Seeking advice on an AR15
 

I've finally decided that this is going to be the year I buy an AR-15. So far I own a couple handguns and shotguns. So I don't exactly need another firearm for home defense. I feel my bases are well covered in that respect.

Reasons I've decided on an AR-15:

-I don't yet own a rifle
-I've always wanted an AR-15
-Who knows what will happen pertaining to assault weapons if/when we get a Dem. in the White House.
-Pure recreation. As I said, this would not be a first choice grab in a home defense situation.

I'm not looking for advice on whether or not I should buy one. I'm going to buy one, and that's that. I'm looking for some feedback on different brands. The one in particualr that has caught my eye is the K3B M4 Tactical Rifle made by Olympic Arms. As you can see, this one is equipped with the tactical shroud with a front hand grip and a 6-point collapsible stock, things which I find attractive. It is also well within my price range. I'd like to keep it at just about $1k including the FFL transfer fees. I could maybe flex a couple hundred to the upside on the price, but would rather put that toward PMs this summer.

My question is, how does Olympic Arms compare to other brands like Bushmaster, Colt, DPMS, ect.? I know the old saying, "You get what you pay for." But I'm not exactly looking for top of the line here. I'd be satisfied enough with something that isn't know for constant jam ups and the like.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated :D.

Re: Seeking advice on an AR15
 

I'm pretty new to all this, but for the little research i've done olympic arms is one of the worst brands there is.

My personal recommendation is rock river arms. My second choice would be DPMS.

Also are you sure you trust those background checks? Are you positive you won't end up on a list somewhere?

Re: Seeking advice on an AR15
 

Last gun show I attended the DPMS models were very popular and fairly cheap.

As posted above Olympic does not have a very good reputation.

Re: Seeking advice on an AR15
 

You mean if I'm not on a list already? Hell, I live in the communist state of Illinois. To even own a firearm 'legally', you get put on a list. Other than that, I'm not sure of anything. Are you sure that you're not on a list somewhere?


Anyway, thanks for the feedback so far guys. Only 2 of you so far, but both suggesting against OA. I still welcome more feedback from others who care to offer it :wink:.

Re: Seeking advice on an AR15
 

I pick up my stagarms ar15 LEFT hand tactical tomorrow (www.stagarms.com). Highest quality.

You cant go wrong with Rock River either.

Check out www.ar15.com you have to weed through the kids, but the info is there for the discerning.

Olympic is considered a 'plinker' type gun, have never shot one myself. I think a lot of the negativity to oly is that they had some quality control issues at one time, that appears to be over, but first impressions and all, gun guys dont forget.

If you want a cheap throw down, check the for sale section on the ar15 site, a company is selling reconditioned 'scratch and dent' ar15's with various lower recievers (DPMS, double star, etc) for $570 each. here is the direct link: http://cmmginc.secure-mall.com/shop/?shop=1&&cat=33&

If you dont know what you want, it may be a way to start cheap.

Re: Seeking advice on an AR15
 

Bushmaster or Rock River Arms

Re: Seeking advice on an AR15
 

$929 for any Olympic Arms AR is high...

The AR-15 snobs would recommend only Noveske, LMT, Colt 6920, or Sabre Defense and such "first tier" companies that supposedly manufacture all their own parts and rifles. These are too pricey for a first time buyer, IMO. "Second tier" companies are ones that use other manufacturer's parts to build their own.

The rifle's upper receiver QC--bolt assembly, gas block, gas rings, locking lugs, barrel, feed ramp, etc--is probably the most important. Lower receivers are less critical and will usually mate to most any upper...

Colt, Bushmaster, Rock River Arms and a couple self-builds (under $700) are what I currently own...all work fine.

For $900+ I would look somewhere other than Olympic.

A chart of comparative features is currently making the rounds:

Re: Seeking advice on an AR15
 

Personally I'd avoid the Olyimpic, especially at the price.

I'd go:
Rock River
Bushmaster
DPMS

in that order. Biggest problem with buying an AR is deciding what features you want. I wanted:

16" barrel
Chrome Line
Mid-length gas system
Flat Top upper.

Ended up buying a Rock River upper half and mating it to a DPMS lower I already had. I prefer a fixed stock, because most collapsible stocks are not that beard friendly *ouch*

This is the basic rifle:
http://www.rockriverarms.com/index.c...ategory_id=224

Re: Seeking advice on an AR15
 

I'll be picking up an AR-15 (my first) from http://www.anvilarms.com/ later this week. I'll let you know how it goes.

Update:

I took it out shooting this weekend. Brand new, it was way low and a little to the right; I zeroed it in at 25 yards. After that I did some shooting at 50 yards with iron sights. I don't think my results could be called groups, but at least I kept it on the paper. Since this is my first rifle, I'm not an experienced shooter. I have a lot of work to do. =) I feel like the rifle will do well if I can learn to do my part. All in all, I fired around 120 rounds, and the rifle went bang every time I pulled the trigger, no problems at all.

