So, I'm thinking it might be time for me to finally bite the bullet and get an AR...

[TJm15.38]

The first black rifle I owned was a Arsenal SGL21-61 (AK clone based on a stamped Russian receiver). I loved shooting it for the shear reliablity and simplicity. However, I was just never quite satisfied with the accuracy which was, at best about 2 to 3 MOA (not bad for an AK). So very late in life, I bought a Colt M4 after bad mouthing the AR platform for a few years, and was pleasantly surprised with the inherent accuracy with just iron sights and coexistent Vortex red dot sight. After that, I was hooked and have since acquired and built several AR rifles (no pistols yet). My favorite is this one pictured. Anderson receivers, Spike's Tactical parts, Giessele G2s trigger, Midwest Industries MLOK rail and Odin Works stainless barrel in .223 Wylde. All this put together by yours truly at the ripe old age of 69. I reccomend doing it much earlier in life. Nevertheless, it shoots like a dream sighted per the Vortex Spitfire prism scope instructions at 100 yards. Ammunition was Hornady .223 55 grain V-Max.

 

[TX-Dennis]

There are about half a dozen in my safe - not including the 15-22s. Smith, DelTon, ATI, and a couple assembled from parts. There's also a 9mm "sort-of" AR by PSA. They all work reliably with hundreds to thousands of rounds through them.

Have somewhere around 24 magazines and plenty of ammo stocked. My son says we could fight off an army with what I have. Maybe, but only a poorly trained one and not for long.

 

[Michaelp57]

I can agree on building an ar instead of buying. I have one store bought ar15 and it's a rock river armory. I have not had a single issue with it. I have 4 that I've built though and with the exception of my .50 Beowulf, they've been great. The 7.62×39mm may need a better firing pin, but otherwise, they all cycle and fire as they should. As long as you're getting a "common" caliber(.223/.556, .300aac), most build kits will be decent quality and function well without any tuning necessary. If you're set on buying one though, I've heard great things about the ruger, FN, S&W, Springfield offerings.

 

[Grayfox]

Back in 1972 Uncle Sam put a M-16A1 in my hands. I didn't particularly like it. Swore I'd never own one.
But in 2018 the antis were screaming about banning them again. I caught a M&P-15 on sale at Buds, so I bought one simply to have one and piss 'em off.
Then two years ago I stumbled across a really good deal on a used Colt A2 Sporter. I just couldn't turn it down. I put a set of triangular handguards on it and now it kinda fills the nostalgia spot for my old Army days.
Honestly, I don't shoot them much. And more often than not, when I do, its with the CMMG .22lr conversion in it.
Anyway, I have two ARs and no real desire to add any more. But I dare anybody to try to take 'em.
So I guess I'm saying that every gun owner should have one if for no other reason than they don't want you to.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Colt, Smith, BCM, Aero Precision, all make good rifles.

Funny thing, an old friend called me the other day to tell me he finally bought an AR and he said he got "the good one". I'm thinking, "DO WHAT?"! He's very proud of the fact that he bought a Colt. I was amused.

Bushmaster
Stag

Two more good makers right there, never mind getting one built to your own specifications or DIY (not me, not handy enough, my personal problem )....

I was fixing to buy a fancy shotgun a few years ago but it go sold before I got there so I had a Bushmaster M4 customized....

It's upside down; I don't know how to fix that.

Anyway, some time later I loaned it to a friend........oops..... after he put a night scope on it he wanted to keep it. Okay, then, $$$ happened and then this happened:

Bushmaster X15 ES2

Too good a deal to pass up........

There are plenty of "good ones" out there........

But, sorry Muss, I can't talk myself into an AK-47, I don't see the point of having one of those.....and they define ugly!

 

[rincar]

Get one or two. You do not need to have a reason to get one. Just like peple who own luxury cars. Its your money spend it how you please. They have reasonable price now. I would not get one with to many bells and whistles on it. A red dot sight to start with. You can figure out what you want as you become more familiar with it.

