I'm getting my first AR

[JMayo]

I've never really wanted nor felt a need for a black gun, but with things as they have become I think it's my responsibility to arm up bigger. (Arms race?)
Not new to shooting at all. Just new to the platform.

A Saint Victor, Wilson combat & some put together are available.
I'm thinking the saint.
Anyone here have a Saint ?

 

[Richard Coody]

Look at JP rifles. Of all the AR companies I think they are the best.

Of course you could assemble your own from parts. It is easy and quite addictive.

 

[joshb]

I’m happy with my Rock River and Stag.

 

[nmkid]

I'm also happy with my Rock River. Don't overpay, the market is flooded with AR's. So, I have read anyway.

 

[69mach]

My friend has a saint. Out of the box it would not cycle reliably we put my bcg and lower on it and that fixed it. I don’t know what he did with it after that. That’s my only experience with the only one that I’ve ever been around. I’ve got compass lake rifles a woa upper and a jp rifle. If you were going to buy one AR and keep it the rest of your life I would go with a high end manufacture. But if you just want an AR that is reliable not overly accurate and just fun to shoot it’s hard to beat Palmetto State Armory with the prices they offer.

 

[TheOtherZilla]

I have 2. An Anderson Arms w/piston and a Ruger 556 with gas impingment. Both function flawlessly, but I prefer the Anderson because of the piston. The action stays much cleaner.

 

[MGYSGT]

Some basics:
-If you want to shoot both .223 and 5.56 make sure you get a "Wylde" chamber.
-Not all brands have easily interchangeable parts. There is a mil-spec debate which you may read about which usually comes down to how many parts can be replaced after market. Ultimately Colt and FNH are the only 100% mil-spec AR's and they are in military use. Being 100% isn't important. But, some AR manufacturers are more limited on aftermarket part replacement and you may be stuck with manufacturer parts only.
-AR's are up-gradable in just about every way.
-Just like any other weapon you get what you pay for.

Consider: https://www.rockriverarms.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_ID=9
Whether you want a basic AR or one that can be used in National Match (NM) NRA competitions, this is a great place to start. Good resale value as well.

https://www.aeroprecisionusa.com/
Allows you to basically build & customize your AR as much or little as you want to with great quality parts.

Doesn't colt use different size pins?

 

[M14AMU]

I hate ‘em!

 

[300_whisper]

Rock river arms are nice. I own one in .300BO.

 

[jonbearman]

I have owned armalite, rock river(preferred) colr , and bushmaster. The armalites are very nicely done but the rock rivers are a better value buck for buck.

 

[Steve Donlon]

I too also never wanted a AR rifle but a friend needed a scope and I gave him one of mine and he refused to take it without giving me something in return so I got a Palmento State Armory AR 10 in 6.5 Creedmoor. Lots of little things wrong but fixing it helped me figure out where all the little parts go and the cleaning process. Now it shoots good and they don't cost much to keep running. I would definitely put one together from parts to start with, then you will really know the in and outs of the AR platform. I want to put a 6mm ARC together when things cool off. CMMG is also a good inexpensive starter rifle and parts. It all depends on how much money you want to spend IMO. I almost forgot about Aero, they make good rifles and parts. Just make sure every part is mil-spec then every thing will fit. Some high dollar rifles have proprietary parts that will only work in their rifles.

 

[rjtfroggy]

My only question is Why?
A good accurate bolt action, a 16 gauge semi or pump, and a decent handgun be it auto or wheel is all you need for any confrontation.
Don't get me wrong I have one, a Bushmaster predator. I bought it, sited it in, and it has sat in the safe ever since.( probably 8 years now)
Here in Ct. you can't even buy them anymore or at least not the new ones, pre ban only. You have to register them with the state and can't leave home with out the registration card and you can not sell them. When it comes time mine will unfortunately sink with the neighbors boat.

 

[JMayo]

Mob mentality that is effecting some makes me see that my shotguns, pistols & bolt actions isn't gonna work against 10, 25 or 50 that decide to loot homes in my neighborhood.

 

[JEFFPPC]

Mine are Smith's have never had any issues. I did upgrade triggers which unless you go very upper end they all need.

 

[kzin]

Good.
One reason is that no matter how optimistic one would like to be a national ban with grandfathering is a serious threat.

Owning one now may be the ONLY way to own one 10 years from now.

