What should I look for in a good AR15

[shortleg]

  Looking to get a fairley good AR15,and I don,t know what
I should look for . What features and brands.
           Shortleg[Dave]

[big turkey]

I chose the Mini 14 by Ruger instead.

I bought the NRA Version of this rifle, comes wiht Hougue Grips covering the complete rifle.

NRA insignia, scope rings are included as well and Ruger gives a certain amount of money  to the NRA

for everyone that is puchased.

Shoots the same round .223 and the NRA Version that is still available and is more acurate than the one you will find at a Walmart.

The Barrell is shortened on this model and that is supposed to help.

Gun Dealers is the best place to find this particular rifle and it is easy to breakdown and clean for a novice, such as my self.

[big turkey]

A guy who knows more abuot this weapon the AR-15.

Is a guy I work with , named Al and he reccomends this weapon, as the one he chose.

Bushmaster AR-15 - The Weapon of Choice	powered by Aeva

But he said he wished he had bought the Ruger, Mini 14 for simplicity.

[big turkey]

 I have installed a scope on mine as well.

You can get a MINI in Stainless as well.

Ruger Mini-14 Disassembly	powered by Aeva

[Serk]

The Mini-14 is a nice gun, but the mags and accessories are far more readily available for AR15 pattern firearms...

A lot depends on what you're wanting the gun for... I've got a Bushmaster, and it's a fine gun, but my preference is still to build my own for my subsequent AR15 pattern guns...

Go get a quality lower receiver, then you can get a kit from these guys for everything else:

http://www.model1sales.com/

(The lower receiver is the firearm as far as the law goes, so that part you hafta buy though a FFL, the rest the magic brown truck from UPS can deliver to you with no hassles (Assuming you're in a free state, of course.))

Building one out from one of their kits takes a semi-skilled person a few hours, and by the end, you'll know the weapon VERY well, and it will be exactly the gun YOU want...

(Plus, it'll usually be a few bucks cheaper, since you're only paying the firearm excise tax on the receiver itself, instead of the whole weapon.)

(This was the first AR15 I built myself... Totally impractical, but it's a fun toy in this configuration! (Technically, this one's a handgun, not a rifle)

[big turkey]

That sure is a pretty firearm there Serk.

Sounds as if you are definitly knowledgeable about you weapons of Choice.

Thanks for wieghing in this topic.

I learned a lot from your post.

Thanks

Big Al

[big turkey]

A buddy of mine showed me some tracer rounds out of one like this the other day.

Pretty cool Weapon

Like Serk Said this is basically a pistol wiht a rifle type round.

Kel-Tec PLR-16 pistol (External Embedding Disabled)

[big turkey]

Tubby Bump Fire	powered by Aeva

He's having a lot of fun bump firing his pistol

I feel better every time I leave the range.

It's kinda like Therapy.

[bsnicely]

Hey Dave, just stick with a good brand,  Bushmaster ( what I have ), DPMS, Rock River Arms, Armalite ( Eugene Stoner invented it when working there ), Colt of course, Ruger, even Sig is coming out with a true AR rifle.  It is easier to find a good one than a bad one. Decide if you want a longer A-1 (fixed handle) or a A-2 ( removable handle and better sights) or an M-4 style (short barrel and colapseable stock, used to be called CAR ). If you are going to want red dot scope or flashlight/laser sight make sure to get one with rails in place of the regular handguards.

[gregc]

 Correct me if I am wrong, my mini 14 target is .223, I was told to never fire 5.56 out of a gun made for .223.  It is ok to go the other way and shoot .223 out of a 5.56 though.  I was told the pressure in the 5.56 was close to double that of the .223.  Did I understand that right? they are not interchangeble rounds.

[bsnicely]

You can safely fire either in either. The Mil spec 5.56 NATO is slightly higher pressure but the .223 rifles are proofed at the factory with much, much higher test rounds than the NATO rds.

