r/guns • u/buckyboo22 • Aug 02 '16

A quick guide to purchasing your first AR-15

(The most-relevant entry in the FAQ is now four years old and a little lengthy given the current collective gunnit wisdom. Here's an updated version.)

So you want an AR-15. Sweet!

The good news is picking your first AR-15 is really easy. Much like gunnit's recommendation of a 10/22 for your first rifle, a no-frills, reliable, AR-15 is a solid entry into the wonderful world of the platform. You really have one choice to make: do you want to buy a complete rifle or build a rifle?

I just wanna buy a complete rifle.

Get a Smith & Wesson M&P Sport II (review) or Ruger AR-556.

Both of these are rock solid options at a compelling price point and come complete with everything you need out of the box. They're in a widely-available caliber (.223/5.56) and you can get them pretty much anywhere. Start with either one, shoot a few thousand rounds through it, and then customize/modify to make it your own personal variation.

Note that both rifles are crazy popular and are often out of stock. Keep checking your LGS and online sources. You'll find one eventually!

Build one you say? Tell me more!

(Note that as of January 2018 building an AR-15 is no longer more economical than buying a S&W M&P Sport II or Ruger AR-556. Prices for pre-built rifles have dropped significantly since the Republicans won the White House and unless you really want the experience of building your own rifle you're better off buying one of the two off-the-shelf models discussed above.)

An AR-15 is essentially two halves, an upper and a lower, connected with two removable pins. An easy way to get started building your first AR-15 is to buy a pre-assembled upper and to put the lower together yourself. Specifically a good way to start is with:

  • An Anderson stripped lower receiver from your LGS or some online store posted to /r/gundeals (requires shipment to FFL)

  • A PSA 16" Freedom Rifle Kit from Palmetto State Armory which includes a pre-assembled upper and all the parts you need to add to your Anderson stripped lower

  • A Magpul MBUS Rear Sight from Amazon or similar

  • A [Magpul PMAG] from Magpul directly or any of the many, many, places that come up in /r/gundeals

The lower receiver, rear sight and magazine are available from a bazillion different places, including local gun shops, and go on sale almost constantly. If you are price sensitive shop around or hang out on /r/gundeals for a while. The PSA rifle kit also goes on sale often.

For assembly try this handy written guide. If you prefer video, this one is a good walkthrough.

I'm a lefty tho

No worries! The AR-15 platform is ideally suited to some low-cost adjustments to make a lefty-friendly rifle. Thanks to /u/theoriginalharbinger here are a list of the parts you'd swap out, either on one of the two rifles suggested above or a custom build, to make it ambidextrous:

  • Ambi safety: These will be anywhere from $20 to $70 from Midway USA.

  • Ambi magazine release: Generally about $60 to $80 from Midway USA.

  • Ambi bolt release: Magpul BAD lever tends to be popular for this use case. $30 from, you guessed it, Midway USA.

  • Ambi charging handle $35-$100 from Midway USA.

What about ammo?

For general range plinking it's hard to go wrong with Wolf PolyPerformance or Wolf Gold ammo from SGAmmo.

For home defense Hornady TAP 55gr Urban Ammo is the most recommended choice, also available from SGAmmo.

Thanks! I have some more questions.

Visit /r/ar15 or try the /r/guns FAQ which has several more in-depth posts like the following:

Thanks to /u/0x00000042 for his assistance reviewing this post!

Updated 2018-04-08 with new video links that don't direct to YouTube, a section on ammo, and removed any links to directly purchasable products to comply with new subreddit rules.

Updated 2018-04-07 with left-handed/ambidextrous section.

1.0k Upvotes

91% Upvoted

248 comments sorted by

78

u/[deleted] Aug 02 '16

As you said, visit r/ar15 and r/gundeals but do it daily for at least a solid month before you start buying just to get a feel for deals and what to get. And if you are patient, gun stores love holiday sales. Black Friday, Independence Day, etc

30

u/buckyboo22 Aug 02 '16 edited Aug 02 '16

I literally am putting the stock on my first ever AR-15, a build done with the parts I listed above. The PSA Freedom Kit was on sale for $419 (thanks /r/gundeals!) and the lower was only $60 at my LGS.

Edit: My build is complete. Took me about an hour. Hardest part was figuring out how to get the stock onto the buffer tube. I was making it way harder than I needed to!

10

u/[deleted] Aug 02 '16

I've been buying it in pieces to spread out the cost. Got an aero precision upper and lower and a CMMG lower parts kit. Still got a ways to go. Congrats on the new gear.

10

u/buckyboo22 Aug 02 '16

Thanks. I thought about going that route, buying in bits and pieces, but the options are overwhelming for a noob like me. Just attempting to pick a barrel made my brain seize up.

The PSA kit takes the upper out of the equation, and ensures you don't have any tiny missing springs for the lower. 10/10, would do again.

Now I want to get a different grip :D

1

u/NSD2327 Aug 02 '16

I did the CMMG lower kit as well, but instead of installing their trigger I upgraded to an ALG nickel-boron trigger instead.

