It's going to be quite some time before I can purchase one but I appreciate the offer. I'm estimating about a year, I just wanted to have plenty of research time.

Is there any one company that's better or worse than the others or do they all fare about the same?

Thanks for the input guys.

Like most everything else in today's competative market place, IF there was that one company that had a product that was head and shoulders above the rest, the others would not be able to stay in business. That being said, everyone here is probably going to think that whatever brand they have is the best on the market for this, that and the other reason, but from someone that has just about owned them all at one time or another, they are all pretty much the same. Factory triggers may vary, but that is easy to change if you don't like it. The quality of the furniture may vary, but again that is easy to change. Overall, ARs are kind of like Encores, and you can customize the most basic model to fit your wants and needs. Basically, YOU need to HANDLE a few guns to see what fits you. Good luck with your decision.

I have been building AR's for some time and have learned a ton about the design know what works and what doesn't. I have 3 AR-15 rifles right now and all serve different purposes.

For someone to say you will get bored of your AR and it is an unreliable gun after 1000 rounds is BS. Unless something is wrong with your gun it will shot accurately and reliably for thousands of rounds. The thing that is so great about the AR is that it can be fully customized. If you get sick of the configuration you have, by all means change it. New barrel, stock, trigger assembly, gas block, free float tube, sights, or whatever can all be changed within a matter of minutes.

I agree for your first AR get one from a reputable manufacturer. DO NOT BUY ONE AT A GUN SHOW unless you know what to look for. There are far too many "part guns" out there.

I have thousands upon thousands of rounds thru my AR withabsolutely no type of malfunction at all.Mine isnt even a "quality" brand name. Its a kit gun put together fromparts manufactured by an assortment of manufacturers.

CMA- What are the specs on your rifle??

Thanks

by a lower from bushmaster, rock river arms or any of the other manuf.
then get what ever upper you want.
i have owned 2 of the model 1 sales uppers and they where both sub 1" MOA at 100 yrds.
and i save a bunch of money on them 2
they place that makes the barrels for model 1 sales is called E.R. Shaw.
and they have been in the buiss for i think 30 years.
damn good barrels and as i said before you won't pay an arm and a leg for it.

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If you're into customizing guns, the the lower first and upper later suggestions are pretty good. If you want something to start shooting/hunting with right away, I'd recommend getting a Bushmaster or DPMS with a minimum 20" bbl. You can mix and match custom or match-grade parts as you go along.

Mine's strictly for plinking and (God forbid) SHTF type situations.

I want one just because I miss my M-16. Not to be offensive, but I find it sort of comical to see high powered scopes on some of these. They're tactical rifles but I guess you use them for varmints so that makes sense I guess....

M77man
I agree that AR-15's are tactical rifles which make their popularity so absurd. What is more absurd is the way so many guys "dress them up" like they are going to Iraq in the morning. My AR's are plinkers as they are for most civilians here in the US. The new uppers with match grade barrels do make great varmint guns that are probably more accurate than most low end bolt guns that hunters take in the woods. I am drawn to AR's like flies to honey, but in truth, I prefer to shoot my bolt guns. As comical as you find the high powered scopes on AR's, I find the guns tricked out for combat just as comical. If you want to see some really "tricked" combat guns, you need to visit http://www.ar-15.com .