Im in the market for a new predator gun. Although the 30.06 puts them down, it occasionally does some pelt damage I'm interestd in the AR style rifles essentially for their looks but wow, is there alot to know, it certainly isnt just a simple gun. Anybody have or shoot one that they like? I've looked at Remington, Bushmaster, RockRiver, Panther Arms, etc but really havent narrowed anything down.
iirc, the bushmaster and the Remington are the exact same gun (i believe bushmaster makes it for Rem)... I personally think the rockriver stuff is awfully nice... particularly the predator/varmint guns the other option is to build it yourself... you can easily source all your parts and config it however you like and not spend much more than what you would for any of the premade guns... the AR is truly the chevy small block of the gun world...
i have the Panther Arms version. love it! DPMS makes about all the parts for most of the compaines out there. it was one of the cheapest on the market when i got mine so thats what i went with. plus it's home to where i went to college here it is with my beatle bailey face! left it stock but tricking the next one out!!!!
It's been on my to-do list for awhile to do an AR build, although i've spent that money on other things for the last 2 or so years. In my opinion building is the best way to go, as sevenmag said the aftermarket on AR platform rifles is huge, and you can build one exactly how you like it, versus having to settle on a factory rifle. If I were to build one I'd either go Colt or RRA for upper/lower, the guys on ar15 seem to like the best. Either way check out ar15.com, tons of info on there.
Isaiah, what model/caliber is that one? About the only thing I would add is a scope for coyotes. I'm by no means a mechanical/techincal person, how much is involved in building an AR. Initially, all the info available is overhwelming to look at, do you need special tools or equipment to build one? or is just a matter of getting a parts list and assembling the things you want?
dont need to be technical at all really. all you need is to buy the lower assembled already. the rest is just like taking apart you rifles at home really. its a .223 m4. keep this one like this, but yeah next one will deff have some glass on it!
the AR is incredibly easy to field strip and build... like Isaiah said though, buy the lower assembled with the trigger setup you want and then go to town on the rest... get the upper, stock, barrel, grip and etc you want... if you're setting it up with a scope a flat top upper might work best for ya... maybe consider a starlight scope for varmint/coyotes??
Check out Delton... I have two Delton uppers and a Delton Lower with a Rock River 7.5:" upper...wicked little bugger. I would not buy another Rock River simply due to their customer service, it SUCKED. Delton rocks, they are awesome.
I like bolt action rifles to long range shooting, OBVIOUSLY !! But you can't go wrong with a semi-auto......
I looked at those at Gander Mtn. last night and they seem very nice, although S&W isnt a name that usually comes up when talking ARs. Maybe they just got into the mix?
pretty recently, but overall good reviews on em... I'm still holding a grudge against S&W though, even though I know they are under different ownership now I've gotta get that outta my head before I buy another smith...
they caved to anti-gun activists during the Clinton admin... minor now, but can't get past it... http://actionamerica.org/guns/swbetray.html
Not sure where you are in MN, but if you go to one of the gun shows, you can pick up different AR's for decent prices. I was at the one in StP on Dec 11th, and saw a DPMS 16" barreled M4 just like isaiah has for about $865 new for a 5.56mm chamber. If I wasn't in the market for a Remington 870 first, I'd have picked it up. It's on my list after I pick up either a Remington 700 or equivalent bolt action .30-06 now.
