Best choice for first AR?

Dark Alley Dan

Dark Alley Dan

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Hey, folks.

I'm now 100% debt-free, and as a reward, I'm going to buy myself the AR I promised myself. I've been in P&D feeling up the alternatives, and my choices come down to the Norinco, the S&W, and the DPMS.

Folks say the Norinco is a lot of rifle for the money - very serviceable, runs well, and you can't beat the price. The S&W is $150 more, but built by a solid maker. No dust cover or FA, but I don't imagine I'd get a lot of use out of either of those two devices. The DPMS is $75 less than the S&W (after rebate) but doesn't come with any sighting apparatus at all, so I'd have to spend some cash on a set of rings and a scope.

I'm really torn here. My natural tendency to being a cheap bastard points me at the Norinco, and I've had good luck with the 1911 and the M305 I have. But the fit and finish on the S&W are very good. And the DPMS appears to be a lot of rifle for the money.

What say you lot?

Dan
 
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I love my Norinco. It runs like a champ. If I was in the proverbial SHTF situation, I would feel very comfortable with the CQ-A. Plus you can use the extra money for ammo or accessories.

By the way, enjoy your freedom from debt while it lasts... ARs are insatiable, always demanding that you feed them and buy them nice accessories.
 
Marstar has the Norinco CQ 556 on for 529 plus tax n stuff! Ordered one yesterday..... for the price, can't go wrong. I watched a lot of youtube reviews and videos on it and mostly good stuff especially for the price!! Cheap ChinaJunk, come to daddy!
 
For your first AR go with the Norinco on sale now for 529 thru Marstar. Decide if you like the platform and if you do either build off it or sell it and upgrade. This is my first AR and I have had zero issues with it. Runs like a clock and with the money I saved I bought some nice upgrades
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[/URL][/IMG]. You will not be disappointed.
 
I'm sure the Norinco would be fine, but for a bit more I went with the US-made S&W. After owning a bunch of Chinese guns it was nice to get something made in North America for not a whole lot more $$$. It shoots very well. Ask AR owners when the last time they used their FA was.
 
It really depends. Are you seeing if you like AR rifles and possible sell it later or will you be holding onto it?

The S&W is a neutered version. Sort of how Intel would make one computer chip and would disable some to sell cheaper without competing with their more expensive offerings. The 486SX or 486 SUCKS as it was known. Same with the cheap version of the S&W.

The DPMS is also fairly low on the rung. They can make a good quality AR (See new G2 308 rifles) but their cheaper stuff is designed for cost effectiveness.

The Norc. They shoot decently especially when you free float the barrel. The Norgon "Style" ambi mag release is a nice touch along with the included carry handle. The fit/finish isn't up to par and in some I've seen it's pretty horrible. Price point and the ones I've seen are reliable are it's plusses along with a hammer forged CL barrel.

Let's take a closer look at the economics. Buying cheap stuff then having to sell it generally results in a financial loss. Buying a base model and then having to change most of the stuff can end up costing you more than just buying a nicer rifle with what you want.

I would suggest upping your budget and looking at higher end. Palmetto Armory would be the cheapest decent base rifle I would look at. Stag, Armalite etc after that. Daniel Defense also. Keep an eye out for the best deal not necessarily the cheapest. A few years ago the LMT mrp and mws were the AR deal. Not the cheapest but fantastic rifles complete and ready to go. When you factored in the cost to equip a rifle like that it was clearly an exceptional deal. However that was due to a dealer getting in early with them and getting shot show pricing while our dollar was at or above par. Every year there is usually one higher end rifle that is an excellent deal. Keep your eyes open, lots of reading and go through all the sponsors inventory/deals/sales. Find something preferably as close as you can to how you would equip it.

There are a fair number of AR rifles in the EE. You might be able to get a good deal if you look hard enough and are a good negotiator.
 
Dark Alley Dan said:
Hey, folks.

I'm now 100% debt-free, and as a reward, I'm going to buy myself the AR I promised myself. I've been in P&D feeling up the alternatives, and my choices come down to the Norinco, the S&W, and the DPMS.

Folks say the Norinco is a lot of rifle for the money - very serviceable, runs well, and you can't beat the price. The S&W is $150 more, but built by a solid maker. No dust cover or FA, but I don't imagine I'd get a lot of use out of either of those two devices. The DPMS is $75 less than the S&W (after rebate) but doesn't come with any sighting apparatus at all, so I'd have to spend some cash on a set of rings and a scope.

I'm really torn here. My natural tendency to being a cheap bastard point me at the Norinco, and I've had good luck with the 1911 and the M305 I have. But the fit and finish on the S&W are very good. And the DPMS appears to be a lot of rifle for the money.

What say you lot?

Dan
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Hey there congrats on being debit free and getting an AR. I do believe P&D has an armalite for 1100, have heard good things about them, I own a S&W M&P 15i that has over 4000 rounds with no issues. I would recommend a colt le6920 since they are in Canada for now and they are at the cheapest I have ever seen colt in Canada. yes they are more more expensive but they hold their value better than most ar's and it's a close as you can get to an M4, what ever brand you get I would get 5.56 not .223 that way you can shoots both loads.
 
What's "cheap" about the "cheap" version of the S&W? Just because it lacks the forward assist and dust cover? Gimme a break .....

drifter dave said:
And this is based on what exactly? Go ahead and pay 50% more for something that performs the same. It's your money, whatever makes you feel good I guess.
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Epoxy7 said:
It really depends. Are you seeing if you like AR rifles and possible sell it later or will you be holding onto it?...
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Thanks to all for your input, particularly Epoxy7. That's a very clear explanation, and I appreciate it.

I have no idea if I'm even gonna like the damn thing yet. Never shot one. But they feel good in my hands, and they're cheap to feed and fun to fart around with (so I'm told) so perhaps the best thing to do is start cheap with a Norinco and go from there. I thought Canada Ammo's $599 deal was pretty killer, but with Marstar coming in at $525 + tax and shipping, I'm likely to save a few bucks that I can put toward an optic. The ol' eyes ain't what they used to be...

See you at the range. I'll be one of the gwailau with the Chinese AR. :)

Dan
 
Dark Alley Dan said:
Thanks to all for your input, particularly Epoxy7. That's a very clear explanation, and I appreciate it.

I have no idea if I'm even gonna like the damn thing yet. Never shot one. But they feel good in my hands, and they're cheap to feed and fun to fart around with (so I'm told) so perhaps the best thing to do is start cheap with a Norinco and go from there. I thought Canada Ammo's $599 deal was pretty killer, but with Marstar coming in at $525 + tax and shipping, I'm likely to save a few bucks that I can put toward an optic. The ol' eyes ain't what they used to be...

See you at the range. I'll be one of the gwailau with the Chinese AR. :)

Dan
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You can't be a gwailoh in Canada if you're Canadian.
gwailoh means foreigner, so in effect the gwailohs are actually the ones saying gwailoh...

anyway back to the topic...
 
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