What to Buy an AR-15

How's it going guys, I want to buy an Ar-15 and have been doing some research but I'm interested in what you all have to say. What would be a good gun to start with. I would like to get something that is upgradable that I can work on and improve over time. I will be using it for recreational shooting and home defense. Thanks guys

 

are you going to buy a complete one or get it in pieces and assemble it yourself?

...get something w/ a flattop picatinny receiver (most are that way), you'll have to decide if you want a fixed front sight (the triangular front sight post that is ubiquitous to AR15/M16), or a picatinny front sight base (that accepts flip down front sight), ...for additional customization, you can get stocks w/ internal storage, sling swivel mounts, et... i like the vltor stocks

 

I could do either, I'm not sure. which way would be better or cheaper?

 

hard to say, ..if you aren't too picky about the "furniture" (that's a technical term in black rifle parlance BTW ), then i'd lean toward finding a complete rifle that suits your taste... this would be the easiest... assembling one requires you to buy the components separately, but gives you the most flexibility in terms of what goes into it... this may be the way to go if you want to build something that you can't find in a catalog...

deciding what "brand" to get is a tough one because you can ask 10 people and get ten different answers . there are a lot of good makers out there today for civilian duty ARs... i'm partial to CMMG, as i like their teflon hardcoat anodized finish...

 

Thanks for the help guys. I know its a stout round for home defense. I don't have anybody around for a while so I'm not supper worried about hitting someone or something else. But it mostly for recreation.

 

actually .223/5.56, light and fast, ..isn't as great at penetrating these kind of walls as one might iniitally think... the high-speed collision tends to induce yaw, keyholing, and premature breakup of the round... "heavy and slow" projectiles tend to be much more reliable penetrators when it come to home/wall construction...

 

.22lr upper is a good idea...

 

If you buy individual componenes and assemble them yourself you have no implicit warranty in the entire gun. If you buy an assmbled rifle from a reputable manufacturer you get the manufacturer's warranty on the entire assembly.

 

If you are a noob to the AR platform I recommend the Colt SP6920.
There are cheaper ARs, there are more expensive ARs. You can build your own from super expensive or super cheap components but for your first AR it's better to go with a complete rifle.
The 6920 is a basic flat top model, M4 style and it just works.
It's good quality, a namebrand and not much more expensive than other manufacturers. About U$950 out the door most places.

http://www.colt.com/ColtLawEnforcement/Products/ColtLawEnforcementCarbine.aspx

Fritz

 

Complete Upper...
http://palmettostatearmory.com/inde...pers/psa-16-hammer-forged-m4a1-cmv-upper.html

Complete Assembled Lower...
http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/firearms/receivers/complete-psa-ar15-lower-moe-edition.html

$796.90 + FFL xfer fee and all you have to do mate the upper & lower and pop take-down pins.

Save even more if you assemble the lower yourself.

And be sure to search here next time as there are many other threads identical to this one.

 

agreed - we'll save it for another thread/discussion... a fascinating topic..

 

^^^

I was in the same boat a few months ago. I did LOTS of research and I decided to buy a complete upper from PSA. I got one that included a lower parts kit as well.

I purchased a stripped lower locally, then assembled everything myself.

I also got a few other parts (new buttstock, handguard, etc) that I wanted and assembled as they came in.

I made an AR for under $650.

Of course I added some other components to lift the price over $1K, but I'd do it again!