I am considering joining the Dark Side......

[Tackleberry]

That's right.... I am finally considering buying an AR15 so what I need is advice, opinions, and experiences on various brands.

The main purpose for this weapon is personal defense from 0-300 meters in a variety of terrain. If an "event" occurs the weapon would most likely be employed in an urban setting but I have a cabin up in Northern AZ that is located in the woods.

Here are my reqs:
- I don't need or want a lot of sizzle, I want durability, reliability, and utility
- Open sights but compatible for optics with minimal alteration to existing set up
- 6 position stock
- bayonet lug (just to piss off the liberals)
- looking mostly for mil spec components (My thinking here is these are the most reliable & sturdy...correct?)
- ideally I would like to be able to use a variety of 223/5.56 NATO ammo but I will most like store up and use XM193 ammo

I really need advice for the following:
- operating system - direct gas impingement or piston; why?
- barrel type, length, & twist; I'd really like to avoid having to get an NFA stamp for it so minimum length of 16"

[Lowdown3]

Two I had back in the day that were pretty unreliable were:
1. Olympic Arms/SGW CAR15. Watched half dozen other identical rifles go down in the same way mine did repeatedly.
2. Years later- Colt Match Hbar. Same as above, after approximately 1000-1500 rounds (if that) with the normal FTF and FTE malfunctions, spent rounds started seizing up in the chamber. Requires a rod to beat it out. Common AR malfunction drills 1 through 5 will not clear this problem.

Whatever you get, no matter how great or reliable someone tells you it is, make sure you put it through the wringer for yourself NOW, while you can make changes, upgrade parts, whatever.

There is going to be a lot of ammo Joos that are going to find out in the PAW that their rifle choice sucked. Their won't be time to change then. You want to find these things out NOW.

You can THINK that you know, or you can KNOW. As a survivalist, you HAVE to know...

[RobertJ]

You will want a .556 chambered barrel. Mid length gas system, there has been a lot of trouble with the piston systems. No matter what that company or gun rag tries to tell/sell you. Most common are the gas key breaks off bolt carrier, gas blowback into shooters face, piston failure. They are getting better now then 5 years ago with the pistons in the AR-15/M-16 platform. There are other .556 platforms that were designed around the piston system that work but you pay a premium... not economical for them.

Back to the AR-15 platform. Stay with a base platform. I have an abundance (9) "Built", with the capability to complete 4 more. currently my favorite configuration is a 14.5 inch barrel with pin and welded phantom flash hider. 1/7 twist rate. It sports a MOE rail, Light weight and you can attach light, laser,etc. A-4 flat top upper with Comp M-3 aimpoint. The lower is Spikes Tactical. Stock is a Mag-Pul "CTR" and grip is Mag-pul MIAD.

If you are going to run nightvision with an optic get a rail. I prefer a Keymod rail due to its thickness (narrow) and lighter weight. and you can still run lights and grip without all that extra unused rail space/weight.

There are three ARs I have that have several thousand round plus classes through them, and I trust.
Novesky- diplomat
Spikes Tactical- custom build I mentioned above
Larue Tactical - OBR (soon to be gone :( )

[flatlander]

If you can't find something from BCM to fit what you want, you're not wanting an AR15. They have the thin barrels which are great to set up for women as they may complain about a weapon being "heavy". Also have the regular M4 profiles along with a couple of different options as to barrel manufacturing.
You can order a "blemished" complete lower NIB from G&R Tactical for $350 I believe then get a complete upper from BCM for as much as you want to spend. I do recommend a "mid-length" 14.5" pinned or 16" middy. They have a different/ "softer" recoil than carbine length.
YMMV

Bob

[xdpatriot]

Whatever you get, no matter how great or reliable someone tells you it is, make sure you put it through the wringer for yourself NOW, while you can make changes, upgrade parts, whatever.

There is going to be a lot of ammo Joos that are going to find out in the PAW that their rifle choice sucked. Their won't be time to change then. You want to find these things out NOW.

You can THINK that you know, or you can KNOW. As a survivalist, you HAVE to know...

This is the best advice you'll get. I run the HELL out of my guns. I've got several from Noveske, LWRC, Stag, LaRue, a couple conglomerates that I've put together myself. The first AR I bought was a Bushmaster. I've ran several classes with it, most of which we're minimum of 1000 rounds in two days. I've ran countless range days with it and even taken a whitetail. The rifle has had over 5000 rounds through it and I've never had a rifle related malfunction. I've had bad mags, which you should keep in mind. Some lowers may not like certain brand of mags. I love HK mags. I have a Stag lower that doesn't like them, I have to keep that in mind. Long story short, My Bushmaster has served me well, so have my expensive ones. Maybe I've been lucky, don't know. Just buy one and go out and try to break it. You've got to shoot them. Every gun I buy, I take it out immediately and run no less than 300 rounds through it. In my mind, if it's got a man made defect, 300 rounds should uncover it. Good luck and let the brass fly.

