Help Me Get Started with an AR-15

[Guerrero]

I've decided to come to the dark side and consider getting an AR-15 (my first). I would use it as a home-defense and recreation rifle; I'm not a heavy shooter or competition shooter. I'd like to keep it fairly light weight - I only plan on putting a red-dot, a light, and a sling on it. I'd like a good quality option (obviously), and my max budget is probably around $1000. I don't know how they work, but I really like the look of the slim fore-ends. I'm looking at maybe something like the Aero Precision OEM rifle and putting on my own furniture (but how do I put on iron sights?), but I'd consider complete rifles.

Help a brother out?

[holmes168]

I've always felt like the Colt 6920 is the best all around value for the money. Very solid rifle and outside of the 3 round burst option not being available, it's a carbon copy of what I carried in Iraq.
The add ons- lights, red dots, etc. are nice to have, but not always necessary and can be long term purchases.

[Chance]

The Colt 6920 OEM is the present group-think's favorite choice for ARs.

[Rich@CCC]

Take a look at HM Defense (http://www.hmdefense.com/index.html). They're an Ohio company that is producing some quality gear at decent prices.

[schüler]

$1k budget for rifle only or the complete sighted/lit/slung rig?

[HCM]

The Colt 6920 OEM is the present group-think's favorite choice for ARs.

This ^^^

The parts Aero make themselves, receivers and barrels via their subsidiary Ballistic Advantage are good. They small parts they buy outside and their assembly have issues.

Buy once, cry once under $ 1k = Colt.

I'm assuming "slim fore ends" means tube style free float hand guards ?

OEM 2 plus a GI barrel nut hand guard of your choice or the Colt Trooper.

[Guerrero]

$1k budget for rifle only or the complete sighted/lit/slung rig?Light/sling/red dot could come later. $1k for finished rifle.

Yes on the tube style fore end, but not mandatory

[Mr. Goodtimes]

Buy a 6920 or 6720 (LW barrel), Surefire X300 and a Magpul furniture and an Aimpoint T series. If you can’t afford a quality red dot then throw a carry handle on top and shoot irons. A basic M4 Carbine with irons and a good WML is more than adequate.


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[mark7]

I'd also vote Colt for your first. Never head of these guys but a 6920 for $729

https://gunprime.com/product/colt-m4-carbine-5-56-16-black-30rd-le6920-ar-15/

[David S.]

Aimpoint PRO is much more budget friendly than T-series. A little bulkier, but still widely accepted as “duty grade.”
I already have a Inforce WML and a 2 pt sling standing by.
Im strongly considering the Colt OEM2 when it comes time for me to do the same thing. Just add appropriate furniture.

[Clusterfrack]

Agree that Colt is a good bet. I prefer BCM, but for $1k I couldn't find a complete rifle. This is the best I could do:
http://www.gandrtactical.com/BCM-RECCE-16-MCMR-15-MLOK-GOVT_p_825.html

[PearTree]

Colt 6920 with the magpul furniture, 6290 oem2 with the shaved fsb, or a sionics patrol three e would be my picks. Slap on an aimpoint pro with one of the direct mount streamlights with dealers choice of a two point sling and you are golden.

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[schüler]

That Colt Trooper tho. Fits the bill.

Like Clusterfrack I am a BCM fan. But no likely way to swing a railed, complete rifle for $1k.

My last 5 have been BCM 14.5 pinned + LMT SOPMOD lower. The more affordable B5 Bravo stock gives same feel. Slippery slope, Guerrero.

[Guerrero]

Slippery slope, Guerrero.

Heh. I know it. Wonder if I could come up with the extra $ for the model Clusterfrack suggested.

[Clusterfrack]

Or get a separate lower and this:
https://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-BFH-14-5-Mid-Length-ENHANCED-Light-Weight-p/bcm-urg-mid-14bfh-elw-mcmr-13.htm

[Darth_Uno]

You’re about a month late, could’ve got some great deals on Black Friday.

If you’re at all mechanically inclined, you can buy a lower, install an LPK and stock, and slap on an upper. Depending on what you want, this doesn’t always save you much on a sub-$1000 build but it gives you a little more flexibility if you didn’t want to be stuck with the factory setups on complete rifles.

Don’t sweat it. If this is your first AR....it ain’t gonna be your last.

[Clusterfrack]

http://www.primaryarms.com/bravo-company-mfg-complete-lower-receiver-assembly-gunfighter-stock-bcm-lrg-stk-mod-0-blk

[WobblyPossum]

The LE trade-in S&W rifles on CDNN for $500 sound like a decent deal. You just missed out on two great 6920 deals by a couple of months. Gunbroker still has a few Colt 6920 Trooper rifles listed with no reserve. If you get lucky you might be able to score one for $700-800.


