I believe now's a good time to get in on buying one for myself. Right now I'd like a quality rifle that in the future I can modify. So here's my question what's the top manufacturers to look at. List your top three.

ar15.com

http://www.texags.com/main/forum.reply.asp?topic_id=973794&forum_id=34

Stag/CMT ain't too shabby

1-3 are Rock River Arms. Great rifles.

I have a Rock River Entry Tactical and a Bushmaster Varminter, love them both.

I have an RRA, but I also just picked up a bargain bin from CMMG for under $600. I've not shot it yet, but it's just like new and all this stuff is MILSPEC so I doubt I'll see much difference in performance (both guns are better than the shooter).

quote:

---

I have an RRA, but I also just picked up a bargain bin from CMMG for under $600. I've not shot it yet, but it's just like new and all this stuff is MILSPEC so I doubt I'll see much difference in performance (both guns are better than the shooter).

---

+1

If you don't want to spend a lot the CMMG rifles are a good buy.

I really like my Stag model 2. I shoot it quite a bit with varmint hunting and plinking and have not had any problems.

That bargin bin looks like a good deal. But I'd rather start off with something new that I'll have forever. If I already had an AR or collected them I'd buy one but for my first I want to buy a good one and do my own customizing to learn more about the AR world because there seems to be ALOT that can be done to them.

those ar's are new parts. just built by hand from various manufactures.

[This message has been edited by deatsman (edited 12/7/2007 12:11a).]

Too hard without price range. Plenty of great manufacturers out there, just depends what you want to spend.

If you want the best, Wilson Combat.

post pics of you AR's. i'm interested in seeing what all we're workin with here. possibly start a local militia to combat terrorism.

WarEagle... the militia is "always".

I've been leaning towards Rock River Arms after doing a little research. How does combat wilson compare to Rock River Arms?

What are yall's comments on buying whole rifle vs building it up by buying everything separate? Cheaper?

[This message has been edited by cdaggie007 (edited 12/7/2007 3:14a).]

Wilson Combats look very cool, but I didn't have to cash for one

[This message has been edited by BMach (edited 12/7/2007 2:40a).]

and anyone who is savy on images can post this one http://s273.photobucket.com/albums/jj218/bmach911/?action=view¤t=RRA1.jpg

[This message has been edited by BMach (edited 12/7/2007 2:48a).]

Read the suggested ar15.com

Colt
Colt
Colt

Don't ever say you weren't told.
It is what we used in the Marine Corps.

Without price restrictions, I prefer Les Baer.
I forgot you said one you could modify in the future. I don't know how "modifiable" Les' rifle are as I believe most of the parts are made at his shop

[This message has been edited by str8shot1000 (edited 12/7/2007 9:17a).]

I have an original Colt AR-15 with the original Colt scope - great gun!

quote:

---

Read the suggested ar15.com

Colt
Colt
Colt

Don't ever say you weren't told.
It is what we used in the Marine Corps.

---

We have a colt humper.

Any of the Stag, RRA, and BM guns are great quality and will do anything your overpriced Colt will.

Ditto.

There was a thread on AR15 that was stickied at some point but I couldn't find it. They basically said what people on here have said.

Colt is great, but you're paying for the name. If you're a collector or history buff, that might mean something to you, but if you're an operator, it just means you're paying too much.

Funny story. I know a friend of a friend that got a Colt A2 that has this hideous camo pattern painted on it. He was so proud of it because he got a good deal on it ($700 I think). Anyway, to hear him talk about it, you'd think the gun shot itself. He talked about how much it was worth and I didn't say anything but he was throwing out $1200 and I laughed inside. With that crappy camo stuff on it, I seriously doubt he could pull a grand for it.

After reading numerous threads, I'm starting to trust Log and deats alot. Yall seem to know what you're talking about. What are you're comments on building vs buying complete AR?

It all comes down to your mechanical comfort level .

You can buy on off the shelf standard AR for 700-800 bucks or build and really nice one for about the same price. Building it requires a few tools but between log and I, we have you covered.

I think I'm mechanically capable, I just got done rebuilding my ruger 10/22, I gutted it and put in all aftermarket parts. I'm sure the AR is probably more complex but with TexAgs I'm sure I could get all the advice I would need. It seems as though if I built it from the ground up I could make it more custom instead of buying a complete rifle and switching parts.

The ar is actually a very simple rifle to build, alter, and maintain.

Just got back from champion gun store, all their RRA are 10% off until Dec. 31. It was so hard to walk outta there empty handed, but I'm still looking around.

Champion is fully stocked (was in there Wednesday) and they have some very fair deals.

Out of my Bushmasters, PDMS, Stag, and Rock Rivers, I like the Rock River the best. Just my preference though. Once you get one, you will understand the smile.

I call AR's Legos for Grownups. Besides a couple of specialized tools, they are extremely easy to put together. I built my first AR, since I wasn't happy with what was offered on the off-the-shelf versions. I've got about $1300 in my M4gery, but I would have spent alot more if I had bought a stock version and then upgraded the parts I wanted.

Another benefit of building is that you usually end up with extra parts that are begging you to build them into a complete rifle. Well, I guess that could be a negative, depending on your point of view.

If anyone is in the Dallas area and wants to do a build party, like deats said, we've got the tools and the know how.

quote:

---

Colt
Colt
Colt

Don't ever say you weren't told.
It is what we used in the Marine Corps.

---

I guess the Army gets second hand. My M-16 in basic training was built by the Hydramatic Division of General Motors (1972)

I guess aluminum casting/forging of receivers is similar to making transmissions...

Here's the scoop on the different "brands" of receivers.

http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=12&t=318113

Very informative log, Thanks for that link.

Build it yourself. I cheated a little with a RRA kit that had the upper already assembled, but it took me three hours from start to finish to assemble the lower parts kit and then complete the rifle. It is really cool to own and shoot a rifle you built yourself. Save a little cash too.

That's what I did with my Grendel, Construction. I got a stripped lower and added to it and then bought a complete upper. You definitely want to get rid of the stock trigger and replace it with something better.

I was thinking that about the trigger. But on the RRA rifles some come with the 2-stage match triggers, are those pretty good or just a fancy factory trigger?