Just bought my first AR! (NEA-15 10.5" + accessories) My whats, whys, and experiences
This post is long, so spare me the "tldr"s
.
I'm very excited after just having purchased my first restricted rifle, an NEA-15 10.5". I thought I'd post my experiences here, mostly for noobs like myself, detailing what I bought and why, and he road I took to get here. Hopefully it'll be useful to some as I see a lot of people consistently asking the same questions I have.
First off, I'd like to sincerely thank the folks at The Shooting Edge today for helping me out: Justin for getting me on the waiting list, which as luck would have it I managed to skip a few places forward due to cancellations; Dave, in particular, for spending well over an hour with me going over weapon operation, takedown, accessories, and sharing his experiences; and the two Johns. This is the second large firearm purchase I've made from TSE and I'm sure there will be more than my wife would care to know about in the future.
The goodies list
On the shopping list but not in stock
Overall cost was just under $2k.
The restricted vs non-restricted dilemma
I like bush. Its warm, soft, and fun to play in. Shooting things in the bush takes that joy to a whole new level. I've been casually clay and target shooting outdoors with my shotgun all summer, but craved a non-restricted rifle that I could shoot anywhere and everywhere, and maybe even hunt with. I had a brief stint with an Archangel-converted 10/22, which I have since sold, as it just wan't turning my crank.
Unfortunately, I never found an NR rifle that tickled me in all the right places. I devoured all the info I could about the newer rigs such as XCRs and Tavors, and older ones like the vz58, M14, and even SKS. I passed on the former because of price and/or overall length, and the latter because I honestly just wasn't feeling the legacy firearms. And I find pencil-barreled alternatives like the JRC hideous, no offence.
At the same time, I was learning everything I could about the AR15. I bookmarked all the manufacturers, watched assembly tutorials, and was on the black rifle forum refresh button like a fat kid on a smartie. I literally dreamed about barrel twists, slick sides, and BCG coatings. As an avid automotive enthusiast who has modified my vehicle significantly, the modularity/modification angle of AR15s was also a huge turn on.
When I got the call today from TSE that there was an NEA with my name on it, I made the choice and decided to quit the NR route. I may return there one day if something appealing enough comes along, but my shotgun is loads of fun in the interim.
Build vs buy
Shortly after my initial AR-#### browsing and forum scouring, I became obsessed with the inner workings of the rifle. I have watched every video youtube has to offer on how to build an AR15. I have bookmarked the exact vise, receiver blocks, armorer's wrench, punches, and torque specs I needed. I learned a crap load, and was totally set on building my own AR so that I would have the most possible in depth hands on knowledge of the platform.
Then I changed my mind. There are a few reasons. First off, I got scared. Lesbihonest, we're still talking about a firearm here, so it wouldn't take much of a screw up to end up with a very bad situation. Secondly, cost. Not just of acquiring parts, but of purchasing the necessary tools. And lastly, finding a solid, affordably priced, domestically produced platform that I could still customize to my liking (the NEA). I will likely revisit this road as I gain more real world experience with the rifle, because self sufficiency is good and fun.
As an aside, here are some of my favourite links:
http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_3_4/22...__GAS_BLOCK___Step_by_step_instructions_.html
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/lid=11004/learn/
http://www.ar15barrels.com/prod/operation.shtml
http://forums.officer.com/t81462/
Why this rifle
I am Canadian, and while I'd rather watch reruns of Battlestar Galactica than Canada Day fireworks (or anything involving Celine Dion), I love the fact that there was a domestically produced option with NEA. ATRS is local and excellent, but at a totally different price point. There are a lot of American products that I drool over like anyone else, but cost and import/export restrictions tend to keep the juicy stuff out of our market anyway. NEA has had a spotty rep in the past, but they're actively developing an in-house product and there are inevitably faults, tweaks, and revisions in every field of manufacturing. My rifle is second gen, so hopefully most of the gremlins have been red misted.
I picked the 10.5" specifically because I plain up like short rifles. When I tried out an XCR for size, I felt like Ron Jeremy on stilts. The CQB handles well, is light, and feels great in my hands. Secondly, I have poor eyesight, and have a lot of issues with eye relief on scopes as well as blurred vision when closing one eye too long. I will never be a designated marksman or sniper, so close quarters shooting is what I'm realistically best suited for.
