AR Questions

S

Squirrelhunter91

New member
I am currently saving up my money for an AR. There is a gun show coming up very soon in Middletown, NY and my dad and I might be heading over there to check out the AR's. If we were just to buy an upper receiver, what other parts would I need to complete the rig? Are there any advantages to buying a pre-ban or post-ban AR? What barrel length would be best? Is a flash surpressor necessary or not?
This AR will be a varmint rig set up in .223 and most definitely fitted with one of the best quality scopes out there such as a Leupold, Zeiss or Swarovski.
We are really leaning towards wanting to build the AR ourselves, just because it's more of "your" gun if you know what I mean.
Thanks for any help.
Joe
 
You will need a lower receiver, you can build it or buy one all assembled.

You will need a scope riser or a one piece scope mount that sets the scope forward on the rail of a flat top receiver so it's not poking you in the eye.

Either pre or post ban will work (your preference) but you get a cleaner look with the post ban (no muzzel end device).

I would opt for the upper with the free float handguard already on it.

16 - 20 inch barrel length and preferably an 8 twist if you can find it.

Flat top upper
16 - 20" / 7 - 8 twist barrel
free float handguard
no muzzle end device (post ban)
good trigger (Jewel, JP etc.)
Sling
one piece scope mount (Armalite)
 
Doesn't NY have a ban on AR's? If so and you could transfer one that is already registered as preban, it would be very expensive. You can thank Charles and Hillary for that.
 
Nope. NY doesn't have a ban on AR's. There is a semi-auto ban in the legislature that looks like it may go through, but that will take a while..so.. shhh.. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Actually.. there was a ban on AR's here in NY.. but it is long gone..

So back to my original questions.. Are there any brands that you folks would reccomend? I have been advised from a soldier that just got back from Iraq to stay away from DPMS all together. Can anyone here point me in the right direction? There is a gunshow coming up this weekend in Middletown,NY which I plan attending looking for a lower receiver for the AR. The rest I will be able to get separately. Who knows? Maybe I might get a deal at this gun show.. Thanks for any help..
 
Rock River and Bushmaster have been good from what I've seen. Self build won't save you any money once you buy action block, barrel wrench, especially if you break something. I was going to go the same route and bought a complete lower, and later bought a complete upper. I think it was for the best. I may build one someday for a challenge, now that I have a working one. Stay away from the flash hiders and that assault stuff if your going to put expensive glass on it. If you're looking for distance go with a 20" to 24" 1-8" twist stainless bull barrel. They're heavy but solid shooters.
 
is there an AR that shoots lighter bullets like 45 grn to 55 grn?i have a boat load of 50 - 55 grn bullets but i will get heavier bullets if need be,,,and is bushmasters new predator only going to come in one barrel twist? and what is it going to be,,1 in 8" or something close to that? and how much are extra mags,,and whats better mags from the company or are the after market mags pretty good too?
Thank you
Ohiobob
 
Quote:
is there an AR that shoots lighter bullets like 45 grn to 55 grn?i have a boat load of 50 - 55 grn bullets but i will get heavier bullets if need be,,,Ohiobob



Ohiobob

Take a look at Olympic Arms UM-1 (20") and ML-2 (16") rifles. These are both flattops and come with 1 in 10 twist broach cut barrels. Check out Information About Olympic Arms Stainless Ultra Match (SUM) Barrels. 1/4" (or better) 100 Yd groups can be had with these rifles and the 1 in 10 twist is good for 45-60 grn bullets.

I'm plan to have Dtech, of this forum, build me a 16" or 20" SUM upper and will probably put it on a Rock River Arms lower with the NM trigger. The best prices I've found on the net so far are from The Armory.com, but Dtech can build you one for about the same price and you will know it's put together right.

firstshot
---------------------------
Make your first shot count!
 
I'm in the process of biulding one myself I bought a Rock River Arms stripped lower from a local gun shop you dont nessarly need a Rock River but make damn sure is is a forged reciver NOT a cast reciver Rock River, DPMS OLY and others are forged Im not sure but superior may be forged also (HELP AR GURUS) then I bought a National match two stage trigger and parts kit and a rubber pistol grip all from my local dealer, A2 buttstock from RRA, At Model 1 sales I bought a ban compliant complete upper 20" SS fluted barrel, free float hand gaurd and bolt,charge handel, and bolt carrier all assembled, i also got s 30 round mags, a pivit pin install tool, 2 mag fowlers, and a t-shirt. And finaly I bought a Leapers compact 3-12x44 30mm tube illuminated mill dot scope and rings.
Stripped lower-$140
NM 2 stage and parts kit w/ hogue grip-$165
A2 butt stock/ RRA $60
Complete upper-$510+ 45 for misc stuff
Leapers scope and rings $150 shipped (tryin something new I'll report on it)
So with shipping an everything I'll have around $1100 in it
It can definatly be done cheeper at Modle 1 sales if you buy a complete kit less the stripped reciveryoull have a stock trigger and plastic pistol grip but it can be done for around $600 including a stripped lower.
feel free to PM me if you want any more info.
 