[justanothergunnut]

This is the best advice you'll get. I run the HELL out of my guns. I've got several from Noveske, LWRC, Stag, LaRue, a couple conglomerates that I've put together myself. The first AR I bought was a Bushmaster. I've ran several classes with it, most of which we're minimum of 1000 rounds in two days. I've ran countless range days with it and even taken a whitetail. The rifle has had over 5000 rounds through it and I've never had a rifle related malfunction. I've had bad mags, which you should keep in mind. Some lowers may not like certain brand of mags. I love HK mags. I have a Stag lower that doesn't like them, I have to keep that in mind. Long story short, My Bushmaster has served me well, so have my expensive ones. Maybe I've been lucky, don't know. Just buy one and go out and try to break it. You've got to shoot them. Every gun I buy, I take it out immediately and run no less than 300 rounds through it. In my mind, if it's got a man made defect, 300 rounds should uncover it. Good luck and let the brass fly.

Thumbs up!! yep what he said.. seriously not trying to whip this dead horse into submission LD3 and XD both shot it and skinned it. As survivalists we have gear that we buy and we should be testing ALL of it. Your weapons though,, you gotta KNOW they work. I'd still have the Jennings J22 in my BOB if I hadn't tested my gear... ;)

[Tackleberry]

Thanks for the great advice guys! This is why I love belonging to this group.

What are your thoughts on AR15s from Windham, S&W MP15, Colt, Daniel Defense, Rock River, & Sig556?

Also, heavy barrel vs M4 profile?

Twist? 1/7, 1/8, or 1/9

[xdpatriot]

Thanks for the great advice guys! This is why I love belonging to this group.

What are your thoughts on AR15s from Windham, S&W MP15, Colt, Daniel Defense, Rock River, & Sig556?

Also, heavy barrel vs M4 profile?

Twist? 1/7, 1/8, or 1/9

Never been around a Windham. The others should be fine. I like M4 profile bbl. myself. As far as twist goes, it corresponds with bullet weight. I think it's negligible, especially if you're only looking to get 300 yards out of it.

[justanothergunnut]

Thanks for the great advice guys! This is why I love belonging to this group.

What are your thoughts on AR15s from Windham, S&W MP15, Colt, Daniel Defense, Rock River, & Sig556?

Also, heavy barrel vs M4 profile?

Twist? 1/7, 1/8, or 1/9

My personal opinion, you would be hard pressed to find better than the Daniel Defense V11 Milspec. Mid length gas system for reliability, full length light weight keymod handguard superb quality.

[Tackleberry]

Hey guys! I have really appreciated the advice. I was talking to a local gun shop and they said they can get me a Colt LE6920-B (any color) for $909+tax. What are your thoughts? Good deal or no?

[xdpatriot]

Hey guys! I have really appreciated the advice. I was talking to a local gun shop and they said they can get me a Colt LE6920-B (any color) for $909+tax. What are your thoughts? Good deal or no?

That is a good deal.

[Tackleberry]

I am finally getting an AR15 .......and I have decided to build it.

Today I ordered a Spike's Tactical stripped lower and stripped upper from my local gun shop. I got the lower for $89.99 and the upper for $112.99 for a total of $202.98 before tax ($219.32 after).

Now I need to settle on a BCG, 16" barrel, gas block, and free float tube. I am primarily going to use this for tactical purposes (ie home and personal defense so 0-300 yards) but I do want to have some flexibility with it. I will mostly be shooting M193 and M855 ammo with it but eventually I will be reloading 68-80gr ammo.

I am thinking about a heavier type barrel with a taper and threaded tip with a 1/7 or 1/8 twist but I am not married to the idea. I have budgeted $200-$300 for the barrel.

I haven't settled on a mil-spec BCG yet but Spike's makes one that gets good reviews. Definitely want to keep the BCG under $150.

At this time I do not want any optics so I am sticking with flip up sights.

The only attachment I will put on during the build is a tactical light.

I am really looking forward to building this thing and I will post photos as I complete the build.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[RobertJ]

I am happy with the nickle boron BCG... Recommend them. also if funds allow get a bravo company charging handle.
Get some mepro tritium sites as well.

[RobertJ]

My spikes collection a few years back.

[Tackleberry]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]2480[/ATTACH] My spikes collection a few years back.

Very nice!