[crossedcannons45]

...for my hd/shtf rifle since an M1A is out of my price range (and will be for a while) and I really didnt grasp the level of customizability untill I did a bit of research (wow) so they kinda grew on me.

So now what? I want an entry level one (cause the cash for a higher end would be close to the M1A price) preferrably an A1 style ( I think, carry handle etc = A1?) and adjustable stock so my daughter can shoot it. other than that I am in the dark. I have been looking at DPMS and Olympic arms and cant seem to decide between them though Im leaning toward Oly since they have a better warranty.I wholeheartedly plan on tinkering with it over time but I want something thats at least decent out of the box.

So what features do I need to look for in an entry level model? High twist ratio and chromed bore seem like they would be desireable but thats all I know of as of now.

My point? I'm AR illiterate...help!

 

[Richard]

I'm only four months ahead of you. Bought a bushmaster m4. Wish I would have spent a few extra bucks and got a Rock River because the RR 2 stage match trigger is a very serious upgrade ($120).

 

[jakeg823]

i just recently got a dpms flat top model.

http://www.dpmsinc.com/store/products/?prod=5632&cat=1891

got it for about $750? i think(the model w/o the dust cover and forward assist was $700, but it didnt look right). which was pretty much list price, but it was the price range i was looking for and a good rifle. I absolutely love it! still need a set of sights and an optic though. the carry handle models might run you a bit more judging from their site, but w/ not having to buy sights for it that way you cant really complain.

i'm a recent convert myself, always swore i'd never get one until i shot my fiance's dad's and fell in love w/ the accuracy of it!

 

[teirst]

smith and wesson m&p from cdnn

 

[crossedcannons45]

I looked at that one too jake and it piqued some interest for me but I would want to put optics on it right away and that would add another $500 to the price easy.

This is the DPMS I'm eyeballing:
http://www.dpmsinc.com/store/products/?prod=1066

vs. the Olympic arms:
http://www.olyarms.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=49&category_id=7&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=37

I found the DPMS for around $700 which is around $20 more than the OA ...thats another magpul mag. I Like the panther cause it has more goodies but I'm a sucker for a lifetime warranty (though I'm sure all the tinkering I plan on doing to it will void that). Colt, Armalite and S&W M&P are a bit too pricey for me, if I was gonna shell out that kind of cash I would go ahead and get a M1A. I kind of grouped bushys, RRA, DPMS and Olympic all together and the best value I have found so far are the two up there...maybe I can find one used by the time I get the cash together though.

 

[amiles87]

personally i would check out deltonarms.com. chrome lined barrel is good if you are planning in building a full auto rifle. otherwise i find it over kill. i purchased a double star not really knowing anything about ar's and found out later i could prob have built two for the price i payed. the delton rifle kits has everything you need minus the stripped lower reciever and the kit can be purchased for around $500. a stripped lower can be purchased for around $100. if you need any help picking out any parts feel free to shoot me a pm and ill be glad to point you in a direction. i love my flat top reciever with detachable carry handle. it gives me the option to shoot iron sights or optics easily. you can buy the s&w m&p 15 from somewhere like Van's or academy for around $800 or so once you do the mail in rebate and all. the s&w seems to be a great rifle but when entering the ar hobby remember when it comes to furniture(stocks & such) there is mill spec, commercial spec, and s&w spec. good luck hope i helped some.

 

[crossedcannons45]

Ok so Im on delton (thanks! btw its awesome!) and it occured to me that I have no idea what the difference between pre and post ban is...yeah I'm a noob.( that might make a good sticky in fact)

 

[dhollis51]

I am in the same boat as you and I was told you could build one with better parts cor a lesser price than you could buy one these days. Let us kow what you go with. I will hopefully have one by the end of the year if not early next year. just bought a house and need real furniture and not the play furniture for an AR

 

[jakeg823]

As of 2 months ago when I was on delton, between the parts kit, a stripped lower and s&h I was at about $650(depending on which lower)...I made the decision to buy a built rifle based on that and the fact that I was going to have to have help and my schedule is crazy(as is my fiance's bro-in-law who was gonna help me build it). So it just made more sense for me to just pay the extra 100 and get what I wanted already set up for me

