Ok so been reading all kinds of posts on here for the last few weeks and I am no farther ahead then I was before. I would potentially like to try my hand at 3 Gun comps at some point. My budget is 1.5k -2k for the AR (without glass) and can't decide what to do. I have looked at colts, DD, Stag, Diamondback, Sig, FNH but can't seem to be able to pull the trigger on one. I have read a lot from people saying just to buy a budget rifle and lots of ammo instead. Is this the way to go or just buy once cry once? Should I save up longer and spend 2-3k? I know this topic has been beaten to death but I can't seem to make headway.
Potential 3 Guner AR15
- Thread starter shifty1000
- Start date
I can personally vouch for DD and FNH, both make excellent ARs. I've owned 2 DDs and still own an FNH and they were all exceptional rifles. I personally prefer owning fewer nicer things than many cheaper ones but that is only my opinion. I would buy the best rifle you can afford to avoid having to spend more money on upgrading down the road. I started out by buying a Norinco and I wish I hadn't.
Runningfool
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- SW Ontario
Getting into the AR game can be overwhelming as you've noticed! Even this thread will not likely provide any clarity since you will have the, "buy once cry once" crowd proclaiming theirs is the best way and you will have the, "buy a norc, they ain't pretty but they work, spend the extra $ on ammo and training" crowd saying they know what's best!
I've said this before but I think it's worth repeating here. Look at your first AR as a rental. Buy whatever you want, spend some time shooting and getting to know it, decide what you like and don't like about it. Worst case scenario you discover it's not what you really want so you dump it on the EE for a couple hundred $ loss. Hence you "rented" your first AR for a couple hundred bucks and in the process learned a lot about what you like and what you don't like about ARs. Best case scenario you realize you like what you've got, modify it a bit, and decide that you need another
. Regardless, don't put too much pressure on yourself to pick the perfect AR for yourself right out of the gate.
I've said this before but I think it's worth repeating here. Look at your first AR as a rental. Buy whatever you want, spend some time shooting and getting to know it, decide what you like and don't like about it. Worst case scenario you discover it's not what you really want so you dump it on the EE for a couple hundred $ loss. Hence you "rented" your first AR for a couple hundred bucks and in the process learned a lot about what you like and what you don't like about ARs. Best case scenario you realize you like what you've got, modify it a bit, and decide that you need another
. Regardless, don't put too much pressure on yourself to pick the perfect AR for yourself right out of the gate.This would be my recommendation.
Right now, there are a lot of good AR's out there for ~ $700, (both Norinco and American guns) and I doubt you'd be disappointed in any of them.
3-gun isn't about drilling sub MOA groups at 100 yards. It's about hitting an 8" plate and IPSC tombstones at that distance or less, (usually less - most of your targets will be under 25 yards) repeatedly, and fast. Any AR on the market can handle that. What you need a rifle that's bombproof reliable more than anything.
Then buy a couple thousand rounds of ammo, a 10 pack of AR pistol mags (do NOT cripple yourself with standard 5 round mags - it's painful for everyone else at the match to watch you swapping every 5 rounds), and set the rest of the money aside for "tinkering." And start shooting as much as you can.
Then the "tinkering" budget will naturally start to spend itself. The more you shoot, the more you'll start to figure out what kind of mods are important to you. AR's are LEGO guns (or "Barbie for boys" as some call them). You're going to start to want to mod it to how you like. You'll want a butt-stock that "fits" you, same for the forend. VFG or AFG or neither? A new trigger pack. A choice between RDS and variable mag optics, each with QD mounts. etc. etc.
By the time you have the gun set up the way you want, you'll have almost enough spare parts to build another gun. So you will. And the virtuous cycle will continue.
A $1200-$1500 AR is mostly a $700 AR with a bunch of fancy furniture and a trigger pack. But it will be someone else's idea of the perfect build. There's a pretty good chance you'll end up swapping out stuff anyway.
I'd say get a good, basic, Colt or Windham, or even Norinco, start shooting, and start playing with it. The one key thing I'd say is make sure it has a milspec buffer tube, for no other reason than it'll be easier to find aftermarket buttstocks for it, and a better selection.
