Completely ignorant AR-15 questions

2876 Views 33 Replies 0 Participants Last post by XD.dwg, Aug 8, 2007

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Discussion Starter · Aug 6, 2007

Pardon my complete lack of knowledge on the subject as I have just recently become interested in purchasing an AR-15 in the near future.

I've always wanted one and thought i'd wait a couple years to buy one (mostly for plinking but also for varmit hunting and i guess HD if the SHTF) but have now been worried at the prospect of them being banned again depending on next years election results. My bank account says i'd like to keep things at $850 and below.

Anyway i've looked around some and have a compiled some questions that probably seem really stupid but i'm gonna ask them anyway

1. Can any company's barrel/upper reciever assembly be combined with another companie's lower reciever assembly?

2. Is putting the barrel assembly and the upper and lower receivers(both purchased fully assembled) together an easy task for a noob such as myself? Is this a good way to save money over buying a fully assembled rifle? What kind of savings would one get in doing things this way?

3. Can I be assured of a quality product if I choose amongst the following companies; Stag, Superior Arms, DPMS, Del-ton RRA? Any others i should look out for?

4. Can the individual components (handguard, trigger, handle etc) be modified/upgraded at a later date easily?

5. Is a chrome lined barrel worth the extra money? I've got a $850 preliminary budget.

6. What's the average distance limit a 16" barreled rifle can maintain "combat" accuracy (assuming the shooter is doing his part).

1 - 20 of 34 Posts

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Discussion Starter · #2 · Aug 6, 2007

Lucky Strike said:
Pardon my complete lack of knowledge on the subject as I have just recently become interested in purchasing an AR-15 in the near future.

I've always wanted one and thought i'd wait a couple years to buy one (mostly for plinking but also for varmit hunting and i guess HD if the SHTF) but have now been worried at the prospect of them being banned again depending on next years election results. My bank account says i'd like to keep things at $850 and below.

Anyway i've looked around some and have a compiled some questions that probably seem really stupid but i'm gonna ask them anyway

1. Can any company's barrel/upper reciever assembly be combined with another companie's lower reciever assembly?

2. Is putting the barrel assembly and the upper and lower receivers(both purchased fully assembled) together an easy task for a noob such as myself? Is this a good way to save money over buying a fully assembled rifle?

3. Can I be assured of a quality product if I choose amongst the following companies; Stag, Superior Arms, DPMS, Del-ton RRA? Any others i should look out for?

4. Can the individual components (handguard, trigger, handle etc) be modified/upgraded at a later date easily?

5. Is a chrome lined barrel worth the extra money? I've got a $850 preliminary budget.

6. What's the average distance limit a 16" barreled rifle can maintain "combat" accuracy (assuming the shooter is doing his part).

1-Pretty much, Some fit better than others but you should be okay with pretty much any brands, Also finish may or may not match.

2- yes it's easy, simple put the two parts together and insert the 2 pins you culd do it blind folded

3- yes

4- yes

5- chome lined or chrome Moly? Chrome moly you get better accuracy, With the chrome you get a little longer life. Chrome Moly is fine for most shooter

6- no reason 100yds should be hard to maintain accuracy..

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Discussion Starter · #3 · Aug 6, 2007

^^^ what he said. plus, for #6...marines train out to what? 500 yards? with iron sights? the normal ar iron sight is ranged from 100 to 300 yards...

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Discussion Starter · #4 · Aug 6, 2007

it was only possible (IMO) cause of the combination of the 20in. HB, 1/7 twist, and the fact that if missed too many times at 500yrds. I'd have to do it all over again for the next 2 weeks.

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Discussion Starter · #5 · Aug 6, 2007

1. Can any company's barrel/upper reciever assembly be combined with another companie's lower reciever assembly?

There are some Colt iterations that have smaller pivot pins/holes, outside of that, you're generally good to go with any of the big name manufacturers.

2. Is putting the barrel assembly and the upper and lower receivers(both purchased fully assembled) together an easy task for a noob such as myself? Is this a good way to save money over buying a fully assembled rifle? What kind of savings would one get in doing things this way?

