Buying a gun

Chockstock

Chockstock

The Stars and Stripes Forever
15-Year Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2009
Messages
831
Greetings SAF - Are there any gun enthusiasts here? I'm starting to ask some buddies about buying a gun so I figured I might do so here as well. I have never owned a weapon before and besides handling guns in the Army, I've only shot Glocks at a public range a few times.

I'm looking to purchase a full, free float railed AR. Purpose of the weapon will be recreational. I've been looking at Daniel Defense but not sure if they are worth the cost.

Budget is $2,500. SAF, based on your experience, what firearm brand makes the most cost-effective ARs and is there a particular model you would recommend and why?

Merry Christmas!
 
I have never seen any AR-15 pattern rifle worth more than $700, in my opinion.
For out-of-the-box quality and accuracy, I like the Ruger AR-556 and Smith & Wesson M&P15 rifles.
Both have excellent customer service and lifetime warranties. Buy one of those, and spend $300 on mags and ammo, and pocket $1,500 of your budget.

Now, if you must have a free-float rail, you will spend more. If you're never going to shoot past 100 meters, the barrel shroud isn't going to matter much. If you're shooting at some great distance, then you'll want a longer barrel (20" or more), and possibly a .223 match or .223 wylde barrel.
As far as super-accuracy, this platform isn't really the right thing for it (again, my opinion), so not sure what your intent is, with the free-float barrel shroud, unless you just want one to hang stuff on it?

Most bench shooters these days go up to .308 if they're reaching out to 400 meters (or more). Some of them use AR-10 pattern rifles, but the die-hard ones still stick to M1A1s or bolt action rifles.
 
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That's a very nice budget to build you own, which is a fun endeavor in itself. I could go on and on and on about my favorite brands, but that would cause a battle on this forum. It's like asking a New Yorker who makes the best pizza.

I have a .300 Blackout that I built. I love it. I also have a S&W M&P Sport II in 5.56 that I paid less than $400 new. Love that one, too.
 
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Also if you build your own or buy, go 5.56. Very comon caliber so there is plenty of available rounds for everything (plenty of cheap surplus too) 😊. Or if you have the cash and are feeling saucy, go .300 or send it and go ar-10 with .308.
 
You may want to check out the YouTube Channel InRangeTV. There the 2 hosts have built 2 AR platforms using their interpretation of "WWSD" (what would Stoner do). IOW if he was living now, what components, technologies, etc. would he make the AR out of. The hosts came up with very light, accurate, dependable, etc. versions.
 
Smith and Wesson M&P 15 right out of the box, no adjustments, open sights, 50 yards.
I was very pleased for the price point. 750 ish.
 

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All good calls!!

Me? I'm an old curmudgeon...if it's an AR, it's my NM Colt using 77grain for distance and accuracy (it's set up for that load: 1 in 8). BUT...you can't go wrong with an M1A or...yes, I'm going to say it, a NM M-1 Garand.

I just love my Garand!!
(okay, and my M1903A1, and my SMLE #1mk3, and my K31, and my...)

But I digress...

Steve
 
I'm a stand -up tall to be quietly counted enthusiast......2 -ARs in .204 Ruger for undesirables such as coyotes and bobcats on my farm. I much prefer sporting shotguns, I'm a collector of several Berettas , semi-autos in both 20 and 12 ga. , a featherlite 20 ga. Benelli semi-auto, and probably 5 or 6 more Browning semis, 2 over & under cynergys and one old side by side . that I inherited from my family of hunters. I primarily hunt turkey in the Spring doves in the late Summer and ducks in the late Fall and Winter.....My NAVY O-3 flew home for an opening weekend Labor Day dove hunt this year and absolutely had a 3 day"BLAST"..... during a few slow spells while sitting in our 25 acre sunflower field he was messaging his USNA room-mates and other 28th Company classmates that they ABSOLUTELY needed to join him to shoot sporting clays and doves next Fall at the farm …… if half of his buddies that were invited show up next year I might be short 3 or 4 shotguns but I won't have a problem finding a few extra guns to borrow from my farming neighbors 😎
 
Btw : one of my hunting friends brought as a special guest to the dove field that weekend , a great American🇺🇲 patriot, Col. Jackie Jackson USMC (Ret), a Harrier jump-jet test pilot and Vietnam vet. It was an honor to host him !( Google him)….. now I digress
 
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