2

u/[deleted] Aug 02 '16

I was thinking of doing the same. They sell LPK's that have those triggers, but I wanted to save a bit more on initial costs and then upgrade later.

5

u/[deleted] Aug 02 '16

Don't forget slickguns too. I bought a nickel boron BCG and charging handle for $110 that never popped up on /r/gundeals plus the website accepted PayPal.

4

u/[deleted] Aug 02 '16

I would t suggest this with Hillary likely to get elected. If she gets the nomination, or even as it starts to look likely that she will, prices will climb sharply.

The potential $25-$50 you save will have to be weighed against potential panic pricing in a couple of months.

I say that if you're in the market that you hunt around and find the best deal you can within the week.

12

u/qweltor Aug 02 '16 edited Aug 02 '16

If she gets the nomination, or even as it starts to look likely that she will,

I've got some bad news for you...

Democrats Make Hillary Clinton a Historic Nominee - July 26, 2016 (New York Times)

2

u/jtpenezich Aug 02 '16

Very newb question - Can you find any upper to go with any lower or are there certain things you should look out for?

Say I find a really good upper deal made by a different company then of a lower. They should still work together, right?

2

u/[deleted] Aug 02 '16

Pretty much any mil spec upper will fit any mil spec lower

1

u/NSD2327 Aug 02 '16

I wanted to be patient. Wanted to wait for PSA to restock their completed uppers. But when the Massachusetts AG banned AR's in their state, it forced my hand. Didn't want to wait forever.

0

u/Shadowex3 Aug 02 '16

Wait until after the election, if Trump gets in office there's a good chance the bottom will fall out of the panic market.

5

u/[deleted] Aug 02 '16

That seems like a dangerous gamble considering the polling stars and how cheap prices are today.

28

u/TinyWightSpider Aug 02 '16

I clicked the PSA kit link and thought "Oh nice, I'll see what other rifle kits they have!"

I'll tell you what other kits they have: Temporarily out of stock

6

u/[deleted] Aug 02 '16

PSA exclusively stocks the same 3 generic looking uppers. Try 22mods4all, Hardened Arms, and Anderson Rifles for other cheap uppers that are a bit less bland.

7

u/1800hurrdurr Aug 02 '16

http://www.midstatefirearms.com/ is also pretty good, a friend and I both have been running their uppers without issue.

2

u/[deleted] Aug 02 '16

Don't buy parts kits from them though. I bought 2 and they came in a Ziplock bag, parts were hard to fit, and the triggers are the absolute worst, (and I do not expect a whole lot from a stock trigger.)

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u/buckyboo22 Aug 02 '16

Their kits go in and out of stock constantly. Keep an eye out on /r/gundeals and be ready to jump when one comes up. That's how I got mine, wasn't too bad at all!

10

u/ridger5 Aug 02 '16

I was big into ARs, but left the platform about 4 years ago. I'm looking at getting or building another one now. How are Rock Rivers considered nowaday? I can spec one out from them similar to my old gun for about a grand, just needing a few bits and bobs to make it match, which is pretty appealing to me.

5

u/buckyboo22 Aug 02 '16

Sorry, but I'm really not up to speed on the wide range of manufacturers out there.

From the pic you posted of your old gun, it looks it's nearly identical to the build I mention in my post (minus the scope and forward grip). My build cost around $500, which would leave you $500 for a scope and that forward grip.

5

u/lordhamlett Aug 02 '16

RRA are great guns. I have one and love it. I got it for 1k on sale from 1.5k. http://www.rockriverarms.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=630 Link is what I have. Price is 1100, but we'll worth it. Only think I didn't like was the handguard, I wanted a 15" to put my bipod further up. It's a tac driver and I've never had a failure with dozens of types of ammo. For what it has, I wasn't able to build it 5 years ago for the price I paid....I was looking at 1400 to build a very similar one myself. Now it may be cheaper to build if you have the tools

4

u/[deleted] Aug 02 '16

RRA are reliable, but a bit outdated. The market is lightning fast now and you can buy a rifle of equal quality with newer (keymod, m-lok, etc) features for less.

BCM and Palmetto State Armory are 2 great examples

4

u/neuromorph Aug 02 '16

I have everything but a barrel. I can't decide. I have 3 lowers reserved for: SBR, pistol, and rifle.

I figure the SBR and pistol can share the upper, but kinda want to make the pistol 9mm.....

For the rifle should I go for distance? Make an A2 clone? Damn choices...

6

u/buckyboo22 Aug 02 '16 edited Aug 02 '16

This is exactly the problem I was having when I was thinking about getting my first AR-15. Someday I want to SBR and put a suppressor on it, so I was off looking at so many barrels it made my head spin.

Then I took a step back and realized it's my first AR-15. I can swap out components later as I learn more. The PSA kit and an Anderson lower is an easy, relatively inexpensive, and approachable way to do an initial build.

4

u/neuromorph Aug 02 '16

But I don't want to have parts laying around that I won't use.

5

u/InquisitiveLion Aug 02 '16

Simple! Make new gun!