Re: Seeking advice on an AR15
 

I'd look for the thread on here with $550 ARs if you're looking for a value gun.

Re: Seeking advice on an AR15
 

CMMG's Bargain Bin...$570

http://cmmginc.secure-mall.com/shop/...979490&cat=33&

Re: Seeking advice on an AR15
 

........................

Re: Seeking advice on an AR15
 

I have one of those CMMG bargain bin guns-no complaints here. Great first gun if $$ is an issue.

Re: Seeking advice on an AR15
 

Silver City, There is a newer version of that chart. But to answer the OP's original question, I would seriously consider Colt or LMT. Noveske if you want to spend a little more. People will argue about these things all day long. Spend a couple weeks reading at m4carbine.net. I was going to get a bush master, but changed my mind due to many factors, one being this would be my final rifle purchase for many, many years and I might as well get what I thought was best.

Re: Seeking advice on an AR15
 

I've got a Bushmaster, runs just fine. I bought it in the parking lot at a gun show. I paid $250. It's just like new! The yuppie that sold it to me said his new wife "wanted it out of the house". It's a "Ban" model, no flash hider or bayonet lug. Like said before in this thread, it's not what I would grab in a SHTF senerio, That choice would be a AK.

Re: Seeking advice on an AR15
 

$250? Holy Crap! Does that guy have anything else he wants to sell? :D I just built an m4orgery a few months ago. It ran me about $650 to build. I used a DPMS stripped lower and the rest of the gun is Doublestar parts. I thought I better get one together before the next ban comes. I'm more of an AK guy myself though. I'd grab one of the AK's in a SHTF too.

Re: Seeking advice on an AR15
 

Don't forget OPTICS, an adjustable butt-stock, a railed free float tube, and a forward grip .... I've currently got a Halosight on my M4, but I really would like a Trigicon with a red dot that has x3 magnification.

Something like this is nice......:smokin:

You might want to go to www.ar15.com, there's tons of good info, but some of the people are real SOB's...

http://www.dpmsinc.com/firearms/imag...=15&type=large

Re: Seeking advice on an AR15
 

.....................

Re: Seeking advice on an AR15
 

I was just in the local gun store. They are selling new DPMS AR-15's for $700. They had a dozen of them. Flatops or handle. I asked about ammo. $8 for a box of 20!!!!!

Re: Seeking advice on an AR15
 

I concur about Oly. Quality control is an issue.

I've owned Bushmaster and DPMS in the past. Both are excellent rifles. Were I in the market for my first AR, I would look closely at the CMMG deal, if they have any more, as they are DEFINTELY a steal. And given this is your FIRST AR, might was well save as MUCH money as you can on the rifle.

ONE suggestion. Spend AT LEAST as much on ammo RIGHT NOW as you plan to spend on the rifle. Plus AT LEAST ten mags. I updated all of mine with a 'better' charging handle and a TiN coated firing pin, though the manufacturer of them has stopped production of this firing pin.

These 'accessories' will either go up in price SEVERELY and/or disappear entirely in one year or less.

OH, and the fact that the Iraqi army is switching over to M16's ALSO means ammo is going to 'dry up' fairly quickly. AMMO AND RIFLES will jump in price by as much as 100% in the coming year. SO, GET YOUR AMMO AND RIFLE ASAP.

Good luck and post pix once you make your choice. If you don't mind ONE question, is the AR choice because of caliber or rifle?

Re: Seeking advice on an AR15
 

You might want to have your local law enforcement run the serial #(If it has one, I'm no gun expert) or any other owner applied numbers through the NCIC computer, might end up being a stolen gun. I know most would not want to do this for risk of if it WAS stolen they would have it taken, but if you ever get caught with it and it IS stolen, you will have some problems. Receiving stolen property around here is the exact same class as stealing it. CYA.

Re: Seeking advice on an AR15
 

I got my AR15 on pretty much the same reasons as you.

I like the way they look, like the way they shoot especially since they are darn accurate. I take it to the range and shoot it at 100 or 200 yards and it's very consistent and reliable.

I also got my AR15 as an investment as well. I got a pre-ban rifle and they just don't make those anymore, if you know what I mean :)

I must have taken a good 3 or 4 months before I finally settled on the AR15 I bought. I wanted a Colt because they are the top of the line. Colt if to the AR15 as IZH is to the AK47

I went with one of the most modern models you can get before the ban, the R6700. It features a heavy barrel and a removable handle on picatinny rails. It was manufactured actually in early 1994, the same year as the ban, confirmed by phone call to Colt.

It came in super, NIB condition in it's box, wrapped in plastic and the orgiinal mags, sling and manual.

I found it on an online auction site gunbrokers.com I think.... I paid $1150 for it :)

Re: Seeking advice on an AR15
 

I've had experience with one of those CMMG rifles, it's run close to 1k rounds without a hiccup, and it's quite accurate. It's a doublestar lower.

The "scratch and dent" part was a tiny finish blemish on the charging handle. I'd either get one of those, or try to find a used one on one of the gunboards.