AR Fever

[MTechnik]

So, it looks like I have full-blown AR fever.

My collection looks like this:

8mm mauser, yugo 24/47 - a ton of fun, 2moa rifle, have 1500 rounds of surplus stocked.
marlin 39a 22lr lever action - shoot all day, have it not hurt (shoulder, ear, wallet)
fnp-9 - the protection tupperware - reliable, great trigger, 3x16 round mags
Ruger Mk III pistol - 22lr pistol practice all day long. the thing is deadly-accurate with the red dot on it. really rather silly.

Now, as part of an agreement with the wife, I can only have 4 guns. Hey, it's a BIG improvement from where we were a couple of years ago (no guns).

My desire to shoot sub-MOA groups at 100 yards or more is leading me to want to trade one of the 4 allotments in. The amount of 8mm ammo and the way it's gone up in price makes it good to sell now (before people realize new .223 is cheaper).

I was thinking about maybe a remington 700 in .223 or .308... but then I realized I can swap out uppers on an AR-15, and it's still one rifle! (more flexibility later)

I am thinking of starting with a Rock River AR in their Varmint config - 20" stainless bull bbl, target crown, low profile gas block, free floated handguard, flat-top, 2-stage match trigger and since I am a lefty, thinking of getting the ambi mag release and ambi safety. Then getting a piece of glass for the top, maybe something like a bushnell 3200 elite in a 5-15x40, or maybe the browning variant in the same 5-15x40.

So far I am thinking about getting it sent from ADCO to French Creek Outfitters. And seeing what FCO or Ebay have for decent glass at good prices.

I had considered building one from a kit, but only one friend of mine has an AR, and I don't think he works on it beyond a basic cleaning. So I wouldn't know who to ask for "how does this spring go?!"

Thoughts? Recommendations about where else to get it cheaply?

Thanks!

[bert304]

It sounds like a great rifle, The scope if you want a decent one is going to cost you. I would check out Leupold their Tactical scopes are expensive but worth the money around 700 and up. AR-15 are great if you are limited to how many guns you can own. You just have to purchase a different top and you have a new rifle.

[Lycanthrope]

Overall good idea. RRA guns are shooters. You could also buy one of these uppers if you handload....1:7 barrels are rarely tackdrivers with 55gr ammo.

http://www.whiteoakarmament.com/

Most kits are easy and the upper is already assembled. It takes you mayeb an hour the first time assembling your own lower. There are several tutorials including this one:


http://ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=4&t=226782

Lycaneasystuffthrope

[Dirty_Pete]

I just built my AR-15 from parts and I have to say, it is the best investment I've made thus far relating to my gun habit.

I got a lower receiver at the valley forge gun show, then bought the rest of the kit from www.m-aparts.com. I got the 20" E2 kit for $525. That, with the lower costing $135 brought total cost of ownership of the AR to $660 (add $20 for a magazine as well brings us to $680ish)

That's a good price for an AR-15 in my book, most of the ones at the VF gun show that were built complete were in the $800-1000 range and looked beat up.

And I definitely volunteer to help you if you decide to build one, I can provide you with the links others provided me regarding building the lower, including a video on how to do it. It's extremely easy with some basic hand tools, the hardest part is the front pivot detent which you are almost guaranteed to lose if this is your first build.

Pete

[Lycanthrope]

Originally Posted by Dirty_Pete

It's extremely easy with some basic hand tools, the hardest part is the front pivot detent which you are almost guaranteed to lose if this is your first build.

Pete

There is a tool to help install that......or you can use a razor blade....but, yeah...that's the trickiest part.

[Karys]

If you're dead set on a RRA, check out http://www.ar15sales.com/

They'll probably have to order it since I doubt they will have a rifle in the configuration you want in stock, but they have the best prices on new RRA's that I've seen.

I bought one from them last year and transferred it through Quinby's in Dublin. AR15sales already had Quinby's FFL on file. I just called Quniby's and told them what I wanted to do and they said they would call me when my rifle arrived. It took about 6 weeks for the rifle to come in since it had to be ordered. The ordering and transfer process thru AR15sales and Quniby's was totally painless and I would definitely do it that way again if I was in the market for another AR.

[Dirty_Pete]

Originally Posted by Lycanthrope

There is a tool to help install that......or you can use a razor blade....but, yeah...that's the trickiest part.

I lost it, never to be found again. Replacement part, $4 plus $7 shipping? F that. I used a brad nail, works well. At some point I'll get a legit detent and try it again, but the brad nail holds it tight.

Pete

[P-11 shooter]

It looks like the fever is spreading. Alot of people are building ar's as we speak.

I think the PAFOA is responsible for supporting about 10% of the AR parts market.

[Cheeseybacon]

I bought my dad a RRA varmint upper with the 20" bull barrel for Christmas and it is really really nice. It has a 1:8 twist rate, so it appreciates the heavier grain bullets. He shoots at 200 yards with 75 grain bullets with extremely accurate results. Due to the heavy bull barrel, the upper alone weighs about as much as my entire 16" Bushmaster carbine. His rifle was very front-heavy at first, but putting a 3lb weight inside the A2 stock and shooting off a bi-pod it balanced out. I gotta remember to take a picture, it's neat looking.

I'd definitely recommend building your own rifle. That way you can pick the exact grips, trigger, stock, sights, etc that you want. If nothing else, you can spread the cost of it out over time, which is much easier to get around the "finance committee" than trying to justify dropping $1000+ all at once on a rifle. At a minimum build the lower receiver up the way you want it. Building the upper receiver is more involved and requires some special tools, so in this case you're probably better off buying the entire assembled upper the first time around. I haven't got the nerve to build my own upper just yet, but I want to give it a shot some day.

[DaveM55]

If you can only four guns, she should only be able to own four pairs of shoes.

Don't take my advice, I'm happily divorced.