I would follow rob s advice. Idk if you are a member of any other forums, but he has forgotten more knowledge on the AR platform than I know.
And whatever you decide to purchase, I would contact grant at gr tactical for any of your questions and for your purchase. He takes care of first responders and military, and his prices for all of the brands mentioned so far in this thread (bcm, dd, colt, aimpoint) are incredible.
Pay once; cry once.
I had an ER nurse in a class. I noticed she kept taking all head shots. Her response when asked why, "'I've seen too many people who have been shot in the chest putting up a fight in the ER." Point taken.
"Shooting is 90% mental. The rest is in your head." -Nils
Random thoughts:
If you're buying the gun with the free-float rail it will wear for it's life then there is not major drawback to a pinned 14.5" barrel. You need to understand that there isn't much functional difference between a 16" and 14.5" barrel. You get a lot going from a fixed stock 20" gun to a collapsible stocked 14.5" or 16" gun. The next major noticeable improvement comes at true SBR length, like 11.5". An 11.5" AR is a dream to deploy from a vehicle.
If you're buying an AR you'll never appreciate it's intrinsic advantages unless you can actually shoot a rifle. The best way to get good at shooting rifles without breaking the bank is to attend an Appleseed event. They're cheap and they will teach you the fundamentals that most folks lack these days.
- It's not the odds, it's the stakes.
- If you aren't dry practicing every week, you're not serious.....
- "Tache-Psyche Effect - a polite way of saying 'You suck.' " - GG