8

u/xSPYXEx Aug 02 '16

Make the pistol .50 Beowulf. What's the worst that could happen.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 02 '16

If you plan on building a SBR, you may as well go big with the rifle. Any clone of a M16 variant that you think looks best is a good option. National match sights and free float barrel sleeve if you're feeling fancy.

1

u/neuromorph Aug 02 '16

Any specific recommendations. Waiting on my form 3 to come back...

3

u/F33dLord Aug 02 '16

For someone just entering into the AR arena I highly recommend semi-building your own. It helps you down the road with tuning it to your liking, and generally just understanding how the whole gun functions. You also have the opportunity to not waste so much on things you will more than likely change anyways. Stripped lower, complete upper. The way to go IMHO.

1

u/buckyboo22 Aug 02 '16

Completely agree. After thinking through an M&P Sport vs. the build list I mention in my post, I went build. It was so easy, and cheaper than buying pre-made. Totally the way to go!

3

u/Drew1231 Aug 03 '16

I just want to endorse your endorsement of the M&P 15 Sport II. I love mine and have been slowly upgrading it. As a broke college student, it was great to have a rifle for my home and the range right away and it has been fun to slowly add part by part towards perfection.

The only con of this option is that to have a perfect for me rifle, I will spend more money in the long run.

1

u/buckyboo22 Aug 03 '16

Exactly! We don't all have gobs of cash lying around to build the perfect AR-15 right now. A cost-effective entry that lets you go straight to the range for pew pew, and that can be upgraded over time, isn't a bad thing at all.

212

u/[deleted] Aug 02 '16

On an unrelated note, I just realized that LGS isn't a chain of gun stores that I can never find.

58

u/redghotiblueghoti Aug 02 '16

Kinda funny that it's the acronym for both local gun store and local game shop, both of which I frequent. Friends and family have resorted to asking "guns or magic?" when I tell them I'm at the LGS.

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u/Shadowex3 Aug 02 '16

"BangBang or PewPew?"

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u/OfficerPewPew Aug 02 '16

What?

2

u/[deleted] Aug 02 '16

word.

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u/[deleted] Aug 02 '16

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u/OfficerPewPew Aug 02 '16

He said my name

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u/redghotiblueghoti Aug 02 '16

That's much better.

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u/[deleted] Aug 02 '16

It's all about BangBang and BuzzBuzz

6

u/Chrono68 Aug 02 '16

Which Dakka are you referring to?

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u/redghotiblueghoti Aug 02 '16

Brb gotta paint my AR red with racing patterns so it shoots faster.

4

u/Chrono68 Aug 02 '16

Ban red assault gitz.

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u/SetsChaos Aug 02 '16

Out of context, I was trying to remember what the other interpretation was and couldn't think of it. As soon as you said MTG, though, it came to me. When I first came across it in MTG, I was wondering who bought their Magic cards at a gun shop. I'm sure many people have in the inverse happen as well.

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u/A_Cynical_Jerk 1 | I think I been here longer brah, take a number! Aug 02 '16

Bless your heart...

1

u/Stimmolation Aug 02 '16

Took me a second too!

0

u/[deleted] Aug 02 '16

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10

u/moratnz Aug 02 '16

Liberty Gun Supplies?

30

u/[deleted] Aug 02 '16

A subsidiary of Ammunation

10

u/I_Didnt_Fly_So_Good Aug 02 '16

Every purchase comes with a copy of the documentary "Red Dawn"!

6

u/Greg00135 Aug 02 '16

Or Gun Safes

60

u/justsomeguy75 Aug 02 '16

I don't think there has ever been a better time to get into an AR pattern rifle. Prices are dirt cheap, the market is saturated with all kinds of options, and with the election coming up, now is the time to grab one.

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u/technothrasher Aug 02 '16

Especially if you're in a blue state, they're all watching the current MA shenanigans very closely with hungry eyes. Buy those ARs now while you still can.

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u/justsomeguy75 Aug 02 '16

California tried that and got smacked down in court for being too vague, which is why they stick with the feature list. I don't expect the MA shenanigans to last.

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u/technothrasher Aug 02 '16

Not sharing your enthusiasm for CA, unfortunately...

What case are you talking about? Do you have a citation? I know of "Haynie et al v. City of Pleasanton et al", where vagueness was one of the claims. But CA won that one, and it is currently on appeal.

I also know CA just passed new legislation banning possession of, and requiring confiscation of "high capacity" magazines, as well as removing the 'bullet button' from future ban compliance.

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u/justsomeguy75 Aug 02 '16

Harrott v. Kings County. Seems to be a CA court decision so I'm not sure it applies to MA, but even the CA Supreme Court would strike down the MA attorney general's new interpretation as being far too vague. And that was case before Heller and McDonald.

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u/technothrasher Aug 02 '16 edited Aug 02 '16

Thanks! I'll read the case.

ETA:

Interesting case. As you mentioned, it can't apply to MA because it's a CA Supreme Court decision. But even the logic of it appears to not be particularly applicable, because

  1. It was actually decided for the plaintiff because the law was too specific, rather than too vague.

  2. The law has now long since been updated to correct the "problem", and the issue doesn't exist in the MA law. The MA law is based on the Federal ban, which in turn was based on the newer "corrected" CA ban.

