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.

[usmcobra]

make sure it has a bolt....

[Thunder90]

Start by looking here...

http://www.ar15.com/

[driftdiver]

5.56 ammo is kinda expensive for plinking. I used to have a bushmaster before the boating accident. It was pretty nice.

[Paul46360]

plinking...right.
look for any wear in the barrel. Ensure that the rifling is smooth. That the iron sights are not bent. No cracking in the plastic. Make sure that you do some plinking before buying it.

[TSgt]

Plink with a Marlin, shoot with an ArmaLite.

[cryptical]

My LMT was a real nice rifle before it fell overboard as well.

[driftdiver]

A local shop has a large collection of sig rifles they will sell. Any experience with those?

[ansel12]

Here is a superlight Bushmaster.

http://www.bushmaster.com/catalog_xm15_MAZ-C1516SLORC.asp

[NavyCanDo]

When you get it. Keep it.
I bought mine for $440 in 1980 through a gun club in the Navy. Sold it for $650 twelve years later to buy an engagement ring for my girl. I still got the girl, but Oh how I miss that AR-15.

[FlingWingFlyer]

Another FReeper here said he was going this route too.

[cryptical]

Held one once, looked well built. I don’t recall if they use regular AR magazines, but I’d be concerned about that, and make sure they have standard rails for optics and lights.

[Quickgun]

You can probably get a new Bushmaster Match for that money. I'd get a flattop and put some kind of scope or optical sight on it. ☺

[no dems]

LOL!!! I thought you were wanting some guidance for the midterm election in the 15th Congressional District in Arkansas. My bad, dude.

[stuartcr]

If you want a fun semi-auto for plinking that’s inexpensive, I would go with an M1 Carbine. You can also get a Ruger Blackhawk chambered in the same round that is really nice. Both for under $1300.

[KoRn]

Bushmaster
DPMS
Armalite

I believe Ruger makes a good one now as well.

[driftdiver]

Reading a little here http://www.shoot-straight.com/p-488-sig556-swat.aspx and it appears they are standard. Quite a bit more expensive though.

[wrench]

For plinking, save some money and get a 10-22.

If you want an AR, decide what your needs are.

Light weight and easily carried, the flat top 16” barreled collapsible stocked varient will serve you well. The flat top allows iron sights or a host of optical sights.

If you want more on target energy, get a 20” barrel.

The super light barrels carry well, but you may realize better accuracy with a slightly beefier barrel.

There are a number of good makers out there now, Colt, Bushmaster, Rock River among others. These 3 are all top notch.

[Sylvester McMonkey McBean]

It's hard to get a crappy off the shelf AR. Century and Olympic seem to have the largest "hate clubs." That bit of information is worth exactly what you paid for it.

You could build a nice one for that kind of scratch.

Buy a quality lower, and a complete parts kit from any one of maybe a dozen manufacturers. You might even be able to get a parts kit AND an additional upper. (Think .22LR upper for dirt cheap practice/training on the same platform.)

Like another said above, ar15.com is a great place to start. Look for the "stickies" in the tech section.