 

[dhollis51]

As of 2 months ago when I was on delton, between the parts kit, a stripped lower and s&h I was at about $650(depending on which lower)...I made the decision to buy a built rifle based on that and the fact that I was going to have to have help and my schedule is crazy(as is my fiance's bro-in-law who was gonna help me build it). So it just made more sense for me to just pay the extra 100 and get what I wanted already set up for me

thats true if time persists. all I do is work and hunt and work more than I hunt. I want to build mine just to say I built it but blame the person who helps me put it together when it goes click and nothing happens :yell:

 

[crossedcannons45]

well I have been on DTI's website for the past 2 hours ( can we say OCD?) and I got to thinking about building one which was my initial plan but I have 3 kids and two of them are extremely mischievious toddlers (they get that from thier mother) and I just know that one day while building it I would come home and find everything strewn across the apartment only to gather it up and be missing parts that I couldnt even identify as missing etc etc. and that kind of made me want to wait a few years to build one. But I now intend to buy one from them because the price cant be beat, all the reviews I read were good and all I will have to buy with it will be ammo since it comes with a case, cleaning kit etc.

Now all I have to wait till I get my funding together...I think I have about $20 in the AR fund (formerly the M1A fund) so it may be a while. I'm already starting to get excited about my first black rifle...hell it will be my first rifle period.


Edit: I just realised that I would have it locked up therefore making my worries about the kids eating my kit unsubstantial. Still gonna just buy a rifle now and build one later though...

 

[jbpmidas]

I vote for the build. That's what I did. There is alot of pride in shooting a rifle you put together with ammo you loaded and getting sub-MOA groups out of it.
The barrel twist will be important for what ammo you want to shoot and how accurate you expect it to be with that bullet weight. My 1-7" barrel shoots sub-MOA with 69 grain bullets but 55's will group 4-5" at 100 yards. That is why I bought the 1-7", so I could shoot the heavier bullets.

Does that make sense?

 

[bubbat]

I went the build route for my first AR, I got a M4 Carbine kit from AKpartkits.com and a Double Star lower locally. Total of $550 in rifle. I've put maybe a 1000 rounds through it, not a single problem, shoot greats. I love ARs, I want more!!!! As long the prices of kits and lowers stays down, that is the way I will go.

 

[bubbat]

well I have been on DTI's website for the past 2 hours ( can we say OCD?)
..

Nope not OCD at all... I sat on my funds for 3 weeks studying Del Ton,Model 1 and AKpartskits sites a couple hours a day before I made up my mind... :lol4:

 

[dhollis51]

well I have been on DTI's website for the past 2 hours ( can we say OCD?)
..

Nope not OCD at all... I sat on my funds for 3 weeks studying Del Ton,Model 1 and AKpartskits sites a couple hours a day before I made up my mind... :lol4:

which one did you go with?

 

[bubbat]

well I have been on DTI's website for the past 2 hours ( can we say OCD?)
..

Nope not OCD at all... I sat on my funds for 3 weeks studying Del Ton,Model 1 and AKpartskits sites a couple hours a day before I made up my mind... :lol4:

which one did you go with?

M4 kit from AKpartskits.com

 

[crossedcannons45]

well I have been on DTI's website for the past 2 hours ( can we say OCD?)
..

Nope not OCD at all... I sat on my funds for 3 weeks studying Del Ton,Model 1 and AKpartskits sites a couple hours a day before I made up my mind... :lol4:

which one did you go with?

M4 kit from AKpartskits.com

AKpartskits.com huh?

...so much for sleeping tonight

 

[mattblake]

My first Ar was a delton. If I had to do it all over again I wouldn't change a thing. I have the flat top with the detachable carry handle. Works great and always has. The only thing that I don't like is that it has left me addicted to them.

 

[bubbat]

AKpartskits.com huh?
...so much for sleeping tonight

I have been up all night, where have you been?...:lol4:

 

[M1GarandFan]

I've purchased two kits and built two rifles. One with the 20" barrel and standard stock kit (military style) and then another one with a 16" barrel and adjustable stock for my wife to shoot. I really like the rifles, but I'd still rather shoot my M1A :gun: over the ARs.