Buying an AR15
10-24-2005, 09:28 PM
#1
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Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Maryland
Posts: 3,867
Alright I'm getting an AR15. I need to decide what to get. Looking for advice from people in the forces or people with experience.
-I've narrowed it down to a big name quality piece like Rock River, DPMS, Bushmaster, Etc...
-I'm looking to build a nice medium-long range target rifle
-Looking for a useful range out to about 500 yards for people size targets
-Barrel between 16" and 20"
-Flat top upper with flip up sights to co-witness with an optic...hopefully.
-Budget up to about $1300 with optics
Now questions:
1. Do I need a heavy barrel or bull barrel for accuracy out to 500 yards?
2. What optics are you guys in the forces/LE using? I'm interested in the Eotech and Aimpoint, but I'm thinking some magnification for 500 yard shots would be nice to have. I'm not paying $1000 for an ACOG.
3. Is a foward rail system worth the money? This wouldn't really be a close range type weapon, I have an AK for that. So flashlight and laser mounting isn't really necessary. But it could be useful I guess. Only thing I'd likely be mounting is a bipod.
4. Collapsable stocks are they really that useful to a civilian?
5. Anything else I missed?
-I've narrowed it down to a big name quality piece like Rock River, DPMS, Bushmaster, Etc...
-I'm looking to build a nice medium-long range target rifle
-Looking for a useful range out to about 500 yards for people size targets
-Barrel between 16" and 20"
-Flat top upper with flip up sights to co-witness with an optic...hopefully.
-Budget up to about $1300 with optics
Now questions:
1. Do I need a heavy barrel or bull barrel for accuracy out to 500 yards?
2. What optics are you guys in the forces/LE using? I'm interested in the Eotech and Aimpoint, but I'm thinking some magnification for 500 yard shots would be nice to have. I'm not paying $1000 for an ACOG.
3. Is a foward rail system worth the money? This wouldn't really be a close range type weapon, I have an AK for that. So flashlight and laser mounting isn't really necessary. But it could be useful I guess. Only thing I'd likely be mounting is a bipod.
4. Collapsable stocks are they really that useful to a civilian?
5. Anything else I missed?
10-25-2005, 12:07 AM
#4
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Join Date: Jun 2003
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Rock River Arms makes a pretty good platform. In fact the only person I'd stay away from is Armalite. Basically, yes you are gonna want a heavy barrel. With the 21" in barrel on you're average M-16A4 its easily good out past 300m, but for 500m+ you're gonna wanna get a bit heavier one.
As far as optics go that kinda varys on what you wanna do. But remember, you get what you pay for. I use the ACOG on my M4, a Leupold 4x10 on our match M110s (think sniper M16) and a a variation of 12x20 scopes on our M24s and Barretts. Honestly for 500m at people sized targets, you're gonna want something with a little more magnifacation than just 4x.
Hope that helps
As far as optics go that kinda varys on what you wanna do. But remember, you get what you pay for. I use the ACOG on my M4, a Leupold 4x10 on our match M110s (think sniper M16) and a a variation of 12x20 scopes on our M24s and Barretts. Honestly for 500m at people sized targets, you're gonna want something with a little more magnifacation than just 4x.
Hope that helps
10-25-2005, 05:53 AM
#6
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Location: Amityville, New York
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I have shot the Bushmaster DCM Match, I would highly reccomend it as is out of the box, I dont use a scope, the Marine Corp didnt teach me to fire with one so I never used one after that. For people sized targets you wont need one with the competition sights the DCM comes with.
10-25-2005, 08:45 AM
#8
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Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Stacked outside you're trailer door
Posts: 1,430
Originally Posted by Rob x-7' post='772450' date='Oct 25 2005, 02:53 AM
I have shot the Bushmaster DCM Match, I would highly reccomend it as is out of the box, I dont use a scope, the Marine Corp didnt teach me to fire with one so I never used one after that. For people sized targets you wont need one with the competition sights the DCM comes with.
I respectfully completely disagree. At 300meters a person sized target is pretty tiny with open sights. At 500m a person sized target is going to be basically indistiguishable.
Also, an optic at high ranges will help you decipher winds, mirages, and air temperature. All of which are serious factors at long range shooting.
10-25-2005, 09:26 AM
#10
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