AR advice please

hossblur

hossblur

Long Time Member
Messages
10,502
So, my boy mowed lawns, saved money, etc. He wants an AR. I want him to get something solid. I'm not an AR guy so I'm a little out of my element. $500-$600 area. What should we be looking at? Saw Cabelas DPMS oracle on sale around their. Armalite had one. Give me some guidance please.


"The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun"
 
I wouldn't call myself an AR guy, but do have a few now and try to read up on them from time to time. What I've learned is that most out there are mil spec which makes them similar to one another. I own Stag because I have to shoot left handed. The few I have are real good shooters. Since they are all alike, I would recommend choosing a popular name like Colt, S&W, Remington. They are a lot of fun and you can change parts like triggers yourself. Most are priced competitively.
 
>What's going to be the purpose?
> Hobby/plinking? Hunting?


There are a lot of options out there depending what he wants to do ? If he is just target shooting and maybe rabbit or coyote hunting. Any ar 15 in 223 will do. Some of the cheaper ones are stripped down models. Flat top with no sights less expensive barrels. He maybe be better off spending a little more getting one with flip up sights and few options at purchase. He can add electronic sights and other options as he saves up. But you know what they say about AR's ? They are a guys Barbie! They have a lot of options to accessorize to his liking. I would encourage him to buying a nicer one with a few options at first to get him started. If he wants a hunting rifle he can get a AR 10 in 308 caliber. Those are the most common two calibers. But there are many other options out the these days. Like 300 black out or even 50 caliber like a 50 caliber Beowulf . Good luck and I hope he enjoys his black gun purchase. You may like it more after shooting and getting more familiar. They are a fun plat forum with a ton of options.
 
It would be more of a "just because" gun. My thought was more of a basic model, then he can add the "cool" stuff he wants, plus that gives him incentives to keep lawns mowed and snow shoveled. I was hoping there was a Rock Island type AR. Meaning I have a RI .45, and while its not pretty, it shoots real good, runs great, and was a good starting point for a 1911. Wanting to find a similar idea in AR.
Plus, dad doesn't want to wrap up his funds in the boys gun, cuz I'm sure there will be another coming, I have yet to not need another gun.



"The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun"
 
Another option would be for you to buy higher end parts a few at a time and build up your own breed of AR.

Building up your own gun with the parts you think are cool is a pretty fun way to get into the AR game inexpensively.

Here's a forum that has just about anything you want to know about home brew AR's.

http://www.ar15.com/forums/f_3/4_Build-It-Yourself.html

I would also suggest checking the www.utahgunexchange.com and www.armslist.com classifieds for pieces and parts. Guys are always swapping in and out pieces parts to suit some new fangled desire :)

I've attached a pic of my latest AR308 build I'm working on. Next will be an identical version in 6.5 Creedmore (necked down 308).

Just understand, this game is a can of worms to say the least :)

Cheers,
Pete

35140ar308.jpg
 
There are more accessories and add-ons than there are for a damn Jeep...and that's almost limitless.

I'm no AR guy either but I had to have one for giggles and shiites.

I bought the OR Bushmaster and the accuracy is way way better than anticipated. I thought I'd be lucky to shoot 2" groups at 100 but the thing will half that without any load development. I feel lucky for a bone-stock rifle shooting like that but maybe it's to be expected from them??

They're way fun so I can see why guys really get into them. I'm just more of a bolt guy since I've never seen a critter that takes lots of semiauto-fire to bring down.

Have fun Hoss,
Zeke
 
>
>Cheers,
>Pete
>
>
35140ar308.jpg



Pete, that's a very cool tacti-cool rifle. I love the looks (shape and color) of that machine!

Zeke
 
I would have your son look at the S&W MP sport II. They are solid & been around for awhile!! They are priced right & solid shooters.
Check out reviews on them you wont be disappointed especially at the
price point. Good lick to your son on his purchase!!
 
another vote for the MP handles really good and you can add tons of stuff.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
>[Font][Font color = "green"]Life member of
>the MM green signature club.[font/]
 
Pete's gun from above inspired me to build one similar. I really like the way it turned out!

3049img6086.jpg


90837img6091.jpg


Thanks again for the inspiration Pete.

}}-SLIVER-->
 
Very Nice !!!

How's it shoot? I just put a Timney Trigger in mine, but haven't had the time to go see how much it helps with my groups.

Cheers,
Pete
 
Here's a shot from over at TNT last month. Super cool looking frame from 120fps video, but I think I'm going to try to find a different muzzle break / flash hider. This thing gives me a concussion just about every time I shoot it.

Any suggestions on a break/flash hider for a 308 that helps keep it quieter without having to go all the way to a suppressor?

Cheers,
Pete
 
Anderson Arms would be my choice on a budget. My son bought one and tricked it out in Magpul accessories for 600 bucks. It shoots good and cycles everything he has put in it including handloads.

I think I will go the route of an 80 percent lower and have my AR savy buddy help me put together a 6.5 Grendel/heavy 20" barrel tack driver like his tho.
 
LAST EDITED ON Jun-12-17 AT 08:24AM (MST)[p]Haven't taken it out yet Pete, soon though. I have no experience with different muzzle breaks for the AR, but the one on my rig is a Miculek, and is supposed to be great for recoil reduction. I don't know how loud it will be, but I assume loud!

}}-SLIVER-->
 
Got a chance to go shoot this gun, and I am getting 0.5 MOA at 100 yds with 64 gr factory ammo. Pretty dang good!

41855group.jpg


8253group1.jpg


}}-SLIVER-->
 
Wow, I'm either not that good and or my 308 isn't even close to that :)

Congrats on building up a fine one !!!

Cheers,
Pete
 
Hey Buddy that is a coyote getting rifle for sure.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
>[Font][Font color = "green"]Life member of
>the MM green signature club.[font/]
 
Pete,

I shot a bunch of different factory ammo out of it and found that it really liked these 64gr. bullets. My co-worker has an identical build that shoots lights out with the 60gr V-max factory ammo, which in this gun produced a 2.5" group. Grab a bunch of different 308 and shoot it, see what your gun likes, unless you re-load that is. .223 is cheap enough to buy now that I quit loading it.

}}-SLIVER-->
 
In that price range I would opt for the Ruger AR 556 or S&W M&P Sport II. Flip a coin! They are both solid dependable builds based on the DI system. You can do about anything with the AR that you wish. Kind of the erector set in the world of rifles!
Norkal

"One can take my life but not my faith or my
confidence. I fear none and respect all."
 

Similar threads

gr8fuldoug
SHOT Show Day 1
Replies
0
Views
313
gr8fuldoug
gr8fuldoug

Click-a-Pic ... Details & Bigger Photos

Member Gallery Photos and Videos!

P9170137.JPG
IMG_2341.jpeg
Screenshot_20230903-225245_Gallery.jpg
Mike Nielson 2023 Colorado Buck.jpg
college 154 copy copy.jpg
Good Times in the Hills
CD372EA2-AC03-48A2-88E4-7FBDBFEF15CB.jpeg
17854853_10210782615655996_3987524361791635446_o.jpg
IMG_1899.png
C0BEC9BB-CEAC-4032-BF11-E7E4C3E0F284.jpeg
20211115_165053.jpg
37416AEF-7CF3-4257-984D-A60D72D4E84F.jpeg
Back
Top Bottom