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1.) Hunter - 06/09/2013
Hey DP or anyone else.........
just kicking around the idea of purchasing an AR. What should I be looking for? Priorities are quality and accuracy. Probably mostly target shooting with some predator hunting thrown in. Been reading a lot but a lot of questions are swirling around in my head........
Where to start?
Thanks
just kicking around the idea of purchasing an AR. What should I be looking for? Priorities are quality and accuracy. Probably mostly target shooting with some predator hunting thrown in. Been reading a lot but a lot of questions are swirling around in my head........
Where to start?
Thanks
2.) crookedeye - 06/09/2013
hunter are you sure you can handle a weapon like that?
3.) Hunter - 06/09/2013
Don't know if this old man can handle it or not!
4.) DParker - 06/09/2013
[QUOTE=Hunter;6669]Hey DP or anyone else.........
just kicking around the idea of purchasing an AR. What should I be looking for? Priorities are quality and accuracy. Probably mostly target shooting with some predator hunting thrown in. Been reading a lot but a lot of questions are swirling around in my head........
Where to start?
Thanks[/QUOTE]
A few questions are in order here:
1) Are you wanting to stick with something off-the-shelf, or do you want to assemble your own in an effort to get exactly what you want?
2) When you say "accuracy" and "target shooting", are you thinking about competing, or just having fun at the range seeing how tight you can get your groups?
3) What kind of a budget are you thinking about, including optics and other accessories? This is important, because the sky's the limit on this stuff.
just kicking around the idea of purchasing an AR. What should I be looking for? Priorities are quality and accuracy. Probably mostly target shooting with some predator hunting thrown in. Been reading a lot but a lot of questions are swirling around in my head........
Where to start?
Thanks[/QUOTE]
A few questions are in order here:
1) Are you wanting to stick with something off-the-shelf, or do you want to assemble your own in an effort to get exactly what you want?
2) When you say "accuracy" and "target shooting", are you thinking about competing, or just having fun at the range seeing how tight you can get your groups?
3) What kind of a budget are you thinking about, including optics and other accessories? This is important, because the sky's the limit on this stuff.
5.) crookedeye - 06/09/2013
4) you arnt thinking about robbing a quick trip are you?
6.) Hunter - 06/09/2013
I'm not assembling one. Either off the shelf or someone's else's used rifle and I'm not going to be competing. Without optics, I'm thinking $1000 -1200. I'm selling off a few guns for that amount. (or with optics if I can find a great used deal!)
7.) DParker - 06/09/2013
[QUOTE=Hunter;6676]I'm not assembling one. Either off the shelf or someone's else's used rifle and I'm not going to be competing. Without optics, I'm thinking $1000 -1200. I'm selling off a few guns for that amount. (or with optics if I can find a great used deal!)[/QUOTE]
OK, good. So if you know you have no expectation of general-purpose (home defense, zombie apocalypse, et al) uses for the rifle then you're probably going to want to look at something with a 18"-20" crowned barrel with no flash hider, and a tubular handguard (as opposed to a quad rail) that you can add one or two small rail sections to if you wish (for bipods and the like), but without all of the unnecessary bulk and rough edges of a QR. You could even skip iron sights if you wanted to.
Now the next thing is to determine the range(s) you expect to be shooting at, as well as if varmints are the only game you think you'll want to hunt with it. This will answer the question of what type(s) of loads you'll probably be shooting...most specifically with regard to bullet weight and configurations. This is important for choosing barrel twist rate.
Of course, the real trick here is going to be finding something that you want that is...
a) In stock at a reputable dealer.
b) Not at an insane price.
"b" is slowly becoming somewhat less of a problem as the panic buying has begun to subside, but things are still pretty inflated in general...and where they're not the dealer can't keep anything in inventory. Have you looked at anything yet that strikes your fancy?
OK, good. So if you know you have no expectation of general-purpose (home defense, zombie apocalypse, et al) uses for the rifle then you're probably going to want to look at something with a 18"-20" crowned barrel with no flash hider, and a tubular handguard (as opposed to a quad rail) that you can add one or two small rail sections to if you wish (for bipods and the like), but without all of the unnecessary bulk and rough edges of a QR. You could even skip iron sights if you wanted to.
Now the next thing is to determine the range(s) you expect to be shooting at, as well as if varmints are the only game you think you'll want to hunt with it. This will answer the question of what type(s) of loads you'll probably be shooting...most specifically with regard to bullet weight and configurations. This is important for choosing barrel twist rate.
Of course, the real trick here is going to be finding something that you want that is...
a) In stock at a reputable dealer.
b) Not at an insane price.
"b" is slowly becoming somewhat less of a problem as the panic buying has begun to subside, but things are still pretty inflated in general...and where they're not the dealer can't keep anything in inventory. Have you looked at anything yet that strikes your fancy?
8.) Hunter - 06/09/2013
Ranges out to maybe 200yds. Probably stick with 55gr ammo (don't know anything about configurations). Barrel length and twist rate needed would be great. Thinking of maybe Daniel Defense, S&W or anything that would be very reliable.
