Anyone here into firearms?

m4a1mustang · 07-06-2011, 08:03 AM

Alright, so I pretty much need to budget at least $1,500 if I want one that I can really rely on. Thanks for all the advice, guys.

MacCool · 07-06-2011, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

Alright, so I pretty much need to budget at least $1,500 if I want one that I can really rely on. Thanks for all the advice, guys.

For browsing if and when you want to make that move:

Daniel Defense XV M4 Carbine (OUT OF STOCK) at G&R Tactical

BCM 16" Mid-Length Rifle (OUT OF STOCK) at G&R Tactical

Rainier Arms, LLC™ | Browse | AR15 Rifles

Complete Rifles : Spikes Tactical

Clyde Armory

Clyde Armory

Clyde Armory

Clyde Armory

Some observations:

all of these companies are reliable
NOBODY argues about the quality of Colt, Noveske, LMT, Bravo Company, or Daniel Defense rifles. Spike's Tactical you'll get some disagreement among serious shooters about their quality
G&R Tactical specializes in helping you assemble a rifle you want..you're not limited to complete rifles. It works great to call Grant at G&R, tell him what you want, and he'll either get you the rifle, or assemble it from parts for you. He is very friendly and helpful.
.223/5.56 NATO is a standard cartridge that is pretty cheap and available. Little recoil. Best choice for shooting, but if you plan to hunt with it primarily, you might want a .308 version instead
I would avoid the gas piston guns, go with a standard Direct Impingement gas system. Tried and true, and standard on these rifles for over 40 years. Not much mystery there.
Get a 16 inch barrel
Get a midlength gas system...much less recoil impulse, no downside
Virtually every (quality) AR15 mfgr is backordered currently
Don't forget to consider an optic. 1-4x scope vs Red Dot Sight. You may opt to learn the gun with its irons sights before taking that $500 step.
Take a course. It will teach you how it works, how to maintain it, and how to shoot it effectively.

m4a1mustang · 07-06-2011, 01:27 PM

Thank you very much, Mac! That's some great info.

essixx · 07-06-2011, 05:05 PM

MacCool gives good advice. I wasn't really thinking about a new shooter of AR's when I said that about building one.
And I would also agree there are better made rifles than DPMS and Bushmaster. But essentially that was my point, unless you need one for competition, combat or a rifle that can meet the demands of dispatching killer hoards of zombies, you will be OK with one of the less expensive rifles. I would stay away from the Olympic rifles. I have seen a few and the fit, finish and reliability just are not there. For a little extra money you can do much better.
There is such a wealth of information on the net, to be able to make an informed decision on what you need for your particular situation. I find sifting through all the information is half the fun of the purchase.

m4a1mustang · 07-06-2011, 05:24 PM

The purpose of any AR I buy/build would be to shoot at the range for fun. But it also has to be able to fend off waves of hostile zombies if necessary!

MacCool · 07-06-2011, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

The purpose of any AR I buy/build would be to shoot at the range for fun. But it also has to be able to fend off waves of hostile zombies if necessary!

essixx · 07-07-2011, 02:19 AM

Awesome!!!

tvfreakazoid · 07-07-2011, 06:19 AM

Here's my AR. Not sure how anyone feels about POF brand but i like em

dad · 07-07-2011, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacCool

"Zombie Killer"! Shoot some one with that, and a prosecuting attorney will wave that in the jury's faces!

MacCool · 07-07-2011, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dad

"Zombie Killer"! Shoot some one with that, and a prosecuting attorney will wave that in the jury's faces!

I appreciate your concern.

m4a1mustang · 07-07-2011, 07:07 PM

Many thanks to Goldy for the red dot recommendation... it's very nice!

I should be able to get out to the range this Sunday with it to have some fun.

ImportConvert · 07-07-2011, 07:58 PM

Mmmmm! Shotguns!

Just bought me an M4S90 and have $1200 worth of goodies to bolt onto it when it hits the door! Pix when it's done.

SgtGoldy · 07-07-2011, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

Many thanks to Goldy for the red dot recommendation... it's very nice!

I should be able to get out to the range this Sunday with it to have some fun.

Looks clutch man. Hope you like it (zeroing for me was pretty much not an issue. Came zero'd for the most part when I was hitting it with slugs)

dad · 07-08-2011, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacCool

Springfield is reputed to be "OK". Sig...they aren't really the company they used to be. Since manufacturing and design for the US market has been taken over by SigArms, QA has become problematic. The German Sigs are still top notch...US-made Sigs, not so much. I've had my P229 since 1996. It's seen an exceptional pistol and utterly reliable. I wouldn't buy a Sig these days, though. I see heaps of armorer frustration in the law enforcement market with the current versions of Sig's pistols.

State Troopers/ Highway Patrol don't seem to have a problem choosing/using Sig's!