Will try to post a target tomorrow of groups with 55 gr. v-max in my RRA 1-8" twist. 5 shots, 4 leaf clover at 100yds with 1 shooter error flyer. 4 shot measures .5" and 5 shot is .8".
 
I'm a bushmaster fan, so of course I'll recommend those. Plenty of others are really good though, and the only no-go in my opinion is the DPMS. (Just my opinion guys- don't bother beating me up if you're a DPMS fan).

Once you have a stripped lower a $12.00 book will tell you how to put it together step by step if you're so inclined- but it's not terribly difficult either way. You can get the uppers assembled and headspaced so I wouldn't let the part about putting the barrel on and all the specialty tools worry you too much.

I use a 1:9 24" bbl on my varmint rig, and it'll shoot 1/2" at 100, but I can't use anything heavier than 62-63gr bullets. I get just under 3300 fps with 50 gr bullets, which is why I went with the longer bbl.

I'll stray from everyone else's opinion on the flash suppressor. If you'll do any low light shooting at all it's a must have item in my opinion. The threaded bbl will also allow you to swap it for a muzzle brake if you wanna see your hits, like on a prairie dog shoot or something along those lines.

I don't know about NY, but pre and post ban have gone away in terms of the actual ban. Basically if you're seeing something advertised as post ban it means the bayonet lug is gone and the muzzle isn't threaded. Neither of which will affect you if you're just buying a lower- the only piece the gov't considers to be the gun. Hope my rambling is some help.

Ahhh, crud- I just realized you said you might get an UPPER at the show... If you just get the assembled upper, you'll need a lower and parts, obviously a stock if you don't get a completed lower, and a bolt carrier assembly if you didn't get one when you bought the upper.
 
MadRabbit. Your post has helped me out the most so far. Thanks. I currently have $219 saved up. I know I am a long ways off, but it doesn't matter to me. I have until October. LOL
If I can find a lower receiver & an upper this weekend at the show for under $219, then I will be one happy camper. My dad said that he might throw in $100 or so. That should help me out. Then a barrel would be the next investment. I am getting some other parts from a friend that will work. I hope our friend sends me a whole upper. LOL It would be sweet. But I would have to send him $100 or more.
 
I believe it is called the varmint, it is heavy at 14.5 lbs for the entire gun. Below is a target shot from a bench at 100yds with some recent handloads (26 gr. BL-C(2) CCI 450 Winchester case trimmed 1.755" 55gr. v-max moly).
pict0005.jpg

Here is my rifle, 24" bull with burris signature 6x-24x-44mm.
arbipod3.jpg

I am not a benchrest shooter as you can see from the flyer above. Just your averavge hunter with an awesome off the shelf rifle and very little loading experience. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bowingsmilie.gif
 
Ok, I'm going to ask. What is the gripe with the DPMS? I have one with the 16" bull barrel and shooting 55 gr.SP would outshoot a Bushy V-match Comp. that I had. I've been thinking about selling it and getting Predator, but am willing to wait for Byron's evaluation. My only complaint with the DPMS is the weight of the barrel and loudness, but that has nothing to do with the quality of the gun, Thanks, Jim
 
I was going to say... I have a DPMS with a 16" bull barrel and have never had a problem with it in 5 years. It far outshoots the old Colt SP2 that I used to have. I recently had a .204 Ruger upper with a 22" match Douglas barrel made for it and they both hold exceptionally tight groups. If you ever have to deal with the Customer Service of a manufacturer, you can't beat DPMS for help.
 
The problem with DPMS is the same as every other "problem" gun, internet misinformation and brand loyalty (brand X is best because I own it) I've dealt with several Colt's and according to some their overpriced junk, they're my favorite and worth every penny to me.

I'd also like to know why the soldier from Iraq says stay away from DPMS because Colt or FN are all the military uses.
 
Well.. we found one for $650 w/o a scope, $700 w/ red dot scope. Tomorrow morning, my dad is going to go buy it. It has a used Colt upper receiver w/ a flat top & picatinny rail with a raised scope mount. Barrel is a 16" with a 1:9 twist. I was preferring 1:8, but 1:9 was all we could find without having to wait a while. Then the lower is a brand new Bushmaster Lower. I will post pics as soon as I can.
 
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