Recommendations for a first AR?

Here's my first build in progress, Aero upper, lower, BCG, KAK brace & dimpled buffer tube, Spikes LPK, 7.5" BA barrel. Now I have to let my wallet settle and figure out a rail, BUIS, muzzle device, and optic. Against all recommendations I went 7.5 for my first build because I like the look and it'll just be a fun gun at the range, if she runs good I may keep her in the truck or under the bed. What optic are you running there? Looks good.

 

I have the 7.5 barrel and it is extremely fun. Its not as loud as people said it would be (might be my ear muffs) but its really fun to shoot. I have a cheap optic I bought off of Amazon after watching some dude on youtube torture it. I will post the link below to both the video and the listing. Other than that, my only complaint is that I have not been able to find a AFG that does not stick out past the handguard. This is my truck gun so therefore i did not want to go all out on the equipment.

I honestly built this gun after watching "Sicario: Day of the Soldado", lol i walked out of the theater and told my wife "i need an AR pistol"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Y-yAsbNdzI

OTW RDS-68 Red Green Dot Sight 4 MOA Compact Red Green Dot Sight

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076SX5N6X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&th=1

 

Another vote for Colt.

Just think about what your dream setup would be and try to buy something that will allow you to get there easily. Ex. Don't buy something with a fixed front sight if you will want to run a long rail system down the road, etc.

 

You have cheap weapons and expensive weapons. You have no name brands and name brands. Get what you like mod it the way you want. I guarantee no matter what you get, the end result will be the same, you pull the trigger then happiness. Are there better parts? Yes! That's why you mod the shit out of it like a Tundra.

 

Ruger AR-556. These are proven workhorses that have many components that more expensive rifles have. They cover all the bases and won’t let you down. Can be found for less that $500 new.

 

I have a Stag Arms that I really like, I'm ashamed of what I paid for it after the rumblings of a AR ban were going around during the last administration.

$4-$500 can get you a nice one all day, then the customizing begins

 

A family member bought the same Stag during that same time period. He paid close to over a $1000. He's been trying to sell it for the last 2 years with no luck. This is a great time to stack up on guns, ammo, accessories with all the low prices.

 

Haha, right!? I feel pretty stupid for buying into the frenzy, I knew better.

Now I'm just going to own it longer to cost average the stupid over a longer period...

 

I did what Conlon said. I built a stripped lower and then attached it to a complete upper. It was actually a lot of fun to build, and I learned how much of it works. Plus, it helped me spread out the cost as I ordered parts over a period of time.

I also did what Jadoti did and got a Stag Arms. At the time, I didn’t really know much about ARs and didn’t know which brands were the stellar “go-to” brands, like Colt, Daniel Defense, BCM, etc. I was always more interessted in old milsurp, wood-stocked rifles, but after the Trump effect kicked in, I figured I might as well see what all the fuss was about with ARs after prices dropped.

So I went to the LGS to see if they had any stripped lowers. All they had were Stag Arms lowers, so I got one. Since this was my first AR and first build, I decided to stick with Stag Arms parts instead of build one from a bunch of different parts. The only thing not Stag is the BCM lower parts kit and trigger, and the Magpul furniture that Stag sells with most of their Stag-15 series ARs.

I’ve had a lot of fun shooting it and figuring out which ammo it likes best. I also used it in my first ever “run-n-gun” 10K biathlon, where I was really able to test it out. It got banged up and scratched climbing trees and wooden and chain link fences, and crawling through a mud-filled steel culvert. It also got wet and covered and caked in mud. And even with all that, it never jammed or malfunctioned at any of the rifle stages. So I guess I built it right - lol.

Granted, I haven’t shot thousands of rounds through it yet, so time will tell how this Stag holds up. And truth be told, had I known more about ARs back when I bought the lower, I probably would’ve bought a BCM, DD, or some other more prestigious brand just to ensure a quality build.

Anyway, here’s a photo of some of the dried-up mud left on my AR after the biathlon. Cleaning it was a bit of a struggle, though.

 

If I was buying my first AR and didn't know what I do and don't like yet I would buy the Aero Precision. Buy it stripped and add the furniture that you think you like and then after you use it and become familiar with it build one with everything you like. Aero Precision makes very good stuff and for the money I believe you can't go wrong. As far as factory guns I own Daniel Defense, some Colt's and I personally like the Daniel Defense the best for a factory gun the fit and finish is good. But I will never buy another factory AR again I build all of mine.

 

Here's one of my ground hog and Prairie dog guns it's a 204.

 

I was in the military for several years and shot pretty much every variant of the M16 & M4, including the fully automatic short barreled rifles so naturally I've always had a liking to the AR-15. As a result I've had several of them and have actually built a few for friends/family. Here are a couple things I tell my friends/family to be aware of when in the market for buying/customizing their first AR-15.

1) Ask yourself what purpose the firearm is going to serve you. This is a good question to ask yourself with any firearm purchase. Most people looking for an AR-15 end up overspending on them and buying something they didn't need. If you just want to have some fun at the range and protect the house you don't need a competition/match grade setup unless you really just want one.