state ~ make/model ~ caliber
AL ~ Glock 22 ~ .40S&W
AK ~ Glock 22 ~ .40S&W
AZ ~ SIG P229 ~ .40S&W
AR ~ Glock 21SF ~ .45ACP
CA ~ S&W Model 4006TSW ~ .40S&W
CO ~ S&W M&P40 ~ .40S&W
CT ~ SIG P229 ~ .40S&W
DE ~ SIG P229 ~ .40S&W
FL ~ Glock 37Gen4 ~ .45GAP
GA ~ Glock 37 ~ .45GAP
HI ~ S&W Model 5906 ~ 9x19mm
ID ~ Glock 22 ~ .40S&W
IL ~ Glock 22 ~ .40S&W
IN ~ Glock 17 ~ 9x19mm
IA ~ S&W M&P40 ~ .40S&W
KS ~ Glock 21 ~ .45ACP
KY ~ Glock 35 ~ .40S&W
LA ~ Glock 22 ~ .40S&W
ME ~ H&K USP45 ~ .45ACP
MD ~ Beretta PX4 ~ .40S&W
MA ~ SIG P226 ~ .40S&W
MI ~ SIG P226 ~ .40S&W
MN ~ Glock 22 ~ .40S&W
MS ~ Glock 22 ~ .40S&W
MO ~ Glock 22 ~ .40S&W
MT ~ SIG P229 ~ .40S&W
NE ~ Glock 21 ~ .45ACP
NV ~ SIG P229 ~ .40S&W
NH ~ S&W M&P45 ~ .45ACP
NJ ~ SIG P228 ~ 9x19mm
NM ~ S&W M&P357 ~ .357SIG
NY ~ Glock 37 ~ .45GAP
NC ~ S&W M&P357 ~ .357SIG
ND ~ S&W Model 4506 ~ .45ACP
OK ~ SIG P226 ~ .357SIG
OH ~ SIG P226 ~ .40S&W
OR ~ Glock 22 ~ .40S&W
PA ~ Glock 37 ~ .45GAP
RI ~ SIG P226 ~ .357SIG
SC ~ Glock 37 ~ .45GAP
SD ~ SIG P229 ~ .357SIG
TN ~ Glock 31 ~ .357SIG
TX ~ SIG P226 ~ .357SIG
UT ~ Glock 22 ~ .40S&W
VT ~ SIG P229 ~ .40S&W
VA ~ SIG P229 ~ .357SIG
WA ~ S&W M&P40 ~ .40S&W
WV ~ S&W Model 4566TSW ~ .45ACP
WI ~ Glock 22 ~ .40S&W
WY ~ Glock 22 ~ .40S&W

caliber breakdown
9x19mm = 3 (6%)
.357SIG = 8 (16%
.40S&W = 27 (54%)
.45GAP = 5 (10%)
.45ACP = 7 (14%)

MacCool · 07-08-2011, 04:50 PM

If only those firearms purchasing decisions were being made by the actual end-users and armorers according to maintenance requirements and reliability instead of by the bean counters more concerned about their department's budget. Firearms purchases by law enforcement organizations is always low-bid. Performance and reliability takes a back seat. Glock in particular has moved away from their previously aggressive department pricing. Sig is desperate to get into the market. Looks like they dropped their prices but maintained their margins by cutting quality. Their current problems with quality control since Ron Cohen took over as CEO are well-known.

Ron Cohen was the CEO at Kimber before SigArms hired him, if that tells you anything.

07-06-2011, 08:03 AM	#1261 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6962	Alright, so I pretty much need to budget at least $1,500 if I want one that I can really rely on. Thanks for all the advice, guys. __________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

07-06-2011, 01:27 PM	#1263 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6962	Thank you very much, Mac! That's some great info. __________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

07-06-2011, 05:24 PM	#1265 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6962	The purpose of any AR I buy/build would be to shoot at the range for fun. But it also has to be able to fend off waves of hostile zombies if necessary! __________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

07-07-2011, 06:19 AM	#1268 (permalink)
tvfreakazoid A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: kommie kali Posts: 1,238 Drives: 2015 Audi S5; 6spd. Rep Power: 10324	Here's my AR. Not sure how anyone feels about POF brand but i like em __________________ Mudders milk

07-07-2011, 07:07 PM	#1271 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6962	Many thanks to Goldy for the red dot recommendation... it's very nice! I should be able to get out to the range this Sunday with it to have some fun. __________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

07-06-2011, 05:05 PM	#1264 (permalink)
essixx Base Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Iowa Posts: 21 Drives: 2009 Silver auto Rep Power: 14	MacCool gives good advice. I wasn't really thinking about a new shooter of AR's when I said that about building one. And I would also agree there are better made rifles than DPMS and Bushmaster. But essentially that was my point, unless you need one for competition, combat or a rifle that can meet the demands of dispatching killer hoards of zombies, you will be OK with one of the less expensive rifles. I would stay away from the Olympic rifles. I have seen a few and the fit, finish and reliability just are not there. For a little extra money you can do much better. There is such a wealth of information on the net, to be able to make an informed decision on what you need for your particular situation. I find sifting through all the information is half the fun of the purchase.

07-07-2011, 02:19 AM	#1267 (permalink)
essixx Base Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Iowa Posts: 21 Drives: 2009 Silver auto Rep Power: 14	Awesome!!!

07-07-2011, 07:58 PM	#1272 (permalink)
ImportConvert A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: SWMO Posts: 4,454 Drives: 2019 CX5 GT Reserve Rep Power: 7626	Mmmmm! Shotguns! Just bought me an M4S90 and have $1200 worth of goodies to bolt onto it when it hits the door! Pix when it's done.

07-08-2011, 04:50 PM	#1275 (permalink)
MacCool A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Midwest Posts: 1,349 Drives: 370Z PW 2014 Rep Power: 16	If only those firearms purchasing decisions were being made by the actual end-users and armorers according to maintenance requirements and reliability instead of by the bean counters more concerned about their department's budget. Firearms purchases by law enforcement organizations is always low-bid. Performance and reliability takes a back seat. Glock in particular has moved away from their previously aggressive department pricing. Sig is desperate to get into the market. Looks like they dropped their prices but maintained their margins by cutting quality. Their current problems with quality control since Ron Cohen took over as CEO are well-known. Ron Cohen was the CEO at Kimber before SigArms hired him, if that tells you anything. Last edited by MacCool; 07-08-2011 at 05:07 PM.