 

[300_whisper]

My only question is Why?
A good accurate bolt action, a 16 gauge semi or pump, and a decent handgun be it auto or wheel is all you need for any confrontation.
Don't get me wrong I have one, a Bushmaster predator. I bought it, sited it in, and it has sat in the safe ever since.( probably 8 years now)
Here in Ct. you can't even buy them anymore or at least not the new ones, pre ban only. You have to register them with the state and can't leave home with out the registration card and you can not sell them. When it comes time mine will unfortunately sink with the neighbors boat.

is that you joe Biden??

I also own an SW MP15, it’s tricked out though. Only thing original is the receiver and the lower. It’s a long range hammer.

Also have a 6.5 Grendel PSA varmint rifle

And some tricked out .300BO pistol. I don’t remember the parts to that one though.

I post that since there are tons of good AR options out there. PSA is hit or miss with quality and right now they are swamped with orders. Building your own with quality parts maybe the way to go. Sounds like you want a SHTF gun. I would recommend modeling it after the Colt M4, with 16 inch barrel, iron sights, with a red dot, holographic, or LPVO scope, a decent Aftermarket trigger around 3.5 to 4 pounds, a slim rail such as an mlok Midwest industries rail, and some comfortable furniture with a zero fail bolt. You want something maneuverable but still able to engage 300 yards out if you decide to target shoot or go hunting. I would buy multiple magpul mags as well. 7-8 would be a standard combat load.

Also, look at a 1:7 or 1:8 in .223 wylde.

 

[afret]

Sounds like you want an AR for personal defense. Probably best to get one that you can depend on and is reliable. An AR from BCM, Daniel Defense, ect, would be the way to go. Get it and don't modify it except for maybe a LPVO or red dot. Get a light for it. If you modify it, you might mess up the reliability. One problem is that a lot of places are out of stock because of the crazy demand right now.

I have a stock BCM AR15 with a LPVO and light for home defense and have other ARs that I have built for playing around with.

 

[69mach]

My only question is Why?
A good accurate bolt action, a 16 gauge semi or pump, and a decent handgun be it auto or wheel is all you need for any confrontation.
Don't get me wrong I have one, a Bushmaster predator. I bought it, sited it in, and it has sat in the safe ever since.( probably 8 years now)
Here in Ct. you can't even buy them anymore or at least not the new ones, pre ban only. You have to register them with the state and can't leave home with out the registration card and you can not sell them. When it comes time mine will unfortunately sink with the neighbors boat.

Why? Bc if Custer had a few soldiers with ARs with him history would be different. If the Texans has ARs at the Alamo Santa Anna wouldn’t have stood a chance. If the FBI agents in the famous Florida shootout had ARs instead of hand guns and shotguns they may have lived to tell the tale. If the north Hollywood police were issued ARs intead of side arms and shotguns the bank robbers wouldn’t have stood a chance. If you have to face down a freak with an ak or an ar you are out gunned with a handgun and shotgun. I shoot a lot of steel handgun matches and I’m pretty decent but give me one of my ars or my ak74 when it’s life and death.

 

[tsyarnall]

J P Rifles are well respected, as is Stag and Rock River. I have a Rock River Varmint model that is the best AR that I have ever had in my hands and I retired from the Army.

JMO,
Scott

 

[Oso]

The Saint is alright. It is a budget-friendly, entry-level AR. Nothing fancy and inline with similar guns in that price range. A big drawback is the plastic forearm/front rail, which allowed them to reduce cost. It is a rifle that you will quickly outgrow with any level of usage, and you'll either spend money to upgrade components on it or simply buy a second AR. However, if it is just something to have and it will sit in the closet then it would work fine for your purpose

Buy the gun that fits in your budget with understanding that you get what you pay for. Rifles in the $750 or less class are all about the same mostly constructed from a variety of different manufacturers parts. Few of these "budget" rifles use their own proprietary parts... instead, they are simply Assemblers using mass produced parts from whatever source they get lowest price. If you want a good rifle with quality parts/construction, and some enhancements for performance then expect to spend $1000 or more. This extra money goes toward a better barrel, enhanced operating/controls, etc. When you start approaching the $2k+ range then you are paying for billet receiver sets, improved trigger, enhanced & stylized components (special coatings on parts, fluting, customized machining and swag), and premium components.

If you have the budget then hands down on Daniel Defense, top quality with bullet proof construction without the premium pricing. There is little difference in performance between $1500 and $2500 AR15. Both are reliable and should be sub-moa capable. The $2500 AR will have all the bells and whistles and envy factor, and with the $1500 AR you'll still want to upgrade the trigger to a Gisele but won't cry if the paint gets scratched.