Logo out, log in, and join us over here. |
| If I were you, I would shoot the hell out of the gun. Don't tell a soul how much you paid for it and just be proud to be the owner of a new rifle. No matter how you feel, don't drop another dime into this rifle. Start reading the hell out of this site and start saving for your next build. |
|
Quoted:
If I were you, I would shoot the hell out of the gun. Don't tell a soul how much you paid for it and just be proud to be the owner of a new rifle. No matter how you feel, don't drop another dime into this rifle. Start reading the hell out of this site and start saving for your next build. I'm saying this. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
If I were you, I would shoot the hell out of the gun. Don't tell a soul how much you paid for it and just be proud to be the owner of a new rifle. No matter how you feel, don't drop another dime into this rifle. Start reading the hell out of this site and start saving for your next build. I'm saying this. lol yea, i'm already starting to get a parts list and go through learning about each part and the ins and outs of different companies and models and types. as i buy them. especially focusing on the "dont tell a soul how much you paid for it" part |
|
Quoted:
If I were you, I would shoot the hell out of the gun. Don't tell a soul how much you paid for it and just be proud to be the owner of a new rifle. No matter how you feel, don't drop another dime into this rifle. Start reading the hell out of this site and start saving for your next build. This is some seriously good advice. As long as it functions properly shoot it and have fun with it. Good luck, bro. ETA: No matter how you came by it, welcome to the BRD!!
|
|
one gun is better than no gun
doesnt matter how much you paid for it, you didnt know. but now you know! go to the AR picture forum, and notice what guys are spending their money on. there are not many people here who buy crapjunk to put on their rifle. so look at other peoples builds, go to the gunstore/show, and handle it. if it feels good, buy it! live and learn man. im sorry but when i looked at that light/grip combo with the bipod attached i laughed out loud. its a good thing you came here to the right place man, what if you took that out in public  
|
[ARCHIVED THREAD] - My First AR (Page 1 of 2)
AR Sponsor