AR-15 with my tax money...

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briar rabbit

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 22, 2010
Messages
53
Location
St Helens, Oregon
Considering buying my first AR-15 and don't know where to start. Looking to spend up to $1500. Prefer buying a higher quality gun even if I have to consider used. Will be used for target and varmint hunting so 223 is what I am thinking.

  • Barrel length? SS barrel? Fluted?
  • What make and model?
  • What are the key options that would be considered a must have?
Thanks in advance,
Tom
 
briar rabbit said:
Considering buying my first AR-15 and don't know where to start. Looking to spend up to $1500. Prefer buying a higher quality gun even if I have to consider used. Will be used for target and varmint hunting so 223 is what I am thinking.

  • Barrel length? SS barrel? Fluted?
  • What make and model?
  • What are the key options that would be considered a must have?
Thanks in advance,
Tom
Click to expand...

I would recomend 20-24" barrel full heavy (not bull, too heavy), don't worry too much about flutes, plain chromolly will serve well 'till you want to spend more on an aftermaket barrel.

Stay away from Pro-Mag magazines. I love my 10 and 20rd c-products.

There are so many good ones, and so many options. The best part about ARs, get something. If you see something you like better, change it.

I would shy from DPMS family for a little while yet. There were some issues with quality control, in the last 2-3 years, due to high production/demand.
This is to include Rem, Bushmaster, S&W who are owned/supplied by them.

I have had good kits from Rock River, in the last few years. Buy what you think you will want/like best. They are so easy to work on anyway.
 
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Good advice stay away from everything he mentioned

Noveske Rifleworks, LLC. AR-15, M4, M16, AR-10 Variant Rifles, N4, N6, Leonidas, Recce Precision Battle Weapons - Noveske.com
Bravo Company USA, Inc. AR-15, M16, M4 Tactical Gear, Parts, Accessories.
https://danieldefense.com/
Lewis Machine & Tool Company :: www.lewismachine.net

the 4 top companys trust your life too guns

The best place to buy from is GRANT at G&R tactical he will mix and match any parts you want into the rifle you want. Pic the best parts from all the companies and it will show up at your door.
HE can cut your cost down by offering blemished parts from top teir companies 100% reliable just the finish was a little off of they double stamped a letter on the side of the reciver.
G&R Tactical

Call him tell him how much you have to work with and what your intended use is and he will build you the perfets weapon
 
The key options that are "must haves" on any AR? A free floating barrel and a good trigger. The first is pretty easy, and most of the aftermarket varmint or competition handguards already encompass this. Check to make sure, but you'll definately want this. The second item is a good trigger. There's a number of good ones on the market, both one and two stage, whichever you prefer. I'd put the Gieslle trigger at the top of the pack right now, but there are several other options available. After that, most other options really come down to personal choice.
 
I just had a new AR built by Scott @ Specialized Dynamics. Billet upper (smooth side) and lower, Magpul PRS stock, timney skeleton trigger, PRI carbon fiber handguard, lothar walthar 24" semi bull fluted barrel, and chrome bolt carrier group. Did it all in flat dark earth. It ran about $1700 shipped to me overnight. You could save some money just getting a cheaper handguard and get it around 1500. I had a Bushmaster Varminter 24" before this gun and it shot great but this one will outshoot it. I know some people won't believe this but it shot a 3/8" 3 shot group out of a lead sled when sighting in @ 200 yds using Hornady 53gr Superformance factory rounds. Oh, and dont' waste a bunch of money on metal magazines...Magpul pmags are better than any metal mag out there and they look better too and they're cheap. I would suggest taking a look at Scott's stuff on specializeddynamics.com. Nobody beats his customer service either.

-Billy
 
You can spend a butt load of $$$ get a Noveske and be very happy with your VERY ACCURATE AR from them...You'll worry and fret over every scratch and clean her meticulously, probably start a log to keep round counts and such...or build a no nonsense tack driver you arent afraid to hurt...its an AR..not an F Class...

I was at the range last November with my M4 shooting her off the bench, shes the bottom gun here. I've got less than a $1000 in her with a Comp ML2. All Bushmaster.

Up comes a dude with a Noveske Race Gun..I mean all tricked out...sits down at the bench next to me...we talk...shoot a little..talk some more...He's got $3000+ in his set up...doodads hanging off every rail...we shoot some more, put up new targets...I'm noticing and he is too that my gun is just as accurate as his and he is making looks at my targets all groups running about an inch or so...I'm using the MagPul BUIS...he's using his ACOG...I slap on the Comp ML2 and we do some speed drills in front of the bench...He makes the comment that, TODAY...he realized you didn't have to spend $3000 to have a great rifle...I agreed and said " You know the difference between my rifle and yours besides money?" He said what... I said I'll do this with mine in a heartbeat...I threw the rifle to the ground, stood on it, bounced up and down ( I didn't jump, I aint stupid)on it, picked it up, dropped it, stood on it again, then inserted a mag and emptied it onto four different steel silhouettes...He just stood there and watched... I said come on...do it with me...he just looked at his Noveske and shook his head...

80-90% of the accuracy on an AR is UPPER Receiver and a good trigger...spend you money there...you can get high dollar gear and not do as well as some mid level stuff...don't get me wrong there is some junk out there...stick around here and the other AR15 forum and learn..then pull the trigger and don't look back...

Oh yeah...the top rifles got glass...pretty good mid level glass...I would not drop her and stand on her...Bushy HBAR upper on a YHM lower. She put ten rounds into .78 of an inch on her first trip to the range.
 