I'm hoping that with cash in hand, I might get more value used as long as I know and stick to what I'm looking for. Not in a hurry to rush out and pick one up.
Is tubular handguard the same as floating handguard?
By the way, thanks for all the info!
Does a crowned barrel add to accuracy? What barrels are crowned?
I'm hoping that with cash in hand, I might get more value used as long as I know and stick to what I'm looking for. Not in a hurry to rush out and pick one up.
Is tubular handguard the same as floating handguard?
By the way, thanks for all the info!
Does a crowned barrel add to accuracy? What barrels are crowned?
9.) DParker - 06/09/2013
[QUOTE=Hunter;6680]Ranges out to maybe 200yds. Probably stick with 55gr ammo (don't know anything about configurations). Barrel length and twist rate needed would be great.[/quote]
So long as you don't shoot the heavier/longer bullets (like 70+ gr) then a 1:9 barrel will be fine (and a 1:8 would be good for anything, but you're not likely to find one in the rifle you want). As for length, like I said...for target/hunting anything in the 18"-20" range would be good.
[QUOTE=Hunter;6680]Thinking of maybe Daniel Defense, S&W or anything that would be very reliable.[/quote]
Either of those would be a decent choice, assuming you get the right configuration. Pretty much anything from a reputable manufacturer is going to be reliable, so long as you maintain it and don't abuse it. Stay away from anything that has a questionable reputation and you'll be fine.
[QUOTE=Hunter;6680]I'm hoping that with cash in hand, I might get more value used as long as I know and stick to what I'm looking for. Not in a hurry to rush out and pick one up.[/quote]
Good. Take your time and shop around. That's about the only way you're going to get a decent value buy in this market.
[QUOTE=Hunter;6680]Is tubular handguard the same as floating handguard?[/quote]
They are generally free-float, but the two are not synonyms (quad rails are usually free-float as well). I'm referring to the smooth, tubular-shaped handguards that aren't covered in picatinny rails. For instance, this:
Though personally, I think a rifle-length MagPul MOE handguard might be a better choice. It's lighter and cheaper, but still plenty sturdy for your purposes...
[QUOTE=Hunter;6680]By the way, thanks for all the info![/QUOTE]
Happy to do it! :tu:
[QUOTE=Hunter;6680]Does a crowned barrel add to accuracy? What barrels are crowned?[/QUOTE]
Yes. Most barrels are already crowned, and I really did a poor job in my use of that term. I was really just referring to a barrel that doesn't have anything added at the muzzle end, like a flash-hider...which would be of no value in strictly range and hunting rifle.
So long as you don't shoot the heavier/longer bullets (like 70+ gr) then a 1:9 barrel will be fine (and a 1:8 would be good for anything, but you're not likely to find one in the rifle you want). As for length, like I said...for target/hunting anything in the 18"-20" range would be good.
[QUOTE=Hunter;6680]Thinking of maybe Daniel Defense, S&W or anything that would be very reliable.[/quote]
Either of those would be a decent choice, assuming you get the right configuration. Pretty much anything from a reputable manufacturer is going to be reliable, so long as you maintain it and don't abuse it. Stay away from anything that has a questionable reputation and you'll be fine.
[QUOTE=Hunter;6680]I'm hoping that with cash in hand, I might get more value used as long as I know and stick to what I'm looking for. Not in a hurry to rush out and pick one up.[/quote]
Good. Take your time and shop around. That's about the only way you're going to get a decent value buy in this market.
[QUOTE=Hunter;6680]Is tubular handguard the same as floating handguard?[/quote]
They are generally free-float, but the two are not synonyms (quad rails are usually free-float as well). I'm referring to the smooth, tubular-shaped handguards that aren't covered in picatinny rails. For instance, this:
Though personally, I think a rifle-length MagPul MOE handguard might be a better choice. It's lighter and cheaper, but still plenty sturdy for your purposes...
[QUOTE=Hunter;6680]By the way, thanks for all the info![/QUOTE]
Happy to do it! :tu:
[QUOTE=Hunter;6680]Does a crowned barrel add to accuracy? What barrels are crowned?[/QUOTE]
Yes. Most barrels are already crowned, and I really did a poor job in my use of that term. I was really just referring to a barrel that doesn't have anything added at the muzzle end, like a flash-hider...which would be of no value in strictly range and hunting rifle.
10.) Hunter - 06/11/2013
The AR world is full of 16in barrels
11.) XJCraver - 06/13/2013
Sounds like DP covered all the bases there, you got some good advice!
If you're looking to buy a good used predator gun, shoot me a PM. I just happen to have one for sale... :wink
If you're looking to buy a good used predator gun, shoot me a PM. I just happen to have one for sale... :wink
12.) Hunter - 06/13/2013
Looking for something on an AR platform
13.) XJCraver - 06/14/2013
It IS an AR, that I set up for 'yotes. Didn't want to hijack your thread, but I can/will post specs and a pic if you like.