2) The Mil-Spec debate, as you may already know there are two main classifications that people throw AR-15s into, Mil Spec and Non Mil Spec (Commercial Spec). Technically only a select fire M4 or M16 is a true Mil-Spec rifle. Now that that has been said you can get an AR-15 that has been manufactured using the same dimensions/materials as a Mil-Spec rifle. You want to get something that is classified as Mil-Spec due to the ease and wide array of parts that are available for the AR platform. As of late pretty much everything I've seen on the market is Mil-Spec but I have seen some that are not, pays to do your research.

3) Barrels, when it comes to barrel length and twist you'll find most stock barrels are 16" with a 1:7 or 1:8 twist rate, this is going to dictate what grain round is going to be optimal for your rifle. For your needs that should suffice since you're mainly just going to the range and want it for home defense. When it comes to the actual chambering of the barrel get something that is chambered for 5.56 so you can shoot either the 5.56 NATO or .223 Rem round. A 5.56 barrel can shoot either but a .223 chambered barrel can only safely shoot .223 Rem. If you can find a .223 Wylde then you have the best of both worlds as they are usually more accurate but also a little more expensive.

4) M4 feedramps. Colt came out with the M4 feed ramps for the 14.5" barrel of the M4. You will want them to be in the upper receiver and the barrel extension. They aren't necessary but are more reliable when it comes to feeding and chambering rounds especially on shorter barreled rifle.

5) Quality. When looking for a complete AR-15 or parts/mods look for quality. When it all boils down it is a weapon. The last thing any shooter wants is to cause injury to themselves or anyone else on the firing line/range especially if that injury is due to the failure of a cheap part. A lot of AR accessories/parts are now floating around all over the internet so do your research when sourcing them to ensure everyones safety.

All that being said for your first AR the BCM you posted is certainly a nice piece. Several other members have suggested some quality brands as well. The biggest question to ask yourself with it is what you want to do it adn what you're goals are for it. If you are planning on modding/customizing it with different grips/stocks/BCGs/etc. I would probably go with something more entry level so you can put your budget towards customization. That is what I did with my first AR build, I bought something pretty basic and customized it until I got it setup the way I wanted it, it is probably still my favorite all around AR that I have. If you'd like feel free to PM me and I can give you some more specifics. Apologies if I sound like a PBS special but I hope it helps.

 

Lots of good info I wish I had when I first got into the AR platform, awesome post!

 

If PBS put on a special that informative, they'd probably get more donors.

Nice info!

 

Thanks guys. I feel like it is extremely easy to get caught up and overwhelmed with all the marketing hype that is out there for the AR platform.

 

A bunch of years ago I built an Aero Precision, which I sold to fund an FJ62. I loved it but lost the auction for the FJ so i was out a rifle and a land cruiser. :/

 

I find it absolutely ridiculous that I need to pay the government $200 for the Right to have a stock on a rifle with a barrel that's less than 16 inches. And to add more insanity, for me to wait 8+ months after they cash my check and run a two minute NICS check after looking over a bunch of bullshit paperwork that I have to fill out that gives more details about that firearm than filling out a mortgage. I simply prefer to save my $200 and not have a wait time by building an AR pistol with a brace that I can shoulder per the same government agency that gives me so much trouble over an SBR.

 

For the money the LaRue ultimate upper kit is a freaking steal,$800 and all you need is a stripped lower. They can assemble it for a fee as well.

For less money the PSA kits are a steal. I was trying to get a work buddy into AR’s he found the aero rifle which is actually good. I steered him toward the OEM version at brownells. It’s a good way to go on a budget if you aren’t building. The parts are good, and it comes fully assembled less stock and handguard for less than $500. That’s nice since a lot of folks swap out the handguard and stock anyway. I did on my first AR, a DPMS toy that spent way too much upgrading.

He added a cheap Magpul stock and a ALG rail for just over $100 additional. It’s a damn nice rifle for $600 all up. I’d still swap triggers with a LaRue MBT

 

X2...I forgot to say earlier the best upgrade you can buy out of the gate is a MBT trigger!

 

I may be a little biased but if you are looking for a custom option, these guys can really help you build something that you like and within your budget. http://thanatoscustomarms.com/

 

agree with the S&W M&P Sport II

 

Hard to beat a Rock River for the money

 

POF

 

Call Precision Firearms and see about a 16 inch 6.5 Grendel. Enough said!! The lightest most expensive AR??!! I built this one, build all mine now. Nice hobby, hunting hogs is the best fun of all!!

 

Or you can go with a 20 inch??

 

My favorite AR is this Daewoo AR 100 (K2), but as others have said you can't go wrong with a Colt 6920 / M4 - they can be found used for around $700 in my area.

 

These are all good choices, I am a dealer for all those companies and honestly they are all great choices. Personally IMHO you get the biggest bang for your buck with the SA Saint pistol.

 

I have a few different builds of varying cost/quality.
For a starter AR build , Palmetto State is great. Not too expensive , MIL spec parts , and many configurations to choose from.
For the rifle that wont quit and you can drive over with your truck , I would say Aero or Bravo Co.
For a fancy blingy rifle , you can build anything you want , every color under the sun , and go super light weight .
I personally like Aero . I have a dedicated 3 gun setup built with Aero parts , then a Palmetto State beater rifle , and a STS/Aero training rifle.