AR 15 newbie questions

[Rvrrat14]

All good responses.......

If its a shooter you're after, buy cheapest reputable brand.   Do homework on which one's use GI spec parts.  That's the ticket.

If you build, PSA is a good place to start.

1.  Good Barrel
2.  Good trigger
3.  Free float handguard
4.  Trued receiver
5.  Bedded barrel


AR's are fun, and as they say, Welcome to the BRD!

[sqlbullet]

Also, if you are going to build, start spending 10 minutes a day at http://www.reddit.com/r/gundeals

I find it to a great place to get an early heads up on deals.  I picked up four Anderson stripped lowers earlier this week for $42 each including shipping.  Local FFL charges $10 per gun, so I will be in these only $52 including shipping/FFL.

The notable PSA daily deals are usually posted at this place as well.

I would also say, for barrels, Delta Team Tactical has had some OK deals lately.  I picked up a Colt SOCOM profile 16" there for under $100 last week.  But, be aware that they don't have the best reputation for timeliness or customer service.  I risk it cause they are within an hours drive for me, so worst case I could go resolve an issue face to face.  However, I have purchased from them now about 10 times and have had a good experience each time.

[jeffreybehr]

Hmm...seems strange to recommend to a fellow who states he knows virtually nothing about AR-15s to specify his own or, even worse IMO, build his own rifle.  Would you recommend a person who knows nothing about pistols to build his own?

I, one of those knows-nothing-about-AR-15s-but-they're-usually-black persons, bought my first this summer.  I ran into what looked to me like a fine entry-level 16" carbine at Sportman's Guide, a Del-Ton AR-15 Sporter...
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/product/index/del-ton-sport-ar-15-semi-automatic-556-nato-dtsport-848456000089-16-barrel?a=1819184
...and bought it.  It's been 100% reliable, fun to shoot if LOUD, and I'm happy with it.  One thing I knew was that I'd use some sort of optical sights, and I ended up sawing off that ugly tall front sight.

Also installed a larger pistolgrip on it.  Have had several scopes and other optical sights on it and just this week settled on a Vortex Diamondback rifle scope of 2-7 power and with a 35mm (a bit larger than the normal 32mm) front lens; this is NOT the scope pictured.   I'm now very happy with my AR.

OP, you might try one of these Del-Tons, or if you know you'll be using scopes, find a similar model without a front site.

One does NOT need to spend $1000 - $2000 on an AR-15 to shoot casually.

[sqlbullet]

I can see that.

On the other hand, the AR is the perfect platform to build.  For one thing, build yourself, at the far end of the spectrum, can mean install a finished upper on a finished lower.

There are exactly four operations that are difficult in building an AR IMHO.  Bolt catch pin, trigger guard pin, forward assist pin and gas block pin.  If you aren't familiar with torque wrenches I guess barrel nut might be on there too.

But, you can assemble a perfectly functional AR as a complete new comer in about 4 hours.  Two hours of youtube, an hour of questioning what you are doing and an hour of actual work  Second one will take 45 minutes.

And, chances are you can find someone locally that would be glad to help you with that first one.

[awp101]

There are exactly four operations that are difficult in building an AR IMHO.  Bolt catch pin, trigger guard pin, forward assist pin and gas block pin.

And if you go with a billet lower some of them have an integral trigger guard eliminating that pin.  Some are also starting to use small hex screws for the bolt catch pin and even the safety detent spring so you don't have to worry about the spring flying out when removing the endplate (BTDT... )

[jeffreybehr]

I can see that.

On the other hand, the AR is the perfect platform to build.  For one thing, build yourself, at the far end of the spectrum, can mean install a finished upper on a finished lower.

There are exactly four operations that are difficult in building an AR IMHO.  Bolt catch pin, trigger guard pin, forward assist pin and gas block pin.  If you aren't familiar with torque wrenches I guess barrel nut might be on there too.

But, you can assemble a perfectly functional AR as a complete new comer in about 4 hours.  Two hours of youtube, an hour of questioning what you are doing and an hour of actual work  Second one will take 45 minutes.

And, chances are you can find someone locally that would be glad to help you with that first one.

You're missing the point.  Maybe YOU (and others, too, of course) can assemble an AR-15 from scratch in 4 hours, but I and millions of other newbees cannot.  We don't even know where to begin, much less where to be careful lest, for instance, we lose a spring trying to install it. 

OP, I again recommend you buy a complete entry-level rifle and shoot and enjoy it, look at and talk about others' rifles, and LEARN before any of these experts talk you into buying a bunch of parts that you and I won't even recognize.   

[larryh1108]

Putting an upper onto a lower is not rocket science and is needed to do to maintain your AR.

PSA is a good go-to place.

Lower:
http://palmettostatearmory.com/blem-psa-ar15-moe-ept-lower-black.html

Upper:
http://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-16-midlength-slim-stainless-steel-5-56-nato-1-7-freedom-upper-with-bcg-and-charging-handle.html

Total befor shipping and transfer: $439 from a proven company

[sqlbullet]

You're missing the point.  Maybe YOU (and others, too, of course) can assemble an AR-15 from scratch in 4 hours, but I and millions of other newbees cannot.  We don't even know where to begin, much less where to be careful lest, for instance, we lose a spring trying to install it. 

OP, I again recommend you buy a complete entry-level rifle and shoot and enjoy it, look at and talk about others' rifles, and LEARN before any of these experts talk you into buying a bunch of parts that you and I won't even recognize.   

No, I am not.

If you read my post, I said I could build one from a box of parts in less than 1 hour.  I said newbees could do it in 4 hours.  This includes watching training videos and taking it slow.

I have nothing against buying a Ruger AR-556, or an M&P and calling it good.  Fine with me.  The Ruger especially is a solid AR for the money.

Beyond a newbie would be tapping out all the roll pin holes and making your own 6X32 pins to thread in.

[Bozz10mm]

A newbie really can't go wrong with the M&P Sport II or Ruger AR556.