Posted on 11/10/2008 7:14:34 AM PST by thefrankbaum
All,
Like many others, I am considering purchasing a semi-automatic long gun. Most likely, an AR-15 as .223 is still fairly easy to come by, and there are a number of "regular" rifles which use the ammunition, so I have some faith that it will remain available for some time period after other ammunition types are outlawed, should that occur.
We have a number of hunting rifles, some WWII German equipment, a few handguns, and plenty of ammunition. I am wondering if any FReepers can shed some light on the ease and advisibility of purchasing a kit from Model 1 Sales and a stripped down lower receiver from some other retailer and then assembling my own weapon. Do people advise against this, or does it seem like a good approach which will allow me to spend more on magazines and ammunition?
Also, I'm currenting thinking of purchasing an A2 upper and 20" barrel, but I know people have strong feelings, so I'd enjoy hearing some other input.
As long as you’re not in Austin, then OK. LOL
Should have said firearms instead of FA.
I looked it up, seems they are still in the biz.
Yes, Olympic Arms is still in business, but they are definitely considered second or third rank in the AR business these days.
Most of the other competitors have much better quality products, often at better prices. Oly has pretty much been sitting on their butts since 2000 or so.
Check out the forums at ar-15.com for more info on what’s what these days.
How was their quality back in mid 80s? Any idea?
I have no first hand idea. My father says that they were okay to pretty good during the mid 80s, but that they had some spotty QC issues. DPMS from the same era was pretty bad to marginally acceptable sometimes, mostly on the bad side.
Dad says that back in the 80s, the hierarchy was Colt, Bushmaster, then everyone else. During the late 80s, Bushmaster passed Colt.
Back with my knowledge now: These days, Bushmaster is very popular, based on the reputation of those 80s and 90s rifles, but they’ve been slipping a bit of late. You can get better rifles for the same or less elsewhere. The advent of really cheap CNC machining gear has really been a game changer in the AR field.
Yeah, but I bet that The Chosen OneTM bans the import of Russian ammo.
Thanks for that. I recall shooting an Olympic Arms AR, 223 in the mid 80s. I was absolutely stunned by it’s accuracy.
I’ll check out the link you provided.
You might be astonished by some of the feats of accuracy that the AR’s able to do these days, then. Some of the “average” varmint-class ARs make the 80s era “National Match” guns look as accurate as an AK47 with a burned-out barrel.
I'm not being facetious here, but I often guess wrong about gender on FR and unintentionally insult people. The true M-1 carbine was created as a replacement for side arms during WWII. If you are a woman, get one. They are light and have little recoil. That is because the cartridge they use is basically a pistol cartridge. Ammo is expensive because it was the only gun that used it.
The M1 and the M1 Carbine are 2 very different guns. Spend $30 and get a C&R license from BATF. Buy a real M1 in 30-06. Patton claimed they are the weapon that won WWII. They are clip fed and you can buy bandoleers of clips from the civilian marksmanship program. They are history in your hands, fun to shoot, ammo is cheap, and if all hell breaks loose (and I don't think it will), you will have more firepower than all the AK-47 proponents on this site.
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