General impressions
I don't get to take the rifle home until tomorrow so I can't give any usage impressions. I also have to decide on ammo. The NEAs have a 1:7 twist so if I'm going to buy ammo in bulk, I'd prefer having something heavier grain and TSE only had crates of 55 in stock (they had some 62 but it wasn't range-approved). Might see what CSC has tomorrow.
Quality wise, it looks great, especially at a sub-$1000 price point. Tolerances seem tight, alignment good (except the gas block, see below), and concerns I had about the rails appearing overly grey from some photos online were quickly dismissed. Overall, it looks the business.
But there is always a but. The accessories on this rifle seem to have been plucked from pretty close to the bottom of the barrel. The stock A2 grip is a stock A2 grip, and the folding butt stock seems a little flimsy. It also uses a commercial buffer tube instead of mil spec, presumably for cost savings, which is unfortunate as most of the aftermarket butt stocks I've found locally are mil spec. It also doesn't come with any sights. But I get it: the AR is the steak, and its up to you to order the asparagus or mushrooms. NEA doesn't promise anything they don't deliver on, so its not really a hidden cost. And customization is half the fun.
The com spec buffer is my only real point of disgruntlement. Another point of concern is the packaging. Its incredibly minimal, and I'm genuinely surprised at the absence of shipping damage. Lastly, upon close inspection I noticed that the gas block is slightly off centre -- weird, not sure what that's about. Dave told me its nothing to worry about. (Thoughts?)
Accessories
Eotech EXPS2-0: I had tried a Vector Sparc in the past and was able to try both an Aimpoint and Eotech in-shop before making my decision. Anything that helps me acquire the target faster is tops in my book, and I love the Eotech reticule. The circle brings my eyes right where they need to be, and the wider viewport allowed the frame to blend into my peripheral vision better than the smaller Aimpoint. I actually giggled in delight when it disappeared entirely, leaving only the target with a magical happy circle floating over it. The QD mount is also really nice. Looking forward to using this on both the AR and my Fabarm. And yes, I realize that I bought an optic that cost more than half of my rifle. But of any accessory I have purchased, nothing seemed as important. Buy once, buy right. Also, though I occasionally partake of mall ninjitsu, I'm never honestly going to use NV so the extra premium for an EXPS3 seemed frivolous.
Magpul MOE grip: I hated the factory grip, so it had to be replaced ASAP. I looked at both the Magpul MOE and MOE+, but skipped the MIAD on suggestions of it being needlessly complex. I really liked the grippiness of the rubberized MOE+ but the overall diameter was just too fat, like holding a Sig or Rosie Odonell in my hand. So I opted for a plain old MOE. It fits in reasonably well but I wouldn't call the alignment perfect.
Mags: Magazine wise, the guys at TSE were big fans of PMAGs. The build quality and follower is clearly superior on a PMAG vs a LAR15, and they're also cheaper. That being said, 5 rounds is a bummer. So I bought 5 PMAGs (you need 5 mags for TSE's carbine course, which I'm signing up for) but also bought 2 LAR15s for good measure.
InForce WML: Lastly, my weapon light. I had been shopping for one for my shotgun as I'm going to be doing some PULZ camping and want illumination on my shotgun in case we have any unruly visitors of the four-legged variety. I had narrowed it down to the SureFire x300 or StreamLight TLR-1. I happened to mention it while I was there, and Dave showed me the InForce WML (they didn't have either of the others). It feels well built, uses only one CR123 battery, has a high intensity, low intensity, and strobe settings, and is used by the local PD, which is as good an endorsement as any. It was the same price as a TLR but had the same great squeeze-style rail mount as the SureFire. I feel a bit nervous, as I rarely purchase something without being able to research it first, but we'll see how it holds up.
Conclusion
That's all he wrote! For now. If anyone has suggestions on ammo in the Calgary area or online, I'll take em. When I bring it home tomorrow I'll take out the good camera and add my contributions to the global stash of AR ####, so some other shmo like me can enjoy this process for the first time all over again. I'll also add range reports as they happen. Cheers.