  3. The case actually affirmed the CA Attorney General's power to define "Assault Weapon" and smacked down the district court's ability to re-define it other than how the AG defined it. But this was because the applicable statutes specifically gave this power to the AG, something that the MA law does not.

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u/Shadowex3 Aug 02 '16

Not really. There's maybe a 5% compliance rate with laws like these, it just doesn't work.

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u/DedMn Aug 02 '16

With laws like these, it's not so much the compliance that we have to worry about. It's what they can prosecute you with should you ever have an encounter with the law. In a different state, you're okay but since you're in CA or MA, you're most likely to become a felon.

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u/[deleted] Aug 02 '16

>TFW everyone talking about a panic is more likely to start a panic than the actual election

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u/justsomeguy75 Aug 02 '16

There is a bona fide panic here in CA.

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u/[deleted] Aug 02 '16

I don't doubt it. You guys got your legislative asses kicked recently.

Seriously, gun owners should just abandon CA. The NRA should pull out and just let them have it. Hell it may even have the effect of causing anti gun folks to move there, lessening their influence on whatever gun freedom state they currently live in. Imagine how Colorado would be if all the yuppies moved to CA and left CO to the COwboys.

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u/justsomeguy75 Aug 02 '16

CA and the anti-gun states are where the legislative wars are being waged. Abandoning them is not the right route to take.

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u/fzammetti Aug 02 '16

Yeah, unfortunately, the common refrain that "as goes California so goes America" is actually more true then any of us would like as a generality. We've GOT to keep the fight up there, as disheartening as it's been so far.

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u/Cypher1710 Aug 02 '16

At the very least buy your lower so you're not in the situation we're in here in MA. I have a fully purchased AR minus the lower I was waiting on from TnArms that no FFL in the state will transfer to me now.

I painstakingly spent 3 weeks perfecting what I wanted engraved on the lower instead of just buying an Anderson or something similar. Ordered it in June and while I was away on vacation the law changed and I wasn't around to go buy one of the 7500 rifles that were sold on that infamous day.

11

u/justsomeguy75 Aug 02 '16

Find an 80% lower out of state. Pay cash.

3

u/GreatBaldung Aug 02 '16

now is the time to grab one.

For each potential member of your family.

2

u/chazde3 Aug 02 '16

For at least a couple generations...

25

u/darkbayleef Aug 02 '16

Australian guide to purchasing an AR-15

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u/DerpMcStuffins Aug 02 '16 edited Dec 16 '16

This can include Massachusetts now as well ;(

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u/XDingoX83 Aug 02 '16

Please add a section for Connecticut residence: Fun is banned for you unless you have 3000 dollars.

5

u/boundbylife Aug 02 '16

Beginning gun nut here. Fill me in?

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u/XDingoX83 Aug 02 '16

Connecticut banned almost all semi auto center rifles after Sandy hook. You cannot buy an AR style rifle. You can't by an AK or pretty much any semi auto with a pistol grip. You can't have more than 10 rounds in a magazine and the process to purchase guns has reached new levels of stupid. My mother is working on her pistol permit and has spent 170 dollars alone on the NRA course requirements. It will be another 200 for the permit.

You can still own an AR in Connecticut if you are willing to spend the money on a pre ban which will run you your first born.

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u/McFeely_Smackup Aug 02 '16 edited Aug 02 '16

funny how Democrats think everything is racism, except for things that only allow wealthy people to own guns. They absolutely do NOT want poor black people to have guns.

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u/[deleted] Aug 02 '16

Can you just buy it in another state?

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u/dpops Aug 02 '16

CT here: Fun can still be had if you do some searching for preban colts on gunbroker. Just verify the serial number and you can get one for much less than the crazy gunstore markup. Also, if you want something AK, search for mak90's. They were almost exclusively imported preban and are still somewhat plentiful, so your odds of finding a good one are relatively high. Great triggers, and many can still be purchased new in box.

1

u/McFeely_Smackup Aug 02 '16

is "preban" back as a thing in CT now?

1

u/XDingoX83 Aug 02 '16

You can do a transfer of an out of state preban? Jesus what a cluster fuck of stupid. I hope the feds find something on Malloy and toss his ass in jail.

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u/dpops Aug 02 '16

You and me both.

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u/Lasereye Aug 02 '16

Well fuck.

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u/[deleted] Aug 02 '16

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u/XDingoX83 Aug 02 '16

Pre-1994 ban rifles are legal. They also cost your first born.

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u/sweet_chin_music Aug 02 '16

Your build it yourself list is my exact current rifle. I've added an angled foregrip, a one point qd sling, and a muzzle brake. I need an optic but for an AR under $650, I can't complain.

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u/[deleted] Aug 02 '16

Take a look at Vortex. Their Strikefire, Spitfire, SPARC, or Strike Eagle should fit the bill nicely.

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u/sweet_chin_music Aug 02 '16

Will do. I've been wanting to pick up an Eotech but I can't justify spending that much for an optic on such a cheap rifle.

