AR-15 BS Thread

For all those that recommended Holosun, I like the 530G from Primary Arms with the ACSS reticle. Seems promising and won't break the bank.

 

I'm going to go point by point because you seem to want to talk about specifics.

Yes, your gear will limit you...if you decide that you need to perform at a level that does warrant such performance. Weekend fun needs nothing more than a basic rig, and wants nothing more than a few nice features, which is plenty accessible at that price point.

That LMT upper you mentioned just grew from 850 to 1k plus, and that doesn't include the other necessary bits like the BCG and charging handle. Given that we're going the Buy Once Cry Once route with LMT top half, let's spec an LMT that's a basic but BOCO and see what it costs? 850 for the upper, 470 for a barrel, 250 for their basic BCG, 50 for their basic charging handle. Congrats, your "$850" upper costs 1620 dollars without a lower, or any optics/accessories, and if we're going to talk BOCO, optics matter a LOT more than the rifle itself so long as the rifle is safe and even SLIGHTLY accurate.

Since when are cantilevers crap? At this price point, an Aero Ultralight is pretty close to the optimum scope mount in terms of features vs price, and there are other options available that are beefier at a similar price if you value durability over lightweight.

I agree that an upper should be quality parts, which is why it's a good thing S&W and Ruger don't tend to make crap. They make items they stand behind. I also agree that a lower can be lower spec and still run well, my lower is a mashup of MBT2S, Anderson, PSA, RRA, and Magpul, and the only reason I'll change any of it is to go to milspec garbage to be CMP legal.

Coming back to price, you're NOT talking a $1500 system, you're talking one that costs somewhere in the range of $1700-$1900, bare of any sighting or ergonomic additions, assuming you put your upper on a low price lower.

That is exactly what we're talking about here, because your typical weekend plinker doesn't know why those things MIGHT matter (nor does he need to), and isn't likely going to leave a rifle rattling around his truckbed. It doesn't need to survive a HALO jump 20 miles behind the lines for a 5 day recon op.

I agree that you shouldn't skimp on items that contain explosions, which is why it's good the both S&W and Ruger are companies that supply matched components and systems and take any risks from piecing together a rifle at home out of the equation. Hell, really all you NEED to work properly is the bolt, barrel, and gas system.

I'm curious why you say the M&P is garbage tier, given that they seem to perform well in torture tests and the couple I've seen have been quite reliable over about ten thousand rounds. We're not recommending you go buy Combat Armory, unbranded AR15, or any other truly cheap parts. It's stuff that runs, period. I agree that I'd rather have an LMT or LWRC if I'm considering a rifle for duty use. The OP wasn't, so I'm not sure why the duty-tier pieces are being suggested.

I get it. Good gear is good, and top tier gear is expensive for a reason. That reason is the fact that people will stake their lives on that top tier gear from round 1 to round 20000. If we were talking in that space, I'd tell anyone to buy it. We aren't, so why bother?

Pretty on board with this. I wouldn't call a Sport II, PSA, or even a Ruger MPR duty or military rated, but they are plenty suitable for plinking, games, competition, hunting or even just as a bump in the night HD rig, which is what probably 90-95% of the people who own AR's need from them.


Edited to make the formatting suck less.

 

I haven’t read everything but judging from the glancing few sentences I’ve read apparently there’s another classic ‘this AR sucks, this AR is better’ argument going on.

I’ll add my 2 cents bc I can. I have everything from PSA “ChEaP tRaSh” up to BCM and LMT goodness. For range days and fun shooting I’ll grab any AR I have and go have fun and it’ll work no issues. Now if its SHITF and I had to choose one that my life and family’s life would depend on it would be my BCM.

Almost every modern day ar-15 is ‘good enough’ for range use and training etc. if it’s your first one grab a cheaper model and make sure you even like it first. If you do train and become proficient with it. At that point your knowledge of them will have increased and you can either keep it and buy another better rifle and have two or sell it and buy one "good" rifle, it’s all up to the end user.

 

TL;DR:

Convo devolves past this point.

 

I have played with a few mid to upper Tier I uppers. I will say that LaRue's upper does rival many of the monolithic frames of the upper tier offerings. The fact that the forend does not directly engage the barrel nut makes it possible to get a sub moa weapon out of what is usually a 1-2 moa weapon with a "free float" handguard. LaRue has a new program offering where you can configure a full rifle for self build at about 800 bucks for everything needed to build except the lower receiver and iron sights. Basically, you can have a mid tier weapon for a grand.

