Pushed to decide on a AR 5.56

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I chose a Battle Arms Development: Workhorse. The brochure is linked below. Classic Firearms had it for $800. I really like it. It's light, accurate, and feels high quality.

WORKHORSE® RIFLE | BATTLEARMS™ (battlearmsdevelopment.com)

Edit: Since you're in Oregon, maybe you can find a good deal on an Aero Precision build. They are based in Washington and make good quality rifles in the same price range. AR15 M4E1 Complete Rifle, 16" 5.56 NATO Mid-Length | Aero Precision (aeroprecisionusa.com)
 
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I was in a similar situation to the op about 6 months ago. I wound up buying the Ruger MPR because for $830, about $50 more than the S&W here in NJ, and it comes with an upgraded trigger, Magpul stock and m-lok hand guard, full pic rail and mid length gas system. IMO you get about $200-$300 in upgrades for the $50 higher price. My son bought the Colt 6920 LE which comes with similar upgrades (except I think a carbine length gas system) and he paid about $500 more than I did for the Ruger.
 
If I were facing living in "about to become occupied territory" I would make a bee-line to my locals LGS that dealt with AR's in bulk. I would buy 2-4 (maybe more) inexpensive Anderson lowers (~$50-$75) just to get them in my hands. Then I would start ordering Del-Ton basic kits that run ~$450 with free shipping and make damn fine basic AR rifles when done. No real tools are needed to assemble these as the uppers are fully assembled and lowers are really easy. There are a multitude of you tube vids to walk you through it. Then I would grab all the GI surplus mags you could get your hands on. Should run you mostly $10 each for decent 30 rounders. At the same time, I would be buying all the 5.56 at decent prices I could locate. Not knowing where in OR you are from, but when I lived in ID, the Boise/Nampa area would have everything you need.
 
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Several have mentioned the Ruger AR. My experience was not good. Mine had to go back to the factory to get magazines to seat. It functions fine, but is nothing special.

I am satisfied that this is the best route to an AR. It's priced LOWER than entry level AR at $510, but with the Wylde chamber and the polished trigger, you end up with an appreciably better AR. Stainless to boot.

https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa...weight-m-lok-upper-with-bcg-ch-516445214.html

https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-ar15-moe-ept-lower-black.html

No skills necessary to assemble, just insert the take down pins.

Does not come with magazines.
 
Do some research on barrel twist. Most are 1:7" or 1:8" these days. Might matter depending on what kind of ammo you want to shoot, or it might not.
 
Purchase a rifle you like and then i would buy 2 extra lowers for future use. I would also should think about an ar10 it would be a good investment also so you have your bases covered .
 
If its your first gun, Id buy a complete gun first, and get it set up as you like. A decent scope or red dot will cost you close to what you paid for the rifle. Dont forget mags and ammo.

Personally, Id do the same for a second gun as well before I went the build route.
 
ID-shooting said:
If I were facing living in "about to become occupied territory" I would make a bee-line to my locals LGS that dealt with AR's in bulk. I would buy 2-4 (maybe more) inexpensive Anderson lowers (~$50-$75) just to get them in my hands. Then I would start ordering Del-Ton basic kits that run ~$450 with free shipping and make damn fine basic AR rifles when done. No real tools are needed to assemble these as the uppers are fully assembled and lowers are really easy. There are a multitude of you tube vids to walk you through it. Then I would grab all the GI surplus mags you could get your hands on. Should run you mostly $10 each for decent 30 rounders. At the same time, I would be buying all the 5.56 at decent prices I could locate. Not knowing where in OR you are from, but when I lived in ID, the Boise/Nampa area would have everything you need. Funny, Idahoans run to OR for the pot, Oregonians run to ID for gun stuff, LOL
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I agree with this post. Del-Ton is having a sale and their kits are very good and accurate.
 
I bought the Ruger AR 556 and have been quite satisfied with it after I replaced the stock trigger with Ruger's 452 trigger. The stock trigger was very heavy and had drag. The trigger system swap was easy enough to accomplish. I equipped the rifle with a Vortex Sparc red dot. I am an AR noob, but not a rookie shooter. With my handloads I can closely approach MOA. I had initially considered a home build, but since I was new to the weapon platform I decided to purchase a factory rifle and deferred the build until I had more experience under my belt.
 