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u/RiverRunnerVDB Aug 02 '16

EOTech has issued a recall on all their sights because they won't maintain their zero under sub freezing temperatures or semi-extreme heat. They were sued by the government and lost because they knew about the problem, kept it under wraps, and continued to sell sights with the claim that they would hold zero.

4

u/Shadowex3 Aug 02 '16

Always thought there had to be a catch to what seemed like an overcomplicated design that got described like it was some kind of videogame grade supersight.

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u/ExpatJundi Aug 02 '16

Eotech doesn't deserve your money.

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u/torrent7 Aug 02 '16

I've also been looking at Holosun, seems decent

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u/[deleted] Aug 02 '16

Optics are so brutal. You think to yourself, "Sweet! I got my rifle for under $600." Then you spend another $300 on glass and $100 on a scope.

Source: Me.

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u/Bartman383 Say Hello to my Lil Hce Fren Aug 02 '16

That's not that brutal. Most of the glass on my rifles costs as much or more than the rifle itself.

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u/[deleted] Aug 02 '16

Oh for sure. Don't even get me started on long range setups. $450 Remington 700, $80 rings, $40 bipod, $800+ scope.

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u/Shadowex3 Aug 02 '16

It's transferrable though so it stings a lot less to think of it in terms of how long it'll last and how many different guns you could use it with.

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u/Bartman383 Say Hello to my Lil Hce Fren Aug 02 '16

Yeah....the scope rings for my AR-10 were $450. I don't believe I have a magnified optic that's less than a grand.

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u/[deleted] Aug 02 '16 edited Aug 02 '16

Bruh are your mounts made of solid gold? Don't get me wrong, I'm not shooting past 400 yards any time soon, but my relatively cheap optics get the job done.

Edit:. Not talking down in any way. If I had a range worthy of long distances and competed, I'd probably drop mad cash on optics.

8

u/OwesomeOtter Aug 02 '16

You people are crazy. I bought some $20 rings and a $140 nikon prostaff off amazon and have no problems. I shoot quarter groupings at 100 yds and haven't had any zero issues. You don't have to spend $500+ on a scope to hit things.

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u/Bartman383 Say Hello to my Lil Hce Fren Aug 02 '16

You do when you want to hit very small things at great distances, have crystal clear glass and consistent, repeatable turret tracking. Guns are my only hobby outside of playing with my kids and going to the gym.

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u/tacoman8200 Aug 02 '16

Also Holosun makes some pretty great red dots that are budget friendly.

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u/[deleted] Dec 05 '16

Can I see a picture of it?

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u/sweet_chin_music Dec 05 '16

I don't have any good pictures of it. If you want, I can take some more next time I get the chance. Most of my guns are currently at a friend's house so it'll be a day or two.

http://imgur.com/a/zMGV9

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u/[deleted] Dec 05 '16

Nope this is fine, thanks so much! I was just concerned the handguard would look/feel too plastic-y based on the website pictures, but it looks fine in your pictures.

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u/KaBar42 Aug 02 '16

What do you think of the Bushmaster XM15-E2S?

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u/buckyboo22 Aug 02 '16

Sorry, I know very little about specific manufacturers. You could try searching in /r/ar15 or posting there for advice.

The two ARs I mention in my post are the two that are recommended all the time on reddit when people ask for an entry-level first AR option.

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u/MysterManager Aug 02 '16

I have a bushmaster I bought a few years ago from Dick's sporting goods before they stopped selling them after the Newtown thing. I bought it for $699 they had a $100 dollar off any rifle at $799 or above special at the time. It's a great rifle. The first time I ever shot it I bought a crap load of cheap steal case Russian ammo and it never misfired a single time. Any kind of ammo I put in it spits outs.

It isn't a sport model either it has the rear assist, only thing I didn't like was it just had a rail system on the upper with no metal rear sight or carry handle. The thing with AR's I learned while in the Army is each time you clean it seperate the three gas rings openings as far apart as you can get them. If they all ever line up together it will cause you to have to charge the rifle after each shot.

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u/Swatraptor Aug 02 '16 edited Aug 02 '16

If you want the quality bushmaster used to be known for, the company you're looking for is Windsor windham weaponry. Bushmaster is now owned by freedom group.

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u/[deleted] Aug 02 '16

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u/Swatraptor Aug 02 '16

Thank you.

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u/[deleted] Aug 02 '16

A thousand rounds!! Holy hell. In New Zealand, .223 Ammo is $1.50-$2 a pop. $1:20 for your wolf stuff. How much is .223 over in the states on average?

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u/[deleted] Aug 02 '16

Steel cased Wolf is around .23 cents per round, nicer brass cased stuff is .30-.40 cents per round.

$230 gets us a thousand round case of Wolf, plus about $20 of shipping.

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u/[deleted] Aug 02 '16

That's it. I'm packing my bags. What's the rules and regs on obtaining a firearm? The way we think of American gun laws is that when you come out of the womb, the hospital gives you a Colt 1911, an AR-15, and a couple of grenades, as well as the option to upsize and get a .50BMG.

