Looking to get my first AR

3819 Views 47 Replies 0 Participants Last post by ChrisChris, Sep 20, 2007

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Discussion Starter · Sep 14, 2007

I really like the Bushmasters. If the Smith and Wesson M&P 15 were the same price, I would probably lean toward the S&W.

I am looking for an M4 model with iron sights. Later I would like to add a holographic sight system, but I don't need it immediatly. I am a little confused as to the different types of Bushmasters. I like the looks of the handle, but some of them appear to be flat? Are there any significant advantages or disadvantages for either setup?

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Discussion Starter · #2 · Sep 14, 2007

well i would get one with the flat top and a detachable handle so you can ad optics easier. are you going to buy a completed ar or are you going to build it yourself. i recommend building it yourself because you can get exactly what you want and save money while learning how your rifle work.
i just got done building mine and i got a rifle with a CMMG upper and a supierior arms lower. well im sure somebody can correct me if im wrong but this is my ideas about it
well the most important part of the ar is the upper and the lower really isnt all that important so if you skimp on the lower parts you can spend more on a really good upper.
in my case if i had bought a completed rifle by cmmg with the exact same set up as mine is would have cost $1050 but since i got a different lower the whole thing only cost me $750 and i would bet that my rifle is just as good as the complete rifle i could have bought

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Discussion Starter · #3 · Sep 14, 2007

To be honest, I feel I would be happy with something like this: http://gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=80433722

Does the top handle come off to allow a optic system? I would like to have an eotech with back up iron sights. Is that possible with the Bushmaster above?

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Discussion Starter · #4 · Sep 14, 2007

ChrisChris said:
To be honest, I feel I would be happy with something like this: http://gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=80433722

Does the top handle come off to allow a optic system? I would like to have an eotech with back up iron sights. Is that possible with the Bushmaster above?

Yes the carry handle comes off on that model, A2 = permanent handle, A3 = detachable....also you really don't want that model in that ad. it has a 14.5" barrel with a permanently mounted flash hider. If you ever decided to free float the barrel, you're out of luck :-( Go with a 16" barrel, the flash hider is removable on those.

Mike

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Discussion Starter · #5 · Sep 14, 2007

yea and there really isnt a point having a 14.5 inch barrel when there has to be a permenent flash hider on it makeing it 16 or more i would rather have 16" of barrel then 14.5 especially if the overall length is the same.
yea get the A3 with the removable handle. do you want the handle or would you be ok with just a rear sight kinda like this one

this one has a tactical cary handle but you get the idea

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Discussion Starter · #6 · Sep 14, 2007

Well, for strict aesthetics I would want a rifle with a handle. Are there any disadvantages to a carry handle? I see what you guys mean about the 14.5 in barrel with the flash add on. It makes sense to get a 16" barrel that has a removable flash hider.

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Discussion Starter · #7 · Sep 14, 2007

3

well you can get a flat top (with removeable carry handle) 16 inch barrel nextyou need to decide weather you want a full length hand guard or the mid-length most likely with a 16 inch barrel you will want the mid-length
now are you set on a 16" barrel or are you debateing between that and larger sizes ? i have an 18 inch barrel and i like it alot i like the looks of the longer barrel. also do you want the regular hand guard or the free floating kind?

this is the flat top with the regular hand guard

this is the one with the free float tube the free float hand guard is supposed to give you a better accuracy i think but i doubt that much so i would choose which one you want by which one you think looks better

the top two have a gas block with a rail that you can put a front sight on if you want. this one has a perment front sight so if you put optics on it makes it hard to see it can still be done but its not ideal. now with the top two you CAN get the detachable carry handle and a front sight also on the plus side you can get flip down front sight so when you throw your optics on all you have to do is flip it down and its not in your way but with the bottom one you would have to remove it. now the bottem one has the permenent carry handle but mine has the flat top with the permenent front sight(which i will swap out when i get the money)
i would say the best choice is one of the top two with flip down front sight and a detachable carry handle. also there is the choice of if you want a stainless bull barrel which is more accurate but not as durable
or a regular crome lined or non-crome lined steel barrel which is less accurate but will last longer. even though chrome lined is less accurate i would recomend it since it will last longer it all depends on what you want/need

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Discussion Starter · #8 · Sep 14, 2007

I think a 16" barrel will be long enough.

As far as handguards go, it would be nice if I had one that allowed me to later install a vertical grip. Can these be added to the Bushmasters or do I need to replace the entire handguard?

From all the pictures I have seen, it seems like nearly everyone who has optics also has a fixed front sight. Is it really an issue to have a front sight with optics? I imagine in would obstruct the target so maybe it would be better to have a flip down sight. I like the looks of a fixed front sight, are the Bushmaster front sights removable?

