So I want to get an AR-15.
Now, I know, I know. There are thirty thousand accessories.
I don’t want this because Owebawma is the preselect. I want it because I want it, and that’s enough reason. But I keep hearing “build is better than buy” and I have spoken with several people about components- the general consensus seems to be “colt or Rock River lower” but beyond that noboduy seems to have ANY consensus.
Thoughts? My plan is to start with a bone stock rifle, and maybe later add to it.
23 comments Og | Uncategorized
One of the things I’d like to do in the next couple of months is buy a rifle like an AR-15. You know, a “scary looking” rifle. I’ll be looking for future posts on the subject.
If you assemble one from parts, you’ll spend much more than I just did. I recommend buying a complete gun from a second-echelon manufacturer — i.e., anyone but Colt or Bushmaster — and upgrading parts over time, as you work the gun in.
Rock River’s AR-15s are awesome out of the box. Mine’s still stock and it’s still drives tacks.
Might want to check out DPMS. They’ve got every M-16 doodad and varient you can think of. I myself salivate at possessing a H&K416 but alas, as they say, this in not possible.
Let me say something else about DPMS. I knew a fella, who claimed to be a gunsmith, who said he could get the trigger pull down on my Colt H-Bar. He throughly screwed up the hammer on it. PISSED! Tried to get another from Colt but all I got was ON BACKORDER-delivery date unknown. Call DPMS. Got a Mil. Spec. replacement hammer in the mail three days later. If I had to depend on Colt, I’d still be waiting.
I got a Colt lower (because it was available in a local gun shop) ages ago, and a no-name parts kit for the rest of the bits.
I don’t claim to have any expertise on the AR in general, but honestly – unless you’re going to blow tens of thousands of rounds through it or do competitive shooting, I can’t imagine it matters which lower or parts you have, as long as they’re not utter crap.
I’m not sure if anything you can buy in the AR family is so bad it won’t shoot Well Enough for non-target/varminting purposes.
Build, I have two one on a DPMS lower A-2 and a M-4 on a Armilite lower cost about a third of new Go to DEL-Ton.com best people in the business get a lower as soon as you can price goes up everyday
Larry
One more thought get the best barrel you can up front every thing else just hangs on it, I have DPMS 1 in 8 SS barrels on mine and they shoot
These things will surprise you with the level of accuracy they are capable of
Larry
I have used Bushmaster and Rock River stuff, both worked well. I like Krieger tubes but they are pricey. Pay attention to the twist, get at least 1 in 8 to shoot the heavy bullets(75-80gr). I guess you already know this system is easy to build up with few special tools needed.
I’m starting my 2nd AR build (on a DPMS stripped lower). I like DPMS because they’re not pricey and the company sponsors our big 3-Gun match every year. They’re also fast about sending me all the doodads I buy from them.
I can take one apart blindfolded and reassemble it in under a minute. If you can scrounge a Colt, go with it, then start doing the little things to make it your own.
They’re like Harleys. Always needing something new,just for fun.
Poodle-shooter. Get a 7.62 NATO.
I posted at my place last week about wanting an DPMS Panther in 7.62×39 and I was looking for advice (DPMS is the only company I have found that makes a receiver for this cartridge).
The response I got, buy an AK-47. Much less complicated.
I talked to some other friends and they mentioned that the AR’s can have trouble with the mil-surp ammo and not always firing.
I have a CZ bolt action carbine chambered in 7.62×39 and it didn’t shoot mil-surp ammo consisently either – I would get no-fires. Then I’d leave it alone for a minute, then reset the bolt and then it would fire on the 2nd trigger pull. I even had the firing pin spring replaced with a heavier duty one for a heavier strike. That reduced my no-fires to about half what they were. I finally said, “Fuck it!,” and got rid of the 1600 rounds of the Chi-Com mil-surp ammo I had. Sold it a few months back for $350. Now I only shoot 7.62×39 cartridges with the Hornady V-Max bullet. That increased the rifle’s accuracy too.
Right now most ARs are running 8-12 weeks out through online mfg’s. DPMS is even further out.
Olympic Arms makes the best lower receivers, their Max-forged lowers have never steared me wrong. There uppers are pretty generic.
I preach “build your own”, but parts are all out of stock right now. Best bet is buying from a local dealer and getting a nice stock rifle like Rock River or DPMS with a few bells and whistles.
Og,
Try visiting R Guns in Carpentersville. I know you have to have a customer up there you can visit. They have full guns and various parts to build your own complete. I have this DPMS Lower from them
http://www.rguns.net/009_31.html
Mounted to a 24″ Hbar flattop (bushy)
Have fun!
Check out http://www.del-ton.com
I say build your own lower but buy a ready upper. Cheaper that way. I have a Superior Arms lower (w/adjustable trigger) and it’s worth more than the $100 I paid.
Holy cow. I can actually say something constructive on a gun post. Well, other than, get one.
Anyway…Rock River. Go Rock River. Once upon a time, they were a customer of mine. And I’ve been to the shop. I’ve dealt with them.
Good people. Good product. I know both of those factors are important to you…so I say, Rock River.
Tammi,
Best recommendation I’ve heard in a long time. I looked at their site and will get one Sunday.
Dick,
I don’t think you’ll be sorry. They really did make me jump through hoops, as a supplier. Their quaility demands were….outstanding.
So glad I could help! :-)
I went with Stag Arms stripped lower just by happenstance and Del-Ton rifle kit for the rest. I’m pretty satisfied, but new to the type. I did get a flat top upper and detachable carry handle with the standard rear sight, so have choice of scope or regular sights. Turns out the front sight is not a problem with a scope, it just makes a faint shadow.
I wish I’d seen this sooner, so I’m late. We have to make our own here in CA – so I built up a Lauer lower and a Noveske – they’re made by LMT and Superior respectivly.
From the CalGuns AR Lower FAQ (with a lot of pictures of how they get cut differently, and by whom), there are FOUR manufacturers that produce the majority of lowers: MMS, CMT, LMT and LAR.
Here’s the Mfg. distribution list:
LMT = LMT, Lauer(old), DS Arms, PWA, Eagle, Knights Armament, Barrett, Bushmaster (?)
CMT = Stag, RRA, High Standard, Noveske, Century (current), Global Tactical, CLE, S&W, MGI, Wilson Tactical, (some?) Colt, Ratworx
LAR = Grizzly, Bushmaster (L Prefix), Ameetech, (?)DPMS, CMMG, Double Star, Fulton
JVP = Double Star, LRB
MMS = Mega, GSE, Dalphon, POF (forged), Alexander Arms,
Olympic = Olypmic, SGW, Tromix, Palmetto, Dalphon, Frankford, (old) Century
Sun Devil = Sun Devil forged billet receivers
Superior = Superior Arms, Lauer (current)
Grenadier Precision.
The Sun Devil’s are pretty cool…
I put a White Oak CMP upper on the Lauer and a Noveske on the Noveske…
Did you finally pick one out?