 

[Dreadi]

Funny thing, an old friend called me the other day to tell me he finally bought an AR and he said he got "the good one". I'm thinking, "DO WHAT?"! He's very proud of the fact that he bought a Colt. I was amused.

Bushmaster
Stag

Two more good makers right there, never mind getting one built to your own specifications or DIY (not me, not handy enough, my personal problem )....

I was fixing to buy a fancy shotgun a few years ago but it go sold before I got there so I had a Bushmaster M4 customized....

It's upside down; I don't know how to fix that.

Anyway, some time later I loaned it to a friend........oops..... after he put a night scope on it he wanted to keep it. Okay, then, $$$ happened and then this happened:

Bushmaster X15 ES2

Too good a deal to pass up........

There are plenty of "good ones" out there........

But, sorry Muss, I can't talk myself into an AK-47, I don't see the point of having one of those.....and they define ugly!

I forgot to mention Stag. Stag and Aero…both come out of the same warehouse, both are owned by the same capital group.

I’ve got a 20” Stag myself.

 

[S-W4EVER]

I have reasons why I don’t build my own AR’s. For starters it requires a few special tools in order to do it right. It also requires knowledge on how to do it right (& I have no interest to assembling them for others). In addition I wouldn’t trust my life to a firearm that wasn’t built by a professional. The closest I’ll get is buying assembled proven quality uppers and lowers separately and putting them together.

 

[BC38]

I have reasons why I don’t build my own AR’s. For starters it requires a few special tools in order to do it right. It also requires knowledge on how to do it right (& I have no interest to assembling them for others). In addition I wouldn’t trust my life to a firearm that wasn’t built by a professional. The closest I’ll get is buying assembled proven quality uppers and lowers separately and putting them together.

Yeah, FWIW its a pretty mature platform, in technological terms.
Putting one together isn't rocket science.
But to each his own....

 

[WR Moore]

I'm on record as being agin DIY. Besides the special tools & gauges-some of which aren't available to the general public- there's the QA/QC thing. Everybody makes a part or few that just aren't quite right. Might not be a significant issue, might be. When you buy from a quality maker, you get better QA/QC (They randomly check parts they get in to make sure they're getting what they paid for.) and if something goes wrong, it's their problem and THEY fix it. You put it together, it's your problem and more of your $$$$.

What's supposed to happen with parts that don't meet all specs is that they get scrapped. OTOH, when the money's tight, some that don't meet all the really picky specs might get shipped. Then, if the money's tighter, what's considered an insignificant deviation can get flexible and the price might get really friendly (such a deal I've got for you) to a maker who's "flexible". Also, there's the scrap dealers who can get a lot more $$$ from some manufacturer who's in need.

I've watched a few DIYs come apart in competition. Fortunately, no one got hurt, but the potential was there. As just one example, watching what happens when a set screw fastened gas block blows forward was interesting. If you're betting your butt on it, you want cross pins on that gas block.

Our training regime was considered "abusive" by a number of AR makers. I've noted the names of at least one mentioned above as a "quality" maker. Not really. I won't mention names in the hopes they've cleaned up their act since. When one walked away from their warranty we turned their products into MILES guns. Only pride was at stake then.

 

[djohns6]

I own two . One is my personal weapon and the other is " Unfired , new in the box ." I bought it on sale and plan on making a healthy profit on it the next time the .gov scares people and causes a panic buy .

 

[Grayfox]

As I said, I'm not that enthusiastic about the two I have. I have absolutely no interest in building one.
As for the DIY guns, I see them for sale all the time. Guys will go to great lengths to list all the brand name parts they put in them and how much they spent. But I'll pass. You have no idea of the skill level the guy who built it has. Might be a gem, might be plumb dangerous. Ya never know and I won't risk it.

 

[rwsmith]

Don't like AKs....

Every serious gun owner should have, among other guns, an AR-15 of some sort, along with an AK-47 of some sort, a .30 something caliber bolt action rifle, a .22 something bolt action rifle, a 9 mm and .45 ACP pistol, a 12 gauge shotgun, a .38/.357 magnum revolver, and a .22 revolver . . .

