buying an AR, what's important?

Kampfhamster said:
Recently I applied for a weapons purchase permit. Since it's the same paperwork for one firearm or for two or three, I might as well get more then the originally planned rifle.

So now I'm considering getting an AR15, after years of avoiding it, just to learn more about the AR15.

I don't know too much about this type of rifle, since so far I was more of an AK and Swissarms-guy.

The brands available in Canada are not available over here so I need advice about what details I have to check out before buying a rifle.

Most likely I'll get a Sabre Defence M4gery, is this brand even available in Canada?

Thank's in advance.
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:rey2
 
Thanks for your help so far.

Epoxy7 said:
First off what are your goals for this rifle?

The AR can be anything you want. Want a precision shooter 1/2 moa 100 yards. No problem. Want a police carbine, short carbine, M4 copy etc. All good. Or a mix of the two. Decide what's important to you. There are tradeoffs.

You were saying a 16" barrel. Ok, now you need to figure out what is important to you and what is available. First do you want the M4 profile barrel? Do you want the regular front sight with plastic handguards, or do you want to go free floated rails (I would recommend free floated). Then there is the case of the Monolithic uppers. All one piece and free floated. LMT offers this with their MRP line.

Now one other thing to be careful of. Look what the rifle comes with. Sometimes it's cheaper to buy the more expensive rifle if it comes with the pieces you already want, than the cheaper one and having to add on later.

Stock choices. Magpul, CTR for patrol carbine, PRS or UBR for more DM rifles. Also the SOPMOD stock by LMT while expensive on it's own works very well. Others have found Magpul comparable. The FAB defence stock I have on a patrol carbine is decent too.

Pistol grips: Magpul MIAD, or MOE. Now that being said the Ergo grip that came with my LMT won't be replaced. I actually really like it, although my others all have Magpul.

Triggers. The triggers on AR rifles vary. Some are great out of the box others are complete garbage. Again another thing to consider in the overall price.

Sabre is supposed to be good. LMT MRP if you want to go up a level is also excellent if available in your area. The new Armalite rifles are decent but not considered tier 1. Stag is good, especially if bought like ours here at Colt specs. Lots of choices out there.
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Brands like Colt, Stagarms, Armalite and the like are very hard to get over here.

It's mostly european brands that are available, like Schmeisser, Sabre, Astra or then Norinco of course.

What I want is something M4like that I can take on courses. I don't need any ubertactical stuff like rails, forwardgrips, special pistolgrips, improved trigger, improved stock. At most I'll put a reddot on.
Just a plain, clean, reliable carbine.
 
chemo said:
for me, what is really important is how cool it will make me look.

When fully dressed, wearing a tactical vest with all pouches full, holding my gun, and looking at myself in the mirror, I have to be thinking: watch out guys, we got a badass over here.
If I am not, I must return the gun
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Don't you find the 858 just looks more badass in the mirror than an AR? Also, if you lack a sidearm you can just use a knife or a sword, doesn't look out of place.
 
RPinVan,

Maybe you should do a bit of research before you wag your little finger at the OP for referring to a SWISS "Weapons Purchase Permit".

For example: http://www.guncite.com/swiss_gun_law.html

Regards.

Mark
 
MWL said:
RPinVan,

Maybe you should do a bit of research before you wag your little finger at the OP for referring to a SWISS "Weapons Purchase Permit".

For example: http://www.guncite.com/swiss_gun_law.html

Regards.

Mark
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Agreed.

The Canadian recreational firearms community, related bureaucracies and some other entities proscribe the use of term "weapon" and the term "firearm" or similar is used instead.

But this does not justify wagging a finger at someone in a different context.

As a full time civilian the first time I heard a range officer firmly counsel a fellow shooter to "KEEP THAT WEAPON UP" I was a bit taken aback, but then I looked around and realized that (a) were were on a CF range, (b) the RO and many other participants were ex-CF, and (c) weapon is the term that is used in that context.

To twist a phrase, "when in Switzerland, do as the Swiss do".
 
Thanks for the advice. Made a visit to the gunshop on friday, checked out a Norinco M4 and a Sabre Defense XR15. Decided to go for the Sabre, even though it's almost twice as expensive as the Norinco.

Pictures will follow once the police has finished their vacation over the holidays and finds time to issue me my permit.
 
And here it is.

xr151pydk.jpg


Sabre Defence XR15, 16,75" bbl.

Still waiting for the mags to arrive.

And because the cost for the paperwork is the same if I get one or two, or three guns at the same time, this also came along.

duo0hy6m.jpg

Norinco Type 56.
 
Dang, that norinco would be cool to own. Do enjoy, and if you ever come across one of ATRS's ar's in Ch, take a close look at it. Very underrated rifle's.
 
Nice sticks, East VS West.
Is the Sabre a middy?

Kampfhamster said:
And here it is.

xr151pydk.jpg


Sabre Defence XR15, 16,75" bbl.

Still waiting for the mags to arrive.

And because the cost for the paperwork is the same if I get one or two, or three guns at the same time, this also came along.

duo0hy6m.jpg

Norinco Type 56.
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Nice Sabre. New old Stock, or is Sabre still an entity in Europe? I'm sure you know their North American outfit is now bankrupt and shut down for ITAR violations.
 
Yeah yeah, I know. My buddy keeps reminding me of all the kids who had to die because of it.

@Claven: old stock, but made in the UK. They're going fast, not many left.
 
You've already got the right sling on it - you're 3/4 of the way there, now it's just the dot - which opens another world of options, Aimpoint or EoTech, if Aimpoint which one, in which mount, if an Eo, large or small base, N or AA cell, single or two dot reticle? Does this crap ever end?? - Have fun!
 
Already have an optic, which is not currently in use.

Either the ACOG TA31F or the Aimpoint, I'm not a big fan of EoTech's, have too many friends who had troubles with them.

The Aimpoint ML3 has been my companion on many EX and course for the past 8 years and never failed me.

/edit: sling is from BFG, will get replaced by a Kastinger as soon as possible.
 
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chemo said:
for me, what is really important is how cool it will make me look.

When fully dressed, wearing a tactical vest with all pouches full, holding my gun, and looking at myself in the mirror, I have to be thinking: watch out guys, we got a badass over here.
If I am not, I must return the gun
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:agree: Cosmetics are not to be underestimated. :D:D
 
http://www.schmeisser-germany.de/en/products_civil.html"]http://www.schmeisser-germany.de/en/products_civil.html

Nice setup Kampfhamster, you should get some KAC on that rifle for sure, and a Magpul CTR stock would be choice!
 
Thinking about options already, but for now I'll leave it as it is.

One thing I already dislike is the weird pistol grip, that's one thing that has to go soon. Probably something from Magpul will take its place.

Not interested in a rail-handguard, too expensive anyway.
 
You're on the right track, why spend money on stuff if you're happy with what you have.

Regarding the pistol grip, some guys have taken a dremel and some sandpaper to the bump on the standard grip.

In the US, SDI rifles mostly came with the Falcon Ergogrip, which is what I run on all mine, including the first 3 ARs I got in the UK, which were all UK marked SDIs that I bought direct from Guy, along with a couple of BR Tuote suppressors.

Try as many different grips as you can, but they aren't that expensive, so buying a couple and trying them out yourself, is not like buying free float handguards.

Regards.

Mark
 
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