AR15 Experts Help Me Out

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Supercool

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Not sure if there is a dedicated AR15 section somewhere on the boards, but noticed that the AR15 was quite a popular rifle.

I'm thinking about buying on, but I just have a ton of questions.

1. Piston or DI? Why?
2. Do all DI ARs use universal parts?
3. Free Float or Non Free Float? Why?
4. Is it possible in Canada to buy multiple uppers? Say a 16" upper and a 11.5" upper?
5. Will these uppers fit any lower? (DI with DI and Piston with Piston of course)
 
Supercool said:
Not sure if there is a dedicated AR15 section somewhere on the boards, but noticed that the AR15 was quite a popular rifle.

I'm thinking about buying on, but I just have a ton of questions.

1. Piston or DI? Why?
2. Do all DI ARs use universal parts?
3. Free Float or Non Free Float? Why?
4. Is it possible in Canada to buy multiple uppers? Say a 16" upper and a 11.5" upper?
5. Will these uppers fit any lower? (DI with DI and Piston with Piston of course)
Click to expand...

I am not necessarily a resident "expert", but I'll give you the short answers to your questions.

1. Piston ARs run cleaner, although they're more expensive. Reliability is the same.
2. Yes, for the most part.
3. Free float is more accurate. Also more money.
4. Yes, absolutely.
5. Yes, with the exception of the original HK MR223.

Since your questions pretty much cover the entire AR price range ($1k-$4k), if you have a specific budget in-mind that would probably help narrow things down a bit if you are looking for recommendations.
 
Blaxun covered your questions very well. There are some billet uppers that are not interchangeable...i.e. MEGA arms monolithic. The KAC DI guns use proprietary bolts and barrel extensions.
 
Thanks for the answers. How hard is it to find different uppers in Canada? I've been looking online and I haven't seen any uppers for sale, just fully built AR15s.

Where can I find the best selection?

I haven't decided on a budget as of yet, but I'd like to find something nice so I don't have to upgrade later on.

If I were to go piston, LMT or PWS?
 
Supercool said:
Thanks for the answers. How hard is it to find different uppers in Canada? I've been looking online and I haven't seen any uppers for sale, just fully built AR15s.

Where can I find the best selection?

I haven't decided on a budget as of yet, but I'd like to find something nice so I don't have to upgrade later on.

If I were to go piston, LMT or PWS?
Click to expand...

Depending on the type and length, not very difficult at all. It really depends on your budget, though. Check the EE under Black Rifles as well as the parts section for separate uppers.

The best selection really depends on your criteria and again, your budget (there are waiting lists for any of the higher-end or unobtanium stuff).

Honestly, the first thing you need to decide is budget - because ARs are customizable to the 9th degree. ;) Did I mention budget? ;) If you're going piston, I'd look at either a PWS or Adcor Defense because they're both around the 2k mark and cheaper than LMT (there's certainly nothing wrong with LMT, just that it will run you substantially more).
 
Supercool said:
Not sure if there is a dedicated AR15 section somewhere on the boards, but noticed that the AR15 was quite a popular rifle.

I'm thinking about buying on, but I just have a ton of questions.

1. Piston or DI? Why?
2. Do all DI ARs use universal parts?
3. Free Float or Non Free Float? Why?
4. Is it possible in Canada to buy multiple uppers? Say a 16" upper and a 11.5" upper?
5. Will these uppers fit any lower? (DI with DI and Piston with Piston of course)
Click to expand...

Don't worry about any of that. Get yourself a reliable stock rifle and a BIG can of ammo.

If you can afford it, take some training and shoot your gun lots. Then, when you're informed, go ahead and freefloat your barrel and build some new uppers.
:ar15:
 
LMT piston is built like a tank but very front heavy. You're stuck using LMT barrels but they are quick change and you can easily do that yourself. Comes with a Sopmod stock. Chrome lined barrel with life of around 20K rounds.

PWS is lighter and has a simpler piston system. For just under 2K they're more affordable and they come with Magpul rail covers, MOE grip, MOE stock and MBUS. PWS trigger sucks, I'd replace it with Geissele SSA. PWS also comes with the enhanced buffer tube. Their barrels are nitrided..similar to process the Swissarms barrels have.

If I had to pick, I'd go with PWS.
 
Supercool said:
Not sure if there is a dedicated AR15 section somewhere on the boards, but noticed that the AR15 was quite a popular rifle.

I'm thinking about buying on, but I just have a ton of questions.

1. Piston or DI? Why?
2. Do all DI ARs use universal parts?
3. Free Float or Non Free Float? Why?
4. Is it possible in Canada to buy multiple uppers? Say a 16" upper and a 11.5" upper?
5. Will these uppers fit any lower? (DI with DI and Piston with Piston of course)
Click to expand...

1- piston run cooler and cleaner but affect you barrel harmonic and are nose heavy. DI gun are dirty pigs ( special the shortys) and requier proper lubrification to run ( have not cleaned my 14.5 in about 6000 rounds just a healty dose of slip 2000). The real edge of piston guns over DI gun is if you are running a 10.5 with a suppressor on full auto in a dusty or humid environement. Other than that it's all LCF...

2- 99% of parts are compatible ( my 7.5 .223 ar is built with parts from 17 different manufacturer)

3- Most free float handguard offer the versatility of the m1913 rails system. A free foalted barrel is also more accurate but as stated the handguard is more expensive, within 200 meters you are not going to see any difference one way or the other. Aftermarket handguards are almost a fashion statement more than any thing else. Personnaly all my guns are free floated

4- yes no problem in having different uppers ( have 9 uppers and 3 lowers) If as you say you have a 16 and a 10.5 register your gun with the 16 that way you can get a from 6 to travel with it in the USA as the 10.5 is considered a SBR and subject to additionnal regualtion in the USA

5- my piston upper will fit any of my lowers and my DI uppers will fit any lower. Some guns like the hk guns use dedicated receivers and parts...
 
As far as free float handguards are concerned, unless you want to hang a load of tackikewl stuff on the gun, a plain round handguard is more comfortable to use as a forend, inexpensive, and easy to install.
 
Supercool said:
PWS looks pretty attractive. What do you guys think about the 12.5" barreled version?
Click to expand...

Borat-VeryNice.jpg
 
QOR said:
Don't worry about any of that. Get yourself a reliable stock rifle and a BIG can of ammo.

If you can afford it, take some training and shoot your gun lots. Then, when you're informed, go ahead and freefloat your barrel and build some new uppers.
:ar15:
Click to expand...

:agree:This answer just oozes with common sense. X2:agree:
 
QOR said:
Don't worry about any of that. Get yourself a reliable stock rifle and a BIG can of ammo.

If you can afford it, take some training and shoot your gun lots. Then, when you're informed, go ahead and freefloat your barrel and build some new uppers.
:ar15:
Click to expand...

Of course this oozes common sense.

It also depends on what the rifle is going to be used for.
Assuming it is going to be used.....
 
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