New to ARs - Need Advice

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Pugflop

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Hey guys,

With the dollar going straight into the crapper, I'm looking at getting an AR-15 ASAP. I've been researching brands, setups, everything, and my head is spinning at this point. I'm hoping I can get some advice so I can nail things down and make a purchase. Here are some questions:

1 - I plan on getting a red dot. I notice that most ARs today still have the permanent front sight (FSB I think it's called?). Wouldn't this mess with aiming with the red dot? I know you can use risers to get a complete or 1/3 co-witness, but wouldn't the sight picture be so busy it would be tough to focus on and find the target? Are models with the permanent front sight considered obsolete today with the popularity of red dots? Is it better to go with a straight flat top?

2 - I've heard the models / uppers with the permanent front sight are much more durable than flat top models with railed gas blocks. I guess the FSBs are pinned or welded on, while the railed gas blocks are just clamped on. Any truth to this? I've heard the railed gas blocks can get bumped and be loosened enough to cause gas to escape and interfere with the rifle properly cycling.

3 - I'm not a competitive shooter - I just like to plink down at the range with my friends. I'm looking to spend a max of $1500 but would consider spending a bit more if it makes a huge difference in quality. I've been looking at Colts, BCM, Stag Arms, WW, Sig, and DD.


Any advice would be much appreciated - as I said, my head is spinning considering all this stuff. Or maybe I'll just bite the bullet and get a Tavor instead, and enjoy all the non-restricted benefits :d. Thanks!
 
The shape of your head and personal ergonomic preference will determine whether you'll want Full or 1/3rd Co-witntess.
Some people prefer it higher with 1/3rd, I personally like full co- witness.

Some Red Dot will be set up for either or. Eotech is typically full. Aimpoint Pro is 1/3rd if I recall correctly.

Yeah, With full co witness, that FSB will be right in your line of sight, but I think you get used to it and see right thru it.
I prefer a flip down so it's out of the way.
If you have the option to get a rifle with a flip down, or no front sight, and think a front site will bother you, then go for it.

Since you're only plinking, you don't really need the backup. It's nice to have both to practice the 2 diff disciplines.

Yes, the normal FSB is typically pinned onto the barrel and it can take an act of god to move it.
In fact, if you are ever working on your rifle and want to remove it for whatever reason, it could take a sledge hammer to dislodge those pins.

The only clamp on that ever moved on my, was the block of my CMMG piston system. I've never had a clamp on DI block move from normal use.
Even with the CMMG, once I got the correct torque specs for the bolts, it hasn't budged since.

That being said, as a plinker, it'll make no difference as long as the block is installed properly.

Colt is quality, but part of the cost is for the name IMO. I've never heard anyone talk poorly of BCM or DD.
My buddie has a Stag, it didn't like having a BAD lever installed. Caused it to malfunction, but other than that, it ran fine.
Any of those names you mentioned should serve you well.

My only advice is avoid a 16" barrel that has a carbine length gas system. They're fundamentally flawed in my opinion.
It's one reason DD scores points in my book, they typically use a Mid Gas System in their 16".
That's just my 2 cents.
 
1) With a red dot, you look at the target, not the dot, when the red dot is superimposed on the target, you take the shot. This means that the conventional "sight picture" is not used.

2) FSB's are correctly taper pinned to the barrel, they are very sold, railed gas blocks tend to be held on with set screws which aren't as solid and which can loosen since the screws are held in place with loc tite, which is affected by heat.

3) Staying within your budget, there are 2 very good choices - the Stag 0R and the BCM Mod 0. If you want a full rail gun, Walter at Arms East can take a 0R and put an rail on it for you and still be inside of your budget. The BCM is an excellent value, you simply won't find much better anywhere and none at that price. Canadian Stags all come through Arms East and have a lifetime warranty in Canada to the original owner.
 
Conte said:
The shape of your head and personal ergonomic preference will determine whether you'll want Full or 1/3rd Co-witntess.
Some people prefer it higher with 1/3rd, I personally like full co- witness.