As stated before, not much to it. 1 take down pin and one pivot pin. Where your savings come in is purchasing a completed upper and stripped lower/parts kit. Not much too it if you are even a little mechanically inclined and take your time. Plenty of how-to's on the net - www.ar15.com is a great source for the how-to stuff.

3. Can I be assured of a quality product if I choose amongst the following companies; Stag, Superior Arms, DPMS, Del-ton RRA? Any others i should look out for?

Out of those, not much to worry about. I personally would recommend both Stag and RRA.. those two I have experience with and no issue thousands of rounds later. Others to consider are LMT, Bushmaster and Colt.

4. Can the individual components (handguard, trigger, handle etc) be modified/upgraded at a later date easily?

Yes and this is where the addiction really kicks in... think of the AR platform kind of like you would a 1911 or even a volkswagon bug.. the sky is just about the limit. Remember that you get what you pay for as so many new AR owners find out the hard way.

5. Is a chrome lined barrel worth the extra money? I've got a $850 preliminary budget.

Can be, but as said before, Chrome-Molly will be fine.

6. What's the average distance limit a 16" barreled rifle can maintain "combat" accuracy (assuming the shooter is doing his part).

300+ meters for "combat" accuracy with a 16" barrel. Again that's considering that the operator is doing their part.

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Discussion Starter · #6 · Aug 7, 2007

Just buy a S&W M&P and be done with it.

Bushmaster is good.

Stag/CMT is good.

RRA is good but make sure you get a "Chrome Lined" barrel and don't fall for the "Chrome Moly Steel" trick.

Colt is good but expensive and they'd really rather not sell you their stuff.

Handguards can require removing the front sight base and/or barrel which can be a pain in the butt. Everything else is like tinker toys.

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Discussion Starter · #7 · Aug 7, 2007

XD.dwg said:
Just buy a S&W M&P and be done with it.

Yeah and then prepare for mag well problems!!. Its to new for my taste. Get a RRA entry tactical(I love mine!!) or build it yourself. Either way check out www.ar15.com they are dedicated to this sort of situation. These guys have tons of info. Including the situation with S&W MP 15 having magwell issues. Make your own decision. Its what you like that really matters anyway.

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Discussion Starter · #8 · Aug 7, 2007

I think you've got some good answers to all your questions. I'll add a little more with respect to the barrel. With all other things being equal (e.g., twist) stainless barrels are the most consistent with respect to accuracy. Chrome Moly is slightly less. Chrome line is less than chrome moly. The military generally uses chrome-lined. Two reasons - the major reason being that they offer a longer barrel life. The second less significant is that they are easier to maintain (i.e., clean). So the decision boils down to a personal one. If you want more accuracy and lower cost, go with the chrome moly. If you want longer barrel life and a little easier cleaning, then go with the chrome lined. There's no real right or wrong answer since it depends on what each person is looking for in their particular rifle.

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Discussion Starter · #9 · Aug 7, 2007

+1 I have a crome lined barrel and it is a breeze to clean. It is very accurate too.

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Discussion Starter · #10 · Aug 7, 2007

Buy compete upper and lowers, slap em together, then use the $100 you just saved on mags and ammo

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Discussion Starter · #11 · Aug 7, 2007

71Novacaine said:
Yeah and then prepare for mag well problems!!. Its to new for my taste. Get a RRA entry tactical(I love mine!!) or build it yourself. Either way check out www.ar15.com they are dedicated to this sort of situation. These guys have tons of info. Including the situation with S&W MP 15 having magwell issues. Make your own decision. Its what you like that really matters anyway.

CMT makes the S&W M&P and they've been making ARs for a while. Who do you think made your RRAs parts??

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Discussion Starter · #12 · Aug 7, 2007

To keep this going a little, what caliber uppers will work with no mods at all with .223 lowers? Specifially my DPMS .223 lower.
6.5
6.8
.450
7.62 x 39

Thanks

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Discussion Starter · #13 · Aug 7, 2007

71Novacaine said:
Yeah and then prepare for mag well problems!!. Its to new for my taste. Get a RRA entry tactical(I love mine!!) or build it yourself. Either way check out www.ar15.com they are dedicated to this sort of situation. These guys have tons of info. Including the situation with S&W MP 15 having magwell issues. Make your own decision. Its what you like that really matters anyway.

