Posted on 10/20/2010 8:07:51 PM PDT by Bean Counter
I'm considering the purchase of an improvable automatic rifle to augment my personal collection, and am looking for some input and guidance. There are a lot of options available and I hate reinventing the wheel. I would like to find a mainframe AR-15 that I can improve and expand upon but I am not sure of the best way to do it.
I've had my eye on the gun trader classified for my area here and to no surprise there are a lot of guns to choose from. I've found a couple of AR-15's that are way up in price ($1600 and up) and the weapons are obvious expensive boy-toys with the best fancy frills, but are of questionable value in a tactical situation. Some is a matter of personal taste, and the rest is a matter of practicality. I lean toward the latter.
There are quite a few other AR's for sale here in the local area, for about half that much and with fewer snazzy features, but how do you tell if it's worth the money?
I am no gunsmith, but I am fairly certain I could assemble what I want with the parts I have already found online, in a reasonable amount of time, and within a budget of about a Grand. I'm not sure if that is the best way to go, or if I am better off buying an inexpensive "mainframe" AR and improving it in pieces.
Some informed discussion is invited here, and I would be interested in any advice anyone has to offer. With the economy the way it is, there are a lot of people who are selling guns and ammo, and an equal number who are willing (and able) to buy.
Its just a platform for blinging. Buy something like you would buy a precision tool. Some people swear they can earn their daily wages with nothing but Craftsmen tools. I own all Snapon, the same tools I bought 30 years ago are still earning me a paycheck Though I have several AR15's my choice and my favorite is my Springfield Armory M1A.
Thanks for the correction!
Thing’s a tack driver at 100 yards. Nice picatiny rail on top for accessories. Really does run very clean even when shooting Russian (Wolf) ammo.
Sorry to hear about the mudslide. Did I ever mention that I lost all my firearms and ammo in that boating accident? Still don’t remember why I thought cleaning all of them in a rowboat was a good idea...
pflr
( ignore 'N' - I'm pretty sure they're the same )
what ive been told anyways...
See here: http://www.thegunzone.com/556v223.html
Short version: If your upper is stamped “5.56,” you can shoot both. If it’s stamped “.223,” you risk catastrophic failure due to higher chamber pressure if you shoot 5.56 with it, esp. if it’s an older rifle.
lots of good info here, so the only thing i’ll suggest is get a flat top, and spend some money on quality optics.
used to have one with a carry handle, with a scope on it, and the thing was an absolute tack driver, but it was only good at one distance.
Other way around...556 is too hot for 223.
Is that you? Live in Texas? Like football?
If “yes” to all three, will you marry me? ;)
I have three AR's. All .223. One I bought, one I built, and one I won in a drawing. I'd trade two of 'em for a NM M1-A with a 22" barrel and a walnut stock.
The .223 is a good round to about 300 yrds, but I want something that I could possibly tune up to hit out to 800yrds and still have some *umph* left.
good catch Sir...more coffee needed i reckon...
Excellent comments, tremendous advice, and please excuse my inexact phrases in my original post. You all gave me plenty to think about, and this turned out to be a fairly decent discussion thread....
Many thanks!
They are not done yet.
I suggest a FN-FAL in 308 but I dont know near as much as most people in these threads.
Sabre Defense. Complete rifles or parts. Made in USA (nashville). Suppliers of M-16 rifles to military (one of only 3 manufacturers). Also supplies .50 cal. barrels for the Ma Duce and the .30 cal mini-gun. I own the Sabre light and love it. 799 at my local fun shop and it came with tactical case, 2 30 rd mags, otis cleaning kit and a cheap but functional sling. BTW, they don’t just get parts from other suppliers. They make 90% of their parts in house including their barrels. 100% reliable so far (about 900 rounds). If you have a reliability problem with an AR it’s most likely due to the magazine. Go to AR-15.com for great info on the rifle!
Barrel install is definitely the most difficult part in my experience. I've also found that barrels come correctly headspaced - at least the ones I've bought.
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