This post is long, so spare me the "tldr"s
.I'm very excited after just having purchased my first restricted rifle, an NEA-15 10.5". I thought I'd post my experiences here, mostly for noobs like myself, detailing what I bought and why, and he road I took to get here. Hopefully it'll be useful to some as I see a lot of people consistently asking the same questions I have.
First off, I'd like to sincerely thank the folks at The Shooting Edge today for helping me out: Justin for getting me on the waiting list, which as luck would have it I managed to skip a few places forward due to cancellations; Dave, in particular, for spending well over an hour with me going over weapon operation, takedown, accessories, and sharing his experiences; and the two Johns. This is the second large firearm purchase I've made from TSE and I'm sure there will be more than my wife would care to know about in the future.
The goodies list
- 10.5" NEA-15
- Eotech EXPS2-0
- Magpul MOE grip
- 5 PMAGS
- 2 LAR15 mags
- InForce WML weapon light
- CAA rubber ladder rail covers
On the shopping list but not in stock
- BUIS (probably Magpul)
- Magpul CTR stock
Overall cost was just under $2k.
The restricted vs non-restricted dilemma
I like bush. Its warm, soft, and fun to play in. Shooting things in the bush takes that joy to a whole new level. I've been casually clay and target shooting outdoors with my shotgun all summer, but craved a non-restricted rifle that I could shoot anywhere and everywhere, and maybe even hunt with. I had a brief stint with an Archangel-converted 10/22, which I have since sold, as it just wan't turning my crank.
Unfortunately, I never found an NR rifle that tickled me in all the right places. I devoured all the info I could about the newer rigs such as XCRs and Tavors, and older ones like the vz58, M14, and even SKS. I passed on the former because of price and/or overall length, and the latter because I honestly just wasn't feeling the legacy firearms. And I find pencil-barreled alternatives like the JRC hideous, no offence.
At the same time, I was learning everything I could about the AR15. I bookmarked all the manufacturers, watched assembly tutorials, and was on the black rifle forum refresh button like a fat kid on a smartie. I literally dreamed about barrel twists, slick sides, and BCG coatings. As an avid automotive enthusiast who has modified my vehicle significantly, the modularity/modification angle of AR15s was also a huge turn on.
When I got the call today from TSE that there was an NEA with my name on it, I made the choice and decided to quit the NR route. I may return there one day if something appealing enough comes along, but my shotgun is loads of fun in the interim.
Build vs buy
Shortly after my initial AR-#### browsing and forum scouring, I became obsessed with the inner workings of the rifle. I have watched every video youtube has to offer on how to build an AR15. I have bookmarked the exact vise, receiver blocks, armorer's wrench, punches, and torque specs I needed. I learned a crap load, and was totally set on building my own AR so that I would have the most possible in depth hands on knowledge of the platform.
Then I changed my mind. There are a few reasons. First off, I got scared. Lesbihonest, we're still talking about a firearm here, so it wouldn't take much of a screw up to end up with a very bad situation. Secondly, cost. Not just of acquiring parts, but of purchasing the necessary tools. And lastly, finding a solid, affordably priced, domestically produced platform that I could still customize to my liking (the NEA). I will likely revisit this road as I gain more real world experience with the rifle, because self sufficiency is good and fun.
As an aside, here are some of my favourite links:
http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_3_4/22...__GAS_BLOCK___Step_by_step_instructions_.html
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/lid=11004/learn/
http://www.ar15barrels.com/prod/operation.shtml
http://forums.officer.com/t81462/
Why this rifle
I am Canadian, and while I'd rather watch reruns of Battlestar Galactica than Canada Day fireworks (or anything involving Celine Dion), I love the fact that there was a domestically produced option with NEA. ATRS is local and excellent, but at a totally different price point. There are a lot of American products that I drool over like anyone else, but cost and import/export restrictions tend to keep the juicy stuff out of our market anyway. NEA has had a spotty rep in the past, but they're actively developing an in-house product and there are inevitably faults, tweaks, and revisions in every field of manufacturing. My rifle is second gen, so hopefully most of the gremlins have been red misted.
I picked the 10.5" specifically because I plain up like short rifles. When I tried out an XCR for size, I felt like Ron Jeremy on stilts. The CQB handles well, is light, and feels great in my hands. Secondly, I have poor eyesight, and have a lot of issues with eye relief on scopes as well as blurred vision when closing one eye too long. I will never be a designated marksman or sniper, so close quarters shooting is what I'm realistically best suited for.