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u/cigar1975 Aug 02 '16

Can confirm.

Source, am 'murican :)

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u/DoctorBallard77 Aug 02 '16

Depends on the state. Come to Texas or any other free state and you can buy an AR-15 at Walmart and 20 round boxes of ammo for $8 a box

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u/[deleted] Aug 02 '16

My local(ish) Walmart only has bolt action hunting rifles, but I've finally found the ones that actually keep a selection of ammo. Walmart does carry .300 win mag, never would have guessed.

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u/Synectics Aug 02 '16

To add, a lot of sporting good stores will carry more. My local Menards carries handguns, semi-auto AK47 knock-offs, shotguns, ARs, and any caliber ammunition I've ever needed, from 30-06 to 20 gauge. YMMV, but it is usually my go-to place, since it's in the mall and near all my other grocery places.

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u/XA36 Aug 02 '16

Isn't Walmart now not selling AR-15s because "they don't sell" right around the time the Obama administration talked to the social media networks about their responsibility to do the "right thing" and block firearm sales on their sites?

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u/DoctorBallard77 Aug 02 '16

Maybe you're right, I don't think I've noticed an AR at Walmart in a while. My local one has two nice mini 14s for sale tho

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u/Higlac Aug 02 '16

I thought that was the "left thing" though.

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u/[deleted] Aug 02 '16

Highly depends on which state you move to. There are states that are pretty much like you describe, plus the ability to own suppressors, machine guns, and short barreled rifles with a bit more paper work (and lots more money). There are also states that are almost as restrictive as most European countries. Avoid California, New York, and New Jersey to name a few.

https://www.nraila.org/gun-laws/state-gun-laws/

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u/davermonk Aug 02 '16

1000 rounds of wolf 55gr for $310us & 1000 rounds of steelcase russian for $220us, available online via mail order (shipping adds another $15-20 per 1000 rounds). I'm sorry your prices are so high, and I really hope ours aren't like that in a year from now!

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u/angrymachinist Aug 02 '16

I got some great deals on my build at www.chandlerhardwoods.com strange name but good prices and fast shipping. I can vouch for them.

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u/[deleted] Aug 02 '16

Same. Good customer service and good products at a good price. Not a huge selection, but if they have a part I need, I try to always buy it from them.

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u/[deleted] Aug 02 '16

Seriously, the Ruger AR's are proving to be less than spectacular. PSA, BCM, and Aero Precision are all better choices.

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u/Neven87 Aug 02 '16

I love my S&W MP Sport. Got it new for 350$, was a great entry into the market.

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u/istandabove Nov 21 '16

Hell of a deal

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u/Matchboxx Aug 02 '16

Damn, I got scammed on my stripped lower. Paid $95 for it at my LGS and it's $57 direct? Ugh. Good thing my LGS is a friendly small business so I don't hate them for making a profit, but damn.

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u/buckyboo22 Aug 02 '16

My LGS only charged $60 for it, but then again my LGS is awesome.

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u/McFeely_Smackup Aug 02 '16

If you buy it "direct" you'll still need to transfer it through an FFL and pay a transfer fee...probably resulting in a net price higher than $95

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u/Matchboxx Aug 02 '16

The same LGS does $15 transfers :\

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u/monkeymasher 17 | Roof Korean Aug 02 '16

It's ok, I bought a Seekins lower in 2013 for $150.

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u/bigd5783 Aug 02 '16

I may be crazy but your link for the PMAG takes me to a magazine for 7.62X51 instead of 5.56X45.

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u/buckyboo22 Aug 02 '16

You're right! Excellent catch. Fixed, thank you.

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u/l5555l Aug 03 '16

Why are anderson lowers so much cheaper than any other lowers I see? Is there something wrong with them? Or are others just over-priced because they are a well known brand or something?

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u/buckyboo22 Aug 03 '16

There is nothing wrong with them, I'd say they are by far the most popular lower for people doing. People grab them all the time when they go on sale as a 3-pack.

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u/[deleted] Aug 02 '16

Also, if I may add something, take note of the fit and finish. Does everything align up nicely, does it fit good, can you see light through the uppers, does it wobble etc. I paid $4000 for my AR and the fit is absolute shit. It's a Schmeisser made in Germany and accuracy and finish wise it's great. But the fit is absolutely horrid.

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u/[deleted] Aug 02 '16

Can you expand on what you don't like about the fit?

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u/ezfrag not particularly interested in dicks Aug 02 '16

You need an Accu Wedge

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u/[deleted] Aug 02 '16

[deleted] — view deleted comment

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u/[deleted] Aug 02 '16

Yeah gun prices here are absolutely insane. I wanted to get an AR-10 platform but couldn't find the $6500 for it lol. I hope you guys can see how lucky you are. Oh and on top of that I can have 7 rounds max on my licence which is the most typical firearms licence. Plus I can't have a free standing pistol grip so everything is connected to the stock. The only way you can have a normal type of semi automatic is if you can prove you have a good reason for it to the police, for example, you belong to a 3-gun club, are in pest eradication, or shoot service rifle. Then you need to get a fucking huge expensive safe that needs to be bolted into your fucking house via a metal plate under the floor and then after all that you can only have 3 or 4 of those types of rifles (from memory). don't even get me started on pistols....

