Home Forums Hunting & Shooting AR and Tactical Rifles If I were to buy an AR before this election .....

What should I look for, or get???

I'm not quite sure why I haven't bought one up to this point but I'm seriously considering making this a quick purchase before the coming election. I love bolt action hunting rifles and just never really thought I needed one I guess. I'm not sure I'd even use it to hunt with but would feel better about having it in my stable ... Lol. This would probably be my only one so I'd like suggestions on what to look for and possibly keeping in mind being able to put my hands on it quickly before the election. Nothing like waiting until the last minute. What's available out there?

I just built one in .450Bushmaster. It will take down any animal in North America, 2 legged or 4 legged out to about 500 yards.

I'd get a Ruger AR556 or S&W M&P sport, whichever is less expensive where you live.

Another vote for this pair.

Ed

Depends on whether or not you want to shoot it or flip it for profit if Hiliary wins. If you want to shoot it, get the Sport II. The Ruger has some non-standard parts. If you want to flip it, buy anything Colt.

Stag Arms.

If I was buying one for an "Investment" I'd buy a Colt.

If I was buying one for home defense, I'd buy a Stag Arms.

And if I was buying one for a plinker, I'd buy the Ruger or the S&W M&P.

Palmetto State Armory (PSA) has a varied selection at good prices

it's worth a look, to compare with other ARs

How Much You Want To Spend?

How much do you want to spend ?

Not even sure ... What's it going to take???

I've honestly not spent much time looking at them in the past

I guess plinking and home defense would be the top priorities along with being able to get my money back out of it if I decided I absolutely hated it.

You never will NEED an AR. its just if you want it, before they are banned if the election turns out how [bleep] NWA wants it to.

This is sage advice.

My vote is BCM. If you're going to only own one AR, possibly EVER, BCM products are as durable as they get, and with the highest-level of customer service (as long as you don't try to call them- they never answer their phones...)

-John

i will tell you right now, you won't stop at just one!

Yep, BCM is very good and would hold its value too.
Others would be Colt, LMT and Daniel Defense.
I could say Noveske as well, but it's kind of a boutique gun where the others are more duty-type guns.

Whatever you decide, slickguns is your friend.

-John [/quote]
Yep, BCM is very good and would hold its value too.
Others would be Colt, LMT and Daniel Defense.
I could say Noveske as well, but it's kind of a boutique gun where the others are more duty-type guns.
[/quote]

This. Any of these. I will say though that Noveske's chrome lined hammer forged barrels are anything but boutique.

You can check out some info here. Look at some videos on youtube.
Look for an 80% action.

Wish you luck. Lots of fun to shoot.

I'm kinda surprised DPMS wasn't mentioned

I was going to buy a DPMS Oracle today and stumbled upon a gun shop selling Diamondback DB-15CCB for $529.

I know at one time they had some quality issues with their pistols but it appears they have their act together with the AR's.

I guess I'll know when I shoot it

I'm officially stocked up ahead of the post election panic should Hillary steal it.

Colt LE 6920-OEM1

I went POF AR10 14.5" personally.

What kind of price tag on this should I expect out the door???

I bought 3 early this year for abt $775 each delivered. Not sure what the best you can do now is, but that gives you some reference of where they were.

Wouldn't surprise me at all to see all the little Mom& Pop Gun Stores raising the prices the closer we get to Nov 8th. I hate to see it, but if Trump loses, prices are going to get steep in a hurry.

I've build two PSA complete guns for around $460 each by waiting for uppers with BCGs to come on sale, and buying blem built lowers.

Not fancy, but its an FN barrel and works with everything, and is light, to boot.

Also, I stockpile spring kits, additional bolt carriers, etc. The tings that will eventually wear or break.

I'm not selling anything after the election. I'm in the "accumulation" mode.

spare BCG are good things to have around...

The important thing, if you feel you need one, is to get one.


Sooner rather than later might be good advice, too - if H wins prepare for price hikes worse than when O got elected.

While there were shortages on some ammo and components after O got elected, mostly it was just seriously jacked up prices. (That said, it did take about 3 months to get ammo and components for a used Walther PPK/s .380 I picked up.)

