[theSteve]

When it comes to the AR platform, I'm somewhat of a novice. Maybe a few steps below one, but nonetheless a novice. I am recently interested in buying my own, but my only issue is that I don't know which one to buy. And by that I mean, I don't really know which manufactures to stay away from and which ones to consider. The only advice anyone has every really given is to make sure I buy a piston operated AR. So my question to you guys is, what manufactures should I consider and which ones should I stay away from? If it helps at all, I don't really have a desire to spend more than $1700.00.

[Trey83]

The advice of getting a piston operated AR for your first isn't sound advice IMHO. We need a bit more info to give you advice. Good quality manufacturers that would easily fall under that price range would include Colt, Bravo Company, Daniel Defense, ect...

What do you plan to use the rifle for?
Does the $1700 budget need to include optics, magazines, and accessories or rifle only?

[Hour13]

Originally Posted by theSteve

When it comes to the AR platform, I'm somewhat of a novice. Maybe a few steps below one, but nonetheless a novice. I am recently interested in buying my own, but my only issue is that I don't know which one to buy. And by that I mean, I don't really know which manufactures to stay away from and which ones to consider.

I'm going to assume you don't wish to build an AR, but to buy a complete factory rifle, yes? If so, this is of course, just IMO...

Avoid; PlumCrazy/Frontier Arms, DPMS, Red-X, etc...

Consider; Colt, S&W, DanielDefense, BCM, Windham Weaponry, etc...


The only advice anyone has every really given is to make sure I buy a piston operated AR.

Again, just IMO, but NO. Especially for a first AR, but also in general. The traditional DI operation gives you simplicity, ease of service, parts interchange. It WORKS. The piston system serves a purpose, but overcomplicates a beautifully simple weapon design. Highly over-rated and completely unnecessary.

So my question to you guys is, what manufactures should I consider and which ones should I stay away from? If it helps at all, I don't really have a desire to spend more than $1700.00.

No need to spend more than that. Rifles on my "consider" list range from $650-$1,400.

I'd suggest keeping it at or under $1,000. Then order up a crap-ton of ammo, and enjoy the learning curve.

I'd also suggest perusing the metric ton of similar threads, to get a nice variety of opinions, advice, and absolute BS.

[WoodenPlank]

Hour and Trey both giving solid advice. $1700 is a whopper of a budget for an AR. For that price, you can have one hell of a gun, with money left over for mags, ammo, and even a quality red dot optic (depending on how crazy you go on the rifle).

Give us a better idea of what you want to do with it, if you have any other firearm preferences, etc. and we can give you more pointed advice.

[theSteve]

To answer each one of your individual questions, it is true that I want to buy a factory built rifle. I guess I have more funds than I do time and patience to build my own. Maybe sometime in the future I would like to build my own, I would actually love that. But as I stated before in different words, I don't really have the knowledge of product and manufacture quality to build my own. As for my intended purposes for this rifle, the obvious range shooting and self defense. Although to say that I would actually use the rifle in self defense would be a far cry from the truth. I have a few handguns that I rotate as my nightstand piece and my carry piece. As for my budget, the $1700 does not include optics or any other accessories. Hopefully this information better assists your advice to me. Once again, anything offered is much appreciated.

[Trey83]

There are a lot of great rifles available in that price range. If it was my money, I'd go with a BCM RECCE-16 or Daniel Defense DDM4V5.

[mvician]

If I was buying a factory built AR...............


http://dsgarms.com/ProductInfo/COAR6720.aspx

[Hour13]

Originally Posted by mvician

If I was buying a factory built AR...............


http://dsgarms.com/ProductInfo/COAR6720.aspx

Damn, that is a pretty sweet set-up, great price too.

[midSCarolina]

I would go with an LMT. If you plan to change barrel lengths like going from a standard to like a 10.5" sbr regularly I would get the LMT MRP which will be right on the boundary of your budget. What I went with is the standard LMT rifle and added a DD RIS II rail. With the high-end LMT lower and the standard 14.5" LMT upper with the DD rail it ran me just at $1,550.00. If you get the standard lower without the sopmod and 2-stage trigger it will lower the cost to ~1,350. Add a Troy folding BUIS set for about $180 and you are g2g. Whoever advised you to make sure you got a piston driven AR is poorly informed. Piston ARs are in their infancy and have some issues still. They are heavier (in the front which is the worst type of weight) and a lot of the parts are proprietary). IF you do decided to go with a piston you will be spending more money on less quality. The only two piston systems I would run other than the HK would be the LWRC or the LMT and I would definitely prefer the LWRC. The LWRC would cost you close to $2,300. Quality DI ARs are 1moa rifles while majority of piston ARs are 2-3moa rifles. LWRC can get 1moa with expensive heavier rounds but have 3moa accuracy with cheap mil surplus. Go DI 4sure IMO.

Here is how mine came out (adding the optic obviously made it a little more pricey)

[22rtf2]

Make sure you save up another 1300. If it's under 3k, you will not be like the cool kids.

[mvician]

Originally Posted by 22rtf2

Make sure you save up another 1300. If it's under 3k, you will not be like the cool kids.

[Tim151515]

Originally Posted by 22rtf2

Make sure you save up another 1300. If it's under 3k, you will not be like the cool kids.

true that. In fact...rifles under that price range must be cleaned at an EXACT interval of every 58 rounds. DONT LOST COUNT! its very important.

