Home Forums Hunting & Shooting AR and Tactical Rifles Guidance on Buying an AR

I am looking to get an AR for hunting. Wanting something that can reach out a ways, but I don't want to be packing a bull bbl or 24" barrelled rifle. I think a 233/5.56 is enough. What twist rate should I be looking for?

What would you guys recommend?

I have put a couple ARs together (aka build) but really am not infatuated with the idea of studying 500 different options for every damn part to decide which best suits me. I barely have time to get out and pull a trigger.

This would essentially be a calling gun with some stalking. I have a 24" bbl woa 204 rifle that's nice, but heavy and long. Too long and a bit too heavy.

Take a look at PSA uppers in 223 Wylde.

Most are floated, 18", 1/7, A2 profile.

https://palmettostatearmory.com/ar-15/barreled-upper-assemblies.html?caliber_multi=2477

1/8 is a good all around twist.

The Ruger MPR is the best bang for the buck out there, can be found in the 550 range. Comes with upgraded trigger and furniture, floated chf 5r barrel, would be hard to put together one this nice for that amount of money

I like Rock River, damn bear through the same hole rifles.

That would be my recommendation as well. Hard to beat.

You know where the thread is. Prove it. Probably not going to happen. My buddy has one and its not a 1 holer. Not even close.

Start with this barrel and build your own upper. Go to Right To Bear for a Tool Craft bolt and carrier. The free float hand guard of your choice. Brownells has a new design that allows you to do the work yourself. Easy peasy.
kwg

https://www.ballisticadvantage.com/18-inch-223-wylde-spr-fluted-rifle-length-ss-premium-barrel.html

https://www.righttobear.com/toolcraft-phosphate-158-MPI-M16-BCG-p/tooauto-011.htm

https://www.brownells.com/rifle-par...hman-handguards-prod124921.aspx?psize=96

Did you read the OP?

I did. I gave him 3 SIMPLE options building on what Montana Marine suggested just a different company and a 1/8 twist barrel that was also suggested.

kwg

I can agree with this but add that you might want to upgrade the trigger even further when you get a chance

I will admit, the 452 trigger is not as nice as my ssae or even my mbts.

To what? It comes with a nice 2-stage. All you get with a LaRue MBT is a different shaped shoe. And a Geisele just drains your wallet for mall ninja bragging rights.

If a guy can't shoot the MPR, it isn't the trigger holding him back.

I bought 2 PSA pencil barrel 1/7, free floated uppers.
Mated them to MOE furniture, Enhanced trigger lower.
Around $450 in each.
Honestly I haven't put much effort into testing their accuracy.
I am pretty sure they could kill a coyote at any distance I'm likely
to shoot around here.

They sure are a lot nicer to handle than my A2 barreled, Quad Railed
rifle.

Maybe. I've owned 3. The first had what I thought was a pretty fair trigger. The second had a pretty crusty trigger. I haven't shot the current one but dry firing it seems quite a bit better than the first one. I think that middle gun would have held a guy back, yep. Held this guy back anyway, maybe not someone else.

Tom

I'd say a lot depends on actual use.
My "hunting AR" is a 16" 5.56 with a 1:8 twist. I've used 64 BSB,65 Win PP, and have 77gr and 75gr waiting to try. For hunting deer and antelope etc a dedicated AR15 in 6.5 Grendel, would be tough to beat. The new .350 Legend shows promise, and there are others. The two I mention specifically are less expensive to buy ammo for but have a bit more performance than the 5.56 if you think you need more.

You can get a complete upper, ready to snap on for $350.

6.5 Grendel for $350

My wants in a sometime-coyote-calling-gun were....... under 7 lbs pre-scoped, more than a 16" barrel, full length Picatinny,
and an adjustable stock. Plus, at the under $550 shipped price tag, added the cherry on top.

The Ruger checked all the boxes for me......

I think you've gotten good advice here. The Ruger MPR is the route I'd take if I wasn't building my own. Seems to be a real bargain.

Let us know what you end up doing.

Something to be aware of with the Ruger is that not all of their parts follow milspec AR dimensions. Not all aftermarket parts will fit.

No firsthand on this, but I've read it over and over on forums, and AR parts online retailers.

Not an issue at all if you never intend to start swapping parts around.

I thought the only thing Ruger does different is the delta ring & barrel nut - and I think the screw-on ring is a nice improvement. But if someone wants a free float handguard they're going to have to replace the barrel nut I think. Ruger does offer a 556 with a free float handguard - not sure if they went back to the old mil-spec barrel nut or they did something else.

Just one of those things that's not really an issue....until it is.

Might be worth some homework, or not.