Let me add – I know most of you will recommend spending and buying one of the best for my 1st – however, I can afford to purchase my first as a learning rifle and buy a higher quality rifle after I am familiar enough with the M4’s to actually know what I want … right now I have no idea, reading and studying up on it only adds confusion. So I want to spend as little as possible, while spending enough to get quality in case I decide to resell (or keep).
I’m thinking about picking up one of those Bargain Bin ARs as my second AR. But my first was a Colt 6920. THe bargin big AR after inspection and satisfactory shooting may get a few minor upgrades (light, inexpensive scope/dot sight) and become a trunck gun.
I don’t know about that. But a little reading around this site will give the guy an idea of what to expect from CMMG/DPMS. They aren’t Olympic Arms bad, but they have some criticisms.
With luck, you should be able to get a nice little check from Uncle Sam to stimulate the economy around June. That’d go good toward a quality rifle. Save a little longer and get something that will not let you down. You know the old saying about buying cheap…
What about the S&W makes it of lower quality? I’ve been reading around the net and the only thing I have found is the gas block staking problem, which will be fixed before the gun is shipped. Everything else I have read leads me to believe it is of good quality.
Hasn’t S&W always put out a quality product? or have they dropped out of the ranks of the top makers?
How much of the negative towards S&W is political? I know they did something, way back in the 80’s and many gun enthusiasts boycott them because of something they did, or didn’t do … That seems like ancient history to me, I wasn’t into guns at the time and really have no idea what it is all about. I do know S&W USED to be known for quality products.
I read all about the Colt when I was shopping for a handgun. People either loved them, or hated them. Complained of rattles, etc… Then I start shopping for a M4 and Colt seems to be the holy grail for us normal folk.
I guess I will opt for the 6920. It seems like a gun that will suit my needs. Now I start watching for a GOOD DEAL on one … yea right
Well, I’m somewhat of a newbie here, but I’ll throw in my 2 cents.
I don’t own a Colt, LMT, or Noveske. I’d love to, and will someday, but for now, my cheap AR’s will do fine. I have a CMMG lower with an Armalite upper. I have about $600 in it, plus another $200 in the used Aimpoint I put on it. But it punches paper fine. I just built a couple for some friends on Essential arms lowers, one with an Armalite midlength upper and one with a CMMG upper. We shoot them together a lot. None of these are upper tier, and none would pass military inspection. However, they are all accurate, fit together fine, and none have hiccuped so far with GI and C Products mags and cheap ammo.
Now, we are civies, and don’t stake our lives on our carbines being 100%. Though I wouldn’t hesitate to use mine to defend my home, in the rare event that I should ever need to.
So, my recommendation is to consider how you are going to use the weapon. For punching paper and general plinking, there is nothing wrong with a cheaper AR. It’s a lot of fun to build one yourself; it helps you learn how weapon operates. If you buy the CMMG or S&W rifles you mentioned, you can probably get most of your money back if you decide to upgrade later on.
If on the other hand, you plan on paying big bucks to take a defensive carbine class or plan to use it in Law Enforcement, then you may be better off save up money for the Colt.
If your decision is to go with a Colt, do a Google search and buy today. They go up in price every few months by $100.00 bucks or more. I bought mine back in Sept for 1200.00. now the average price is around 1400 and up. An LMT M-4 is a great buy as well. Check one out from Grant at G&RTactical
You know, I wish most guys who said the whole “my rifle is perfectly good for punching paper” thing added in that part, because there is a demographic that seems to think that because they only punch paper, that everyone else has no need other than to do the same.
I think it’s personal preference, if you ONLY intend to punch paper, whether you want to spend $600 and have it now or $800 just a little while later and have it done right.
But that’s for the rifle - if you’re talking about accessories, forget about it, buying cheap knockoff “tacticool” stuff on the other hand is simply pissing away money, even if it impresses some people at the range.