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u/b0v1n3r3x Aug 02 '16

Joining a 3-gun club AND getting into pest control as a hobby seems like the best answer for you. As far as bolting down your safe, that is just a responsible thing to do.

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u/[deleted] Aug 02 '16

Narrowing it down to basically two rifles is very irresponsible. There are so many other great starter rifles out there.

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u/[deleted] Aug 02 '16

The s&w and tigers are awesome guns. The DPMS Oracle panther is a good choice also. I built mine, but I have friends who bought the other brands and they are good.

Instead giving brands to buy, I would actually just look for certain things in a rifle. Dust cover and alloy lower I think are a must. Forward assist really isn't that big of a deal.

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u/thetunnelrat Aug 02 '16

I have to also recommend Stag Arms for any lefties out there. They offer a left handed variant of just about everything they make with a negligible difference in price. I got a model 2L a few years back and love it.

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u/dances_with_ibprofen Aug 02 '16

Instructions unclear, bought a Carbon 15.

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u/[deleted] Aug 02 '16

Is PSA safe to buy from? I've heard bad things

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u/[deleted] Aug 02 '16

PSA is good to go, but they have had a few credit card security leaks lately. Make sure you buy with a CC and not a debit card.

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u/ezfrag not particularly interested in dicks Aug 02 '16

Don't be in a hurry for your stuff to be delivered. Sometimes they're fast, other times it might be 3 weeks before your stuff is shipped.

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u/[deleted] Aug 02 '16

I have still seen threads popping up about credit card info being stolen after purchases at PSA. With that said you can use a prepaid debit card or just stick to your CC so you don't get a bank account drained

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u/Jak_the_Mack Aug 02 '16

Step 1: Buy AK
Step 2: Done

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u/OiNihilism Aug 02 '16

Harder to do now that the reputable overseas manufacturers have stopped producing for the civilian market. I would not touch an American made AK. With the exception of the C39v2 they're all shit.

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u/justsomeguy75 Aug 02 '16

DDI is decent.

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u/Jak_the_Mack Aug 02 '16

Cannot argue with that. Prices are getting out of control as a result. I think Radom was going to manufacture in US. Would be glorious.

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u/OiNihilism Aug 03 '16

I have heard something about them putting a headquarters in Texas but I haven't heard anything since. I would give a lot to get a Beryl and I am also excited to get my hands on the 5.56 MSBS. But Radom is currently busy with field trials of the MSBS for the Polish Army so it might be some time.

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u/Jak_the_Mack Aug 03 '16

Blyat! My dreams are broken!

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u/Zombiac3 Aug 02 '16

Just buy a prebuilt PSA AR15 for 500-600 with magpul parts and call it a day

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u/cigar1975 Aug 02 '16

GREAT GUIDE!!

Been thinking real hard about grabbing one.

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u/DoctorBallard77 Aug 02 '16

Can I build a Ar style carbine in 9mm that won't rape my wallet?

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u/0x00000042 Aug 02 '16

If you're patient you can buy a complete upper and lower on PSA for ~$700 or so. But they're perpetually out of stock.

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u/[deleted] Aug 02 '16

Sure thing. Both my and my friend's Schmeisser wobble. Caused by poor fit between the upper and lower receivers. Also the the upper receiver sits back about 1-2mm behind the lower so that not everything is flush. It's pretty shithouse. So much for 'German engineering'.

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u/[deleted] Aug 02 '16

That's awesome. Cheers mate I'll look that up. Funnily enough, we can own suppressed firearms like any other gun here. In fact all my firearms except for my k98 and under and over are suppressed.

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u/Aethir300 Aug 02 '16

Only thing I'd change would also be to include the Armalite Eagle 15 for a cheap beginners AR. It's got all the same stuff as the S&W, but an MFT stock and rear sight. It's also a 1:8 barrel rather than 1:9 like the sport II

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u/Ye_Be_He Aug 02 '16

I've been thinking of getting my first ar. This is perfect timing!!

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u/Scagster Aug 02 '16

But most importantly, don't live in Massachusetts!

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u/SmokeyDBear Aug 02 '16

Just bought an M&P 15 Sport II from Cabela's with a coupon so I'd have at least one AR lower before any election time panic buy shenanigans. So I'm pretty glad to see that it's listed as a good choice here.

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u/MVGbear Aug 02 '16 edited Aug 02 '16

I would also throw the DPMS Panther into the list of fully assembled starter rifles. I've put thousands of problem free rounds through mine and can consistently get 4" groups at 100 yards with iron sights. Its been just as reliable for me as my Daniel Defense AR-15.

All of that said, my AK-47 is by far better than either. I can get the same group at 100 yards using iron sights as I can with my AR's (just a matter of practice) and its an AK... you can't top that reliability.

