Help Me Choose an AR !

[KingWhoDat]

I hit a rough patch some time back and had to sell off my first AR. It was nothing special, just a basic Frankenstein mil spec rifle. I put a decent quad rail on it, a vertical foregrip and a $120 sightmark on it and had a blast. I'd like to do something a bit nicer this time but I definitely have Del Ton money to go with Daniel Defense taste. My must haves include :

1.) All mil spec parts. No sporter barrels or anything of the sort. No polymer lowers.
2.) Chrome lined barrel for cheap ammo peace of mind.
3.) Low Profile gas block.
4.) Quality iron sights.

That's really it. I'd love to have a 10 inch free float rail. I'd love to have a heavy bull style barrel. I'd love an Aimpoint. But these are all things I can save up for later. I don't want to go cheap on the overall rifle quality to squeeze in accessories I can add in later. Ill dress it up and improve it as I go. I'd also like it as small and light as possible. My budget for rifle with no optics tops out at a whopping $900. I'm not going to shoot at any competitions. I'm not going to war any time soon. (I hope) I just want something solid I can depend on and be somewhat proud of. Any off the shelf you'd recommend ? A parts kit ? The used market ? Any suggestions are appreciated.... I miss shooting AR's. And to think I used to complain about going to the range. Sigh.....

 

[CEHollier]

I have a Rock River Half Quad Free Float and a JP Enterprises Round Free Float. Think the RRA is 9" and the JP is around 12". I can send you pics if interested. I will sell either one for $100.00 OBO

+1 for RRA

 

[Jack]

I'd love to have a 10 inch free float rail. I'd love to have a heavy bull style barrel.......I'd also like it as small and light as possible.

These things are pretty much the opposite of each other. If you want to go light, you should go with a light weight barrel and a tube, not a bull barrel and a rail.

 

[InterstateGuns]

These things are pretty much the opposite of each other. If you want to go light, you should go with a light weight barrel and a tube, not a bull barrel and a rail.

I was thinking the same thing. I just picked up a ddm4v7lw. Only thing I did was drop a geissele tricon trigger in it.

To the op....if you are totally anti-sporter barrel, might I suggest the DDM4V7 with the government profile barrel. You have a shop in Hammond that carries them

***edit*** I just read the budget part. My bad. Try to fight the urge to spend the 900 now and try to get to that DD mark.

 

[KingWhoDat]

The barrel is a like, an aesthetic thing only. I guess I meant more bull barrel shape than actual profile/heft.

 

[Jack]

In your budget I'd try to find a colt(if you're lucky you will), if you can't find a colt I'd go with a PSA rifle. Buying from PSA is a bit of a confusing thing if you don't know what you're looking for, they've got all different qualities of material there, so pay attention to what your buying. The absolute best answer is the one Chris is suggesting. Save up a few more bucks and get something that will last you forever. You're lucky to have a really good shop in Hammond, with an awesome selection to check out.

 

[JCcypress]

Why not something like this?

http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/psa-16-m4-ss12g2-rifle-kit.html

PSA is constantly running specials on free float kits like this. Add a blem lower and you've got a solid rifle for under $700, leaving money for an Aimpoint PRO.

Also, keep an eye on slickguns. With black Friday approaching, there will be hell a deals.

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

 

[JCcypress]

...Or money toward a PRO, I should say.

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

 

[KingWhoDat]

Why not something like this?

http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/psa-16-m4-ss12g2-rifle-kit.html

PSA is constantly running specials on free float kits like this. Add a blem lower and you've got a solid rifle for under $700, leaving money for an Aimpoint PRO.

Also, keep an eye on slickguns. With black Friday approaching, there will be hell a deals.

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

That's an awesome deal. That's the kind of info I was looking for. That is an excellent deal and has everything I want. I hear PSA is a very solid budget friendly company. Thanks a lot man !

 

[Jack]

Why not something like this?

http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/psa-16-m4-ss12g2-rifle-kit.html

PSA is constantly running specials on free float kits like this. Add a blem lower and you've got a solid rifle for under $700, leaving money for an Aimpoint PRO.

Also, keep an eye on slickguns. With black Friday approaching, there will be hell a deals.

