Beckerhead firearms

[Noswad0208]

Sweet old guns Hoss, I always look at guns like that but don't know enough about them to take the plunge.

I am still looking at AR 15s and AK 47s. Looking hard at the Ruger AR 556. Anyone out there have any experience with one? Seems like a great gun for under $600. Might have to sell my large BPP to get a jump start on saving money for one.

Then there is the AK 47. Not as cool looking as an AR stock, but you dress them up and they look sweet.

Jeremy

If you're up for a bit of an adventure you could try building an AR-15 yourself. Gotta buy the lower receiver like you buy a gun, then the rest of it you can get in your mailbox.

 

[bigghoss]

You can get a stripped lower for $40 last I checked.


I don't know a whole lot about them either most of the time. I walk in the store and I think it's cool and it's not a lot of money so I buy it. I got the three guns above for $425 out the door for all of them. None of them cost more than $150 individually.

 

[dresnor]

I have thought about building an AR but I feel that it would cost more than I could pick one up for. I would keep buying really nice everything and the price would double easily. I do have a buddy that says he would help me though.


Jeremy

 

[LG&M]

I just bought the last parts I need for my AR build.
Not going to be top of the line but well above the bottom also. Around $500. Took my time and looked for deals.
I was really close to getting the Ruger. Looks like a nice off the shelf AR for the money.

 

[crimsonfalcon07]

I have thought about building an AR but I feel that it would cost more than I could pick one up for. I would keep buying really nice everything and the price would double easily. I do have a buddy that says he would help me though.


Jeremy

Depends on what you're looking for. If you're planning on installing a nice trigger, or aftermarket BCG, or stock beyond the basic magpul stuff, etc, you're going to spend comparable amounts doing your own build, maybe even save money, if you're smart about buying. If you don't really care, and you just want a relatively stock AR, yeah, you can get one for anywhere from under 500, to around 850 for a Colt, based on what I've seen lately. If you want a fancier receiver, you're probably going to want to build. If you want a premium barrel because you're trying to build a tack-driver, you want to build. If you just want a battle rifle, and you aren't picky about what parts you need on it, you're better off buying, particularly if you don't have the tooling. The other nice thing about builds, however, is that you can buy parts here and there, and so each individual expenditure doesn't feel as bad. You have to be careful about eating shipping costs, as that can drive up the cost of the build significantly, but it can make a build go from the "not gonna happen for another year" category to the "just finished my build" category.

As far as piston guns (like the Ruger) go, anything with a piston is, IMO, dangerous from a maintenance perspective, because the designs aren't standardized, and, unlike a DI gun, you can't just get new parts easily from anywhere. You have to get it from the manufacturer, and hope that they're still making them. I personally won't own any piston AR's until/unless pistons become mil-spec, or standardized to the point at which the EXACT design is supported by multiple manufacturers. YMMV.

 

[dresnor]

Thank you for the advice once again guys. I just need to save money and take the plunge.

Crimson, I believe the Ruger I am looking at is a di not a piston ar. I am talking about he one that was released about a year ago. I am with you on avoiding piston ar 15s until there is more standardization.

Jeremy

 

[hso]

Several old and new milsurp and milsurp "clones". 3 Colt SP-1 rifles (2 historic early configuration and my wife's Ntl Match). M25 gunsmith build (M14 variant). H&R Garand. IBM M1 Carbine. Springfield 03-A3. Eddystone M1917. Springfield 30-40 Krag. Para FAL and a .223 "Meeper" para build. ...

 

[bigghoss]

The Ruger SR-556 is a piston gun. the AR-556 is a DI.

 

[bigghoss]

Several old and new milsurp and milsurp "clones". 3 Colt SP-1 rifles (2 historic early configuration and my wife's Ntl Match). M25 gunsmith build (M14 variant). H&R Garand. IBM M1 Carbine. Springfield 03-A3. Eddystone M1917. Springfield 30-40 Krag. Para FAL and a .223 "Meeper" para build. ...

 

[crimsonfalcon07]

Thank you for the advice once again guys. I just need to save money and take the plunge.

Crimson, I believe the Ruger I am looking at is a di not a piston ar. I am talking about he one that was released about a year ago. I am with you on avoiding piston ar 15s until there is more standardization.

Jeremy

Unless you have the proper tooling, you may want to consider getting a complete upper if you do a build. If you get the parts separately, you need to have the barrel and BCG headspaced properly, and you need to get the torque values right. That's the hardest part of doing a build, IMO. It's a lot easier with an AR-15 than a 308 AR though. Ruger does make some good stuff. I'd love to try out one of their precision rifles.

 

[tanglediver]

When I built my AR15, the head spacing was tested at a LGS. It was just fine, there is nothing I could easily have done to change it, even if it had been off. The machining on the components is held very well with quality parts. Had it been off, I would have left it with the gunsmith.

I am still working on collecting better parts to swap into it. I just got a new forward hand guard last week. Legos for big kids.
The old guard...

 

[bigghoss]

So in addition to the Stevens 325-C I just got I have a Marlin 336 I also have not yet shot. I don't reload yet so I'm curious about what factory ammo ya'll like for your .30-30's. I want to try the Hornady Leverevolution ammo and the Remington Core-lokt is a pretty popular line of ammo so I'll be giving that a try.

 

[LG&M]

My parts arrived sooner then I though they would.
Crappy photo but I like the rifle.

 

[bigghoss]

Nice. I have the magpul furniture on mine too.

 

[netguy1999]

I may not be a Beckerhead yet, but here's a quick look at my other collection. As you can see, I enjoy sharp things and things that go boom just as much.

 

[bigghoss]

Some nice blasters there netguy. I had a Ruger Blackhawk in .45 Colt, I miss that gun. Would like to replace it with a super Blackhawk with an unfluted cylinder.

 

[vonrichthofen54]

Becker BK 9
M1841 US Rifle
M1854 Austrian Loenz rifle
1862 Richmond Armory rifle musket
1863 Cook and Brother Cavalry carbine (Athens, Ga. Production)
Maynard cavalry carbine
1869 Springfield .50/70 trapdoor
1917 dated Norwegian Krag rifle
M1903 Springfield rifle
Browning Auto 5 in 12 ga.
Stevens .22 rifle
And that's just some of the long guns.

 

[netguy1999]

Some nice blasters there netguy. I had a Ruger Blackhawk in .45 Colt, I miss that gun. Would like to replace it with a super Blackhawk with an unfluted cylinder.

This Blackhawk is the convertible Bisley model. In the pic is the .45 ACP cylinder. It also comes with an unfluted .45 Long Colt cylinder. I just got it a couple of weeks ago and haven't even had the chance to fire it yet. I've got final exams and assignments to work on the next two weeks but over Christmas I plan to pop it's cherry

 

[bigghoss]

This Blackhawk is the convertible Bisley model. In the pic is the .45 ACP cylinder. It also comes with an unfluted .45 Long Colt cylinder. I just got it a couple of weeks ago and haven't even had the chance to fire it yet. I've got final exams and assignments to work on the next two weeks but over Christmas I plan to pop it's cherry

I probably should have held out for the convertible model. I have a S&W 625 in .45 ACP and that thing is a real sweetheart.

 

[netguy1999]

I probably should have held out for the convertible model. I have a S&W 625 in .45 ACP and that thing is a real sweetheart.

I like the Ruger, but I'm mainly a S&W guy. I also have a Model 327 TRR8 in .357. Scandium frame, shrouded barrel, 8-shot. Shoots like a laser. The double action is great. I'm actually thinking about using it (or at least trying it) for 3-gun next year.