That said. I started at the lower end and bought my first personal milspec AR from Radical Firearms many moons ago. It was a solid 2 moa starter rifle and more than enough for range work and home defense. Many many many iterations later, with a lot of build experience and training classes behind me, I am still not convinced it is necessary to go to the extreme of a monolithic upper. Milspec is good enough and I occasionally splurge on forged upper/lower combo by Aero Precision (who also forges Spikes and other mid tier upper/lower receivers). If I were an operator and need a professional tool, it would be a LaRue, LWRC, or an LMT. I'm not, and I can built three or more complete weapons (more than capable of doing the job) for the price of one Tier I weapon. To most of us, weapons are a hobby, not a job.

 

One BCM 16" with an ACSS ACOG for the boog and a PSA pistol with a Burris FastFire III for the truck and range.

I think a DD/BCM SBR with the mini ACOG would be the perfect answer (for me) but I don't care for the paperwork.


I don't really understand the mentality about if it's not an x/y/z AR15, it cant be trusted. Pretty much all of the "entry-level" ARs these days match the quality of a 2010 Colt LE series. I couldn't believe our military M4s worked most days compared to how nice everything is on the civilian market.

 

My PSA junk is sub-MOA. Must be a fluke.

0.595”.




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I agree with your point, but as somebody who does value precision in a rifle, I'll say a single 3 round group is statistically pretty meaningless. 5 isn't much better. 10 or 20 rounds is a much better statistical test of accuracy, but nobody wants to spend 10-20 minutes working on one group to figure out how accurate a combination really is, and for good reason.

 

Watch out for mr.badass. Come on this forum with 3 posts now and start trashtalking.

You arent going to stay long on this forum calling peoples choices garbage. As a few others have expressed in disagreement.

 

I see your point. Just stirring the pot a bit
It's just absurd to say anything other than what 1 guy deems to be the "best" is not even worth looking at.

 

Hey now, I wouldn't get that way. Assuming his 0317 is legit, he'd be a literal Marine Sniper, which is far from easy.

How having demonstrated skills in recon, field craft, and marksmanship on the government's dime makes him an expert on civilian purchased, owned, used, and maintained rifles is beyond me, given that being an 0317 doesn't exactly make him a 2111 armorer.

 

i was more referencing his use to call me "killer"

even if he is a so-called expert he should be able to realize the value in "budget/entry" level rifles without calling them garbage.

 

Yeah, condescension from somebody who is new here and may well be a purely internet larper lying in his profile is funny. I'm not a fan of badasses, because badassery doesn't equal competence.

 

Jesus. Mods should rename this thread "'My shit's just as good as yours.' 'Nuh uh it's garbage.' 'No it isn't.'"

This thread sounds like a grade school playground lately. I don't understand why everyone cares so much what other people think of your equipment. Are you happy with it? Is it doing what you bought/built it for? Then who cares? And why do some people get a sense of superiority out of telling someone else 'your equipment isn't as good as mine'?

^
Also applies to vehicles.

 

Back to our regular scheduled programming!!

 

Wow ok so some hurt feelings here in a thread with BS in the title lol.

I thought we were in the nest of trust

Some of y’all need to calm down a bit and realize that opinions are exactly that... Talk about some frail egos.

While I can’t give an honest opinion as to which truck mods will get me the best street cred in the hobby lobby parking lot, I can give an honest opinion as to what people should consider when selecting a basic setup. What’s next? Will I be mocked for saying you shouldn’t buy plastic flip-up irons and spend the extra $40 to buy metal ones? ::gasp::

As for my credibility, I wouldn’t pretend to be something I’m not. While this is the internet and everyone is a badass from their basements, no one can prove for sure. But if you rate to be in The HOG’s Den, feel free to post about this and check my creds. As for those of you who don’t rate or don’t have access to someone who can verify with a schoolhouse, I guess we’ll just have to keep dismissing anyone with a differing opinion because they made fun of a toy that I thought was cool.

Spend your money as you please, but don’t get upset just because someone has a differing opinion.

I’m here to learn about Tacoma options and learn from those that know more than me about them. When I see a thread pop up in the feed that I may know a thing or two about and can provide an option on, then cool. This is one of those threads.

I’ll go ahead and sit back down at the kid’s table...because apparently men are speaking.

#PostCountDoesntEqualCred
#SubMOAAllDayOnlineButNeverToBeSeenAtTheRangesAndInComps
#OpinionsAreMeaninglessButHurtFeelingsAreForever
#JustGivingAdviceToThoseThatMightNotKnowAnyBetterOrWantToKnowMore

 

You HAVE to get long travel and Kings because everything else is crap and will rattle apart as soon as you leave pavement for weekend joy rides on forest roads.

 

Read the room my dude. Guys asking questions deserve the facts they need, not people telling them their stuff is garbage. I'd also read the Code of Conduct https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/tacomaworld-code-of-conduct.17179/ since you're new, I'd hate for a new member to get banned for not knowing the rules. Welcome to the site, and feel free to post around. There's some other gun related threads you might want to pop into, more inline with your stated expertise.