In an attempt to limit the number of repetitive “I’m new and want to buy my first AR” type of threads I have created and stickied this thread. If you want to ask a general question about which AR brand is better, what should your first purchase be, etc; this is the place to do it. If you create a thread asking these questions and noticed that it has disappeared; check here because I’ve probably merged your thread into this one.
If you have a question about something specific; feel free to make a thread asking it.
Before creating any threads though; I ask that you read the following link and make sure your question has not already been asked and answered:
What Would be a good starter? for a good price? With accuracy?
I am looking for a good beginners AR. Preferably Cheap with decent accuracy. I don’t mind manufacturer or anything like that, just a base line beginner AR
:moil:
I am going to purchase an M4 in the near future and seem to be stuck between DD and DCM. From the reports both are great weapons. Which is the best? Is the DD really $200+ better than the BCM? Please advise.
I personally would go DD. I have used them for a bunch of parts, and all have been excellent. Customer service is great as well, and well everyone has a BCM lol. Seriously though they are tough well built rifles, that are very accurate. Not sure what package you are looking at, but I know the DD rifles come with a lot of nice extras.
Warranties are valuable, I know DD comes with a warranty,website doesn’t say if it is lifetime or not, I think the BCM comes with lifetime…Cost really depends on what package you are looking at.
You know this is a tough choice when you think about quality, as they are both excellent companies. The first complete semi-custom upper I ever purchased was a Daniel Defense complete upper. However my last two have been BCM.
With quality being taken care of with either choice, the decision will probably come down to configuration, and price. All my ARs have Daniel Defense rails, but when I look at the BCM line I see better choices for configuration and a better price.
After a complete DD upper, a DD lower, two BCM uppers and a BCM lower, my next AR purchase will be another BCM.
I picked up a Bushmaster M4 from an individual (no trail). I then found this site and found it is not as great a gun as the hype. Anyway, it’s a 16" and I really wanted a 20" so I ordered a BCM upper, BCG and YHM handguard for it. I also have a CMMG .22 conversion kit.
I was thinking of making the Bushmaster upper a more or less dedicated .22 and using the BCM for 5.56.
Then I got to thinking, why not get another lower? I will pick one up off the books so it will be a target of opportunity.
I need to know what to look for in a lower (stripped or complete) and what to avoid.
I’m in Wyoming (a Sarah Brady “D” state) so configuration is not a problem, as long as it isn’t NFA.
Any advice?
I have a beretta c x 4 9mm I am thinking of trading for a new ar. I own a stag model 8, but would like a standard gas operating. I bought the cx4 for 1000 and was offered 500 trade. What are your guys thoughts on this? Its a nice little carbine to have, but cleaning is a pain and its application is not as appealing to me as an ar. I live in nj so my options on ar’s are limited. I would be choosing between a colt post ban m4 and a bushmaster post ban m4, or the stag model 2. any recommendations? THANKS!
Sell the Beretta for more than $500. Like with a car, the dealer has to make money when he resells the trade in and has to make money selling you the new one. He makes money twice, you lose twice.
Of the ARs you listed the choice is easy. Go with the Colt
I sold my C4 for $500 and have regretted it. Fun one to have and a good way to send 9mm 100yds. Some folks hate the look. Cleaning never presented too much of an issue.
Regarding your AR choices. I own 5 Bushmasters and no real issues. I’m a paper killing civilian. However, it’s better to cry once than cry twice. I have since over the last 5-6 years done a ton of research shooting and wondering around this forum and others. Of yours listed I would go Colt.
Not bashing Bushy just saying if I could do it over I would probably go big. I’m a DDefense fan. Back to the C4 though I bought it used for $450 and someone lost big on that deal.
i looked on gun broker and the prices on used cx4’s are really low. do you really think its a bad swing, the difference in price would be 600 + fees for the new colt
Hey guys, I don’t want to accuse any body of highjacking my thread, but what does a Beretta 9mm have to do with it?
I still need to know that to look for/avoid in a lower.
Unfortunately Ive spent a number of years working with warranties in the motorcycle business,and its difficult on both ends to say the least.
That said yall gota remember that a manufacturers warranty only covers manufacturers defects in most cases and is not a service or repair contract.So the warranty does not cover wear and tear or broken parts from normal use.That said some manufacturers replace parts regardless of use.Just depends on the individual your talking to or the company your dealing with really.
In my experience any manufacturer worth their salt will take care of a early parts failure or manufacturing defect regarless of expressed or implied warranty or age of the weapon…and in the case of DD and BCM that is not a concern…they stand behind the stuff they sell 100%.LMT is the same way.Top notch folks all around.
The key is to buy “known quality” parts and assemblies that have a reputation for heavy use durability.If you do that you reduce the failure rate and insure that the weapon retains a respectable service life.But hey nothing lasts forever,when its worn out its worn out and time to buy another.
HTH
These days you can buy from just about any vendor without too much concern. Personally I avoid the lesser-known, local gun show, type guys but truthfully they’re probably getting their lowers from the same people as everyone else. As it’s been explained to me there are only a few forges capable of making lower blanks and so most lowers start out life in the same few places. From there the machining does make a difference, but it’s an incremental difference.
My two favorite lowers on the market right now are the Sully and the Daniel Defense. Both have a more aggressive bevel at the magwell which I like but can’t really say has any tangible benefit.
Buy from any established brand and you’ll be fine. Buy from the local guy with his own logo on the gun at the gunshow and it’s a crapshoot.
That’s what attracted me to them and it also makes me suspicious they must be cutting corners.
Any info on whether they go through the same quality assurances that people like Colt, Daniel Defense, Noveske, or some of the other serious-grade AR’s go through?