Some Red Dot will be set up for either or. Eotech is typically full. Aimpoint Pro is 1/3rd if I recall correctly.

Yeah, With full co witness, that FSB will be right in your line of sight, but I think you get used to it and see right thru it.
I prefer a flip down so it's out of the way.
If you have the option to get a rifle with a flip down, or no front sight, and think a front site will bother you, then go for it.

Since you're only plinking, you don't really need the backup. It's nice to have both to practice the 2 diff disciplines.

Yes, the normal FSB is typically pinned onto the barrel and it can take an act of god to move it.
In fact, if you are ever working on your rifle and want to remove it for whatever reason, it could take a sledge hammer to dislodge those pins.

The only clamp on that ever moved on my, was the block of my CMMG piston system. I've never had a clamp on DI block move from normal use.
Even with the CMMG, once I got the correct torque specs for the bolts, it hasn't budged since.

That being said, as a plinker, it'll make no difference as long as the block is installed properly.

Colt is quality, but part of the cost is for the name IMO. I've never heard anyone talk poorly of BCM or DD.
My buddie has a Stag, it didn't like having a BAD lever installed. Caused it to malfunction, but other than that, it ran fine.
Any of those names you mentioned should serve you well.

My only advice is avoid a 16" barrel that has a carbine length gas system. They're fundamentally flawed in my opinion.
It's one reason DD scores points in my book, they typically use a Mid Gas System in their 16".
That's just my 2 cents.
Click to expand...

colt has been making those "flawed" ARs for a long long long time then...
 
OP my advice is to check out the EE. You'll find many quality models that have been lightly used. Some good patience will set you up under retail prices of last year and prior. DD for under 1409 routinely fr example, which are now priced upwards of 2K

Don't stress on stuff falling off. A good brand will sort you out in the unlikely event something fails on your one way range.
 
Yup wanstalls fixes in house and the warrenty is for ever not just to the first owner. Wanstalls sure loves them i havent had mine long enough to say either way.
 
Conte said:
Sure, but they are designed to be 14". They only went to 16" to accommodate the US version of Non-Restricted.
Hence "fundamentally flawed in my opinion".

Ah, you probably know this already.
Click to expand...

Funny, Colt Canada says the optimal length that they have found with extensive testing is 15.7 inches. Those are running carbine length gas systems and a 1:7 twist.
 
1. There are a lot of people myself included who like to Co witness a front sight with a red dot. You will either like it or you won't.

No way to know until you have tried both ways.

2. Theoretically a fixed Fsb is stronger but on a well built rifle I would be surprised if you have any trouble either way. I have both and certainly haven't.

3. As always I will recommend DD as as good as a rifle as you can get for the price in canada. Excellent rifles that don't get jacked up in price coming across the border and have a lifetime warranty. As a plus Wolverine will be the ones looking after any problems and their are as good as it gets to deal with.

Good luck and have fun picking your first ar. It won't be your last.
 
swbw2000 said:
1. There are a lot of people myself included who like to Co witness a front sight with a red dot. You will either like it or you won't.

No way to know until you have tried both ways.

2. Theoretically a fixed Fsb is stronger but on a well built rifle I would be surprised if you have any trouble either way. I have both and certainly haven't.

3. As always I will recommend DD as as good as a rifle as you can get for the price in canada. Excellent rifles that don't get jacked up in price coming across the border and have a lifetime warranty. As a plus Wolverine will be the ones looking after any problems and their are as good as it gets to deal with.

Good luck and have fun picking your first ar. It won't be your last.
Click to expand...

Agreed! I own two DD rifles and they are top notch, just like the service at Wolverine!
 
I had a CORE from Wanstalls before my current AR. Solid AR with good fit and finish.

I sold it because it had the FSB and I found it interfered with the use of my RDS for CQB. That was more my issue than the rifle; a training scar if you will due to years of using a C7 (pre-Elcan) and AR15 at work. I just couldn't ignore the front sight post and it was messing me up. Flat top solved that issue!

