Selecting low/mid priced AR for 3 Gun

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whatjigg

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Hello all,

I'm looking to purchase my first AR in the $1000-1600 price range with the intention of getting into 3 gun limited division and later tactical. However, I'm struggling with the plethora of options out there along with the technical differences and new innovations in ARs. Unfortunately, I don't currently have much if any opportunity to try various AR's, so the purchase will be fairly blind in terms of personal fit.

I'm looking for something with a 16-18" barrel, reliable, competition ready (or close to), and accurate enough to shoot out to 300+ yards. (although I'll probably be the biggest barrier to long range shooting) My preference is for an AR that's ready to go out of the box.

If my expectations for what I'm looking for are unrealistic given my intended price range, I'm willing to extend up to $2000.

Thank you in advance for all your suggestions and advice, I really appreciate the assistance!
 
I'm no expert on this topic but from I've learned from my short time in the "black" rifle world, I'd say that you should buy an AR for a reputable brand ex: Colt, Daniel Defense, SIG, etc. so you have a basic building block that you can then Lego into whatever you want it to be.

I'm hesitant to recommend DPMS simply because Remington owns it but they have some 3-gun ready rifles that would be smack dap in the middle of your price range (no optics) and would likely serve you well.

I myself chose a DDM4V5 simply because of all the glowing DD reviews out there. I shot at a "tactical" match the other weekend and did fairly well with my DD and an Aimpoint. Nothing fancy, price came it at a little over 2000$ for the rifle and optics.

Keep in mind that with some red dots like the Aimpoint, your dot size can be as small as 2MOA. A lot of these quality AR will likely not shoot much better than 2 MOA (= 4" group at 200yrds) so really, even a red dot would be sufficient for 3-gun targets out to 200yrds provided your eyes are good enough to see the target.

Personally I'm thinking very hard of getting some glass 1-4 or 1-7 ... Read Sigtron STAC) but I won't be selling my Aimpoint to fund it.

ARs are more fun than I thought. Even if you buy a Norc and a bunch of Magpul you'll probably enjoy the new rifle.
 
You can find a VERY good AR for $1000 these days. Save the rest of your budget for a quality optic and a few accessories to make it your own.

Shop through the vendors and you'll find a lot of options. There are great deals now on Daniel Defense, Colt and DPMS.
 
BooSSted said:
You can find a VERY good AR for $1000 these days. Save the rest of your budget for a quality optic and a few accessories to make it your own.

Shop through the vendors and you'll find a lot of options. There are great deals now on Daniel Defense, Colt and DPMS.
Click to expand...

Yep yep, plenty of deals both new and used(EE) for about a grand and for brand name rifles.

TDC
 
Wow, that's a pretty attractive price on the DDM4V7. Read a couple reviews on them and it sounds like they're pretty solid, but could use a better trigger.

I'm also wondering about rifles from BCM and Colt's Diemaco - although both are definitely blowing the budget. However, I usually like to take the buy once, cry once approach. Do you think the higher prices on these are warranted?

Haha, I too was looking at your Bushmaster earlier and have been checking out the Bushmaster 3 gun enhanced carbine with 16" barrel. However, a friend of mine suggested that they're overpriced for what you get. Not sure if his opinion holds water, but they seem like an interesting option.
 
whatjigg said:
Wow, that's a pretty attractive price on the DDM4V7. Read a couple reviews on them and it sounds like they're pretty solid, but could use a better trigger.

I'm also wondering about rifles from BCM and Colt's Diemaco - although both are definitely blowing the budget. However, I usually like to take the buy once, cry once approach. Do you think the higher prices on these are warranted?

Haha, I too was looking at your Bushmaster earlier and have been checking out the Bushmaster 3 gun enhanced carbine with 16" barrel. However, a friend of mine suggested that they're overpriced for what you get. Not sure if his opinion holds water, but they seem like an interesting option.
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Almost any off-the-shelf ARs will have that heavy mil-spec trigger and there's a good chance you'll swap it out for a Geissele, Timney, ALG or lighter trigger spring.
 