As stated above. There is no perfect AR, at least not that I've found. Once you buy one and shoot it a little you will find the things you like about it, and maybe a few things you dont, or at least things you would like to change. So you change them. That's the great thing about AR's. There is no, "one size only/one size fits all". Don't put to much pressure on youself to find the "perfect" AR, because it won't be perfect until you buy it, shoot it, maybe change a couple components and make it your baby. Just get a good quality AR, and there are lots of them out there. Buy a Norc if you want. I did, and never regretted it - it got me started. By the time I was on my third AR, I knew what I wanted, and built it myself from parts. Or buy a DD or other top of the line if you like. The biggest thing is BUY ONE! You are never going to find out what you like/don't like by reading reviews done by other people on the internet.
First off, the rifle doesn't matter as much as the shotgun in 3 gun so...
Any reliable AR is perfect for someone who has never shot a three gun competition before.
A lot of people get hung up on how well they do their first time. You're probably not going to win your first event. In fact, you are probably going to suck. Pretty much everyone does the first season but they do get better because they learn as they go. Unless you're a pro crossover shooter from another discipline but then you probably would have a high end competition gun.
I have a decent 3 gun AR that started out as a used Spikes Tactical SBR that I bought here on the EE.
Over time I improved the trigger, got better optics and replaced the upper receiver with a medcon 18 inch match barrel/BCG and a VLTOR UR.
If 3 gun was my life and I was battling it out in the top three all the time I would drop the money on a Lancer or similar but I'm not so...
The only real requirement for a beginner rifle is that it is reliable.
Any reliable AR is perfect for someone who has never shot a three gun competition before.
A lot of people get hung up on how well they do their first time. You're probably not going to win your first event. In fact, you are probably going to suck. Pretty much everyone does the first season but they do get better because they learn as they go. Unless you're a pro crossover shooter from another discipline but then you probably would have a high end competition gun.
I have a decent 3 gun AR that started out as a used Spikes Tactical SBR that I bought here on the EE.
Over time I improved the trigger, got better optics and replaced the upper receiver with a medcon 18 inch match barrel/BCG and a VLTOR UR.
If 3 gun was my life and I was battling it out in the top three all the time I would drop the money on a Lancer or similar but I'm not so...
The only real requirement for a beginner rifle is that it is reliable.
I have been running a Stag 3G comp Rifle for years.
Fantastic rifle for the price.
As what everyone says.... reliability is number 1 in 3gun. Number two for me would be the recoil impulse. YES, it matters and makes a difference when you want fast splits. (With that being said though, beginners typically are not worried about their splits, so this could be moot for you) Rifle length gas systems typically produce a very soft flat recoiling rifle.
Fantastic rifle for the price.
As what everyone says.... reliability is number 1 in 3gun. Number two for me would be the recoil impulse. YES, it matters and makes a difference when you want fast splits. (With that being said though, beginners typically are not worried about their splits, so this could be moot for you) Rifle length gas systems typically produce a very soft flat recoiling rifle.
- Location
- Richmond, BC
You won't know which AR will be perfect for you as a 3 gun rifle (or for any other use for that mattrr) until you shoot a bit and find out what you need and like in a rifle.
If you have deep pockets, spend more.
If not, go be poor somewhere else....kidding, go buy something on EE for $500 and spend the rest on ammo.
If you have deep pockets, spend more.
If not, go be poor somewhere else....kidding, go buy something on EE for $500 and spend the rest on ammo.
Yup, can't really go wrong on a starter AR when you're just getting into the sport.
I always suggest getting something inexpensive to start if you haven't handled a lot of AR's, then you can upgrade as you go and later, when ready buy an AR the exact way you want.
Just remember it might be your first AR but it won't be your last!
I always suggest getting something inexpensive to start if you haven't handled a lot of AR's, then you can upgrade as you go and later, when ready buy an AR the exact way you want.
Just remember it might be your first AR but it won't be your last!