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Discussion Starter · #9 · Sep 14, 2007

ChrisChris said:
I think a 16" barrel will be long enough.

For most shooting 16" is just right

ChrisChris said:
As far as handguards go, it would be nice if I had one that allowed me to later install a vertical grip. Can these be added to the Bushmasters or do I need to replace the entire handguard?

You can add a pice of rail to the plastic handguards for a vertical grip but they are not that great (stable. solid)

ChrisChris said:
From all the pictures I have seen, it seems like nearly everyone who has optics also has a fixed front sight. Is it really an issue to have a front sight with optics?

No

ChrisChris said:
I imagine in would obstruct the target so maybe it would be better to have a flip down sight.

If you a using a magnified optic you won't notice the front sight
if you are using a red dot type sight, the front sight is nice to have there as a reference, or if the battery dies

you'll still be "on target"

ChrisChris said:
I like the looks of a fixed front sight, are the Bushmaster front sights removable?

not withought alot of hassle

:mrgreen:

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Discussion Starter · #10 · Sep 14, 2007

they are removeable but its not easy but if you remove it you have to replace it with a gas block of some sort so thats why i prefer the gas block with the rail so if i want to take the sight off i just have to unscres it instead of takeing off a perment one that would involve punches and at a bare minimum 15min unless you have done it alot and have the proper tools. you can get a free float hand guard with has rails on all 4 sides

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Discussion Starter · #11 · Sep 14, 2007

oh im not sure if you can attach a grip to a regular guard

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Discussion Starter · #12 · Sep 14, 2007

rogerxd45 said:
they are removeable but its not easy but if you remove it you have to replace it with a gas block of some sort so thats why i prefer the gas block with the rail so if i want to take the sight off i just have to unscres it instead of takeing off a perment one that would involve punches and at a bare minimum 15min unless you have done it alot and have the proper tools. you can get a free float hand guard with has rails on all 4 sides

Slow down and take a breath

G

Discussion Starter · #13 · Sep 14, 2007

What would you guys suggest I purchase? I would feel more comfortable just buying an assembled rifle. I have no doubt I could assemble one, but it just seems easier to buy my first rifle built. What kind of savings could I expect building my own?

Does a Bushmaster A3 M4 with a 16" sound right for me?

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Discussion Starter · #14 · Sep 14, 2007

I prefer the carry handle as well(A2). You can mount an Aimpoint on the carry handle quite nicely. Mine is rock solid, and has never left 0. The setup looks like this.

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Discussion Starter · #15 · Sep 14, 2007

ChrisChris said:
What would you guys suggest I purchase? I would feel more comfortable just buying an assembled rifle. I have no doubt I could assemble one, but it just seems easier to buy my first rifle built. What kind of savings could I expect building my own?

Does a Bushmaster A3 M4 with a 16" sound right for me?

1. Id personally go Stag.

2. Building allows you to customize the rifle, get a better understanding of how it works, and save a little money while your at it.

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Discussion Starter · #16 · Sep 14, 2007

2

This started life as a Bushmaster 16" postban carbine

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Discussion Starter · #17 · Sep 14, 2007

rogerxd45 said:
oh im not sure if you can attach a grip to a regular guard

you have to buy rail adapters.

G

Discussion Starter · #18 · Sep 14, 2007

nikon777 said:
I prefer the carry handle as well(A2). You can mount an Aimpoint on the carry handle quite nicely. Mine is rock solid, and has never left 0. The setup looks like this.

Not the best way to do it, but that will work, would be better on a cantilever mount with the red dot over the handguard.
OMG that's a 1337 photo

:mrgreen:

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Discussion Starter · #19 · Sep 14, 2007

ChrisChris said:
What would you guys suggest I purchase? I would feel more comfortable just buying an assembled rifle. I have no doubt I could assemble one, but it just seems easier to buy my first rifle built. What kind of savings could I expect building my own?

Does a Bushmaster A3 M4 with a 16" sound right for me?

Bushmaster or Stag would be a fine choice.
Get the A3 with detachable carry handle, don't get "stuck" with the permanent handle of an A2

much easier to add optics to the A3 flattop

To be honest, it seems you know little about the AR15, and "building" your own may save you some money, but without the knowledge of what parts are right for what you want you would probably spend more money.

If you are in a hurry buy a completed carbine
If you want to research everything and not rush, build

G

Discussion Starter · #20 · Sep 14, 2007

Thanks for all the advice. Your right, I don't know a whole lot about these rifles. Its tough to learn when you don't have much exposure to them, so it makes sense to buy my first complete and go from there.

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