Addictive!
I've shot Colts, S&W and Bushmasters and they shot well but my buddies say they don't have the quality lately.
DPMS has a good reputation and I think they manufacture parts for many of the big names but I don't know about their present quality.
Make sure you get a 5.56 Nato chamber not .223 Remington.
To get the most out of the cartridge get a 20"+ barrel, if energy isn't that big a deal then you can go with the carbine lengths.
The trend seems to be toward piston driven as opposed to the gas system of the AR, cleaner and more reliable. There are conversions or you can just buy it as a piston driven system for a little more. I'd definitely go with that
Something to take a look at is this by Benelli, takes AR mags and is piston driven and very reasonable for Benelli quality. I haven't shot one though.
One more suggestion.
I got the long barrel with the full stock and use iron sights. Standard military no-frills issue. Don’t get sucked into the short barrel SWAT collapsible stock crap.
When you need it most, you’ll want the accuracy and won’t have time to play with a plethora of rattling accessories hanging off the weapon.
Traditionally I’ve always disliked the AR-15 and all it’s ilk. Having gas ported directly back to the bolt carrier group drove me nuts. I have a proclivity for the M14/M1A.
//Donning flame retardant suite//
HOWEVER, I just finished a week of shooting the Bushmaster M6 and was really impressed. I want to own one now (I already own an M1A)! The M6 differs from the M4 in that the gas tube has been replaced with a piston/rod assembly.
Best of luck on your search.
If you’re just going to plink, buy a .22LR.
Get the Bushie. You won’t be disappointed and they hold their value.
If you can find one, consider a Daewoo DR 200 (.223) or the Daewoo DR300 if you like 7.62X39.
Both are what we should have built, but didn’t.
An AR15 For plinking? Man, you ARE hardcore...Or rich. :)
I’m assuming that you want a gun for plinking now but also a gun for fighting when the time comes. My recommendation is a piston driven from LWRC. Not cheap but top quality.
It’s as simple as A B C:
Armalite
Bushmaster
Colt
I’m gonna get flamed for this but you can’t beat an Olympic Arms CAR-97 for when your targets get to close for your Savage Arms .308 cal
Addictive!
For a $200 tax you can go the NFA route (state rules vary). My 11.5” Colt plinks just fine and hangs ready for home defense as well (short size + suppressor + 30 round mag = premium CQB gun).
I think $1300 gets anyone a very nice AR, though some here curiously do not. For that money you could get a Smith & Wesson M&P 15 at full retail price. For $500 more you’re in Remington ACR territory.
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...
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.
.223. Gas piston.
Well when you’re plinking..make sure to plink em’ in the knee’s...LOL
