So I got $2000 in spare cash, and I want to get a black rifle...

If you do not need for the rifle to be non restricted then an AR-15 would be my first choice.
The AR-15 is just like Lego for grown ups.
It's not the preferred platform in the USA for nothing.
I have handled the ACR and I've found it to be front heavy compared to my 18" Stag 3G.
I've also tried my friend Tavor and it's not for me.
I'm not a big guy and I can't get comfortable with it.
My friend is 6'3" and it works well for him.
It's very accurate being shot off hand.

I know a couple of Modern Hunter owners who have spent between $4000 and nearly $6000 and I wasn't impressed by the accuracy.

If you're a left handed shooter buy a Stag with a left handed upper and then add an ambi mag release, safety, and charging handle. You will still be below your $2000 budget
 
i have a tavor, an acr, a couple of sks, a couple of cz858s
and 4 ars for restricted all colts

honestly the most fun i have on the range is with my ARs, in the wild its with my tavor.

So the better question is where do you do 95% of your shooting, youll have your answer then
 
onetwentyish said:
-$500 minimum for a decent optic ($1000 for a quality one)

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Idk about needing to blow $500 minimum on optics... Theres ALOT of real nice rifle scopes one can have for $200-300. And quite a few decent red dots for under $500.

Ive probably said it before... but I love your ACR man!
 
warrenlikesboats said:
Idk about needing to blow $500 minimum on optics... Theres ALOT of real nice rifle scopes one can have for $200-300. And quite a few decent red dots for under $500.

Ive probably said it before... but I love your ACR man!
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To me, you have decent red dots starting around $500 new for eotechs, more for aim points.

Then for scopes, meh, I am not big on scopes so I can't really say but from what I see when I am in RDSC decent glass ain't cheap either. The correct philosophy is to budget as much for optics as your rifle cost. I tried but my rifle still exceeded my elcan by a margin.:runaway:
 
I love ARs, but I totally get the appeal of NR's. The Tavor is a great option, especially with the bull pup configuration making it very handy at the barrel length compared to traditional layouts.
The ACR is interesting too.
I would add the FAMAE 542 and 540 (.308 and 5.56) to that list.

The Swiss Arms are nice, but way way overpriced in my view.
 
Benito said:
I love ARs, but I totally get the appeal of NR's. The Tavor is a great option, especially with the bull pup configuration making it very handy at the barrel length compared to traditional layouts.
The ACR is interesting too.
I would add the FAMAE 542 and 540 (.308 and 5.56) to that list.

The Swiss Arms are nice, but way way overpriced in my view.
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The thing I dont care for about the Swiss or Famae is the poor optic and accessory mounting solutions as well as the proprietary mags that are so expensive.
 
I'm surprised no one asked the following questions yet, (1) how much do you expect to shoot it and (2) in what sports?

Do you have budget for ammo beyond the 2k? I just dumped another grand on ammo again.
Do you have seperate budget for gear? The sport will imply how much gear and trinkets you need and suitability of the firearm.
 
norlandgeese said:
I'm surprised no one asked the following questions yet, (1) how much do you expect to shoot it and (2) in what sports?

Do you have budget for ammo beyond the 2k? I just dumped another grand on ammo again.
Do you have seperate budget for gear? The sport will imply how much gear and trinkets you need and suitability of the firearm.
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I go to the range maybe every month. $1500 (which I may go over if I decide on the Sig M400 Enhanced) for the rifle and maybe $700 - $1000 for the gear. This is a fun gun, not looking for competition worthy gun, just needs to be reliable and free of hiccups.
 
onetwentyish said:
Here is an example of my Tavor and ACR. Both are lefty friendly.
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+1 on lefty Tavor, I have one, I love it. Could be better in terms of accuracy but it's not a precision rifle...

Were can you can a NR ACR? I have to look into that, I love the look, and lefty friendly is a big selling point with me!
 
