Is any AR a good AR or should I stay away from certain ones?

[brauchma]

Thanks folks. A lot of reading here. It looks like I will be hard pressed to locate a full and complete AR anytime soon. And friend has built one in the past and loved it. I may need to start just grabbing parts when in see them at reasonable prices and they the build route.

[Hmac]

Thanks folks. A lot of reading here. It looks like I will be hard pressed to locate a full and complete AR anytime soon. And friend has built one in the past and loved it. I may need to start just grabbing parts when in see them at reasonable prices and they the build route.

Parts selection is the hardest part of building an AR. First you have to decide the configuration which, especially for someone who's never shot such a rifle much, can be difficult in itself. Once you've taken your best guess at what kind of rifle you want it to be, you then have to find the parts to match your plan. Just like complete rifle brands, not all AR parts and components are created equal and if you're talking about parts of demonstrated quality and reliability, they're going to likely be as hard to find as complete rifles these days.

[rugersol]

I see no reason to decide what the end result should be, before buying the first component?

In today's market, what I'd do is look at what I can actually get ... and decide if that'd be something I'd want on the gun, 'er not ... and if ya wanna pay what's bein' asked!

I got a upper/lower I was waitin' on a 6x45 bbl ... it's in backorder purgatory, now! I've got everything else ... so, I came across a little .223 bbl ... and decided it could be a .223, 'til the 6x45 comes in! I even eye-balled a 10in .300 BLK bbl ... and considered makin' it a pistol!

Again, that's one really neat thing 'bout AR's ... ya can change almost anything ya want!

BCG's gonna be the real problem, for some time! One way to go'd be to get a backorder in ASAP! Another would be to buy a complete upper ... if ya can find one! Watch out! ... most bein' sold now are sans-BCG! Again, this is where a home-build might actually be a decent option! ... if the seller's GTG ... and he says it's got a Rainier, Danny Defense, BCM, 'er PSA BCG in it, and ya can salvage/sell most of the rest of the components, that'll get ya a running rifle a lot sooner than otherwise!

Past that, if yer willin' to build anyhow ... who cares if ya put on a $30 handguard now ... and replace it with a $150 one, next year?! ... ditto the stock! ... grip! ... trigger! ... BCG! ... bbl! ... comp! It ain't like ya can never sell the take-off's!

See if ya can find a bbl ya like ... and a buffer/tube kit! If ya can't, then maybe consider a pistol buffer/tube kit, and a short bbl?! ... ya can still make it into a rifle, later ... if ya change yer mind! (but not vice versa ) Once ya got that, ya still gotta find an upper 'n lower, no matter what ... so nothin' new, there! LPK, handguard, gas block/tube, comp, stock ... and of course, the dreaded BCG!

Watch the "stripped" uppers, too! ... some come with the forward-assist and ejection port cover installed ... some don't! ... if the latter, then ya got more parts ya gotta find! (unless they're plentiful ... I didn't check)

Pick up a couple $60 PMags and $100-worth of ammo (100rd), and yer GTG!

[Hmac]

I see no reason to decide what the end result should be, before buying the first component?

Well, yeah...that's true. There are some parts he's going to need no matter what the rifle is going to be for. Assuming he wants to build one. Certainly, opinions vary, but my recommendation for people new to ARs has been to buy a good entry-level rifle like a Colt 6920 and shoot it. Learn the platform, then decide what the next rifle is going to be like, or how you're going to modify the first one to suit your needs.

YMMV. Lots of right ways to do it.

[cgrant26]

I see no reason to decide what the end result should be, before buying the first component?

Well, yeah...that's true. There are some parts he's going to need no matter what the rifle is going to be for. Assuming he wants to build one. Certainly, opinions vary, but my recommendation for people new to ARs has been to buy a good entry-level rifle like a Colt 6920 and shoot it. Learn the platform, then decide what the next rifle is going to be like, or how you're going to modify the first one to suit your needs.

YMMV. Lots of right ways to do it.

I find the biggest danger to building an AR with available parts then upgrading them later is the take-off parts are known to carry the BRD virus. Let's be honest here, how many of you built another AR from that trigger guard you swapped out for a Magpul upgrade or a selector lever assembly you traded out of an ambi-selector?

[grousemaster]

Thanks folks. A lot of reading here. It looks like I will be hard pressed to locate a full and complete AR anytime soon. And friend has built one in the past and loved it. I may need to start just grabbing parts when in see them at reasonable prices and they the build route.

There was some in stock at Cabela's yesterday.

[Hmac]

I see no reason to decide what the end result should be, before buying the first component?

Well, yeah...that's true. There are some parts he's going to need no matter what the rifle is going to be for. Assuming he wants to build one. Certainly, opinions vary, but my recommendation for people new to ARs has been to buy a good entry-level rifle like a Colt 6920 and shoot it. Learn the platform, then decide what the next rifle is going to be like, or how you're going to modify the first one to suit your needs.

YMMV. Lots of right ways to do it.

I find the biggest danger to building an AR with available parts then upgrading them later is the take-off parts are known to carry the BRD virus. Let's be honest here, how many of you built another AR from that trigger guard you swapped out for a Magpul upgrade or a selector lever assembly you traded out of an ambi-selector?

LOL. Too true. For me, I bought into the idea that I needed to have a spare BCG sitting around. It was amazing to me how little time it took for that to sprout into a complete rifle $1500 later.

