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

[Dave Haynes]

A reason to own one:
I have a friend who had never fired a weapon of any type anywhere. Took him to the club range, since closed many years, there were steel targets scattered all over the hillside that were being used for practical pistol. Ranges from 75 yds to 100 none the same. These were small targets some maybe 8" by 24" some larger. I handed him the AR and explained how to use the sights. He took a couple of seconds and started shooting. He never missed any shot! All hits regardless of size or distance. It was from a bench but it was still amazing to me. This was an old billet SGW with A2 upper and 1/12 chrome GI barrel. No scope.

 

[Echo40]

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

I'm sure that .308 is better just about everywhere, but unfortunately AR-10s cost like 3x as much as an AR-15 for reasons unknown to me, so I really cannot afford one, nor does it really matter.

If I should ever feel that 5.56 is insufficient, then I'll convert it to something more powerful like .300 BO or .450 Bushmaster Beowulf or whatever.

 

[ColbyBruce]

If you have AR’s in various calibers make sure you mark them, and the magazines too, in case someone other than you picks it up.

 

[Muss Muggins]

If somebody other than me picks up one of my AR’s, I’m hoping it blows up in their face . . .

If you have AR’s in various calibers make sure you mark them, and the magazines too, in case someone other than you picks it up.

 

[ColbyBruce]

If somebody other than me picks up one of my AR’s, I’m hoping it blows up in their face . . .

Friend, will you please share the secret of immortality with the rest of us here on the forum? At 65, with AFIB and sleep apnea issues, I realized a while ago that my accumulation of firearms might be in other’s hands some day soon, or not. Short of parting with them all, I did what I could to avoid a disaster.

 

[Gamecock]

Consider this: the AR-15 is a modular system. It can be configured many ways. Therefore, you should consider how/what you are going to use it for before purchase, so as to have it configured for those particular uses.

 

[BSA1]

To those who are saying only buy Colt.

Colt doesn’t not supply AR’s to any branch of the military and has not for a long time. In 2020 FN won a five year indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contact to supply the Army with M4 and M4A1 carbines. I build my own AR’s and will run any of them against a factory, out of the box Colt anytime.

 

[Muss Muggins]

When I go, I don’t care what happens. You don’t get to write your own obituary . . .

Friend, will you please share the secret of immortality with the rest of us here on the forum? At 65, with AFIB and sleep apnea issues, I realized a while ago that my accumulation of firearms might be in other’s hands some day soon, or not. Short of parting with them all, I did what I could to avoid a disaster.

 

[lihpster]

When I go, I don’t care what happens. You don’t get to write your own obituary . . .

Sure you can. Here's mine.

Lihpster passed away yesterday. He was old enough to know better. His childhood was filled with bawling, drooling and incontinence, much like his adulthood. Survivors include 3 small cacti and Keith Richards. Services will be held in a van down by the river.

 

[Muss Muggins]

I should have said you don’t get to publish your own obituary unless you have an ironclad agreement with the newspaper and a stipulation in the will. And even then, the survivors can publish a rebuttal . . .

Sure you can. Here's mine.

Lihpster passed away yesterday. He was old enough to know better. His childhood was filled with bawling, drooling and incontinence, much like his adulthood. Survivors include 3 small cacti and Keith Richards. Services will be held in a van down by the river.

 

[WR Moore]

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

M&P15 Sport II vs Colt LE6920?

Given the environment you're considering, you're gonna want a hard chrome finish on the bore & chamber. You're not gonna get that with the Sport. There's also a few other details like no heat shield in the hand guard. I used to swap electrons with a guy who at the time was CO of the USAMTU. He stated that the non chrome bore treatments didn't stand up to rapid fire like hard chrome does.

The folks who make barrels/gas blocks/bolt carriers (very limited # on the last) likely don't waste time doing different exterior finishes, they're probably all mil-spec or very close to it. The anodizing on the aluminum parts is gonna be done by the manufacturer. Remember many of those makers are also selling either parts or complete rifles to the DOD or other government agencies. (But beware the low bidder!)

Given personal experience with both manufacturers, I'd go S&W, but I'd pony up the extra $ to get the M&P15 rather than the sport. Or, go Rock River.

 

[damienph]

Careful, ARs can be a slippery slope…

 

[Echo40]

Sure you can. Here's mine.

Lihpster passed away yesterday. He was old enough to know better. His childhood was filled with bawling, drooling and incontinence, much like his adulthood. Survivors include 3 small cacti and Keith Richards. Services will be held in a van down by the river.

I once wrote this eulogy for myself...

"Ol' whatshisface was quite the character, walking the line between that of a complete genius and a total fool, a poetic philosopher and a raving lunatic, a altruist and a misanthrope. Practically everything he ever said was one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point, in his rambling, incoherent responses, was he even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room was dumber for having listened to him. I award him no points, and may God have mercy on his soul."

 

[Screwball]

I have 9 ARs… 3 of which are SBRs. Only one that was completely factory built was my Colt 6920.

Got it for the price ($900 from PSA) and being it is close to what I qualify with at work. We actually have one 6920 in rotation with the M4s. I got it when I ditched the Tavor. Aimpoint PRO, Surefire Scout light… mostly everything else is OEM Colt (ambidextrous selector is, but I put in a Norgon magazine release). It isn’t my most commonly used AR, but if I don’t want to file the paperwork to take the SBR… it’s a good option.

Most of the ARs out there will be fine for 95% of people. One of my SBRs is a PSA with a binary trigger… and that thing runs like a raped ape. I did have to send it back because the front sight block was canted so the rear sight was pushed all the way to one side, but they got it squared away. Find a manufacturer that covers their firearms, shoot it to confirm it works… if something breaks, send it back for repair and start shooting it again to confirm it works.

I may buy one of the PSA/H&R retro rifles… just because I always wanted one with the triangle handguard. But if I were getting something for another reason, like a specific purpose AR, I’d likely build a stripped lower and find an upper that meets my needs. I’ve built uppers before, but end of the day… if there is a problem with a build, it is likely going to be with the upper. Factory upper doesn’t work, send it back for repair.

 

[Sistema1927]

Everyone should know how to assemble an AR. That will allow you to know your rifle inside and out.

Tonight, I removed the pistol buffer tubes and braces from the two AR's that I SBR'd and replaced them with carbine buffers and adjustable stocks. And, wonder of wonder, I didn't lose any springs or detents in the process.

 

[StephenWhoDat]

+1 for Stag Arms. I have an older Stag and a new Stag with the new logo. Both have been excellent rifles.

 

[rockquarry]

Everyone should know how to assemble an AR. That will allow you to know your rifle inside and out.

Tonight, I removed the pistol buffer tubes and braces from the two AR's that I SBR'd and replaced them with carbine buffers and adjustable stocks. And, wonder of wonder, I didn't lose any springs or detents in the process.

What's SBR'd?

 

[Miami_JBT]

OP, get yourself a Palmetto State Armory M4 Carbine. They're affordable, well made, and PSA is a great company. I have a smattering of Colts, Bushmaster, Core-15s, and PSAs. I've had DPMSs, Spike's Tacticals, and Rock Island Armory.

In the end, a PSA will do just fine.

 

[ColbyBruce]

What's SBR'd?

NFA classification

Short Barreled Rifle

 

[Baltimoreed11754]

Don’t have an AR15, never really liked them but after I retired 10 years ago I built several AR.45s using CNC greasegun mag lowers, olympic arms and then cmmg bcgs and barrels. I’ve also built a dedicated AR.22. I’ve been shooting the AR.22 alot since the primer insanity. One of my favorite toys.