[Trey83]

Originally Posted by 22rtf2

Make sure you save up another 1300. If it's under 3k, you will not be like the cool kids.

What is the purpose of this post? Please enlighten me.

[Tim151515]

Originally Posted by Trey83

What is the purpose of this post? Please enlighten me.

im assuming it was in jest of whoever told him he needed a piston for a first AR.

[faawrenchbndr]

Originally Posted by 22rtf2

Make sure you save up another 1300. If it's under 3k, you will not be like the cool kids.

Take your fishing' pole & go troll in the kiddie pool where you belong!

[theSteve]

Thank you for your advice midSCarolina, I appreciate your time. As for saving up an extra $1300 so that I can be considered a "cool kid," I'll definitely have to pass. I'd never want to subject myself to that low. And to make clear as to why I was told to get a piston operated rifle, his reasons were that it was in fact more reliable and easier to clean. But keep in mind that he was just stating his opinion just as all of you have. Whether those are actually facts or mere opinions, i dont know. I'm the novice remember?

[Nutt51]

Lot's of folks say, if you're going to buy a complete
AR, go ahead and get the pony, (Colt).
They are fine rifles and under your budget.
I have had Colt's, but I can't brag enough about my
BCM's. There are some fine AR companies out there,
Noveske, LMT, Colt, and BCM (Bravo).
Research some, listen to other shooters, and take some of it
with a grain of salt, before you decide.
If you want a quality rifle stick with one of the upper brands, you can get a top tier AR for around $1200.00 and up.
I bought a BCM upper, BCM BCG, Gunfighter charging handle,
BCM lower, Magpul Moe grip, CTR stock, and Magpul handguard, and it's my go to rifle with a 16" barrel.
One piece of advice, don't limit yourself with a 14.5" barrel with a extended perm. attached flash hider.
You can't take off or add parts later with an attached hider, and the difference in length is nil to a 16" with standard FH.
Unless you want a true SBR, go with a 16", 18", or 20" barrel,
whichever serves your needs.
Good luck on your choice.

[Airhasz]

Originally Posted by Hour13

Damn, that is a pretty sweet set-up, great price too.

I second the excellent rifle and price...

Also OP, check out Larue ARs...there in your budget and are one of the best.

[Tim151515]

Originally Posted by Nutt51

Lot's of folks say, if you're going to buy a complete
AR, go ahead and get the pony, (Colt).
They are fine rifles and under your budget.
I have had Colt's, but I can't brag enough about my
BCM's. There are some fine AR companies out there,
Noveske, LMT, Colt, and BCM (Bravo).
Research some, listen to other shooters, and take some of it
with a grain of salt, before you decide.
If you want a quality rifle stick with one of the upper brands, you can get a top tier AR for around $1200.00 and up.
I bought a BCM upper, BCM BCG, Gunfighter charging handle,
BCM lower, Magpul Moe grip, CTR stock, and Magpul handguard, and it's my go to rifle with a 16" barrel.
One piece of advice, don't limit yourself with a 14.5" barrel with a extended perm. attached flash hider.
You can't take off or add parts later with an attached hider, and the difference in length is nil to a 16" with standard FH.
Unless you want a true SBR, go with a 16", 18", or 20" barrel,
whichever serves your needs.
Good luck on your choice.

agreed on the quality of BCM. I had decided to get an AR a long time before I got one, but I was going to get a MPsport just to have one for cheap. But I had a last minute desicion to get a Colt, just for nostalgia. A Colt m16 and m4 were the only weapons I were ever issued, and was the first firearm that I ever shot.

With that being said, if you are looking for top quality service AR for the dollar, you need to look at a DD or a BCM. Colt is a fantastic rifle and I love it, but the other 2 are the exact same quality with more factory features. To outfit my Colt to the point as you could get a DD or BCM you would ahve to spend more money.

My point is this. You have to pay a little bit more for the Pony, so unless you really want a Colt, you can get a better deal for the same quality rifle with the other choices. Because, in case you didn't know, your Colt AR comes with a standard polymer handguard(no rail) and a carrying handle(if you wanted an optic you would have to get that and a backup flip up).

[WarEagle32]

I would definitely go with a DD or a BCM if I were you. Then stick an Aimpoint on that badboy any buy a ton of ammo. Also, as stated above don't go with a piston gun. Go direct impingement.

[Gunnut 45/454]

I'd say get a Colt $1000-1200, get a good optic $200-400 then spend the rest on ammo and go shoot it ! And your going to want more ammo so your budget is going to get blown!

[slosh]

I have a Stag Arms AR and just love it. Cant say anything bad about it. Shoots and ejects everything i throw at it. I see no one here as recommened them. But they are a great rifle and can get them at a decent price, then you have money left over for optics and ammo or accessories.

[Apetrulis01]

OK, with 1700 I would do:

- Colt from Walmart, aimpoint, and then a bunch of ammo
- BCM aimpoint, and a bunch of ammo
- Stag 3G and a Aimpoint and ammo (good for defense, range, and 3 gun matches if you ever go that way).
-Loki Weapon Systems
- Rainier Arms

Adam

[Fwdftw]

With 1700? Factory BCM or Larue

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[K. Foster]

I would not recommend a piston for your first AR. You can buy a complete rifle or you can mix & match uppers and lowers according to price and availability. Companies I would buy from are Colt, LMT, Daniel Defense, BCM. Then get 10 to 12 quality mags and a couple cases of ammo.