Custom AR-15's

[DarrellB]

Thinking of buying a custom AR this summer (might not be able to buy one in another year) and was curious if anyone had some advise for a guy that really know's nothing about AR's. I know the customized AR's aren't cheap and I also know there is like 100 different styles that company's make, but other than that I don't have a clue.



I want it in . 223, with a bull barrel, flat top receiver, and a full floating handgaurd but other than that it will be a plinker and varmint gun.



I found this website Panther Arms they have some nice looking stuff and the prices don't seem that bad for an AR.



Any info or experience will be a big help.



Thanks

DB

 

[KBennett]

I have two custom AR's.

The first is one I bought about 10 years ago before target AR-15's were popular. It was custom built by a friend along with his friend at Eagle Arms. It has an Eagle lower and upper with a custom heavy barrel. Back then they did not have the large gas returns for the heavy barrel like DPMS so the barrel was machined down for the Colt HB version and the sight was milled off. They left the bayonet lug on a target gun because it is a pre-ban The barrel is threaded(another post-ban no-no) and has an AWCS compensator that works really well. My best groups are sub . 5" at 100 yards.

Here are a couple pics:

At Home, At the range

The other is an EA arms pre-ban that I bought a few years ago setup as a shorty A2. I sold the original upper and bought a DPMS(Panther) 18" bull upper used with a scope. Accuracy has been good but I keep getting an extraction problem that I believe is due to an undersize chamber. I am also using the EA bolt that may be causing an issue. One of these days I am going to send it to DPMS to have one of their bolts fitted and the chamber checked out. I also want to sell the scope and mount and put a Red Dot sight on it. Shorty Pic . DPMS(Panther), Bushmaster, Eagle, and Armalite( I think they own Eagle now), are all good companies and I have had a chance to shoot all of them. Rock River seems to make some nice stuff too but I have not shot one. When you go shopping look for an adjustable trigger and a decent weight barrel like the Panther's.

 

[Rocket]

I have built a few and my all time favorite is my pre-ban Colt M4(gery). ARMS has a great freefloat picatinny railed handguard that I'm saving for as well. ARs are great b/c they are so versatile. Do yourself a favor and check out a favorite site of mine @ AR15 site

 

[DarrellB]

Thank guys, I'll check out some of those sites when I get some free time tonight. I also have heard that in September the ban is going to be lifted and some of the cool preban stuff will be available again. If that's going to be the case I might wait till then to buy.



DB

 

[bmoeller]

http://www.lesbaer.com/



http://www.armalite.com/

 

[The patriot]

I get dealer pricing on DPMS, but I dont have an FFL, so I cant get lower recievers.

If you let me know the model youre looking at, I can tell you what it costs the dealer. This way they cant take advantage of you.

Lo-Pro calssic should be around $560. 00 (cheapest) The race gun is about $1250. 00. (most expensive) This is what the dealer pays, unless he's a master dealer. In that event he pays $10. 00-$25. 00 less each.

Eric

 

[DarrellB]

Looking for something along the lines of this one Bull 20 with the bi-pod and the glass bedding. Like I said though if the ban is lifted in September I might hold out and get one with a collapsible stock as well.



DB

 

[JHerrlich]

I'd personally wait for the Assault Weapons Ban to sunset. It looks like it has a pretty good chance. Here's where you can find some more info: http://www.awbansunset.com/

 

[d90boy]

I'm pretty fond of my Les Baer Ultimate M4. It has the heavy, Bear coated barrel and 4 way picatinny rail foregrip. 2 stage Jewell trigger works very nice in it. I topped it with a US Optics SN-4 MkIV scope with a lit circle-dot reticle. It's guaranteed to shoot 1/2 MOA and I think it would do it but I've only shot about 30 rounds through it in the year or so I've had it. I remember one article stating they could hit a dime with every shot at 100 yards. I like the looks of their Thunder Ranch rifle too.



Next AR I buy would probably be a Knight's Armament SR-15. The Armalite is pretty good too.

 

[DarrellB]

Quick question.



Is Les Baer's stuff made of gold? His line of AR's just seems to be about $400 to $600 higher than anything else. I didn't know if his stuff is that much better of if you are paying for a name. I do like that Thunder Ranch AR they have that's about what I'm looking for but would also like a collapsible stock.



DB

 

[d90boy]

It's very easy to install a collapsible stock onto an AR, you can buy one and install it later.



I know Les Baer stuff is high but you do get a nice piece of equipment. I haven't looked at the features of the others but the Baer comes with several top quality components installed as stock. The Jewell 2 stage trigger, free floated barrel, titanium firing pin etc. Plus I don't know that the others guarantee their accuracy like Les Baer does. The ONLY complaint I have about the Baer is that the barrel is quite large in diameter and makes the gun fairly hefty for a M4.

 

[DarrellB]

That's kind of what I figured, you usually get what you pay for. I'll have to do some more checking to see what goodies Les offers that the other don't and see if it's work the jake.



What about red dot sites? Has anyone tried one out? I've seen them but haven't used one yet. Thought about putting one of these on the AR instead of a regular rifle scope.



Thanks



DB

 

[The patriot]

Originally posted by DarrellB

Looking for something along the lines of this one Bull 20 with the bi-pod and the glass bedding. Like I said though if the ban is lifted in September I might hold out and get one with a collapsible stock as well.



DB

$734. 00, master dealer pays $714. 00.

They list the swivel stud for the harris bipod ($19. 00), but no bipod itself. Theyre about $50. 00- $60. 00.

