Second AR-15.

trailbum

trailbum

Joined
Sep 18, 2010
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If you were going to buy a second AR15 or a first rifle what would you choose and why.

Budget around $1000.

What brands to stay away from.
 
16 inch Spike Tactical midlength, and probably strap an A3 handle up top. 1-7 from the factory.... 850 dollars retail. Attention to detail is second to none, and manufacturing quality is top-notch.
 
My favorite AR is my 18" Middy upper on a RRA lower. The upper was ordered from CMMG about 5 years ago.
It's little brother is an RRA M-4 A2 with an RRA factory fixed entry stock.
 
What is it going to be used for? Plinker, home defense, vehicle carry, varmint, SPR, a gun for the woods? If you can specify what your primary mission is for then we can direct you accordingly. You said this is a "second" AR. So unless you're buying it as an exact duplicate as a back up or spare (which I'm surmising you're not or you wouldn't be asking this question) then I'm assuming you have another mission/purpose in mind. Let us know then we can give you better feedback.
 
I have a couple ARs but the favorite is a CMMG in 9mm! I know many folks don't care for pistol caliber ARs but my wife and son don't care for the bark of 223/5.56. I like it that the wife will go shooting when I grab the CMMG and quite honestly, the cost of ammo is way easier on the wallet. If it is a second AR, I'd go 9mm or 22lr for cheap. Oh the other reason I like the 9mm is I can shoot it at the small indoor range I belong to also.
 
A 9mm carbine has always made sense to me, but I'm not sure if I'd stick to the AR platform if I were to get one. Certainly more practical if all you're doing is punching paper, though...
 
Actually you can convert an AR into a .22LR with one of the CMMG or other conversion kits. Remove the bolt and replace with 22 bolt and use the Black Dog 10, 20, or 30 round mag. Takes up very little space in a pack and gives you two guns in one capability. Saves having to buy and lugging around a second gun.
 
After having built a few, I really like simple and light. I actually prefer the pencil barrel in .223. As to brands, stay with quality manufactuers, of which there are several; Spikes, RRA, Colt, CMMG, BCM, etc. You don't necessarily need a railed hard-guard, but they can come in handy if you need one. Daniel Defense, LaRue, etc. all have some pretty light weight versions that don't much if any weight. Quality iron sights are a must, even if they are your back-ups. If you choose optics, make sure they fit your need. As much as I love the variable low powered optics, quality ones add a lot of weight. I'm a big believer in 1x power dot optics (Aimpoint, EOTech) and prefer the EOTech over perfer the EOTech for personal reasons...either way, "red-dots" are extremely fast and the mil-spec version are quite rugged.

My "go-to" pick is the 6th from the left (with the EOTech):

ARLineup.jpg


If you go with a 5.56mm/.223 version, I highly recommend adding a .22LR coversion kit...well worth the money, fun and inexpensive to use.

ROCK6
 
If I was looking for an AR that I could stake my life on, I'd go Colt, specifically the model 6920. Pretty close to your price range and adheres to the military's Technical Data Package (TDP) for their rifles. This rifle, short of the barrel length and fire control group, will be identical in appearance and quality checks to the military's M4 issued carbine. Most ARs will appear the same in quality till you start to investigate the details.
Properly staked carrier keys, chrome lined HPT'd bore & chamber, "F" marked front site bases (for M4gerys), HPT'd bolts (not just batch tested), M4 feed ramps, staked castle nut, etc.,

Spikes, BCM, CMMG, Daniel Defense also make excellent rifles close to your price range.


ROCK6,
Very nice collection!!!
How is the accuracy shooting .22lr conversion with the factory barrel twist? I've been debating between a conversion kit or a dedicated upper.
 
as said above,rock what kind of 9mm is that, also is that a 22 colt or conversion,


oo you got the black guns.
 
Coal-Cracker... I'm not ROCK6 but may be able to help... installed a CMMG drop in conversion (Colt 16" 1/7 twist... my backup for my RRA 16" intermediate gas upper) before the 09 Ft Benning 3 gun match... put around 900 rounds thru it... worked 100% but accuracy was at the best about 3" at 50y with CCI and worse with others...a lot of residue in the receiver and the comp had a lot of lead on it... for the 2010 Ft Benning match, removed the gas block and tube as it is afterall a blowback unit, covered the gas port with a stainless screw clamp... put about 1000 thru it ... much cleaner... after 2010 match, bought a dedicated .22lr barrel from CMMG and upper from BCM... accuracy greatly improved.... about 3/8" at 40y with a one power reflex sight....allows you to use your lower for practice... my lowers are both ArmaLite with RRA match triggers
 
I can follow up with Les on the Conversion Kits...I should have qualifed my post. The Conversion kits are awesome but they cannot and should not replace a dedicated 22LR upper if you're going to burn through hundreds of 22LR rounds for practice. It is not intended as Les clearly pointed out for that mission profile. They work extremely well when you're taking an AR into the woods for a hike, road trip, or a camping excursion. You can have your 22LR Conv Kit with you in your pack and a small baggie of 22LR cartridges as it takes up very little room in the pack, and very little additional weight. If you want to shoot some small game at reasonable distances or plink at a can or two thenit is a super piece of kit and invaluable.

When I'm in the woods I carry a 22LR kit, a couple 10 rd mags and a baggie of ammo. I have an optic on my AR which allows me toquickly and easily correct the DOPE for the .22 at 25 & 50 yards so it is POA/POI. The results are repeatable and predictable...many meals have been brought to the pot using this system. And it is quiet and doesn't require me to wear hearing protection. I also only use coated bullets and not exposed lead. It is a good idea to shoot a few 223/5.56 rounds through afterwards when you can in order to clear the direct gas impingment system. Been doing this for a number of years without any service issues.

I would not recommend a 22LR Kit for dedicated/determined practice and would opt for a new 22LR upper with barrel as Les mentioned. But the kit does add another element of flexibility to the AR platform especially relevant to a wilderness situation.
 
My modest group of AR rifles does not rival Rock's, but it serves me well. My 'go to' AR is a Spikes Tactical M4, with an EOTech, and BUIS.
Spikesandfriends.jpg
 
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Thanks for all the imput.
I just ordered a LMT Defender Standard Patrol Model 16".
This seems to be a great value for what I want.
 
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