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[BehindBlueI's]

It's a buyer's market on the used side. I bought (and posted a thread on) the S&W MP-15 trade in DanM is talking about. Gunbroker has Colt M4s going for low $500s pretty frequently.

[GuanoLoco]

As long as you get one with a low profile gas block (or take off the A2 tower front sight and add one) and put one on, you can get a slim, free-float, extended handguard relatively inexpensively. Buy good guts and then you change the furniture to suit your needs.

http://shop.masdefense.com/MAS-DEFENSE-15-SLIM-M-LOK-FREE-FLOAT-EXTENDED-RIFLE-MAS15M.htm

Those trade-in M&P-15’s for about $500 would be a good start. Find a smith who does AR work of get some basic tools and learn.

Yea, I know the forum opinion on mods, I also know a ton of people who shoot a ton of ammo, in competitions including 3-gun majors, with all kinds of modded up guns - but generally not modded up garbage.

[Trukinjp13]

Sionics builds some very nice rifles. I like a midlength but Colt 6920 are a good buy for the money.

gunprime has colt combat unit rifles for 999$ right now.
https://gunprime.com/product/colt-combat-unit-m4-carbine-5-56-16-1-mlok-30rd-le6960-ccu/

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[WobblyPossum]

Sionics builds some very nice rifles. I like a midlength but Colt 6920 are a good buy for the money.

gunprime has colt combat unit rifles for 999$ right now.
https://gunprime.com/product/colt-combat-unit-m4-carbine-5-56-16-1-mlok-30rd-le6960-ccu/

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That’s the lowest price I’ve ever seen for one. If the Troopers were still $700, they would be a better value, but at $900+ this wins hands down.


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[Pit]

I have a Colt CCU carbine. Mid length gas system is a big sale feature I guess. I like the Magpul furniture it came with as well as the Centurion Arms MLok handguards. Light weight and quick on target. At this price (got mine at Buds for same price) its a good deal IMO. Maybe a bit more than your think for a first AR but you'll end up modifying so...

JW

[Rich@CCC]

I recently found a naked Colt 6920 at a gun show via a local brick and mortar store for $650.00 Complete rifle with no hand guard, butt stock or trigger guard. It did have an A2 grip. It was hard to pass that up as I have all the odds and ends laying around to complete it.
I don't NEED another AR.

[NickDrak]

This: https://www.gunsmidwest.com/colt-le-combat-carbine-unit.html

[Wake27]

Colt is always the baseline standard, but I really think their QC is going to shit. Haven’t seen anything with the 6920s, but there have been more and more issues popping up with their 1911s and Trooper models. I have one Colt, a CRG, and that may well be my last. If you can save the extra money for the BCM, you won’t be disappointed. I’ve had two factory Noveskes and as much as I like them, they always make me wonder why I spent the extra money on them vs the BCMs that I have. Their new MCMR is so hot right now, but if you’re cool with keymod, the used market on KMR uppers is very good.


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[OlongJohnson]

There are still some 6920 deals out there.
https://www.sportsmansoutdoorsuperstore.com/products2.cfm/ID/121650

Buy your choice of furniture. I like Magpul MOE SL hand guard for non-free floating and BCM MCMR for free float. I managed to find MCMRs for ~$30 below MSRP back around Black Friday. The BCM Mod2 grip is my favorite for my big hands. Can't really go wrong with a Magpul CTR stock.

I like these for the red dot function, as I have slight astigmatism in both eyes (still better than 20-20 uncorrected, though). You can find them in the $150-170 range from time to time if you're patient.
http://www.vortexoptics.com/product/vortex-spitfire-ar-1x-prism-scope

That's all fairly close to a $1000 budget. But the CDNN deal is a good option, too.

[rob_s]

gunprime has colt combat unit rifles for 999$ right now.
https://gunprime.com/product/colt-combat-unit-m4-carbine-5-56-16-1-mlok-30rd-le6960-ccu/


Winner.

I have no interest in buying another AR, but even I'm tempted to order one of these at that price. I don't think you could find a better gun without spending 2x as much, and even then it's debatable.

[ralph]

Sionics builds some very nice rifles. I like a midlength but Colt 6920 are a good buy for the money.

gunprime has colt combat unit rifles for 999$ right now.
https://gunprime.com/product/colt-combat-unit-m4-carbine-5-56-16-1-mlok-30rd-le6960-ccu/

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Probably the best deal I've seen yet, all that's needed are your choice of sights, (irons, red dot, or both) and you're GTG.

