I want an AR

[Sisco]

Hi, I've been away from the board a while but now I'm back. I want an AR15 but can't decide what.
Little background: Not a newbie except to AR's, never fired one. I want one for general plinking and just to say I've got one. Want something reminescent of the VietNam era, Gotta stay under $1000.
Questions: 20" or 16? carry handle or flattop? DPMS, Bushmaster or Armalite.
How about the AR-10's? I already reload .308, no supplies on hand for .223.
I'm sure these questions have been beat to death but...

 

[dookiesbud]

I want one too. I've seen some from Olympic Arms at Atlantic Arms for a good price.

 

[Kaylee]

If you want something reminescent of the VN era, you're looking for an A1 style - it has the simpler carry handle, triangle forearm guards, and a shorter full stock. Your cheapest (and most authentic, really) would be to find one of the complete A1 uppers that have been on the market over the past few years (does CDNN still carry them?), a surplus stock and handgrip, then buy a receiver from your local shop. I'm sure you can be out the door for well under 1K that way.

Failing that, you're looking for a Colt SP1, or.. I *think* DPMS did a run of A1s not long ago, but quality looked kinda iffy on the couple I saw.

-K

PS -- if using it is more important to you than history, you prolly do want to go with a flat top -- it makes a world of difference so far as options available down the line.

 

[michael_aos]

20" is a lot more pleasant to shoot than 16".

I've got an Armalite, and if I were buying another I'd look at Rock River Arms.

Bushmaster seems to be pretty universally accepted.

Mike

 

[michael_aos]

My AR-10 is in .260 Remington. The concerns I've read are that the 16" just don't run very well, and they're over-gassed from the factory.

That said; I've been thinking about adding a .308 upper to mine.

Mike

 

[GoRon]

From what you are describing AND taking into consideration this will be your first AR-15 this is what I would recommend.

$790 Bushmaster 20" A3

It is reminiscent of the Vietnam era with superior handguards, removable handle for future optics, and a better flash suppressor.

 

[MatthewVanitas]

Last I checked, CDNN has old Colt and mil-surp uppers for $269 and $369 (way deep in their online catalog, w/ the AR spare parts and optics). Add another $100 or so for bolt assembly and charging handle. www.cdnninvestments.com

You can get a complete lower minus stock from www.eaglefirearms.net, made by Stag (supplier to CMT and Rock River), of great quality, for $145

Add another $40 to buy an A1 stock and grip from Northridge, and a buffer tube, buffer, and spring.

So, you can pull of a Vietnam-style parts gun for around $550 or so.

If you want all new parts, I know Bushmaster has A1 uppers (I just ordered my AR built on one), and they can add the barrel length/weight of your choice and ship it out to you. Then buy the handguards/grip/stock from Northridge, lower from Eagle, etc.

My 16" M4-profile Dissipator A1 upper is costing me $500 from Bushmaster, and fully warranteed by the company. I'm going to drop it onto a Stag lower from Eagle and add A1 furniture.

Sorry for the rambling answer, but I've been doing a similar project. Go to www.ar15.com and check out their "Retro" thread in the General AR-15 section, it's massively cool.

-MV

 

[GoRon]

Last I checked, CDNN has old Colt and mil-surp uppers for $269 and $369 (way deep in their online catalog, w/ the AR spare parts and optics). Add another $100 or so for bolt assembly and charging handle. www.cdnninvestments.com

I have been contemplating one of those uppers myself. But I already own a 1/9 twist carbine and have a 1/7 20" on the way.

Those are 1/12 barrels and would mean he would only be shooting 55gr and lighter rounds. Getting a modern rifle will open up ammo options. With the removable carry handle he can put a scope on the rifle in the future and shoot some heavy match ammo. All the while it will still be "reminiscent" of the Vietnam era.

The AR15.com recommendation is a good one.

 

[Sisco]

Thought about building one but I'm not familiar enough with the AR to know what all I need unless I order complete upper & lower assemblies.
GoRon; that's what I'm looking for. The detachable handle would do just fine.

One fellow I talked to recommended the DPMS for it's two stage match trigger. For what I want to use the gun for is that really necessary?

 

[MatthewVanitas]

GoRon has a solid call on barrel twist rate

So the CDNN uppers may not be the best for a first AR.

So far as making it Vietnam-esque: I still stand by my above Bushmaster idea.

1) Get a 20" A1 upper from BM, and you can ask them to thread it but leave off the A2 flash-suppressor. It'll have a 1:9" twist and handle most modern .223 ammo. Shouldn't run much over $500 (or possibly under), as a _complete_ upper (charging handle and bolt ass'y included)

2) Buy an A1 furniture set and either an A1 or three-prong flash-suppressor of your choice from Northridge.

3) Get a new complete Stag lower (minus stock) from Eagle Firearms, and add on a buffer/tube/spring.

GoRon is correct in that an A3 upper w/ detachable carrying handle will allow you to add optics down the road, but that would really undo a lot of the Vietnamesque aspect. Though you can compromise and get a detachable A1 carrying handle (Sully and some others make them), which would be interesting.

So, my idea runs less than $699, and though it won't fool an expert, it will look just like something out of Full Metal Jacket or Platoon to 99% of the guys at the range.

-MV

 

[lycanthrope]

+1 to getting a complete Stag lower ($200 from Eagle firearms) and adding a quality upper. For $800 and under you can get uppers that guarantee .5 MOA including the Clark Gator and the White Oak Armament rifles.