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CaptBeach said:
You can spend a butt load of $$$ get a Noveske and be very happy with your VERY ACCURATE AR from them...You'll worry and fret over every scratch and clean her meticulously, probably start a log to keep round counts and such...or build a no nonsense tack driver you arent afraid to hurt...its an AR..not an F Class...

I was at the range last November with my M4 shooting her off the bench, shes the bottom gun here. I've got less than a $1000 in her with a Comp ML2. All Bushmaster.

Up comes a dude with a Noveske Race Gun..I mean all tricked out...sits down at the bench next to me...we talk...shoot a little..talk some more...He's got $3000+ in his set up...doodads hanging off every rail...we shoot some more, put up new targets...I'm noticing and he is too that my gun is just as accurate as his and he is making looks at my targets all groups running about an inch or so...I'm using the MagPul BUIS...he's using his ACOG...I slap on the Comp ML2 and we do some speed drills in front of the bench...He makes the comment that, TODAY...he realized you didn't have to spend $3000 to have a great rifle...I agreed and said " You know the difference between my rifle and yours besides money?" He said what... I said I'll do this with mine in a heartbeat...I threw the rifle to the ground, stood on it, bounced up and down ( I didn't jump, I aint stupid)on it, picked it up, dropped it, stood on it again, then inserted a mag and emptied it onto four different steel silhouettes...He just stood there and watched... I said come on...do it with me...he just looked at his Noveske and shook his head...

80-90% of the accuracy on an AR is UPPER Receiver and a good trigger...spend you money there...you can get high dollar gear and not do as well as some mid level stuff...don't get me wrong there is some junk out there...stick around here and the other AR15 forum and learn..then pull the trigger and don't look back...

Oh yeah...the top rifles got glass...pretty good mid level glass...I would not drop her and stand on her...Bushy HBAR upper on a YHM lower. She put ten rounds into .78 of an inch on her first trip to the range.
Click to expand...

Shooter ability and ammo selection may have played into your group sizes there is no way you can even start to compare a Noveske to a Bushmaster its like comparing a 4 cylinder Honda to a Porsche. You get what you pay for and Busmasters are known to come from the factory with loose bolts improperly staked gas key and a plethora of other issues not to mention they are not mil spec.
 
First off the man said he wanted/had $1500 to spend on an AR.

Secondly, I partially agree with you in that NOVESKE makes some damned fine rifles. Probably the finest out there. And I agree with you that group size could have been influenced by ammo and experience. However his rifle was throwing some respectable groups as was mine. And I agree that when you make as many rifles as Bushy does sometimes QC can be an issue...However...I stand by my assertion that you don't need to spend $2K-$3K+ to get a VERY GOOD AR...as a former Marine Armorer/Competition shooter with 35 years experience building and tuning ARs and being able to afford ANYTHING I want, I mean anything, I see spending that kind of $$$ on an AR is simply frivolous and unnecessary. Sure...its a Porsche but why do you need Porsche AR when all you really need is a 4x4 F150...oh and BTW I recently saw a Porsche have its *** handed to it by an Subaru WRX, sure it had a few after market parts bolted on but he also had $75,000 more pocket change than Porsche boy...Peace...

Thirdly, and same goes with bolties...I've got a Savage .308 with an aftermarket barrel, trigger and stock now, with a $400 SWFA SS 10x42 that will shoot with anything out there costing $3000-$4000+...just saying you aint gotta spend a lot of $$$ to drive tacks. I've got less than $3500 in THREE extremely accurate battle rifles.
 
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I'm kinda with Capt Beach....especially for the first one. Get a reasonable gun to learn with. If he gets a "lemon" factory gun, he can get it tuned up at a local gunsmith without having to get a second mortgage. Spend a little extra on a good trigger and some decent glass. I'm glad I started with a78 dodge ramcharger(parts kit M4 on a superior lower) and worked my way up.

As for the varmint hunting portion, will these include yotes or foxes? If it's a varmint that pays attention to their surroundings, get yourself C-Mag magazines. They fit nice and tight and don't twang/rattle as you shift your position for the shot. Or you could get some cheap 20 rounders and stick toothpicks between the magwell/magazine (been there myself). Also if you're thinking 'yotes past 100 yards, my experience is the 55grn softpoint hornady's penetrate well and put them down.

As we all know, this Black Rifle Disease is nasty stuff. By the time you get this first one figured out, you'll know more about what you want/need for your specific situation. You'll get yourself a 24" fluted bull with 1 in 8" twist so you can shoot 69 hp's or whatever your heart desires.

I got this pic from a friend and it sums it up, sopmod "It's like barbie for men." :D

Good luck with it,
Southbreeze
 

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ICANHITHIMMAN said:
CaptBeach
We will have to agree to disagree on this one

1500 is alot of money here are some examples of what to get for under 1500$

Daniel Defense M4 Carbine 223 W/Omega X Rail Handguard & Grip
Colt M4 Carbine 6920 AR15 16"
http://noveskerifleworks.com/cgi-bi...=lrb-556&cat=138&page=1&search=&since=&status=
Defender Standard Patrol Model 16 - Featured Products

Buy it once buy it right
Click to expand...

No problem, agree to disagree, Its Fords and Chevy's versus Porsche's, but might I point out none of the rifles you point to are what he was asking for...$1500, Target and Varmint...and none included glass. That would set him back another $375-$1000 depending on his taste. While all are excellent rifles one is still really paying a premium for "name brands" Not to deny that all of them have made names for themselves. Good names...

For $1500 he can have it all, accuracy, good glass, reliability in a rifle suited to his needs or he can have a name brand sitting in a case or safe waiting for $$$ to buy a scope...

But peace...we can agree to disagree...
 
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