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

Yep, if the budget isn't flexible, this is pretty much your best choice.

 

[KingWhoDat]

Any of you fine upstanding gentlemen able to recommend a local shop that offers a layaway program ? I've decided to up my budget to about $1,200 to go ahead and get something I can 100% depend on and be proud of. I've been looking hard at the DD M4V7 and the Ruger SR556. I know I can find one of those in that range if I'm smart about it. I'd like to keep my money local if possible. What do you guys think about those rifles in particular ? I'm not completely sold on the benefits of piston driven vs. DI rifles when weighing in the inherent extra costs associated with the newer tech. Any thoughts on this ?

 

[Jack]

Sport Optics in hammond. DI is the way to go. You'll be very happy with a m4v7, I'm happy with my v7LW.

 

[kcinnick]

A DDM4V7 is going to run more than $1200, unless you happen to have an FFL and Brick and Mortar store. What time frame do you need to pay off the rifle? Also, the DDM4V7 doesn't have any optics on it.

You don't need a piston gun, it is a solution looking for a problem. We will be offering custom builds within the next few weeks, billet uppers and lowers, name brand barrels, a proven M16bcg, you get to choose your parts, stock pieces, rails, trigger, etc. I am so sick at looking at spec sheets... but if you are interested in a build, let us know. Sales@ferrarafirearms.com. If you are interested in one of the pre built rifles, let us know also. Either way, we may be able to work something out.

 

[Jack]

A DDM4V7 is going to run more than $1200, unless you happen to have an FFL and Brick and Mortar store. What time frame do you need to pay off the rifle? Also, the DDM4V7 doesn't have any optics on it.

I got mine for under $1150.

 

[bigtattoo79]

I got mine for under $1150.

Who had them at that price?

 

[JNieman]

How good are you with basic hand tools and not screwing things up? Do you have access to a torque wrench that is safe to use between 30 and 85 pounds? Can you hammer/tap in some pins without ****ing up the parts you're hammering/tapping into?

If you scoffed at how easy the above things are; I would buy components and put your own together, and skip to the next paragraph. If you're kind of on the fence; yea, maybe just buy one off the shelf and ignore the rest of this post.

I have an AR15 based very much around the Daniel Defense M4V7, but only have around $900 into it, including the $200 or so MFR12.0 rail/tube and DD A1.5 sights. The rest are quality components I acquired as I came across good deals. Upper receiver is Aero Precision, that I got off someone here on BS for a good price. The BCG is either BCM or DD that I had laying around (bought it before 'the panic' to ensure I'd have a spare) which was probably the $110ish price which was 'normal' for last September/October.

The only thing I've done since then is swap out the FCG with a Geissele G2S, which is the same thing as the SSA, but as they say on the site: "The main differences with the SSA are a different way of holding the hammer pin in, different pins, no laser marking and only spot MP check. " and it saved me like $60 or $80. But for most every AR15, you can get away with a regular mil-spec trigger; especially on a budget. You can get a 'standard' LPK for $60 iirc; RRA has one of the best budget OOTB triggers out there, without going premium.

I slapped a Magpul stock on mine. They can vary from $30 to $300 or something. I use their newish Fixed Carbine Stock which cost me like $45 or something, iirc. Regular cheap MOE is $30 retail, give or take.

 

[kcinnick]

Who had them at that price?

More like, who, when, where and condition.

 

[SpeedRacer]

Who had them at that price?

Primary Arms. They put them on sale occasionally. If I had the cash at the time I would've bought another one.

 

[bigtattoo79]

Primary Arms. They put them on sale occasionally. If I had the cash at the time I would've bought another one.

That's good to know. I'm looking to buy 2 of them so at that price I'm gonna keep an eye out for awhile before I buy.

Thanks

 

[JNieman]

Primary Arms. They put them on sale occasionally. If I had the cash at the time I would've bought another one.

They /routinely/ have Daniel Defense stuff well below retail ANYWHERE else, including the regular FFL pricing on Brownells, not that that means much. I got my MFR 12" from Primary Arms for what seemed like a steal, judging by others' prices. No idea how they do it other than volume discounts, or something.