War Song said:
I go to the range maybe every month. $1500 (which I may go over if I decide on the Sig M400 Enhanced) for the rifle and maybe $700 - $1000 for the gear. This is a fun gun, not looking for competition worthy gun, just needs to be reliable and free of hiccups.
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Thats super useful context, thanks.
In that case most suggestions so far are not appliable to you, they are simply people's favourite rifles.
IMHO a good quality 14.5 to 16" AR is indeed what you need, so anything in that category would serve you well.
Second reccomendation is to weight more initially on the gun, start with cheaper/fewer gear first, just a good sling (vickers / ms3) and a mag holder or two (fast mag, hsgi, etc) just run on your pants belt. A couple of PMags. You're not competing you don't need many, nor do you need optics to start IMHO. You can add them later.

Personally I am a real big fan of anything LMT, you won't be able to get their free floated stuff with your budget but you can get entry level with a SOPMOD, budget stretched only slightly. With your application I don't think non-free float is a big deal.
https://shopquestar.com/shopping65/shopexd.asp?id=1682&bc=no
But now the choice of AR is just personal preferences, I just like the quality of LMT you can feel in your hands. Being a real work horse people depend their professional lives on, like several other brands but without the need for photo-ops, modeled posters or fashion promo.
 
I'd say look at Daniel Defense.

You have made a sound decision to get into the AR platform. Get a reliable brand (even if it means spending a bit more) and get out and use it.

For a first black gun I'd honestly say don't go and build one from various parts (don't bother trying to iron out reliability issues) and buy someone else's rifle (wasting more money to configure it to your liking).

Like they say, buy once, cry once.

I'd get a good quality AR to begin with, skip the NR rifle option, and look to take that money and buy the extras you want...optics, accessories etc.
 
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The prob with an AR is that it limits you to range only. When I first started I really wanted an AR but I also wanted to plink around in the bush. So I bought a Colt Canada for range and a XCR-L keymod for the bush. $5000. Problem was I didn't really take to the XCR.
I decided to sell both and order a MV, it's the closest thing to an AR and its non restricted, so best of both worlds.
Mine cost $5000 so I'm in at the same cost as my other two. The base model is $3200.
I know the MV hasn't been tested yet, so I hope it pans out. And I will definitely buy another Colt AR when I can afford it.
So if you buy an AR , just know you are strictly limited to range use and will have spend more to get a NR.

If your only going to the range and shooting at paper, your going to get bored of that pretty quick, it's nice to go out in the bush and blast away too. But I'm lucky in that respect as the bush is in my backyard.

One more thing to keep in mind is lost money lol
I had $5000 into two guns and when I realized it didn't cut it for me I sold both for 1700 a piece.. Cost me $1600 to learn I want an AR that can go anywhere with me( range and bush)...:)
 
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Range only: DDMK18
NR: ACR or HB XCR

Buy a couple magazines that feed well, no need to brake the bank on optics

Enjoy :p
 
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I like gun makers that don't factor celebrity promo advertising into cost, and I like those who make their own parts.
 
My very first AR was a Bushmaster m4( xm15 e2s). It was affordable and had never let me down. The only thing I dislike now is the commercial spec buffer tube (I didn't know any better). I've shot around 1k through it without a single hiccup.

I've had a Dpms and a DD which I've since sold and both shot great. I'm more into building my own now ( have 1 and two more on the go) and I also have a Modern Varminter ordered.

You can't go wrong with a colt, colt Canada, Daniel defense etc. Those new Colt MRR rifles are sure purdy!

Also, have you looked into the Troy PAR ( pump action rifle). It's quite AR(ish), under 2k and NR.

Like everyone says, but once cry once.
 
ginseng503 said:
Colt Canada MRR is the next big thing.
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A little beyond my budget unfortunately, and I don't/can't wait until October :/. Very nice looking beau still though.

And to norlandgeese, Patt08, copeland, Brianma65, DT741, and everyone else, thanks for your suggestions and helpful tips, greatly appreciate them :).
 
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