AR-15 research help.

AR/M4 AR General Discussion
1

I am fairly new to guns. I shot a gun for the 1st time on my 30th birthday, which was a year ago. Up to this point all I have are a few pistols. I now have the bug to get a rifle, I want to get an AR-15. I have been doing a ton of research for the last few weeks, I don’t feel like I am getting anywhere.
In my research I am running into “this brand is the only good brand because this is what I have and everything else is crap”. I have also found a lot of the only get the high end stuff because why would you trust anything else. I need some help in my research here. I am open to opinions and where to go to get info. There is so much out there I’m having trouble knowing where to start.
Here is where I have gotten so far. Any suggestions off of my wants, lets here them. If you are suggesting certain parts and/or brands. Links would help me a ton.

-This rifle will be for target practice, plinking and maybe coyote hunting in the future. I don’t plan on using it for self defense.

-I have a few friends that will let me shoot on there land. So I want to keep it as light as possible. Because I may be carrying it for long walks.

-I would like to put a Red Dot on it. Maybe even scope it down the line. I also want the option of using iron sights. From what I have learned I want a flattop/A3. I already have a Bushnell red dot with rings I could put on to start with.

-1:9 twist so I can shoot 55g bullets. I plan on reloading for this riffle.

-16” barrel. That comes full circle to keeping it light.

-I don’t want a carry handle. I plain old don’t like the look of them.

-I would like an adjustable stock. I am short and my main shooting buddy is tall.

-From everything I have read I want a gas block not a piston system. I’m not sure why.

-Budget is right around $1000

-I am thinking I would like to buy an upper and lower separate. Spread out the cost a little.

-I want to put a muzzle break on it instead of a flash hider. Once again full circle to the 16” barrel anything shorter I won’t be able to change what’s on the end of the barrel.

-I don’t feel I need to go super high end but I also don’t want a rifle that I spend more time trying to get it to shoot, then shooting it.

Thanks for any help you can give,
Tim

2

Tim,

Here is a good thread to start with:

https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=7355

3

Read these tacked threads:

https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=56063

https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=6642

https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=7009

There is a wealth of information in these threads and on this forum.
Don’t buy anything until you read and understand this information.

Good luck!:slight_smile:

4

Like the two gents above have said, there is a ton of info in all those links. Great for helping out with just about anything you can think to ask. But if there’s still a few questions there is always the mighty search button.

Like Sam Adams…“Always a good decision”… :smiley:

5

If you’re just looking for the cheapest (while still being decent) rifle for plinking and occasional hunting, I think a DPMS Sportical would be a good option. They are usually around the $500-600 mark. They are lightweight, no carry handle, and accurate. Then just add the optic of your choice and you have something you can carry around in the woods all day to slay coyotes!

6

DPMS is garbage and in no way “decent”. They aren’t even worth the few hundred in savings.

7

Wow, there are some strong feeling there! I have had nothing but good luck with my DPMS over thousands of rounds. I’ll admit it’s not a BCM, but its certainly not “garbage” either.

8

Can you please expand on why you feel that way.

9

Lets not turn this into another thread debating why one brand sucks compared to another. The info is out there, it doesnt need to be rehashed. Search DPMS on the site and you will find the knowledge you seek.

To the OP, a basic 16" rifle in either midlength or carbine gas will do. Do much more reading before buying anything, it took me months of reading just to figure out the terminology. There is much info in the stickied threads here and in AR Tech.

Good luck.

10

Use the orange search button and query “dpms”

To sum it up, non-adherence to TDP and unacceptable shortcuts in production.

11

The OP said that his budget’s ~$1000. He can have a DFW (Damn Fine Weapon) for near that figure.

A BCM (for example) would fill his bill perfectly, especially the very last one.

Tim, you mentioned 1/9 because you like and want to reload 55’s. I can tell you from repeated experience that my 16" BCM in 1/7 absolutely LOVES 55 grain bullets, so you’d be fine with it.

12

As mentioned, 1/7 twist barrels stabilize 55gr up to the 70+ gr match rounds just fine. Its the best barrel twist for the AR platform. If you plan to hunt coyotes, being able to use the heavier rounds should help.

Also, you dont want a muzzle brake. I live in NY and have no other choice besides one. But i would gladly take an A2 over this pws556. Plus a good brake drives the cost of the weapon up by at least $100.

First rifle, Keep it simple

13

Yep.
A smaller outfit like BCM can assure quality much better than the high volume, batch-grade shops and BCM is using better product to begin with.

14

http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-16-Mid-Length-LIGHT-WEIGHT-Upper-Receiver-p/bcm-urg-mid-16lw.htm
http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-Bolt-Carrier-Group-MPI-Auto-M16-p/bcm%20bolt%20carrier%20group%20auto%20mp.htm
http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/AR15-Charging-Handle-BCM-p/bcm%20charging%20handle%20ar15.htm
http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/Daniel-Defense-A1-5-Fixed-Rear-Sight-p/dd-11002.htm
http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/Magpul-MOE-Rifle-Length-Handguard-BLACK-p/mag419%20blk.htm
http://www.accuratearmory.com/Lowers.aspx

While you are waiting for some of this stuff to come back in stock, keep reading this forum.

15

To the OP. Although you don’t plan on using your AR for self defense, that really should be your first priority. If it never happens, then good for you.

For 1000.00 you can get a good solid AR.

16

I believe CDNN has Colt 6920’s for $1050. That is pretty much an unbeatable offer considering the rifle.

17

If this is true, I’d have to agree with you 100%.

18

I agree, I have a dpms upper on one of my rifles and it has never failed me. I never have any jamming issues or anything.

19

Yea that is a great deal. If you want to spend all of your money, and you can afford to buy a colt to do it with, you cant go wrong there.

20

I think people need to realize the culture of the forum before they join.
This is not a bench shooting, dirt shooting, fudd forum.

This is a no BS, hard use forum.

If you’ve shoot a thousand rounds through your DPMS, Oly, Bushy, or whatever, good.
Have you done a thousand round over the course of two days with it?

Therein lies the difference.