AR-15: What do I look for?

vanity | 9/26/2010 | vanity

[aimhigh]

I'm thinking about getting an AR-15, mostly for plinking. There are so many out AR models out there I'm not sure where to start. What features are the most important to look for in narrowing down my search. I'm in the market to pay up to $1300.

[Eagles6]

Some folks like to pretend they know more than they do and buy the latest and the most expensive toys to show they mean business. If they spent as much time shooting as reading all the magazines... Just shoot better than them, let the target do the talking.

[SaxxonWoods]

Heh. You’re supposed to write, “I’m looking for an AR-15 in order to single-handedly destroy all evil on the planet and for plinking, but mostly for plinking.”

I’m sure you had the best of advice on selection by now, so I’ll retire back to my reading...

[jimbobfoster]

I first fired a M-16 in 1970 in the Army. I have owned a number of semi-auto variants since then. They are great little rifles if you know their limitations:

They must be kept clean and properly lubed.
Shoot only good quality commercial ammo.
If a round doesn’t chamber properly on the first try, throw the round away.
Never chamber a round without the magazine inserted & always chamber from the magazine.

[driftdiver]

He was wearing a shirt from a gun shop, seems like he should know what he’s talking about.

But then I’ve been in several gun shops where they don’t, seeking to replace my collection after the accident of course.

[PzLdr]

.223. Gas piston.

[rickb308]

Now if THIS isn’t interesting:
http://www.bushmaster.com/acr/#/gas-system

[Eagles6]

I've met surprisingly many workers at gunshops, especially Gander Mt and such, that know virtually nothing about the products they sell.

Accident? You too? What a coincidence! What are the odds? Mine involved a canoe, a large, rutting beaver, a one eyed albino bobcat with 2 tails and a gallon of homemade wine.

[rickb308]

[crazydad]

Get a Kel tek SU-16, it is 223 and it is cheap at 699, compared to the AR, and shoots really nice...

[atomic_dog]

I’ve long felt that the AR-15/M16 were too fragile, temperamental, and difficult to clean for my tastes.

Amen to that. Buy a Mini 14 and spend the money you save on ammo. Especially the cheap lacquered Russian ammo that most ARs choke on but a Mini will chow down all day.

[jakerobins]

Well when you’re plinking..make sure to plink em’ in the knee’s...LOL

[rickb308]

I’ll bet you’re fibbing about the wine.

[Eagles6]

That’s the only thing we managed to save, for a while at least.

[Sequoyah101]

You might be able to sell the girl and get another AR.

If you behave right you might have the AR longer anyway.

Be careful of tragic boating accidents and robberies.

For the guy wanting to plink... get an AK-47. ARs should be for serious work or driving tacks.

[OldMissileer]

If you look on the Internet you can find a good priced, new, Colt/UMAREX M4-22LR.

I just picked up one of those and it is the same as an AR-15 or M4 but the 22LR lets you shoot the crap out of it without damaging your pocketbook. They are just plain FUN to shoot!

[Sarajevo]

Note to self- don't go fishing with these guys. They [ahem] lose [cough, cough] too much stuff in the water.

[AvOrdVet]

Addictive...

You forgot one sweet "mod"... The Shrike 5.56™ Belt Feed Conversion for the M-16 / AR-15 Family of Weapons

[Joe Brower]

[Durus]

Saying an SIG 556 is an AR platform is stretching the term a bit don’t you think?

[Durus]

You can’t have AR accuracy with a gas piston. The reciprcating mass attached to the barrel is the primary cause of innacuracy among AKs. It’s also why a DI AR is more accurate then a M1A.