Diamondback makes ARs for those on a budget, I got my new one 4 years ago for about $550. At that price you can afford more ammo. I love my D.B. and put a Vortex Stikefire 2 red dot and I've been very pleased. I have maybe 300 to 400 rounds through it and no hiccups.
 
Buy up stripped and completed AR-15 lowers, 30 round magazines and a couple of ar10 stripped and completed lowers....If on a tight budget just buy stripped lowers and the magazines.

You can get a 3 pack of psa stripped ar15 lowers right now for 150 bucks. PSA is prioritizing orders from Oregon.

https://palmettostatearmory.com/3-pack-of-blem-psa-ar-15-lower-safe-fire.html

https://palmettostatearmory.com/blem-gen3-pa10-stripped-lower-receiver.html

https://dkfirearms.com/product/magpul-pmag-moe-m2-ar-15-5-56-30-round-black/
 
Ugly Sauce said:
Ha. Go classic. Although, I don't think the M16A1 parts kits are around anymore.View attachment 1115012
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I've been looking for one. Last one I saw they wanted $800!!!

joneb said:
I don't have a AR type rifle but I'm thinking this maybe my last chance to have one if I choose to remain here.
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Dumb question... or maybe comment: If you don't own one now... what's the difference? (...and I don't mean that in an unkind way.) If I were you, rather than trying to tool up for a completely new platform... and understand, a properly functioning AR is a whole lot more than just the weapon... it's magazines, spare parts, the ammo for it, or a way to make ammos, and all the kit that goes with it... why don't you just invest that money in what you have already? You buy an AR now, given where you are at, these new restrictions are just the start... you may be restricted in even using it, soon. That's just the reality of it. I would continue on with what you are doing, and just reinforce what you have... things that are likely not restricted at this point.

Just a thought.
 
Charlie98 said:
I've been looking for one. Last one I saw they wanted $800!!!
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It's been a while, I paid $499 for the kit. But I added a BCM 1:7" barrel, and front sight/adjustable gas block. She's a very sweet 16, although not fully automatic...so technically not a 16 I guess. The upper is all Colt.
 
Well at least there seems to be a few sensible LE agencies in your state who have flat our said they will not be enforcing the magazine limitation. Not sure how effective that is long term but it's a nice sentiment at the very least.

When VT passed its first ever restrictive gun control measures in the state back in 2018 after parkland, surprisingly the VT state police and county sherrifs were some of the most outspoken opponents of the new laws and some said they werent going to be enforcing laws they viewed to be unconstitutional.

So is the new requirement in Oregon that in addition to this garbage permit, "one must pass a background check before purchasing a firearm", is that just another way of saying UBC (no more private sale without NICS) or was this just a way to confuse voters, because everybody who buys a gun from an FFL gets a NICS check but it's startling to consider how many people don't know this.
 
DustyGmt said:
or was this just a way to confuse voters
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It's my understanding that this was an all-in, fully restrictive, omnibus sort of deal.
So, there's:
You have to get a permit to Purchase (which requires 'stuff')
What you can buy is limited.
What you can own is limited.
The "grandfathering" is forked too. (From memory the law presumes you are guilty you, have to prove ownership before the critical date.)
If I have it right, no magazines over 10 rounds. (Tubular magazines might be exempt.)
From the text of it, it's very much a possession ban.
 
CapnMac said:
It's my understanding that this was an all-in, fully restrictive, omnibus sort of deal.
So, there's:
You have to get a permit to Purchase (which requires 'stuff')
What you can buy is limited.
What you can own is limited.
The "grandfathering" is forked too. (From memory the law presumes you are guilty you, have to prove ownership before the critical date.)
If I have it right, no magazines over 10 rounds. (Tubular magazines might be exempt.)
From the text of it, it's very much a possession ban.
Click to expand...
Pretty soon we are all going to need law degrees to own firearms....
 
What are the specifics of the ACTUAL ban being promoted in Oregon State?

What’s your backstop when the new ban is confiscatory, without grandfather/legacy allowance, and/or precludes transfer of your newly vilified “assault weapons”?
 
Basically..
No mags over 10 rounds unless at the range or at home.
Permit needed to get a BGC.

Now at 12,000+ waiting on a BGC and stores are not taking anymore transfers.
 
Submit the permit and then you can get the gun, which requires a BGC.
Still have to get a BGC even if you have a concealed permit now as it is.
 
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