There are quite a few good options when it comes to which AR make/model to buy - no need to spend a fortune. Mine are a Rock River and a S&W M&P and no complaints. For a first AR I'd go with the 5.56 or .223/5.56 (Wylde chamber) over any other chambering.

And I'd stock up on ammo for it.

Probably true - if you don't mind dealing with about a 12 foot drop in trajectory. At 500 yards the .450 with Hornady 250g ammo is similar in velocity and energy to a 1911 .45 at the muzzle.

If 500 yards was really a concern, I'd get an AR in .308W. And I'd stock up on ammo, same as with a .223/5.56.

Colt.





Travis

The Colt is never a bad choice, and probably the best choice in terms of retained value. But if you're not looking at retained value, and only want an AR for plinking or as a hedge against future regulatory changes, then a Ruger AR556 or S&W M&P plus $400 worth of ammunition and magazines will likely cost about the same as a Colt LE6920.

Every gun shop I've been in lately has claimed all the cheap AR's are out of stock at their distributors.

Then again Colt's can still be had at just a couple hundred more than the cheap guns if you look hard enough and have cash for an incentive.

The Colt will retain value but will also shoot targets as well as any plinker yet be reliable enough for a duty gun for LE. To me it's a no-brainer but YMMV.

Lots of good advice already but You really need to include your budget to get the best answer..

the Colt OEM's might still be available. At this time you may want to consider digging a little deeper into your wallet.

Buy lowers first than pick up out an upper

AR10 308 :

https://armalite.com/shop/ar-10-series-defensive-sporting-rifle-california-compliant/

Colts are still available under 1K.

Many available under $900.

People locally still talking about buying an AR. Why they're still talking and not buying is beyond me.

Smith and Wesson MP sport or DPMS, Andersons would be a good third choice.

I own a few ar15,s colt,ruger,windham,rock river.My choice would be Colt..Just bought a bushmaster 450 gal.upper might be fun.

Or maybe just buy one because you want one and forget politics?

And don't forget mags.
As you know, some states have started banning.

The rifle was designed for 20 round metalic mags, so it's nice to have a few of those.
NHTMG is the brand to look for.

D&H and CPD are other good metalic mags.

Polymer
Of course everyone has a good stock of Pmags.
Lancer is good too and the only polymer mag that the 458 SOCOM guys will use.

I bought a Cabelas's Colt Competition when they first came out. Changed out the trigger to a SSA-E and stuck a VX-2 3X9 on it. They're guaranteed to shoot MOA. Mine does better with my favorite 55 Gr. Hornaday handload.
Not bad for $800.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/shooting/firearms/centerfire-rifles/semiautomatic-centerfire-rifles%7C/pc/104792580/c/553829580/sc/105522480/i/105524280/colt-174-competition-series-semiautomatic-tactical-rifle/2222180.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fsemiautomatic-centerfire-rifles%2Fcolt%2F_%2FN-1114861%2B1000003101%2FNe-1000003101%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_105524280%3FWTz_st%3DGuidedNav%26WTz_stype%3DGNU

Doc, which Hornady bullet and powder are you using to get that accuracy?

Last election, when AR's were scarce, I found myself wanting a basic Colt LE6920. When prices came back down to normal I picked up one for around $800 and still have it in the back of the safe.

This election I decided to finish out one of the Anderson lowers I purchased. I've got less than $750 in this rifle.

BCM LW Middy by X Ring, on Flickr

The best bang for the buck that I've found is to buy a complete upper, complete lower, and BCG separate. Complete rifles have an 11% FAET (excise tax). I like to jump on BCM uppers when they come with free BCGs. I still buy an extra BCG as two is one, and one is none.

Been watching for one of those sales too & haven't seen one in a while.

Depending on how the election goes, we may never see one again as they'll likely sell all they can make at full price,

MM

"Doc, which Hornady bullet and powder are you using to get that accuracy?"

This is real old school. Plain old 55 gr. Hornaday Spire Point, CCI small rifle primer and 24.5 gr. IMR 3031.Currently loaded in Winchester cases but works in others too. Started using this load in the early 70's in a rechambered Remington 660. Not the fastest but usually shoots good. My Browning Low Wall loves it too.
Doc

Thanks, Doc. I just happen to have some 3031 and CCI small rifle primers.

Don't have any of those Hornady bullets, though.