Help With AR Buying Decision

[Olympus]

My FIL has an AR-15 that he is thinking about selling. I expressed a little interest since I knew what he paid for it. I checked it out this weekend and it looks like a Bushmaster. It has the carbine length barrel, removable carry handle, standard handguard, and collapsible stock. Condition is very good and he has only shot it a little. Says its too expensive for him to shoot. I know nothing about ARs and have never even considered buying one. But for $600, would this be a decent gun? I don't even know what I would use it for.

 

[gotigers]

That's not a bad deal. If it is shot as little as you say, i would buy it for that.

 

[steven58]

That's a fair price if it's as you describe.

 

[Olympus]

It's a good looking gun. Definitely clean, well cared for, and not abused.

 

[Patriotme]

An AR is too expensive to shoot?

 

[WVRJ]

If it's a Bushmaster,it's probably worth that.They're good rifles,and among the cheapest centerfires to shoot.

 

[deputy tom]

I would buy it. I like Bushmasters. Others will argue that point.YMMV.tom.

 

[FlyinBryan]

But for $600, would this be a decent gun? I don't even know what I would use it for.

cant speak for that rifle in particular, but i have 2 with over 10,000 rounds each, still waiting on my first stoppage of any kind.

cant say if i would buy it without seeing it, but i can tell you 2 of which i will never sell.

 

[Ludasmith]

Buy it. Come election time you'll be able to flip it for twice that if you don't like it.

 

[BigMag]

Buy it. Come election time you'll be able to flip it for twice that if you don't like it.

This. I'm not a fan of the bushy's but this might be a good idea.

 

[Tex4426]

Without actually seeing the gun its hard to say, but if it is a bushmaster and its been shot little then its probably worth 600...much better quality than a new DPMS for 600...i would take a used bushmaster over a new DPMS any day

 

[NYH1]

As others have mentioned, if it's in the condition and shot as little as you say, I'd buy it.

NYH1.

 

[justice06rr]

I've owned that exact AR15, bought it from a local seller for about $700. So you better jump on that deal!

FYI when I sold it a few months later I got $850 for it...

 

[Olympus]

Thanks for the info. I don't know what to specifically check on ARs like I do for other guns. But cosmetically, I'd call it 95% or better. The bore is clean and in good condition. I didn't notice anything loose or rattling on the gun when I gave it a good shake.

I may go ahead and buy it. My FIL tells me I can keep it for a whole and shoot it as much as I want. I may do that first.

 

[Tirod]

You are about to bite on the most insidious father in law subterfuge known to family. He's deliberately subsidizing a bargain gun to get you interested in the AR.

Too expensive to shoot? Next he'll be talking about how cheap it is to reload, then a Sinclairs or Cabelas reloading catalog will be visible lying around.

Once you get cranked up, another AR will show up because he was "wrong," after all, you're having so much fun with it. And did you know there's a little match down at the NRA range in three weeks? You've got that day off, the girls are shopping?

The match will be fun, he'll do surprisingly well, and one of the guys there will comment, "hey, I haven't seen you look so happy since you earned the Presidents 100!"

Ok, fantasy over, but it's still a good deal. When you see catalogs lying around, tho, don't be too surprised.

 

[Tex4426]

break the gun open...check the bolt carrier and charging handle...should show almost no wear if its been fired little..you can usually tell when one has been shooting more than he says..but a standard Bushmaster should hold maximum precision through 4000 rounds after that your groups will ever so slightly widen..not a big deal unless your shooting competitive competitions... the gun should hold a satisfactory group(under 1.5 inches off a good rest) for 20,000 rounds give or take, more if its chrome lined.

 

[steven58]

You might also consider picking up a .22 LR conversion kit for it as well. They are available starting at around $140.00 from a variety of sources. http://www.botachtactical.com/cmar22lrcoki.html is one.

I have had one for 5 years now and it has gone through thousands of rounds with no problems. They give you about a 4" group at 25 yd. with valupack ammo and if you use Aguila Sniper Subsonic the groups will run about 1.5-2"

These things can pay for themselves with one or two trips to the range, especially if you have kids!

I just make sure to use only plated .22 ammo and fire one or 2 centerfire rounds after every rimfire session to insure the gas system is not clogging. I'm not sure I even need to but there have been stories on the internet of people shooting tens of thousands of .22 rimfire rounds without cleaning or shooting centerfire and they find that the gas port on the barrel has clogged with lead from the .22s. So I just do it as a CYA.

Mine is at about 4-5 thousand rounds of .22 with no issues.