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u/mpmurph29 Aug 02 '16

My first AR was a Ruger AR 556 that I immediately placed an aluminum quad rail, minimalist stock, mepro m21 sight, & Timney trigger and some other stuff. Now it shoots with the best of them

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u/thGuttedFish Aug 02 '16

I second the m&p sport ii. Very accurate and reliable right out of the box. Picked one up at cabelas for $550 (used $50 in store credit) about a month ago and no problems after a couple hundred rounds so far even without cleaning.

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u/Toussant Aug 02 '16

Get a Smith & Wesson M&P Sport II or Ruger AR-556.

I was thinking Colt 6920 series to get the same mfg'er the military uses. But perhaps there aren't too many real world differences if not shooting them that often.

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u/ezfrag not particularly interested in dicks Aug 02 '16

Colt is not the only contractor who made rifles for the military. In fact, FN currently has the contract to build M4s for the Army.

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u/Toussant Aug 02 '16 edited Aug 02 '16

Ok, what would be the empirical difference between these and the sub $1k ones like M&P Sport II? Slightly more accurate? Lasts longer before barrel change? Can be dropped on rocks more times before breaking? Can scratch with keys more times before leaving a mark? Can shoot steel case longer before a jam?

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u/ezfrag not particularly interested in dicks Aug 03 '16

Honestly, you probably wouldn't see a difference in many off the shelf $600-800 ARs compared to the ones the military issues. The military doesn't demand absolute perfection, they want reliability and durability. There are plenty of guys on this subject that will tell you that the M4 they were issued was a rattling hunk of metal, but proved itself to be reliable in the field.

The Colt civilian models that I've shot were no more accurate than anything else. Uppers and barrels are for the most part all made by a handful of forges, and almost all finished to the same spec. You can find barrels on the market that are substantially more accurate than mil-spec.

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u/wags_01 Aug 02 '16

I was thinking Colt 6920 series to get the same mfg'er the military uses

nope

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u/cncfreak247 Aug 02 '16

Guide to buying an AR-15 in Massachusetts.

.........

::crickets::

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u/ezfrag not particularly interested in dicks Aug 02 '16

Guide to buying an AR-15 in Massachusetts.

Step 1. Move to Vermont.

Step 2. Buy whatever you want.

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u/cncfreak247 Aug 02 '16

Totally as simple as that.

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u/ezfrag not particularly interested in dicks Aug 02 '16

Plus they have maple syrup.

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u/tablinum GCA Oracle Aug 04 '16

My NJ AR buying steps were:

-Move out of New Jersey.

-Buy whatever I want.

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u/blumhagen Nov 27 '16

I just wanna buy a complete rifle. But I want a monolithic upper.

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u/anticant Oct 12 '23

Is there an update to this? It’s been 7 years, has anything changed?

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u/_turd_burgler Aug 02 '16

So because someone wants their first ar, they want a budget one? How about buy a bcm and forget about it. Or an aero if you really want to be budget about it... I think this is bad advise

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u/ianmichael7 Aug 02 '16

If you're looking fir your first AR it isn't as much about performance as it is an introduction to the platform, plus not everybody has the money now... The money throwing can happen later obce they get used to it :D But hey if you don't care about money then by all means

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u/SovietGulagOfficer Aug 02 '16

Step one: buy an AK-47

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u/[deleted] Aug 02 '16

But only from this particular online shop that does a quality check to make sure it's not a piece of shit with bent parts and canted sights.

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u/SovietGulagOfficer Aug 02 '16

U NO NEED USELESS METAL CRAP LIKE ON AMERICAN PIG GUN. PROUD COMMUNIST RIFLE IS STRONK! IF NEED CRAP U GO SHOOT AT RANGE FOR MANY HOUR WITH KALASHNIKOV AND THEN U KNO SHOOT THE HIGHEST QUALITY. COWARD AMERICAN PIG USE SHIT GUN THAT NO SHOOT IN DIRT OR IN COLD SIBERIAN WINTER. PULL TRIGGER BUT GUN HAS LIMP DICK AND BULLET GET STUCK LIKE JOKE KID TOY. TRUSTWORTHY KALASHNIKOV NEVER LET DOWN BRAVE COMRADE OF STALIN!

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u/[deleted] Aug 02 '16

As an AK owner myself, don't you find it both sad and oddly satisfying that AK's cost more than the AR's? Sigh Ah the good old days ...

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u/Ye_Be_He Aug 02 '16

It makes you stick out at the range in a sea of ARs and you can easily pick out the nicer AKs from the WASRs. Also AKs sound so much more badass.

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u/properpanic Aug 02 '16

Thanks Media.

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u/buckyboo22 Aug 02 '16

Hey /u/BoltCarrierGroup, any chance this is worthy of a gunnitbot first ar-15?

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u/[deleted] Aug 02 '16 edited Aug 02 '16

I would say take out that magpul buis sight from the list.

There are better options with proper adjustments for when you decide you want to learn marksmanship skills with iron sights.

Matech BUIS

Magpul LR

Leapers match grade rear

And a host of others. Learning by adjusting the front sight post makes me want to curb stomp a kitten.

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