Advice requested from experienced AR users

T

tao

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I'm looking into getting my first AR. Initially I was going to get the Stag 2TL, as I'm left handed, however, just saw a review on YouTube and the guy said it was loose. Also, I've read that the traditional AR system is dirty and causes malfunctions and is unreliable. I saw an ad for a new Bushmaster system which reports runs cleaner. So, what I'm asking, are they really that dirty. I generally clean my guns after each range visit, but if I miss doing it once is it going to malfunction? Any thoughts from Stag users? Is the new Bushmaster system good?

2nd part, if not the Stag, or Bushmaster (ultimately I would like the HK but a bit too pricey right now) I was also thinking of the Sig 556 which I think is sold here as the Swiss Arms 550? Is this correct or incorrect? Can you get the Sig 556 in Canada?

Thanks for your input. It's a lot of money so I want to make the right first educated purchase. And I apologize if any of these comments or questions seem basic, however, as stated, I'm new to AR's and have found all the info out there somewhat confusing. Possible because there is so much.

Thanks again.
 
The DI gas system works and is very reliable,don't buy into the gas piston hype.
Clean it once a year and it's fine.
 
hey TAo being that i am ne farly new to the black and green stuff i will let you know of my experience so far. Most of my firearm knowledge is from red rifles i have owned lots of many different variants of the ak's. I started reading all the post and listing to people say the same name over and over. Walter Arms east, i gave him a call and he was extremely helpfull and extremely knowledgeable when it comes to clearing up B.S. As for cleaning the rifle if you maintaing it well you should have no problems, most of the ammo for AR's is non corrosive. By the way i went with a Stag AR.
 
Dirty? Must have been posted by one of those AR Haters that you read. An AR ain't nearly as dirty as any make/model wheel gun.

I hardly do a detailed cleaning of mine. Just a quick spray of the bolt carrier and inside the chamber with brake cleaner, wipe and lube every so often. Runs like it should every time.

Don't believe everything you read, especially bad posts on certain models of guns. I even run lead cast and lead .22LR's through mine and no problems. I just put a few commercial ammo .223 through after to blow out the gas system.

If you stick to the better known makes of AR (complete or parts) you shouldn't have any problems. Most of the better known brands have good QC in their products.
 
Yeah, I'm sure that all those militaries using this technology have just decided to throw them away...

Nothing wrong with it... the piston although nice on an AR is new technology and not fully vetted...
 
As has been said above AR's are generally reliable and not dirty. At normal barrel lengths (20'') the modern AR (any good make) is reliable. Only as the barrel length shortens can reliability issue surface and often only on full-auto (not a general concern to us). If you redesign the gun around a gas-pistion system you can overcome these short barrel issue. but again its full auto that gains the most benefit.
The Sig 556 and the Swiss Arms 550 use almost identical part but they are not totally identical. I'm not totally sure of the differences or why.
 
There are few bad ARs, some better ones and a lot of great ones. You'll have to read the reviews closely to see which company is making the best ones these days. The noise about the gas system being bad is like saying Ford trucks are no good - millions of satisfied owners will disagree.

The SIG 556 is on the nasty ugly Prohibited list in Canada. Pity because it is an outstanding piece of engineering. Without a doubt better than anything made or designed in North America. Every little design detail shows intelligent thought. The legal civilian version is probably just as good. The only trouble is there are none of the aftermarket parts available, like there are for the AR.
 
I thought the Sig556 WAS designed in the US of A, to try to convert some AR lovers to the better upper of the Sig rifles... (Which are outstanding pieces of engineering.... Better than anything made or designed in North America.)?

(Flame suit on...)

:)

Neal
 
Straight up truth, ARs are dirty. However, it's not the dirtiness that causes the malfunctions. It's usually the magazines, which is an easy fix. Don't use garbage mags!

If you clean your rifle after every range session and don't abuse it, your AR is gonna still be running like a top long after you're 6 feet under. Overall man, the stories of unreliability are mostly bunk. The AR15 is a proven rifle that breaks down no more or less than any other tried and true military rifle. If you buy an AR from the more reputable companies, they're built to last. In Canada, look for Stag, Colt, Armalite, LMT, Noveske for your top picks if you gotta have the best. If you want to wet your feet first, hold out until late fall when the Norinco M4s are expected to be arriving.
 
You will never fire enough rounds to dirty your AR to the point where it will malfucntion due to being, well.... Dirty.

You will run out of money way before that ever happens.
 
If you can find one get a complete LMT there are two for sale in the EE right now.

If you decide to get a Stag get right hand model. I'm a lefty and standard AR configuration works great.

Welcome to the world of AR's,
 
I recently joined the AR world with a Stag 3R from Arms East. Love it. No problems except, I find myself buying lots of accessories/add ons for my gun. Lots of options available. Fun & easy to shoot.

Mayby try shooting a right handed model first before buying one. You may find that a lefty from Stag is what you need.

Walt @ Arms East is awsome to deal with.

Enjoy.
 
Thanks for all the input gentlemen. I kind of figured the AR would be fine since there are so many in use, not to mention in the military. I just want a reliable one that I don't need to baby, although I will anyways. Still difficult to decide which manufacturer to choose however. Too many choices.

As an aside, initially I wanted an M4 type rifle. Can anyone definitively tell me what this means. Since an AR15 is a civilian M16, what is the civilian version of an M4. Is it just an AR with a 16" or less barrel?

One last newbie question: because it's restricted can I have a 10 rd mag?

I lied, last question, is it cheaper to buy the upper and lower separately then to buy the whole rifle?

Thanks again.
 
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more expensive to buy the lower/upper apart,but you can build what you want as most of the new offerings these days suck with A2 stocks and 16" + barrels missing the flash hider..
 
STAG are not loose
Not mine anyways, and I'm pretty sure Walter won't seel anyone that is loose

For Mags, check Questars in the links above, they have AR 10rds
 
P0WERWAGON said:
get the standard right hand model, they are left hand friendly.
Click to expand...

I agree. I'm left handed and have no issues with my right handed AR. The only gun I own that is specifically left handed is a bolt action rifle where the bolt handle is on the other side. The AR's charging handle is on the back, so I've never had an issue using it, brass ejecting goes un-noticed and the safety is easy to operate with the trigger finger.
 
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