Plain-Jane AR-15 question

[Slater]

Eventually I'm looking to get a basic, no-frills A2-style AR-15 for target plinking. Never owned an AR before so I thought I'd do some research. After asking around, seeking opinions, and reading the various Internet boards I've been told the following:

(1) DO NOT buy Armalite, Bushmaster, DPMS, or Rock River. Their QC is spotty and they use substandard components.

(2) DO buy one with a chromed barrel

(3) DO buy the components separately and assemble it yourself

(4) Mag QC is all over the map so choose carefully


So what else do I need to know? Seems I'm in the minority in wanting a full-length rifle as the M4geries are the weapon of choice nowadays, but I like the extra heft of the rifle and I won't be lugging it through the streets of Baghdad.'

[The Reaper]

Originally Posted by Slater

Eventually I'm looking to get a basic, no-frills A2-style AR-15 for target plinking. Never owned an AR before so I thought I'd do some research. After asking around, seeking opinions, and reading the various Internet boards I've been told the following:

(1) DO NOT buy Armalite, Bushmaster, DPMS, or Rock River. Their QC is spotty and they use substandard components.

(2) DO buy one with a chromed barrel

(3) DO buy the components separately and assemble it yourself

(4) Mag QC is all over the map so choose carefully


So what else do I need to know? Seems I'm in the minority in wanting a full-length rifle as the M4geries are the weapon of choice nowadays, but I like the extra heft of the rifle and I won't be lugging it through the streets of Baghdad.'

The search button is always your friend, especially before starting new threads.

TR

[Peregrino]

I wish I could draw such "positive" conclusions from the things I've read on the internet. Do some more research. Try using the search button. FWIW - TR has written volumes on this subject. Other equally knowledgeable people have contributed from their experiences. It might surprise you to see that everything you claim to know can be argued, some of it very strongly by well informed (experts) people.

[Pete]

How about starting with the sticky just above your post. Good place to start.

Pete

With a Bushmaster AR15 that works just fine - as long as I stay away from Silver Bear Ammo.

[Razor]

Originally Posted by Slater

(1) DO NOT buy Armalite, Bushmaster...

You might want to call and warn the US Navy. They just awarded a $4mil contract to Bushmaster for over 5600 rifles.

[Slater]

Don't know enough about Bushies to say either way. There seem to be as many people that like them as don't.

In my neck of the woods the brands you see most often at the stores, gun shows, etc. are Bushmaster and DPMS. From what I can tell just from a cursory look is that DPMS has a Teflon coating on the external finish as opposed to Bushy's plain black finish and comes with 2 mags as opposed to Bushy's single mag. On the other hand, Bushmaster has a chromed bore and DPMS doesn't (at least on the ones I examined).

[kgoerz]

Originally Posted by Slater

Eventually I'm looking to get a basic, no-frills A2-style AR-15 for target plinking. Never owned an AR before so I thought I'd do some research. After asking around, seeking opinions, and reading the various Internet boards I've been told the following:

(1) DO NOT buy Armalite, Bushmaster, DPMS, or Rock River. Their QC is spotty and they use substandard components.

(2) DO buy one with a chromed barrel

(3) DO buy the components separately and assemble it yourself

(4) Mag QC is all over the map so choose carefully


So what else do I need to know? Seems I'm in the minority in wanting a full-length rifle as the M4geries are the weapon of choice nowadays, but I like the extra heft of the rifle and I won't be lugging it through the streets of Baghdad.'

If your not going to fire 1000 per day, Swim in the Ocean with it, Jump out of Airplanes or bounce it around in the back of a Truck. You might want to reconsider Bushmaster, Rock River..etc. Then spend the Money you save on Ammo/Optics/Training. I have a BM and Armalite that have more rounds thru them then most Mil issued Weapons and I never had problems.
Building one from parts will educate you about the AR. But its a hard way to learn.

[Slater]

Point taken. Probably leaning towards a Bushmaster at this point.

[ifiesta]

I've fired all of them from one time or another in law enforcement. I didn't have any significant bad experiences to recommend one over the other. However, my prior law enforcement agency (large city department) went with the Colt for SWAT (name in my opinion). My current agency (federal law enforcement) is using the Rock River and I have not experienced any problems thus far. Nevertheless, if you're looking for a "Plain-Jane" for "plinking" I don't feel that you should put too much concern with the points you had addressed. It sounds like the info you've gathered thus far is addressing precision/competitive or tactical type of concerns.

[Air.177]

It has been my experience in the world of commercially available civilian AR-15s (of which I have sold hundreds) that the Rock River models tend to be a lot for the money when compared to some of the other manufacturers available. The Rock River rifles are available with the RRA 2 stage trigger which is a very nice added feature and generally does not add as much to the price of the rifle as an after market trigger + installation would cost. I have a Bushmaster 20" HBAR that I have several thousand rounds through and have had no problems whatsoever with it.

HTH
YMMV

Good times,
Blake

[Team Sergeant]

Originally Posted by Slater

Eventually I'm looking to get a basic, no-frills A2-style AR-15 for target plinking. Never owned an AR before so I thought I'd do some research. After asking around, seeking opinions, and reading the various Internet boards I've been told the following:

(1) DO NOT buy Armalite, Bushmaster, DPMS, or Rock River. Their QC is spotty and they use substandard components.

