I've decided to add a quality AR (my first AR) to go with my rifles and handguns. This will be a 16" general use gun for range, plinking, and another layer of home defense. Quality parts, accuracy, soft shooting, and reliability are what I'm looking for, and I'm okay with spending the money since I typically try to buy quality over going cheap. I'll either buy one already built or buy a quality upper and add a lower and a good trigger like a LaRue.
Here's the complete builds I'm looking at:
Wilson Protector S carbine, 5.56 Nato, 1-8 tw, match barrel, on sale for $1537.
Geissele Super Duty, 5.56 Nato, 1-7 tw, on sale for $1600.
Here's the uppers I'm considering:
Compass Lake Tacticle Upper, Krieger barrel, .223 Wylde, 1-7.7 tw, adj gas block, $1070
Pros /cons for all of them relative to each other, & they are all good, but for my money, hands down, the Compass Lake upper on a quality lower gets the nod, but I'd likely choose the Bartlien barrel over the Krieger, & if you want to save a few bucks, go with the Douglas or Criterion barrel option...................all assuming that you can live with a stainless barre (no mag dumps).
If you buy a quality BCG for the CL upper I’d assume they’ll all be soft shooting, and reliable. How much accuracy you need will probably be your determining factor.
The BCM will probably be the least accurate, but the lightest. The Geissele will be excellent. Mine and a friends are both 2moa for 10 shots, fwiw. If you get the CL be sure to buy a quality BCG for it.
Bluedreaux, if I end up going the CLE route, can you recommend any specific BCGs that I should look for to go with it? I appreciate any advice. Thanks again. .
Pros /cons for all of them relative to each other, & they are all good, but for my money, hands down, the Compass Lake upper on a quality lower gets the nod, but I'd likely choose the Bartlien barrel over the Krieger, & if you want to save a few bucks, go with the Douglas or Criterion barrel option...................all assuming that you can live with a stainless barre (no mag dumps).
MM
Good info. I wonder where TWR is? He's had a lot of good ar's. I'd just say buy a Stag or M&P or Colt and run the chidt out of it. I highly doubt anyone here, that is not a high volume shooter or competitive shooter, would wear out a good AR or even a run of the mill AR like the ones I mention. I've put 1,000's of rounds on some of mine, some 300-500+ rounds in a weekend, always inspect them and clean them well. They still, for the most part, look like new and never have a hiccup of any kind... One thing I will say is if you don't research it very well, and even then, that first AR ends up being something entirely different than what you really end up wanting or needing. I have a buddy that that happened to. He researched the hell out of it and ended up buying a RRA because guys were saying they were great rifles. He bought it used it and decided he hates it. He later found that out after buying a national match bushmaster that was made in the clinton era. Its an A2 rifle without the flash hider or bayonet lug and he loves that rifle. I also didn't like the first AR I bought, but still have it. It was an 18" barreled rifle and it was obnoxious to shoot. Different strokes for different folks, as they say... The rifle that I love is a 20" barreled rifle, has a rifle length gas system and it is the smoothest softest shooting AR I've ever had. Now most of what I have is in that configuration because it agrees with my style of shooting. Good luck to the OP and let us know in a few years if you still have the rifle you buy this time and how you progress.
Originally Posted by raybass
I try to stick with the basics, they do so well. Nothing fancy mind you, just plain jane will get it done with style.
Originally Posted by Pharmseller
You want to see an animal drop right now? Shoot him in the ear hole.
I’m so far out of the AR world these days that I really don’t know what to recommend.
For me, I’m still very attached to Colt but I haven’t seen a new one to know if they’re still built the same.
I also like Sionics, I don’t have a complete gun but have a couple of their chrome lined pencil barrels and some small parts, very pleased with them.
I will say back when I chased accuracy, the CLE Krieger barrel I had was the most accurate barrel I’ve seen. But it also had the tightest chamber I’ve seen as well and I had to keep cases separated. Not what I want to deal with on a GP carbine.
I think it comes down to accuracy requirements vs weight. I have no doubt the CLE will be the most accurate but I bet it’s the heaviest. I’ve had several lightweight BCM’s and have been happy. All that said, the Geissele is probably the best of the group.
I will say back when I chased accuracy, the CLE Krieger barrel I had was the most accurate barrel I’ve seen. But it also had the tightest chamber I’ve seen as well and I had to keep cases separated. Not what I want to deal with on a GP carbine.
The OP may want to consider something from White Oak as well. Their match chambers are a touch looser than CLE, but still tighter than more commercial producers. I prefer CLE's gassing, however, but that's talking heavy barrels.
Bluedreaux, if I end up going the CLE route, can you recommend any specific BCGs that I should look for to go with it? I appreciate any advice. Thanks again. .
I'd look for SOLGW, Sionics, or BCM. I'd be happy with any of the three and would make my decision based on availability and price.
I have one of each of those. If the price difference is only $120, I'd definitely get the Geissele. And I'm a big SOLGW fan. The trigger and Warcomp are worth 3X that price difference. And the rail is probably better, too.
Fhuqk it...buy (3) and dabble sighting systems. Hint...................
Brad says: "Can't fault Rick for his pity letting you back on the fire... but pity it was and remains. Nothing more, nothing less. A sad little man in a sad little dream."
I have one of each of those. If the price difference is only $120, I'd definitely get the Geissele. And I'm a big SOLGW fan. The trigger and Warcomp are worth 3X that price difference. And the rail is probably better, too.
Good catch, I didn't notice the SOLGW didn't come with their NOX. Both of mine came with NOX and both have upgraded triggers. That Geissele SD looks to be a good buy with the discount and "free" shipping.
Use the coupon code and save $80.00 and free shipping (Luna black listed for $1,599.99 before the discount).
What coupon code ?
Look just below the header on that page: "LSA = free shipping on $200.00+. LSB = $30.00 off of $300.00+ and free shipping. LSC= $80.00 off of $800.00+ and free shipping"
I quit learning about those things when I turned my -16A1 in a long time ago. Thing that puzzles me these days is the fascination with short barrels. Velocity God smiles if you add another 4” of barrel and your ears might benefit a bit as well.
I am..........disturbed.
Concerning the difference between man and the jackass: some observers hold that there isn't any. But this wrongs the jackass. -Twain
I have a very nice RPG (Ritche's Precision Guns) 20 Practical with a 24" barrel that is extremely accurate. I'm not an AR guy and wouldn't have bought it but I won it at a shooting match. Trigger is great and very accurate with just about anything I feed it. It is about the most awkward gun I've ever used, I didn't like how an AR felt when I was in Vietnam and they haven't gotten any better. Seeing as I won it and would never get rid of it(it's serial # is the Name of the match) I did want to make it into a viable hunting rifle. I did swap out the 20P upper for a 16" 223 upper with a full length hand guard, wish I would have gotten a side chargers. It is now handy to use, still awkward but workable. It shoots 62gr SP's and 52gr HP's very nicely. I did enjoy the 20P enough that I built two bolt actions in that caliber.