AR Questions...I need help.

petey1 said:

I am considering buying an AR style rifle, possibly a Bushmaster M4 A3 with 16 inch barrel. I am also thinking of a Springfield Armory Scout or Socom. I need advice and suggestions from anyone that owns either of these rifles. I like the custom options available for the Bushmaster but I also like the M1A styling and 7.62 round. What can anyone tell me??? 5.56 and 7.62? Quality and reliability of Bushmaster? Good price for each rifle? Thanks in advance for any comments

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Q: I am considering buying an AR style rifle, possibly a Bushmaster M4 A3 with 16 inch barrel. I am also thinking of a Springfield Armory Scout or Socom.

IMHO: Two different animals here. Both have their strengths. You won't go wrong with either choice of weapon. The SoComs are fairly heavy when compaired to the AR, then again you can make an AR too heavy if you go mod crazy.

Q: 5.56 and 7.62?

IMHO: Different performance characteristics. Both effective in their intended use. Both are fairly expensive (relatively speaking) even in bulk. Though I can say that in my area I can snag 1K of .223 (aka 5.56) for about $190 and 1k of surplus 7.62 for about $290-320.
Both are fun to shoot.. You'll see better long range accuracy from the SoCom's than you will from the typical 16" barrel of the AR's. But there are ton's of options for both when it comes to ammo types.

Q: Quality and reliability of Bushmaster? Good price for each rifle?

IMHO: Bushy makes a fine weapon... that being said, they like Smith and Wesson, H&K, SIG and a few others are rather proud of their products which translates in to higher prices.
RRA (Rock River Armory) comes to mind first as a more cost effective alternative to Bushmaster and the "upper tier" manufacturers. Other such as Stag, Olympic Arms are also good builders, but my preference is RRA.

Q: Good price for each rifle?IMHO:AR's should run you less than $800 as a base platform. The SoCom and the Scout should run between $1100 and $1600 depending on what you get with it.


Now.. with all of that said, I'm a fan of both weapons but don't own one of the SoCom's or Scouts. I do have several AR's one of which is a Bushmaster XM-15E2 and I have no complaints with the weapon. I paid more for it than I should have, but it was my first... I know better now .

You can do a bit more with the AR base platform than most folks think. Think of the AR like a Kit Car.. you get the basic version to start and you can tweek the hell out of it from there. Railed forends, Carbon Fiber forends, A2/3 and M4 style forends, many many grip options, sight's ranging from fixed iron sights (A1/2/3 itterations), flip-up front and rear sights, peep and long range sights... the list goes on and on and on!!!

Optics is another whole area where prefence for types or reticles, effective range etc.. comes to play. You can spend $12 for a cheapo or thousands on high end glass. Several great options all around for both platforms and actually you'll see where several itterations of optics have use on both weapon platforms.

Hope that helps.