Fair point on the triggers of most ARs.

I gotta say johhny12gauge, the Stag 3G is looking very impressive for its price point. I'm thinking it's the solution I was hoping for and seems like it offers a heck of a lot of value for the price. Anyone have much experience with Stag Arms in terms of reliability and as a manufacturer? I see they offer a lifetime warranty.
 
Get a reputable brand! Learn from my mistakes. Buy colt, dd, sig, stag 3gr is great but a little pricey.
I got a colt le6920 I put a timey trigger, a noveske nsr, troy gas block, bcm charging handle, non rotating trigger pins, a magpul str stock and a spikes dynacomp. Comes to about the same price as the stag, maybe a little more, but I really wanted a Colt after my Christensen Arms disaster.
 
whatjigg said:
Wow, that's a pretty attractive price on the DDM4V7. Read a couple reviews on them and it sounds like they're pretty solid, but could use a better trigger.

I'm also wondering about rifles from BCM and Colt's Diemaco - although both are definitely blowing the budget. However, I usually like to take the buy once, cry once approach. Do you think the higher prices on these are warranted?

Haha, I too was looking at your Bushmaster earlier and have been checking out the Bushmaster 3 gun enhanced carbine with 16" barrel. However, a friend of mine suggested that they're overpriced for what you get. Not sure if his opinion holds water, but they seem like an interesting option.
Click to expand...

I was recently in your position and went with the DDM4V7 from Wolverine, great price on an AR from a respected shop that will hold it's value very well. After several exhaustive months researching many brands I realized in all my research the only complaint I've ever read or heard about regarding DD's was the looks of their new furniture, that's it and I'm talking dozens and dozens of hours spent reading and researching AR's on many forums. At $1,200+tax you will still have some cash for optics and accessories minding your $2,000 budget that is a little over your original price point, but that's the good of AR's.
I wouldn't bother with the Diemaco's unless your heart is set on a Canadian made C7/C8 style rifle as there is much better value to be had with the DDM4V7 or any DD for that matter, the Canadian Colt's are an excellent rifle although overpriced IMO.
I never preferred the Bushmaster brand so I can't speak to that model, however I have a strong feeling their re-sale value would be weaker then a DD or Colt rifle. Which brings me to my other suggestion the Colt's available through IRG's, these are another great value right now in AR's and depending on your preference could do very well for what you want.

As others have stated you really can't go wrong with most of these choices being offered up, as it will be a personal decision it could be greatly aided if you were able to hold a few different models and compare what you like or don't like. You know the choice I made, best of luck with yours.
 
If you go 3 gun, there are out of the box comp guns out there for this specific format, such as stag arms 3G and STI. Theses comp guns usually come with SS Barrels that are no heavier than medium contoured barrels, comp style free floating handguards, some form of compensators and sometimes match triggers. They usually use rifle gas system or mid length at the very least.

If you care to be competitive, you probably won't want to buy a colt carbine or dd carbine that runs on carbine gas system. You will want to pick a gun with a longer gas system with much softer recoil.
 
Scotlas said:
+1 for the Colt Competition. I picked up a CRX-16 at a medium price point. Tis a fantastic rifle.
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There was a heck of a Colt Competition at Crimson Trace last week! Gorgeous trigger and no movement whatsoever.

5TrymVO.jpg
 
whatjigg said:
Fair point on the triggers of most ARs.

I gotta say johhny12gauge, the Stag 3G is looking very impressive for its price point. I'm thinking it's the solution I was hoping for and seems like it offers a heck of a lot of value for the price. Anyone have much experience with Stag Arms in terms of reliability and as a manufacturer? I see they offer a lifetime warranty.
Click to expand...

I bought a Stag 8T from Arms East in May, love it to death. diamondhead v-rs handguard and sights, piston impingment, rock solid and more accurate than I am.
 
For out-of-the-box 3gun: Colt Competition Pro, Stag 3G, Colt Competition Expert. All are 18" with full length gas. The Pro & the 3G have Giselle triggers, the Expert has a Colt competition trigger (unsure of mfg)
 
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