Glass bedding aint in my (last years) catalog.

I'd just get one of those rubber wedges that go in the reciever. Theyre about $4. 00.

Eric

 

[The patriot]

If you just want the complete upper assy, the FTBL-LR-20 is $455. 00/$435. 00.

It comes with the bolt, etc. All you got to get is a complete lower reciever assy.

I have two DPMS AR's and I like them. Good quality for the buck.

Eric

 

[d90boy]

The red dot sight is great for certain things such as plinking and practical shooting competitions. They're very adept at rapid target aquisition at close range but would be almost useless for small varmints at the ranges a . 223 is capable of. I think the best zero magnification red dot scope out there is probably the Aimpoint. If you're going to shoot at varmints very much though I'd go with a regular crosshair scope.



Then there are the hybrid scopes which combine these two types of scope together. The most popular is probably the Trijicon AGOG. This scope is available in many reticle configurations and has some magnification to it. One of the popular ones has a red "donut" in the middle for close range, fast shots and below that a set of ranged cross-hairs for longer distances. I'd look at the US Optics SN-12 too.

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I have no affiliation with US Optics, just think it's some cool stuff. www.usoptics.com



There are soooo many options out there with regard to optics suitable for an AR-15. My best advise is to go to the AR15 website like rocket said and look through the optics and sights forum. Good Luck!

 

[FATCAT]

Originally posted by DarrellB

... I also have heard that in September the ban is going to be lifted and some of the cool preban stuff will be available again. If that's going to be the case I might wait till then to buy.



DB

The phony "Assault Weapons Ban" is to expire in September, but don't count on it ... there will be some over exposed shooting somewhere just before the ban expires and every news reporter in the world will be there along with Diane Finestine ... and the spineless Republicans will go along with the Hate-America liberals and extend the ban and expand it to ALL SEMI AUTOS.



My advice to you ... buy a A/R target of any type (I have a Bushmaster and love it), because after this September YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PURCHASE ANY MORE ... . PERIOD! Also buy a bunch of 30 rd. mags now before Kerry's Storm troopers grab them all after the January 2005.



DON'T WAIT ... GET IT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[KBennett]

"The phony "Assault Weapons Ban" is to expire in September, but don't count on it ... there will be some over exposed shooting somewhere just before the ban expires and every news reporter in the world will be there along with Diane Finestine ... and the spineless Republicans will go along with the Hate-America liberals and extend the ban and expand it to ALL SEMI AUTOS.



My advice to you ... buy a A/R target of any type (I have a Bushmaster and love it), because after this September YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PURCHASE ANY MORE ... . PERIOD! Also buy a bunch of 30 rd. mags now before Kerry's Storm troopers grab them all after the January 2005.



DON'T WAIT ... GET IT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"



I agree that there is a 50/50 chance of the ban sunsetting. Both of my guns are pre-ban and are setup for target shooting so I don't really have to have the bayonet lug. The threaded barrel is nice for the comp and the collapsible stock makes the gun shorter but they are not a necessity in my opinion.



Either way guys we all need to voice our opinion to our leaders so that no more of our rights are lost and some are gained. One thing is for sure if Kerry wins our gun rights will be jeopardized.

 

[DarrellB]

I've been a member of the NRA for about 8 years now so I'm trying my best to help with the ban.



Thanks for all the info guys this is a big help.



DB

 

[Jff24Gordn]

It dont matter which brand you get as long as you shoot the darn thing.

My sport utility rifle. A Bushmaster XM15 E2S A3 Shortie Carbine 16" HBAR, an old USGI 30 round mag, bushnell 3-9x40 and my coyote shiner.

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Ive only ran 5k rounds through it in a little over a year.

 

[VMF-113]

Re: Red Dot Sights

DarrellB:



Regarding your request for personal input on the various red dot sights--- I have an EOTech electronic red dot sight on my Colt AR-15. My rifle is a 16-inch heavy barrel flat top 1/9 with a Colt Match lower. Additional accessories include a Jewell trigger, GG&G MAD aperture sight system (which co-witnesses the EOTech equipment and serves as a back-up system should something happen to the electronics). Also has the Sure Fire Millenium light handguard.



I carry the rifle daily on patrol duties with a police department in Southern California. I have also used Trijicon's ACOG and Reflex, the Elcan and Aimpoint. I like the EOTech the best. In my opinion, it provides the clearest sight picture of the electronic units I've used and is best suited for my patrol use. Cheek weld is not critical, allows rapid target acquisition at all distances under various lighting (and dust / fog). Perhaps most important with the non-magnification red dot sights is the ease of shooting with both eyes open while maintaining total awareness of what's on either side of your target. No "tunnel vision" as often common to traditional units with magnification. If one were to wonder whether it's as accurate as a conventional scope with magnification, I would offer this observation. I don't typically use my rifle for urban distances beyond 100 yards. My EOTech sight's center red dot actually covers 1 MOA @ 100 yards. It consistently prints 5-shots at an inch or less at 100 yards using the duty load (Federal's Tactical Load with their 55-grain Trophy Bonded bullet. ) All things considered, I'm pleased with the set-up and don't feel the least hindered by lack of either magnification or a traditional crosshair reticle. I've used this particular outfit daily the past five years and have never had any problems whatsoever. Sorry for the long response, but wanted to give you the "full picture" of just one guy's observations. I've got the same EOTech set-up on an AR-10T(c) . 308 as well. Hope this info may be of some help to you in assessing your needs. Best of luck to you. Please PM me if I can be of any further help to you.



Mark