gravetrain
Member
I was in the market for an AR for over 5 years as part of our home defense and emergency preparedness. I already had a Mossberg 590A1, XD .45 and Marlin 795 in our cache. I held off on purchasing an AR while we built the rest of our emergency system... come on they'll always have AR's available. I could afford to wait... right? Doh!
With the current political climate surrounding "assault weapons", I thought it best to at least check out my local dealer to see what was up. Understand that I live in San Fransicko where anything to do with bans are significantly magnified (i.e., our local government is currently in the process of banning the possession of hollow point ammunition).
I showed up at our local dealerright when they opened and they had nothing on the racks in the way of 5.56 or .223. They had a few .22lr and a .308 but overall it was pretty bare. They had two new Stag stripped lowers and I seized the opportunity and bought it. I was content to at least have the right to own an AR in the face of a possible ban. There was a used Stag stripped lower for $599 on consignment in the same case. When went home to start researching my lower it was clear that parts were nearly impossible to find and I resigned myself that my lower would sit in the gun safe for some time.
I showed up 10 days later to pick up my lower 20 minutes after they opened and at the counter was a customer checking out an AR. I took position right next to him and several other customers lined up behind me. After he looked at it for about 10 minutes, he put it down on the counter. I asked him if I could look at it and he said yes. I checked it out and reached for my wallet and bought it right on the spot. Now I had a fully built AR for under $1000.
When I came back to pickup my AR two weeks later, I asked the owner if he could recommend a good holographic sight that would not cost me an arm and leg. He stepped behind the counter and dropped an EOTech 512 on the counter. "$250. Hardly Used. Authentic, No box No instructions". It was on consignment from someone who needed the cash. (Yes, I verified the SSN with L3 to be authentic). Sure enough, it looked hardly used. Now I had a nearly new Eotech sight.
The final pieces I was missing were magazines. I scoured the internet for ANY 10, 10/20 or 10/30 magazines. Nothing. I finally came across Thordsen Customs in South San Francisco who had modified Magpul 10/30 magazines that also served as a bullet button tool. Their website indicated they were completely out of stock. I called them up to see if I could get on the wait list. As luck should have it, the owner told me they just got 50 magazines in that morning. Now I have 10/30 magazines and a bullet button tool.
All said and done, I now own a fully built Smith and Wesson M&P 15 Sport with Magpul MOE hand and MiAD pistol grips; customized Magpul windowed UBBT pmags and an Eotech 512 sight for less than $1,500.
It would have been cheaper 18 months ago, let's be honest, those prices are a thing of the past especially here on the west coast. That's if you could even find one. But I have to say, I'm extremely happy with my purchase.
I'm sure I'm telling you what you don't already know. The S&W M&P 15's are well constructed with tight tolerances. I took her out last week to the range and she shot like a dream. The only thing is that the Eotech needs some serious zeroing.
My goal is to keep this very much a tactical sleeper... minimalist. I look forward to your comments. Let me know what you think.
"Mitzi"
With the current political climate surrounding "assault weapons", I thought it best to at least check out my local dealer to see what was up. Understand that I live in San Fransicko where anything to do with bans are significantly magnified (i.e., our local government is currently in the process of banning the possession of hollow point ammunition).
I showed up at our local dealerright when they opened and they had nothing on the racks in the way of 5.56 or .223. They had a few .22lr and a .308 but overall it was pretty bare. They had two new Stag stripped lowers and I seized the opportunity and bought it. I was content to at least have the right to own an AR in the face of a possible ban. There was a used Stag stripped lower for $599 on consignment in the same case. When went home to start researching my lower it was clear that parts were nearly impossible to find and I resigned myself that my lower would sit in the gun safe for some time.
I showed up 10 days later to pick up my lower 20 minutes after they opened and at the counter was a customer checking out an AR. I took position right next to him and several other customers lined up behind me. After he looked at it for about 10 minutes, he put it down on the counter. I asked him if I could look at it and he said yes. I checked it out and reached for my wallet and bought it right on the spot. Now I had a fully built AR for under $1000.
When I came back to pickup my AR two weeks later, I asked the owner if he could recommend a good holographic sight that would not cost me an arm and leg. He stepped behind the counter and dropped an EOTech 512 on the counter. "$250. Hardly Used. Authentic, No box No instructions". It was on consignment from someone who needed the cash. (Yes, I verified the SSN with L3 to be authentic). Sure enough, it looked hardly used. Now I had a nearly new Eotech sight.
The final pieces I was missing were magazines. I scoured the internet for ANY 10, 10/20 or 10/30 magazines. Nothing. I finally came across Thordsen Customs in South San Francisco who had modified Magpul 10/30 magazines that also served as a bullet button tool. Their website indicated they were completely out of stock. I called them up to see if I could get on the wait list. As luck should have it, the owner told me they just got 50 magazines in that morning. Now I have 10/30 magazines and a bullet button tool.
All said and done, I now own a fully built Smith and Wesson M&P 15 Sport with Magpul MOE hand and MiAD pistol grips; customized Magpul windowed UBBT pmags and an Eotech 512 sight for less than $1,500.
It would have been cheaper 18 months ago, let's be honest, those prices are a thing of the past especially here on the west coast. That's if you could even find one. But I have to say, I'm extremely happy with my purchase.
I'm sure I'm telling you what you don't already know. The S&W M&P 15's are well constructed with tight tolerances. I took her out last week to the range and she shot like a dream. The only thing is that the Eotech needs some serious zeroing.
My goal is to keep this very much a tactical sleeper... minimalist. I look forward to your comments. Let me know what you think.
"Mitzi"
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