Ok, I'd like to think that from a general outdoors/hunting standpoint, I have a better than average command of most things. However, there is a glaring hole in my experience - mostly due to rapidly receding prejudices against "assault weapons" for hunting.

The recent "Night Hog Hunting" video, in which somebody uses a true thermal vision scope over a semi-auto rifle is responsible for piquing my curiousity.

So, I have some basic questions for all you AR fans:

Rank AR/AR clone manufacturers in terms of quality, accuracy, and price?

What advantage is there in "building" a rifle vs. buying a fully assembled, operable unit?

Why does there seem to be SO many different models of basically the same .223/5.56mm?

Are .223Rem and 5.56mm interchangeable? .308/7.62 NATO?

More to come...that should do for starters.

Start reading here. Should answer everything you just asked.

http://jobrelatedstuff.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=118&t=306487
http://jobrelatedstuff.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=118&t=176348
http://jobrelatedstuff.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=4&t=226782
http://jobrelatedstuff.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=118&t=359301
http://jobrelatedstuff.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=118&t=358686

not an expert yet, just got exposed to the BGD myself...

to answer your questions directly and to the best of my ability:

Rank AR/AR clone manufacturers in terms of quality, accuracy, and price?

Can't really do. There are a few manufacturers who produce the basics for many "brand names". Red Rock Arms, Colt, and Bushmaster are the "high end" marques that I'm aware of. There are a whole slew just below that. That slew includes the manufacturers you would get if you bought a gun from the CMMG "bargain bin" at http://cmmginc.secure-mall.com/shop/?shop=1&cat=33. These guns are being sold as "used" although they're 99% brand new parts and appear to be just test fired barrels, at least from reading numerous customer posts (and including my own first hand experience... I got a DPMS which is, for some reason, the apparently preferred model out of the bargain bin by many).

What advantage is there in "building" a rifle vs. buying a fully assembled, operable unit?

potential $$$ savings, or at least you can put more $$$ toward the specific component(s) that matter the most to YOU.

Why does there seem to be SO many different models of basically the same .223/5.56mm?

profit, marketing, the desire for customization. Same reason there were so many different pony cars back in the day. same basic cars with the same basic similarities, but some prefer Chevy to Ford or Mopar, etc.

Are .223Rem and 5.56mm interchangeable?

basically, yes. The 5.56 is slightly higher pressure, so it's less advisable to shoot 5.56 in a chamber/barrel intended for .223. The other way around is no problem.

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Red Rock Arms

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Rock River Arms

Tread lightly. BRD is real and highly contagious. Just ask my bank account.

Use the search function, every single one of your questions has been addressed at some point in several of the AR threads on this board.

doh. what KRamp said.

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The recent "Night Hog Hunting" video, in which somebody uses a true thermal vision scope over a semi-auto rifle is responsible for piquing my curiousity.

So, I have some basic questions for all you AR fans:

Rank AR/AR clone manufacturers in terms of quality, accuracy, and price?

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Bushmaster Colt and Rock River are all great brands

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What advantage is there in "building" a rifle vs. buying a fully assembled, operable unit?

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Building a rifle allows you to customize equipment that other wise you would be required to replace.

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Why does there seem to be SO many different models of basically the same .223/5.56mm?

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As Log says, its like legos for adults. Everybody has their own personal preferences so then you get the mass customization. Also, quality varies between after market parts and this leads to franken-ARs.

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Are .223Rem and 5.56mm interchangeable?

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Good rule of thumb: you can shoot .223 in a 5.56 but not 5.56 in a .223.

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.308/7.62 NATO?

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7.62x39 is the AK47 round.

.308 and 7.62 NATO are not the same round.

if you had one AR setup to buy, what would it be? collapsible stock? barrel length? etc?

there are a ton of different mods and such, but if you had to choose one, for all around use, what would it be?

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7.62x39 is the AK47 round.
.308 and 7.62 NATO are not the same round.

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7.62 NATO = 7.62 x 51 = .308 Winchester
http://www.6mmbr.com/308win.html

7.62 x 39 is not a NATO round, it's a commie round.

Although there are 7.62x39 AR-15's.

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So, why set a very long 1.636 headspace in an M14/M1A or M1 Garand? It probably is the conflict mentioned above. Military headspace gauges say one thing, SAAMI headspace gauges say something else, as do the spec's/compliance covering ammo. In a court of law, who will prevail? I think Kuhnhausen gave all those who do this work a safe way out. However, I believe it not in your, or your rifle's, best interest. Whether you have a NATO chambered barrel (M14/M1 Garand G.I. ".308 Win."/7.62mm NATO barrels all have NATO chambers), or a .308 Winchester chamber, keep the headspace within SAAMI limits (1.630 GO, 1.634 NO GO, 1.638 FIELD REJECT). This subject is a bit confusing, and for me difficult to explain in a one way conversation!

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They are not the same, 'cause the .308 Win was released by Winchester several years before the Army standarized the T64E3 as the 7.62MM. You'll get an endless discussion of pressure specs, endless because SAAMI and the Ordnance Dep't measured pressure in different, unrelateable ways. Howver, the chamber drawings are different.

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http://www.fulton-armory.com/308.htm

The cartridges are the same for all practical purposes. As long as you don't put a hot .308 in an old military gun you'll be just fine.

Armalite, Bushmaster, and Colt are the ABC's of AR's. Spend a little more money for a full flat top (A3 style), these give you more optic options. Finally, if you do end up getting an AR, buy a spare bolt carrier assembly and spare lower mechanics.

I've been told I should think about a gas piston rifle because it will work more reliably with ALL bullet weights. The advice-giver went on to say that future surplus ammo may exceed the 55-75gr bullet weight because of the experience in Iraq.

Comments?

Sorry for the hijack but this may be a question the OP would be interested in as well, if he too is suffering the beginning symptoms of BRD.

Go here,

www.del-ton.com

Build and AR to your spec, and your done.

My build will be a stag lower with magpul UBR stock (when they release it), and for the upper, it will be del-tons 1x7 twist 16" flat top upper with M4 feed ramps made out of 4150 steel.

Piston uppers are still unproven a this point. There are too many different variations right now, i.e. no standardization. If it's your first AR, go with a standard direct impingement system. It's been working for over 40 years, but you do need to clean it.

As far as ammo, the guy doesn't know what he is talking about. Standard M855 right now is 62 gr., and there is still some M193 55 gr. in the system. The M855 is what is issued to front line troops. There have been some heavier loads produced and issued, but mostly in small quantities to SpecOps types and for DMR/Sniper roles. Additionally, the U.S. has a law in effect that basically says that they can't surplus ammo to the public. So we aren't getting any ammo from Uncle Sugar anytime soon. Any "Goverment Issue" ammo you see is either a.) off spec/seconds (they still shoot fine, just have case dings or may be missing primer sealent) that was rejected, and never acquired by the .gov, or b.) contract overrun that was never sold to/bought by the .gov.

[This message has been edited by Log (edited 1/25/2008 8:41a).]

Stag/CMT also makes a good rifle.

And THAT, Log, is why we come to TEXAGS. Thanks for the answer, that was the way I was leaning but it is always good to hear confirmation from a knowledgeable source.

rock river hands down

6.8 mm is clearly better ballistically to the .556 (.223) but it costs more to shoot. You can add a .556 upper in the $400 range if you want to shoot cheap ammo.