(2) DO buy one with a chromed barrel

(3) DO buy the components separately and assemble it yourself

(4) Mag QC is all over the map so choose carefully


So what else do I need to know? Seems I'm in the minority in wanting a full-length rifle as the M4geries are the weapon of choice nowadays, but I like the extra heft of the rifle and I won't be lugging it through the streets of Baghdad.'

We are Special Forces soldiers, not to be confused with some 20 year old pimply faced skateboarder that lives in his mom’s basement and will never travel further than the raisins in his cereal bowl or some 350lb, twelve year veteran, and "designated sniper" of the Maricopa County sheriff’s department that has once fired some version of the M-16 family of weapons that someone else loaded for him and has formed his opinion based off the 15 rounds he was allowed to fire, on a flat range, during good daylight conditions, in a permissive environment, with a safety instructor standing within arms reach, doughnuts and hot coffee a mere 50 yards away both of whom posts daily on ar-15.com or military.com.


We are Special Forces, professional soldiers and have carried fired, employed and maintained weapons in just about every conceivable environment one could imagine and in environments most could/would never imagine.


Next time you visit one of those pseudo-tactical weapons boards/websites please ask them for me;

"Tomorrow is my first night, oxygen, full combat equipment C-17 HALO, should I use an extra tie down on my M-4 as I exit a C-17 at 25,000 ft and should I have a magazine in the mag well or not?"

"Or when infiltrating a hostile area utilizing an over the horizon technique via submarine when’s the best time to lock and load? And what is the silent technique eliminating my now soaked weapon of water?"

"Do you employ a sling while carrying the M-4 when covering 25miles in full gear, at night in a non-permissive environment?"

"Tonight we are conducting a raid on a Taliban stronghold estimated enemy strength could be in excess of 300 insurgent fighters, should I go with a 5 ten or twenty round magazine with my night vision equipped SVD?"

"I noticed a slight reflection off the front lens of my buddy’s ACOG caused by the Aurora borealis should I be concerned?"

"Yesterday we conducted a daylight attack on a cave at a 8000 elevation and our snipers stalked all night covering eight miles to get into position before the assault element arrived, my question is next time we conduct the same sort of assault should we employ our sniper teams one or more days early to conduct their stalks?"


Spare us the amateur opinions.

Team Sergeant

[Slater]

That's kind of why I posed the question on this forum. I respect the opinions of the professionals hereabouts more than any other forum. If you say "Bushmaster is good to go for your purposes" then that's quite good enough for me.

I'm 47 but not too old to shut the Hell up and listen.

[Team Sergeant]

Originally Posted by Slater

That's kind of why I posed the question on this forum. I respect the opinions of the professionals hereabouts more than any other forum. If you say "Bushmaster is good to go for your purposes" then that's quite good enough for me.

I'm 47 but not too old to shut the Hell up and listen.

The question was fine(though un-researched on this board), how ever the opinions of the amateurs you posted was not required.

Unlike the civilians that own/write for military.com, defensereview.com or ar-15.com we are actually professional soldiers and we do not accept advertising nor do we sell anything.

That in and of itself should speak volumes.

Team Sergeant

[texasjack]

Originally Posted by Team Sergeant

We are Special Forces soldiers, not to be confused with some 20 year old pimply faced skateboarder that lives in his mom’s basement and will never travel further than the raisins in his cereal bowl or some 350lb, twelve year veteran, and "designated sniper" of the Maricopa County sheriff’s department that has once fired some version of the M-16 family of weapons that someone else loaded for him and has formed his opinion based off the 15 rounds he was allowed to fire, on a flat range, during good daylight conditions, in a permissive environment, with a safety instructor standing within arms reach, doughnuts and hot coffee a mere 50 yards away both of whom posts daily on ar-15.com or military.com.


We are Special Forces, professional soldiers and have carried fired, employed and maintained weapons in just about every conceivable environment one could imagine and in environments most could/would never imagine.


Next time you visit one of those pseudo-tactical weapons boards/websites please ask them for me;

"Tomorrow is my first night, oxygen, full combat equipment C-17 HALO, should I use an extra tie down on my M-4 as I exit a C-17 at 25,000 ft and should I have a magazine in the mag well or not?"

"Or when infiltrating a hostile area utilizing an over the horizon technique via submarine when’s the best time to lock and load? And what is the silent technique eliminating my now soaked weapon of water?"

"Do you employ a sling while carrying the M-4 when covering 25miles in full gear, at night in a non-permissive environment?"

"Tonight we are conducting a raid on a Taliban stronghold estimated enemy strength could be in excess of 300 insurgent fighters, should I go with a 5 ten or twenty round magazine with my night vision equipped SVD?"

"I noticed a slight reflection off the front lens of my buddy’s ACOG caused by the Aurora borealis should I be concerned?"

"Yesterday we conducted a daylight attack on a cave at a 8000 elevation and our snipers stalked all night covering eight miles to get into position before the assault element arrived, my question is next time we conduct the same sort of assault should we employ our sniper teams one or more days early to conduct their stalks?"


Spare us the amateur opinions.

Team Sergeant

In my short time on the board this has got to be my favorite post

[AngelsSix]

Ah, well, I like the two Colts I have just fine, one is military, one is civie. Never a problem with either. The third AR I own is a custom (not a Colt) I have was built with such skill that it damn near outrivals anything I have personally shot in the AR catagory. Since learning how to do repair/replacement of the military M-4 models, I have decided that I would rather build one myself than to buy another one already built.

But that's just my .02.