General impressions
I don't get to take the rifle home until tomorrow so I can't give any usage impressions. I also have to decide on ammo. The NEAs have a 1:7 twist so if I'm going to buy ammo in bulk, I'd prefer having something heavier grain and TSE only had crates of 55 in stock (they had some 62 but it wasn't range-approved). Might see what CSC has tomorrow.
Quality wise, it looks great, especially at a sub-$1000 price point. Tolerances seem tight, alignment good (except the gas block, see below), and concerns I had about the rails appearing overly grey from some photos online were quickly dismissed. Overall, it looks the business.
But there is always a but. The accessories on this rifle seem to have been plucked from pretty close to the bottom of the barrel. The stock A2 grip is a stock A2 grip, and the folding butt stock seems a little flimsy. It also uses a commercial buffer tube instead of mil spec, presumably for cost savings, which is unfortunate as most of the aftermarket butt stocks I've found locally are mil spec. It also doesn't come with any sights. But I get it: the AR is the steak, and its up to you to order the asparagus or mushrooms. NEA doesn't promise anything they don't deliver on, so its not really a hidden cost. And customization is half the fun.
The com spec buffer is my only real point of disgruntlement. Another point of concern is the packaging. Its incredibly minimal, and I'm genuinely surprised at the absence of shipping damage. Lastly, upon close inspection I noticed that the gas block is slightly off centre -- weird, not sure what that's about. Dave told me its nothing to worry about. (Thoughts?)
Accessories
Eotech EXPS2-0: I had tried a Vector Sparc in the past and was able to try both an Aimpoint and Eotech in-shop before making my decision. Anything that helps me acquire the target faster is tops in my book, and I love the Eotech reticule. The circle brings my eyes right where they need to be, and the wider viewport allowed the frame to blend into my peripheral vision better than the smaller Aimpoint. I actually giggled in delight when it disappeared entirely, leaving only the target with a magical happy circle floating over it. The QD mount is also really nice. Looking forward to using this on both the AR and my Fabarm. And yes, I realize that I bought an optic that cost more than half of my rifle. But of any accessory I have purchased, nothing seemed as important. Buy once, buy right. Also, though I occasionally partake of mall ninjitsu, I'm never honestly going to use NV so the extra premium for an EXPS3 seemed frivolous.
Magpul MOE grip: I hated the factory grip, so it had to be replaced ASAP. I looked at both the Magpul MOE and MOE+, but skipped the MIAD on suggestions of it being needlessly complex. I really liked the grippiness of the rubberized MOE+ but the overall diameter was just too fat, like holding a Sig or Rosie Odonell in my hand. So I opted for a plain old MOE. It fits in reasonably well but I wouldn't call the alignment perfect.
Mags: Magazine wise, the guys at TSE were big fans of PMAGs. The build quality and follower is clearly superior on a PMAG vs a LAR15, and they're also cheaper. That being said, 5 rounds is a bummer. So I bought 5 PMAGs (you need 5 mags for TSE's carbine course, which I'm signing up for) but also bought 2 LAR15s for good measure.
InForce WML: Lastly, my weapon light. I had been shopping for one for my shotgun as I'm going to be doing some PULZ camping and want illumination on my shotgun in case we have any unruly visitors of the four-legged variety. I had narrowed it down to the SureFire x300 or StreamLight TLR-1. I happened to mention it while I was there, and Dave showed me the InForce WML (they didn't have either of the others). It feels well built, uses only one CR123 battery, has a high intensity, low intensity, and strobe settings, and is used by the local PD, which is as good an endorsement as any. It was the same price as a TLR but had the same great squeeze-style rail mount as the SureFire. I feel a bit nervous, as I rarely purchase something without being able to research it first, but we'll see how it holds up.
Conclusion
That's all he wrote! For now. If anyone has suggestions on ammo in the Calgary area or online, I'll take em. When I bring it home tomorrow I'll take out the good camera and add my contributions to the global stash of AR ####, so some other shmo like me can enjoy this process for the first time all over again. I'll also add range reports as they happen. Cheers.
