AR-15 Mystery Box

Dahsira

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Leduc, AB
Never owned, or even fired an AR-15. My experience has been solely with 22lr doing ORPS stuff and I love the competition. I just got my RPAL and am debating getting this. Figured it may be fun. I would be using it almost exclusively for Service Rifle Competitions. I do not hunt and have no desire to hunt unless I start starving.

Couple questions

1. Am I just buying something I'm gonna be dumping more money into upgrading as I learn more? When I first got into shooting I got a 10/22 and was instantly wanting to upgrade or modify nearly every part.

2. I am reasonably competent and handy. Would I have much of a problem putting it together with the vast help of the internet?

3. Would I be better off just grabbing a cheap SKS, getting out to the competitions before figuring out exactly what I want before sinking in more than a couple hundred?

Thanks for your thoughts!
 
You're referring to one of True North Arm's mystery boxes I assume?

If so, the only complete kit they offer as a mystery box comes with a <11" barrel, which wouldn't really be ideal for service rifle. They have completion kits, but the idea behind those was for people to build their NR receiver sets (Maccabee Defense SLR, ATRS Modern Sporter), so they don't come with an upper/lower. You could pick up a completion kit with a stripper upper/lower, but that wouldn't really be the most cost effective way to get into an entry level AR. The S&W M&P 15 Sport II is probably still the best value for a first AR. Radical firearms offers a 16" barrel with a free floated handguard that looks decent too.

I would definitely go with an AR (ANY AR) before attempting to run an SKS in any sort of match. Lol.
 
1. Am I just buying something I'm gonna be dumping more money into upgrading as I learn more? When I first got into shooting I got a 10/22 and was instantly wanting to upgrade or modify nearly every part.
These things are lego for adult males.
Buy something moderately priced and a crate of ammo, then just learn and play until comfy.
Something in the 16 inch barrel range will be perfect for service and general range stuff.

2. I am reasonably competent and handy. Would I have much of a problem putting it together with the vast help of the internet?
Right up your alley.
Most you can figure out just watching youtube videos.
Best bet is attend somethui ng at a range, find someone else who has one and get together.
These are actually relatively easy to put toghether, just seeing how the first time to make sense and learning the system.

3. Would I be better off just grabbing a cheap SKS, getting out to the competitions before figuring out exactly what I want before sinking in more than a couple hundred?
No way.
Cheap ass ammo, but no where near the accuracy and consistancy of an AR.

Look around the Equipment Exchange and do'n t rush
Find a fair deal, don't be afraid to ask for help in the black and green/ modern rifles section.
 
If you are looking at the deals from TNA, just give them a call and tell them where you are at in starting with an AR and what you want it for.
They will set you up.
Always have had good service from them.
 
the boys at TNA are very acomidateing. I bet if you were to call and talk to Zach he would but together a box with a longer bbl for you.

If you are looking at the deals from TNA, just give them a call and tell them where you are at in starting with an AR and what you want it for.
They will set you up.
Always have had good service from them.

They're awesome at TNA, I wouldn't be surprised if they threw something together for you if you called.
 
Buy once. Cry once.

If you felt the need to upgrade a 10/22, then a mystery box AR is definitely not for you. Soon enough you’ll be changing everything on it. Mind you that isn’t a bad thing. You’ll just end up with a bunch of cheap components in a parts bin.

A S&W MP15 is probably the cheapest decent quality AR out there. Hard to beat at the 700$ mark and way better than any mystery box AR out there. But still nowhere near a match grade rifle you’d want to shoot at a match.

If you’re patient, Colts or Daniel Défense come up every once a while for sale for a good price. Just have to be checking the EE regularly as they don’t usually last very long.
 
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