[Serk]

Mini-14's may or may not be safe to fire 5.56 ammo...
Ruger makes the NON-Target model Mini-14's with a hybrid chamber that can safely fire 5.56 or .223... However, the "Target" model Mini-14's are chambered for .223 only and 5.56 should NOT be fired in them...

MOST semi-auto 5.56/.223 weapons use a hybrid chamber than can safely fire both. MANY bolt action's are chambered for .223 only though. If there's any doubt, please check with the manufacturer of the particular weapon in question. Yes, the differences between 5.56 and .223 are very subtle, but the differences ARE real... And can be dangerous if not paid attention to. (Or at the very least, can cost you accuracy and longevity of your weapon if mixed inappropriately...)

[Jess from VA]

Dave, take a look at this proposed MD gun ban.  Something to consider in your search for an AR.

http://www.nraila.org/legislation/read.aspx?id=5360

Also, I have read somewhere that MD law currently views an AR15 HBAR (heavy barrel... and I believe full length 20") as not being a "regulated weapon" requiring full background, paperwork and wait which is required for every other type of AR (like an M4 flattop 16").  If an HBAR type AR keeps you off some MD bureaucrat's list, and can be bought in a face to face cash and carry transaction, that would be my choice.

I believe it would be very worth your while to have a face to face talk with a licensed MD gun dealer (who knows what he's talking about) on the subject of buying an AR in MD, before making any choices. 

The AR15 and variants are a superior weapon to the Ruger mini 14 in every respect (except price).  The Ruger is not a bad rifle, and when they were $400 a bargain compared to an AR.  But the Mini14s are way up in price now, and that kind of money is better put toward an AR.  IMHO

[bsnicely]

Yep, forgot about the A-3, I guess I need to study my AR's some more.  I know the pressure / NATO / .223 Rem has been a contriversial item for discussion in the gun world for a while. I know about the differences in brass from mil to commercial.  I have shot Wolf, Lake City, Frederal Match, .223 Remington, most all available brands and haven't seen any diference. I have an old Mini-14 (early series) and a Bushmaster Dissapater, and had a Colt Sporter Match H-Bar. I never had any problems with any of them with either ammo. I guess I probably should'nt have endorsed the practice as there is the arguments against it, was just reporting on my own experiences. I believe the proof rounds they use have much higher pressure than the difference in the Mil spec and commercial. I can see the possible problems with accuracy, I was just addressing the possibility of the higher pressure causing a catastrophic event...  

[bsnicely]

Hey Marty, we just put a 410 shotgun upper on the shelf for sale. They also sent us some really hot 410 slugs ( 1700 FPS) for use in them. There seems to be no end to what you can do with an AR.

[Serk]

There seems to be no end to what you can do with an AR.

 

[Ratdog]

decide on what you want it for.  Is it going to be used for home defense?  Hunting (carried all day, day after day)?  If it's going to be used for close quarter... a shorter barrel, hunting... a longer one.  Are you going to use optics or not?  If so... you probably want a flat top, or add a Delta cheek piece to rest your face on with the higher mounted optic.  Are you going to accessorise it with gadgetry?  If so... you want the picatinny rail for mounting.  Personally, I'd spend my money on a good, floating barrel equipped and a match trigger.  Also, decide whether you want to shoot pistol ammo in it, or .223/5.56 or .308, etc.  If you don't mind packin' around the extra weight... get the bull barrel for the accuracy. 

If you're going to use it for close quarter/home defense... consider over penetration and look at the DRT ammunition (Dynamic Research Technologies). 

Moi?  I have a Colt Sporter Match Grade HBAR... in .223 Remington (AR-15A2), added a Delta cheek piece and a Simmons scope with a 50mm objective on it.  I slapped an Accu-Wedge in it... and, I'm a happy camper.

[shortleg]

   that all my brothers are armed,and seem to
know their guns.
    Thank you all. I will try to go talk to the guys
 here in Mount Airy at the local gun shop with the
info you all gave me.
             Shortleg[Dave]