The mag well issues only revolves around the use of Magpul's PMAGS.

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Discussion Starter · #14 · Aug 7, 2007

XD.dwg said:
CMT makes the S&W M&P and they've been making ARs for a while. Who do you think made your RRAs parts??

So they can't mess up???? What does that have to do with anything?? It is a new rifle and they have there problems. Thats why I said "to new for me". two or three years down the road we will see. But, since "CMT" made my rifle my mags fit perfect!! No problems here!! That S&W issue must be made up!! Thank goodness for "CMT" It does not matter who made what the problem still is there and should be taken into account.

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Discussion Starter · #15 · Aug 7, 2007

nikon777 said:
The mag well issues only revolves around the use of Magpul's PMAGS.

So its the mags problem?? How come they work in every other rifle?? Maybe its the lower reciver thats jacked. So your options are limited when you buy the S&W. I think the magpul is a nice tight fitting mag and that is what exposed the problem. JMHO

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Discussion Starter · #16 · Aug 7, 2007

I am making my own to save some cash and get some parts that I "wanted" not "needed." For the front handguard there are now good free floated two piece railed handguards that are a lot easier to install (no need to remove the front sight). The reason I chose to build it myself was that I would learn every piece of the lower receiver. Plus I just liked the idea of it. For complete rifles Budgunshop has Bushmasters for around $850. I am using Stag Parts (upper, lower, LPK) myself.

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Discussion Starter · #17 · Aug 7, 2007

Thanks to all the replies i got......i thought there was lot to learn about semi-auto handguns when i was researching before I bought my XD.....this is a whole other level.

I was on AR15sales.com (based on a recommendation on that other thread about uppers on the front page) and really liking the idea of getting a RRA assembled upper and lower (i just don't trust myself to get a stripped lower) last night but then the thought of the issue of a warranty. When you buy a completed rifle you get a lifetime warranty.

Do you still get a warranty when you guy a completed upper and lower? I'm usually the type of guy that just coughs up the cash for the piece of mind of a warranty so this could mess up my money saving plans. EDIT: oh i just missed it....it says there's a warranty on the upper....any idea on the lower though?

Also someone mentioned new easier to install handguards that are out. I'd like to get the type that you can mount stuff on the four sides. Can you post a link? Budget may cause me to go without when i make the initial purchase but I'd definitely like to add them later when i got more money (or a birthday).

Also can anyone give me an example of what kinda $ it costs to ship one of these things? I'm potentially looking at a NH to Oregon delivery.

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Discussion Starter · #18 · Aug 7, 2007

Another dumb question. I see 16" barreled rifles listed as "midlength" and "CAR length"....what's the difference? Pros and cons of either one?

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Discussion Starter · #19 · Aug 7, 2007

Cubicle Commando said:
To keep this going a little, what caliber uppers will work with no mods at all with .223 lowers? Specifially my DPMS .223 lower.
6.5
6.8
.450
7.62 x 39

Thanks

My understanding was anything from .22LR to .50BMG.

The standard A2 sights have a round adjustment knob on them. 8/3 is the "normal" combat sight setting. 8/3 minus 2 clicks is the 200 yard setting. If you go a full turn to 8/3 you have it set of 800 yards but this is wishfull thinking unless you have 1)awesome eyes and 2)a whole lot of luck. "5" on the dial is 500 yards.

500 Meters is easily doable with irons on an A2 length (20") AR. We do it every year for rifle qual.

The A4 and M4 detach carrying handles have diffrent sight adjustments (more precise) so what I typed above only applies to A2 sights.

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Discussion Starter · #20 · Aug 7, 2007

jeepinbanditrider said:
My understanding was anything from .22LR to .50BMG.

Do you mean .50 Beowulf?

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