[grousemaster]

The Korstog rifles are top notch, really. I've compared them to MANY AR's and you'll be hard pressed to find anything acking on the Korstog line. Even eats the cheap under powered stuff to unlike the Huldra's. Best customer service around to. Can't say enough good thing about Dave, Stewart, etc....

Too bad their rifles are exclusive to FF, I'd be honored to become a dealer for their line.

[Uffdaphil]

I can agree with most everything said here except calling a Colt LE6920 an entry level rifle. Most would place them somewhere in the top tier.

The OP has not said for what use the AR is intended. Lots of choices for a plinker, but I rule out half the field for defense/SHTF. I save a few bucks by building lowers by LRB, Lauer, Mega Gator etc, not BCM, DD, Noveske, Colt, LMT. Takes only about 20 minutes to install a parts kit. (Not counting carpet hunting for flying detents.) Premium whole gun maker lowers are going for 50-100% more than small armories.

BCGs are where I feel the pain. Top quality is going for $300-500+, but are you going to skimp when betting your Loved ones lives? PSA or better is my standard for the rest of the upper.

With a lot of research and diligent searching different site's classifieds you can end up with a top gun for $500-1000 less than complete factory ARs go for on Gunbroker. They are addicting though. And spare stripped lowers will not stop whining until you dress 'em up and find a mate.

[grousemaster]

BTW, I have a PSA magpul build with a spike's tactical nickel boron BCG I'd sell...PM if interested. I won't gouge ya, promise

[Hmac]

I can agree with most everything said here except calling a Colt LE6920 an entry level rifle. Most would place them somewhere in the top tier.

I save a few bucks by building lowers by LRB, Lauer, Mega Gator etc, not BCM, DD, Noveske, Colt, LMT.

Yeh, I agree that Colt ARs are top tier as reliable firearms. By "entry level" I was solely referring to price and configuration. You can, or at least used to be able, to buy them for $1100-$1200. I consider that "entry level for a quality AR15.

As to lowers, I agree that if you get a good one that's in-spec from any manufacturer , it's likely as good as any other one out there. Quality control is a big component of manufacturing cost however, and with BCM, DD, Noveske, Colt, LMT, you stand a better chance of getting a good one that's in spec.

[grousemaster]

I can agree with most everything said here except calling a Colt LE6920 an entry level rifle. Most would place them somewhere in the top tier.

I save a few bucks by building lowers by LRB, Lauer, Mega Gator etc, not BCM, DD, Noveske, Colt, LMT.

Yeh, I agree that Colt ARs are top tier as reliable firearms. By "entry level" I was solely referring to price and configuration. You can, or at least used to be able, to buy them for $1100-$1200. I consider that "entry level for a quality AR15.

As to lowers, I agree that if you get a good one that's in-spec from any manufacturer , it's likely as good as any other one out there. Quality control is a big component of manufacturing cost however, and with BCM, DD, Noveske, Colt, LMT, you stand a better chance of getting a good one that's in spec.

To be fair, some of the Colt's I've seen are the ugliest rifles ever as far as finish goes. When you compare the specs on a 6920 to a PSA, Korstog, etc....you kind of wonder why the higher price for the Colt? The Pony is valuable.

[The Lance]

The higher price for the colt has to do with its full auto mpi/hp tested bcg and it's machine gun barrel with milspec chrome lining which is close to twice the thickness of commercial grade barrels. However psa's chf barrel which is manufactured by fn is almost identical except the chf part.

Supposedly colt tested their Canadian barrels which are chf vs the American one and both were equally good.

According to m4carbine users anyways.

I'm still a fan of Ferritic nitrocarburization for a chf barrel. However I don't think anyone other then voodoo makes such product and I would like to see how that barrel performs.

Ferritic nitrocarburization = tennifer/melonite/Teflon coating

[grousemaster]

The higher price for the colt has to do with its full auto mpi/hp tested bcg and it's machine gun barrel with milspec chrome lining which is close to twice the thickness of commercial grade barrels. However psa's chf barrel which is manufactured by fn is almost identical except the chf part.

Supposedly colt tested their Canadian barrels which are chf vs the American one and both were equally good.

According to m4carbine users anyways.

I'm still a fan of Ferritic nitrocarburization for a chf barrel. However I don't think anyone other then voodoo makes such product and I would like to see how that barrel performs.

Ferritic nitrocarburization = tennifer/melonite/Teflon coating

PSA also uses machine gun barrels made by FN, and Korstog uses full auto mpi/hp tested bcg as far as I know. Also, the Korstog BCG's are melonite coated, as is the gas tube.

Kind of funny, I've bought myself two Colt's in the last 3 months. The 6920 finish on the lower receiver had scuffs and scratches all over it, as did many of the new one's I've seen. Nothing serious, light handling marks really.

Then I get a Colt 1911 5" stamped "Commander".

[Hmac]

PSA also uses machine gun barrels made by FN, and Korstog uses full auto mpi/hp tested bcg as far as I know. Also, the Korstog BCG's are melonite coated, as is the gas tube.

Kind of funny, I've bought myself two Colt's in the last 3 months. The 6920 finish on the lower receiver had scuffs and scratches all over it, as did many of the new one's I've seen. Nothing serious, light handling marks really.

Then I get a Colt 1911 5" stamped "Commander".

I've looked at Korstog's and Huldras pretty closely, shot with and against them (Huldras, anyway), and have found them to be impressive. Additionally, I know the principles in the company, shoot with them, and have a high regard for their integrity. I wouldn't hesitate a moment to buy into either brand. My wife, however, thinks I have enough rifles.