[Kyle Reese]

I'm going to snag a CCU, I think.

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[Lex Luthier]

Brownells is having a 10 % off/free shipping sale through today.

A Colt AR6720 lightweight carbine is $847 shipped with the discount. That comes with the fixed front sight, backup iron sight, pencil barrel, basic furniture, and at least one Magpul 30 rd magazine for $150 under your budget.
The 6720s are supposedly under 6.5 lbs., so certainly light weight.

https://www.brownells.com/firearms/rifles/semi-auto/ar6720-16-1in-5-56x45mm-nato-matte-black-30-1-sku100401846-89739-183849.aspx

[Doc_Glock]

Brownells is having a 10 % off/free shipping sale through today.

A Colt AR6720 lightweight carbine is $847 shipped with the discount. That comes with the fixed front sight, backup iron sight, pencil barrel, basic furniture, and at least one Magpul 30 rd magazine for $150 under your budget.
The 6720s are supposedly under 6.5 lbs., so certainly light weight.

https://www.brownells.com/firearms/rifles/semi-auto/ar6720-16-1in-5-56x45mm-nato-matte-black-30-1-sku100401846-89739-183849.aspx

That is exactly the rifle I would buy if I were in the market.

[Clusterfrack]

I'll offer a dissenting opinion because this is PF, and we roll like that. Lack of a longer free-floated handguard is an unnecessary constraint, even at this price point. Someone new to ARs should be able to explore support arm and light mount positions. This setup is fine when you already know what you want--and want this configuration. FWIW, I don't own a single gun set up this way.

[PearTree]

I agree with clusterfrack. Given the CCU is 999 right now with a free float centurion mlok handguard and magpul furniture, it's a much better value than the 6720. The CCU give you much more latitude with accessories whereas the 6720 is extremely limited in that regard.

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[rob_s]

As someone who’s love affair with the 6720 goes back to the days before it was a thing and you had to buy a 6520 and swap the A2 upper out for a flattop, shave down the FSB (not many low-pro gas blocks for sale back then) and then install either a Daniel Defense M4 (the preferred addition to a lightweight barrel as the DD was the lightest option) or Larue picatinny handguard (those were basically the only options at the time, the KAC free-floats were not to be found and expensive as hell when they were) I think it’s time has past.

I say this because you can now buy complete, ready-to-run guns like the CCU for less money than it would take you to assemble a 6720 into something useable, and you save yourself the fiddle-fuck. And, my un-scientific guess is that a CCU upper weighs less than a 6720 upper with DD M4, and since that’s still my baseline for “lightweight” I think I’d survive.

And again, I say this as a “lightweight” fanatic that heretofore completely embraced the “ounces lead to pounds” philosophy.

[holmes168]

Agree that Colt is a good bet. I prefer BCM, but for $1k I couldn't find a complete rifle. This is the best I could do:
http://www.gandrtactical.com/BCM-RECCE-16-MCMR-15-MLOK-GOVT_p_825.html

Any reason you prefer BCM to Colt?

[Clusterfrack]

Any reason you prefer BCM to Colt?

Both are top-tier. Colt's a solid choice, and it's hard to go wrong with it. Part of my preference for BCM is based on what I've had the most experience with. I like BCM handguards and have found that their gas systems work well for full-power 5.56 loads, suppressed and unsuppressed. Also, I prefer a mid-length gas system in 14.5" and 16" uppers.

As well, I've found BCM excellent to deal with, and they have a great selection of uppers.

[Wake27]

Any reason you prefer BCM to Colt?

You didn’t ask me, but I should’ve mentioned in my earlier post that I think you get more for your money with BCM. Sure, it’s a little more than a Colt but BCM’s stock, charging handle, grip, trigger, gas system, muzzle device, rail, and barrel profiles (depending on the upper you choose) are all significantly better than Colt’s offerings. The one exception is the CCU with its middie gas and Centurion rail, but the rest of it is still mil-spec stuff. That’s not bad, but there is definitely better. BCM uppers usually also come with a QD sling mount too.


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[Guerrero]

So, are there any spare parts I should keep on-hand for an AR?

[rob_s]

So, are there any spare parts I should keep on-hand for an AR?

Easiest route is just to keep a complete BCG (bolt carrier group), complete FCG (fire control group), and buffer and spring. Buffer pin and spring aren’t a bad idea. Having these in your range bag will get you back on the line the fastest from almost any parts failure you may have. For long term maintenance you’ll eventually want to replace the extractor and spring as well as the action spring.