I run my competition gun HARD and haven't had any issue with my gas block coming loose. That said, it's not one of the railed ones and is covered by my floating hand guard. I don't think it's an issue you need to worry about. Probably happened on Frankenbuilds put together by guys who don't know what they're doing...
 
Phat Eagle said:
I had a CORE from Wanstalls before my current AR. Solid AR with good fit and finish.

I sold it because it had the FSB and I found it interfered with the use of my RDS for CQB. That was more my issue than the rifle; a training scar if you will due to years of using a C7 (pre-Elcan) and AR15 at work. I just couldn't ignore the front sight post and it was messing me up. Flat top solved that issue!

I run my competition gun HARD and haven't had any issue with my gas block coming loose. That said, it's not one of the railed ones and is covered by my floating hand guard. I don't think it's an issue you need to worry about. Probably happened on Frankenbuilds put together by guys who don't know what they're doing...
Click to expand...

What do you mean by "training scar"? Sorry, I'm new to ARs.
 
A training scar is a behaviour ingrained through significant training; usually something not desirable.

For instance, when I was trained on our old Model 10 revolvers we weren't allowed to catch the brass. We had to let it hit the ground and reload. Supposedly officers had been found shot with a handful of empty cases in their hands as they caught the brass during the gunfight just as they had done 1000s of times at the range.

I was talking about the presence of the front sight on the AR15. As stated, I trained on a C7 back in my Army days, and then an AR at work. Both these were with iron sights. Years later I've got into competitive shooting, and I'm using a red dot. When I had my CORE it had a conventional front sight. When I looked through my red dot I couldn't help but try to use my front sight to aim, even though my red dot was faster. I finally sold the CORE and replaced it with a flat top. Started winning competitions as soon as the front sight disappeared. Nothing at all wrong with the rifle, just me!!!
 
Any of the brands mentioned above will serve you well, just decide which one comes in the closest configuration and with the furniture you like the best. I personally would avoid one with a FSB as co-witness is silly and just clutters the sight picture. The "what if your optic goes down" argument means nothing to me as I'm not relying on my rifle in battle and if my battery goes dead I'll just walk over to my range bag for a fresh battery. Buy quality optics and failure isn't really a concern.
I would go with a free floated forend and a flip up front sight if it's an option. If not don't worry since you can swap it out later just like everything else on the rifle. The AR is easy to work on and the parts options are virtually unlimited.
Be warned though, the AR is an addictive rifle and they have been known to breed, I was up to 6 of them not long ago but have now settled in at 4 but I have another upper chambered in 6.SPC II about 75% complete (just need to decide on a forend for it). Once it's finished I'll have a 9mm, a 223, a 300BLK, a 6.8SPC and my AR-10 (308). It starts with one complete rifle then you'll find another upper you want then another then another lower and so on.
 
cr5 said:
Any of the brands mentioned above will serve you well, just decide which one comes in the closest configuration and with the furniture you like the best. I personally would avoid one with a FSB as co-witness is silly and just clutters the sight picture. The "what if your optic goes down" argument means nothing to me as I'm not relying on my rifle in battle and if my battery goes dead I'll just walk over to my range bag for a fresh battery. Buy quality optics and failure isn't really a concern.
I would go with a free floated forend and a flip up front sight if it's an option. If not don't worry since you can swap it out later just like everything else on the rifle. The AR is easy to work on and the parts options are virtually unlimited.
Be warned though, the AR is an addictive rifle and they have been known to breed, I was up to 6 of them not long ago but have now settled in at 4 but I have another upper chambered in 6.SPC II about 75% complete (just need to decide on a forend for it). Once it's finished I'll have a 9mm, a 223, a 300BLK, a 6.8SPC and my AR-10 (308). It starts with one complete rifle then you'll find another upper you want then another then another lower and so on.
Click to expand...

Yup. My thoughts exactly.
 
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