God Help Me, Considering My First AR15. Educate Me Please.

Travis Bickle

Travis Bickle

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I'm considering my first AR-15

I know my way around an M16/C7 very well.

I know nothing about the civilian AR15 and all its variants as it seldom apealed to me because of the restricted status.

I'm basically looking for an under $1000 AR15.

I don't want rails or scopes or tactical anything really.

I'm looking for a bare bones, old school iron sight, carry handle, solid stock AR15 variant. Maybe even track down some triangular hand guards and a prong suppressor for that real old school 'Nam look :rockOn:

I don't care about the composition of the lower and how durable they would be under combat vice other variants (as if it would ever see any true adverse conditions anyway lol :rolleyes:) etc etc. I'm just going to target shoot with it at a gun range (obviously) with iron sights.

Some friends have mentioned Bushmaster for what I'm looking for.

Again I don't know much. I'm trying to keep it relatively cheap here.

Educate me please. Where should I start with my above parameters?
 
http://www.armseast.com/store/right_hand_rifles/stag_arms_model_4_20_special_edition._1/7_govt/

Sub $1000 price point you are looking at used or getting great deals on parts over time and assembling yourself.

My link above to Arms East's 20" Stag is what I would buy with your criteria.
Bought my first AR from them and my Stag has been super reliable as a range toy and in competition both here and in the US (where courses of fire seem to be a little more demanding).

my $.02
 
Congrats on deciding to come to the AR15 side of things they are awesome.

At sub $1000 your choices for new AR15 rifles:

1. Norinco (new but chinese would not recommend) usually $600-800
2. DPMS check it out on wolverine supplies going for $875 (not a bad choice) http://www.wolverinesupplies.com/products/firearms/rifles.aspx?brand=DPMS

Or just above $1000:

1. ArmaLite M15A4 SPR .223 Wylde 20" $1,199.00 from shooting edge or wolverine (out of stock at both though)
2. Core 15 DI $1099 from wantstalls or wolverine
3. Bushmaster XM15 $1,149.95 from shooting edge

Used Options: Would recommend the Equipment Exchange personally bought my first AR recently for $1050 which included a bunch of accessories which would have probably cost me 1500-1600 if I tried buying everything new.

Its going to be hard to find something at the price point you are looking for that will fit exactly what you want but the great thing about AR's is they are basically lego for adults you can mix and match as many peices as you want. So if you take one of the cheaper collasable stock versions and you can always change out the buffer tube and bring it back to the A1 style along with changing up the foregrip for the vietnam look. Also if they are flatop you can always find a carry handle to put on them. Good luck in your hunt with whats going down in the states will get harder and harder to find quality AR's up here so would grab one while there are still available.
 
$1000 would be a great deal for an SP1. $1500 with some mags would be a typical asking price, but they never seem to sell for that much. You could probably get a better price searching for an AR15A2, there seems to be more of them floating around.

Neil
Travis Bickle said:
Thanks for all the advice guys.

Very much appreciated.

What could I expect to pay/what would be a reasonable price for a used Colt SP1?

Just so I have a frame of reference if I start looking for one?
Click to expand...
 
cancer said:
$1000 would be a great deal for an SP1. $1500 with some mags would be a typical asking price, but they never seem to sell for that much. You could probably get a better price searching for an AR15A2, there seems to be more of them floating around.

Neil
Click to expand...

Thanks very much!
It may be time to start whoring for funds lol

Hopefully I don't have to sell a gun to get a gun this time :(
 
The other option is to build your own. You can likely find all the old school parts fairly inexpensively, only catch is that I haven't seen many A1 style uppers for sale. A flat top with detachable carry handle would likely replicate the look and feel in many ways. Freedom ventures has a good deal on a lower/upper combo I believe, although its a more modern style with no forward assist and some different lines. NEA makes inexpensive lowers that you could look at. It really is lego for adults.
 
A norinco cq 311 meets your old school criteria, the can be had used on the EE Just change out the grip and the handguards and you will be good to go.
 
Traveler said:
Congrats on deciding to come to the AR15 side of things they are awesome.

At sub $1000 your choices for new AR15 rifles:

1. Norinco (new but chinese would not recommend) usually $600-800
.
Click to expand...

So why would you not recommend a norinco ,I can see its not from personal experience as you stated you just bought your 1st AR off the EE . Just wondering how you came up with your conclusion why norincos would not be a good choice?
 
get a norinco, you sounds like you want a classic style m4gery with irons sights, which is what I bought my norinco for,

price is obviously right, and it comes with irons in handle form,

mine has had 0 problems hitting the a zone out to 300m when I do my part, more then 3k rounds through mine and 2 years into it and I have had 0 issues with it.
 
[FLAME SUIT] NEA's are also under $1000. [/FLAME SUIT]

Now we wait for the usual flurry of the usual 3 or 4 haters to come in and ruin this thread...
 
I was considering a Norc M4 but I like the full barrel version and I have a thing for the old bare bones look of the slab receiver.

I have fired a Norc M4 at the local gun range. They shot in every way as good as a military Colt. Just rough on the finish and fit is all.

I am a very cheap guy lol but I figure if I would pay about $700 before tax for a Norc I can throw in another $400 for a true Colt SP1.

I have had an offer already on one for a very fair price. Now I'm just debating my options.

I find that from browsing threads under the Black Rifles section the preference on AR15's even among aficionados of the platform is similar to ones choice of cigarette brand; they all taste the same basically, do the same thing, cost varies and most people associate with a manufactures image or brand more than actual differences in attributes.

Just my 2 cents though ;)

I do appreciate all the info guys, very great help thus far.
 
Claven2 said:
[FLAME SUIT] NEA's are also under $1000. [/FLAME SUIT]

Now we wait for the usual flurry of the usual 3 or 4 haters to come in and ruin this thread...
Click to expand...

In all fairness though, the OP wants an old school rifle with a carry handle. And old school AR's had forged recievers that look different than machined recievers.
 
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