Home Forums Hunting & Shooting AR and Tactical Rifles Which AR15 to buy?

I want to try the AR15 platform but I don't know where to begin. My primary purpose for the rifle would be deer hunting and shooting at the range. I want a .223 and I plan to use a scope. I think that I would like to buy a rifle off the shelf. What do you recommend?

Since you're so close, look at Palmetto State Armory (PSA).

Mil Spec is Mil Spec is Mil Spec.

Daniel Defense is in Statesboro (Black Creek) but the are a little pricey for an "I want to try one" rifle.

Yep. PSA

PSA makes good rifles & they're affordable. They can be bought in a kit, or buy the lower & the upper completely assembled. I have one of their freedom series rifles & it's a good accurate rifle. If you assemble it yourself you can get a decent barrel & trigger as opposed to buying one off the shelf. Just pick out the barrel length, twist, and gas system ( carbine, midlength, rifle length). Buying a S&W, or Ruger off the shelf isn't a bad option either.

S&W m&p sport II. Been seeing a lot of them around here lately. They are reasonably priced, shoot well and are available. Unlike some other brands. A "first" AR should probably be one thats properly put together from the factory. That way you have a good example to look at before you dive into building one yourself.

Mil Spec isn't Mil Spec.
It's about way more than dimensions.
And most Mil Spec arent, on all dimensions.

That said, I have two PSA guns.
They work. Fine.
Got the enhanced triggers when I bought the lowers.
Great triggers, they ain't.
But if you can shoot, you can use these to hunt.

Price as a big factor: Smith and Wesson MP15. Should come in around $700 today. Price as a lesser factor: Colt 6920.

Cut To The Fhuqking Chase For $649.99 RINK

S/S,Floated,18" and Rifle Gas...you are there. LOTS of them in these parts.

Hint................

That's the one I bought.

Regardless of what you think of Stick, today he's right. For your purposes, this is likely to be the best bang for the buck. Assembling a lower is easy. If you can operate a hammer, punch and screw driver, you can assemble a lower.

PSA SS barrel shoot a lot better than their nitride barrels. Their other line that shoots really well is the CHF (cold hammer forged) barrels made by FN. If you expect heavier range use, and like a classic look, here's another option for the same price:

https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-16-chf-mid-length-rifle-kit.html




Both appear to have PSA premium BCG's, which best I can tell are make by Tool Craft, so you're basically trading the Magpul furniture and nice rail for the FN barrel. Sticks recommendation also has the 18" barrel with rifle length gas which provides a smooth recoil impulse, and and is just a joy to shoot, but the 16" mid length isn't far behind it. Both are great options, but unless you expect to but more than 3-4K rounds through it the SS is probably the better option for you.

Sticks recommendation is spot on. I have same and it is a half MOA shooter.

I'm partial to Stag Arms.

For occasional plinking and deer hunting, I’m sure one of the PSA kits would work just fine.
Next step up, my choice would be the Ruger then the S&W M&P.
Better would be a Stag Arms or Rock River

Best would be a FN, if you want a real mil-spec Rifle.

I wouldn’t waste my money on one of the new Colts. If I was buying a Colt, it would be one of the older ones.

FN would be my first choice, if money is not an issue.

I have three uppers from PSA with stainless barrels. One 18" Wylde with freefloat, supposedly a "match" barrel whatever that means, and two 16" 5.56 mid-length gas Freedom uppers. Been awhile since I had my LE6920, but I don't think it shot anywhere near as good as these stainless PSA uppers. The 16" PSA uppers are not freefloated, but they shoot surprisingly well. I think PSA lists them as A2 profile.

Never tried their nitride or CHF barrels but I'm curious about their stainless pencil barrels.

Whatever you get, I'd suggest getting a good trigger if the rifle or lower comes with a standard G.I. or even enhanced trigger.

Thanks for the replies.

If I purchase the kit from PSA the only thing I would need is a lower? Which one?

Also, If I purchased a S&W M&P could I build the lower to fit my needs as I learn what my needs are?

What is a good trigger?

Just about any forged or billet lower will be fine. Brownells (and others) have some “17 Defense” in stock, and an Anderson/Stag/Spike’s are all fine, too. Expect to pay about $70-$100, for now.

You can spend more, but it won’t make it any more reliable or accurate.

Your best “upgrade” will be a $100-$150 Timney/CMC/et al, cassette trigger.

Yes, you can always build off of the S&W M&P. Upgrade to better parts down the road, if you want. Good triggers for the money are the Larue Tactical Mbt2s (2 stage) and RRA 2 stage varmint match. Both of those triggers can be had for under $100.00. Although the wait on the Larue is approx. 3-4 months.

I have a couple of Rock Rivers, very accurate

I've been using Larue triggers for a little over four years now. One out of an OBR, the others purchased separately. I have no complaints or desire to change, but there's a lot of options and you should consider whether you want a single stage or two stage. Not to mention the fact that some people don't like sending money to Mark Larue.

Great triggers they are not, but I did put a JP reduced power spring kit in mine and it made the trigger quite a bit better. I liked it so much, I put one on a $15 mil spec trigger on a cheap 7.62x39 build I did, holy cow I really like that trigger now. Then I couldn't find any in stock for another build, and bought a KAK trigger spring kit, well I don't like it near as much.

You can purchase a PSA rifle complete, no need for the kit,




Personally I bought a PSA upper (assembled) that included the lower parts kit (Like the one Stick posted,) and assembled it in about an hour.

I would have gotten a blemished lower, but there were none in stock, so I bought the cheapest one they had - seems like it was just over $100.

There are lots of good youtube videos (even a series from Midway USA) on assembly.

It's MUCH easier with the proper tools, but if you're getting one "just to try" I certainly don't recommend buying all the special Armorer's Tools.

I have them, I'm in Savannah, You can come over and put the kit together, or I can send the to you.

The advantage of coming here is there is a PSA store about 10 miles from me.

If the dimensions are off, then it ain't MilSpec, regardless of what advertisements say.

DD, Ya I said it. S&W, CMMG, Bear Creek, Springfield Armory, Anderson, Ruger, LWRC all from Midway & in stock Free Shipping TODAY, just got to look. Stag & psa R fine too just don't read the reviews.

If buying used is an option, prices are coming down. Just saw a S&W M&P 15 here locally for $549. In like new condition