... but I have an SKS that I LOVE to shoot.

PS And two ARs that I made myself, mostly.

 

[smithra_66]

I periodically think about getting an AR platform.

Then I realize that I can’t imagine what I’d use it for.

Having fun, of course!

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

Every serious gun owner should have, among other guns, an AR-15 of some sort, along with an AK-47 of some sort, a .30 something caliber bolt action rifle, a .22 something bolt action rifle, a 9 mm and .45 ACP pistol, a 12 gauge shotgun, a .38/.357 magnum revolver, and a .22 revolver . . .[/QUOTE

... but I have an SKS that I LOVE to shoot.

I agree...other than the AK-47. I have owned one but simply didn't like it. I'm 6'3" and the buttstock on an AK is simply too short. Yes...that can be changed to something else but the poor ergonomics and mediocre at best accuracy was a turn-off.

I do agree about the SKS. It's a much better rifle for most uses as is. I don't own one anymore but other than being a ChiCom weapon I don't have anything against it.

The rest of your post...spot on.

 

[Echo40]

Okay, so I'm probably asking for it here, but I gotta ask regardless...

M&P15 Sport II vs Colt LE6920?

Yeah, yeah, I know... "It's a Colt!" and "It'll hold it's value better!" but keep in mind that I'm looking at Police Trade-ins here with the intent to use one as an actual defensive weapon — on a boat, no less — so I mean in terms of features/functionality/quality, not market value or collectibility.

I presume that the Armornite Finish on the M&P15 is more corrosion-resistant than whatever finish Colt uses, (I presume Colts are Parkerized or Blued) which would be a plus since it's obviously going to be exposed to moisture, but then again I don't actually know what sort of finish Colt uses or how corrosion-resistant it is. Yeah, I know that it's durable, being carried around in dessert environments by the Army, but how well does it hold up to humidity/moisture?

There's a $200 difference between the two, but I figure if it's worth it then I might as well since I'm sorta splurging anyway.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

 

[PALADIN85020]

What's not to like?

John

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

Okay, so I'm probably asking for it here, but I gotta ask regardless...

M&P15 Sport II vs Colt LE6920?

Yeah, yeah, I know... "It's a Colt!" and "It'll hold it's value better!" but keep in mind that I'm looking at Police Trade-ins here with the intent to use one as an actual defensive weapon — on a boat, no less — so I mean in terms of features/functionality/quality, not market value or collectibility.

I presume that the Armornite Finish on the M&P15 is more corrosion-resistant than whatever finish Colt uses, (I presume Colts are Parkerized or Blued) which would be a plus since it's obviously going to be exposed to moisture, but then again I don't actually know what sort of finish Colt uses or how corrosion-resistant it is. Yeah, I know that it's durable, being carried around in dessert environments by the Army, but how well does it hold up to humidity/moisture?

There's a $200 difference between the two, but I figure if it's worth it then I might as well since I'm sorta splurging anyway.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

What Colt uses is a process called Martin Hardcoat. It's what the military requires and specifies. Colt gives all the same finish...whether military sales or commercial unless possibly a distributor called for something different...I have an M4 in Flat Dark Earth Cerakote which was a Davidson's special...also a LE901SE (7.62x51) in FDE...but that's not military production.

 

[Skeptic 9c]

Never liked them. Bought one in case of civil emergency because of common usage, fired it enough to make sure it worked, and now it is mothballed. Not even sure which safe I left it in to collect dust.

The US passing over the FAL for the inferior Armalite was the greatest injustice and mistake of small arms history.

Well, had the US Army gone with the AR-10, the results might have been different.
Geoff
Who grew up on the AR-15 / M-16A1.

 

[Imissedagain]

On a boat, 308 is more better.
Advice from Agents on the Ocean long ago.

Landlubber's tools.
Civil war Naval Captain's sleeve.... circa '80