AR Sponsor
Posted: 2/3/2014 8:32:38 PM EDT
Due to practicality and lack of funds, I'll probably never have more than any one gun of any type at any one time, so I want to get my AR right. I've been scouring the web for information and, frankly, I'm all but burned out. There's too much information, most of which is unclear or contentious. Everyone has their favorites but nobody seems to want to state what passes for bottom-line acceptability. An example is that I've been told that Colt makes a better barrel than DPMS, but I am given no qualifiers or information to base that off of. I feel like for all the research I attempt to do, I'd do just as well to throw a dart at a list and pick the brand it hits. 
I am currently at college, so building it will have to wait until I graduate. (it makes no sense to buy a gun that I'll use twice then leave in a safe 9 months out of the year.) In general, I would like to know what brands to avoid, practical information, etc. Obviously I know next to nothing in terms of hands-on experience. I grew up without guns, so I'm kind of on my own here. Obviously I could be entirely wrong about all of this, so I'd rather find out here so I don't suffer [extreme] buyer's remorse. 
In terms of what I want to make, I'd like to have a "catch all" rifle--I was thinking an 18" to 20" in 5.56 NATO. I know there's little point in bringing up Mil-Spec since I can't just buy a military weapon, but I'd like to make sure everything is quality--I'd rather pay out the nose for a good product that I could pass on than settle for a mediocre one. I'm poor, so this is a big investment--I'd rather not screw it up. Thanks for the help! 
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How much have you budgeted to spend?
What will your primary uses for the gun be? Its always tough to tell someone what is the best of this or best of that. A lot is personal preference. Some prefer Reebok over Nike. Neither person is wrong necessarily. Spend your time before you actually start buying, while you're in school and do like what I have done. Organize your bookmarks with companies you seem to like or hear lots of people recommend. Also bookmark topics that relate to knowledge or products. That way when you are ready to buy, you won't be trying to remember everything. Also you didn't mention how long until you start to buy. Some things may change by the time you are ready to buy depending on if we are talking years or months. |
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The short answer: Colt.
The question has been asked/answered hundreds of times (search function). Everyone has their favorites for more or less $, but Colt is the simplest way to get a good gun at a good price. It's also a brand that everyone else recognizes. You said you want a decent general purpose rifle at (of course) a fair price = Colt. You can do worse and you can do better (and those recommendations will follow) but in order to do so you have to be willing to sort through the various offerings, knowing what you are looking for and what you are looking at. Try here and here and good luck. |
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Quoted:
Due to practicality and lack of funds, I'll probably never have more than any one gun of any type at any one time, so I want to get my AR right. I've been scouring the web for information and, frankly, I'm all but burned out. There's too much information, most of which is unclear or contentious. Everyone has their favorites but nobody seems to want to state what passes for bottom-line acceptability. An example is that I've been told that Colt makes a better barrel than DPMS, but I am given no qualifiers or information to base that off of. I feel like for all the research I attempt to do, I'd do just as well to throw a dart at a list and pick the brand it hits.
I am currently at college, so building it will have to wait until I graduate. (it makes no sense to buy a gun that I'll use twice then leave in a safe 9 months out of the year.) In general, I would like to know what brands to avoid, practical information, etc. Obviously I know next to nothing in terms of hands-on experience. I grew up without guns, so I'm kind of on my own here. Obviously I could be entirely wrong about all of this, so I'd rather find out here so I don't suffer [extreme] buyer's remorse.
In terms of what I want to make, I'd like to have a "catch all" rifle--I was thinking an 18" to 20" in 5.56 NATO. I know there's little point in bringing up Mil-Spec since I can't just buy a military weapon, but I'd like to make sure everything is quality--I'd rather pay out the nose for a good product that I could pass on than settle for a mediocre one. I'm poor, so this is a big investment--I'd rather not screw it up. Thanks for the help! So.. you want to build one after you graduate? |
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Think of it like a vehicle. If you have a little money you get a Hyundai. If you have a lot of money you get a Boeing.
You're still in the conceptualization phase and no one can help you out of that. Give us some concrete parameters and you'll get a more solid response (ex. budget, primary use, etc.). One place you may start is the orange and white "Build Your Rifle" button on the top right. It's a work in progress, and is lacking lots of parts from lots of companies, but will give you a better idea of the process of selection. (ETA: Then you can make fun stuff like THIS) |
Yeah, I'll have to build it after I graduate--I'm just trying to get a handle of what I'll need to buy ahead of time. Price isn't really an issue--providing everything works with its other parts, I can just buy the parts slowly. Hopefully I'd have it completed before we make the switch to rail guns.  I had heard that Colt was the brand that everything was judged by, but it's hard to form a "hierarchy" when the subject is so contentious. Google search has gotten me close to nowhere.
As for use, it's mostly as a SHTF piece of equipment. Obviously I'd plink with it and get better at using it, but that comes second to it being there if I needed it. Hopefully I'd never need to, but there's no point to having a military-style weapon if it's not able to perform a military-style function. *shrug* I was thinking an 18" or 20" 5.56 barrel as a compromise between being compact and maximizing the round's potential. I'm not going for "tacticool", I'm just focusing on the essential parts for now. If I'm being naive or misinformed, make sure to let me know. (Not that you all would hold back in any case.  )
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| You said you want to build correct? I would agree with others, if you just wanted save up and buy a complete rifle, a Colt is the way to go for a general purpose rifle. But if you're going to build, Bravo Company makes quality parts for a mid-range price. Also check Palmetto State Armory, Joe Bob Outfitters, Brownell's, MidwayUSA, Rainier, etc. for good deals on parts. |
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If you want to buy a whole rifle get a colt at Walmart, personally I prefer sig's. If you want to build though the possibilities are nearly endless. Most parts can be had for cheap if your buying piece by piece which might be more manageable on your budget than dropping a grand at once. The barrel, hand guard, and optic (if you want one) will be the big purchases of $200+ if your going for top shelf.
Personally I think all aluminum lowers are all the same, some think different. You can have a completed lower built for less than $200 (stripped lower $50, LPK $50, buffer assembly with a basic stock for probably no more than $60) and those 3 items are essentially what you need for a lower. Later you can go in and drop $200 on a SSA trigger if you choose along with better stocks. The upper is where the real money will add up. I'd start by building a lower first and then worry about an upper second Happy hunting, welcome to the disease. |
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If you want a SHTF rifle that will also shoot go to PSA, wait for the sales, and put one together. No reason why you can't put one together for <$500. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hV-_HLYZ-hY |
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