Anyone here into firearms?

Red__Zed

Starting AR shopping. Should be interesting.

MacCool

I strongly recommend one of the upper tier rifles, like Bravo Company, Daniel Defense, Colt, Noveske. The more popular brands like Bushmaster, DPMS, Rock River, may be suitable for occasional trips to the range but there are corners cut in their construction and their reliability is suspect.

Anarky

I have a rock river and have shot over 3000 rounds through it with no problems. Also almost all of the rounds are reloads very reliable and for the money best deals out there imo. Most come with stage 2 triggers

MacCool

Yes, for those looking for a budget plinker, RRA, Stag, Bushy, DPMS can be entirely satisfactory.

dad

Is the Ruger SR556 above reliable?

__________________

We can do without any article of luxury we have never had; but once obtained, it is not in human nature to surrender it voluntary.

MacCool

AFAIK, mixed reviews. It's a pretty well-designed rifle, some components designed from the ground up for gas piston, but others conventional DI. They are prone to carrier tilt, like most piston guns, and that does cause more wear on the buffer/tube. Of more concern would be the reports of malfunctions in various positions. I keep hearing of failure to feed, for example, when the gun rests on the magazine butt (as in prone shooting). Also, failure to eject in rollover prone. My general impression, never having fired one, is that they're "OK" as far as piston guns go. At that price, if I were going to buy a piston gun I would definitely go with a Huldra. That gun is made for that private label by Adams Arms. Huldra did mandate several modifications and upgrades. They put over 4000 rounds of 5.45 through one of their rifles without any cleaning nor any lube...no maintenance of any kind..without any malfunctions. They used 5.45 because they had a large stock of cheap surplus ammo.

The problem I have with piston guns is largely that you're paying about an extra $400 for the gas system, but certainly aren't getting $400 worth of advantage over a DI...some would say no advantage.

It's hard to separate fact from rumor when it comes to Ruger, and this is probably more true in the AR15 crowd. People that shoot those rifles have a little more of a tendency to be rabid Second Amendment fans and those folks have a tendency to believe that Bill Ruger tried to sell them down the river to Congress in order to keep the Mini-14 out of the Assault Weapons Ban. I always take Ruger criticisms with a grain of salt.

dad

I just read a little while ago about Bill and Congress, I wasn't aware of his doings!
After looking more into Ruger, the price is too high. I'm checking out Bravo Company, prices are way more reasonable!
I know very little about "assault weapons". I just made my mind up yesterday that I want one! Were moving to Tenn., after the 1st of the year, "gun friendly state"! About the middle of next year, I should have enough $ put away for one!

__________________

We can do without any article of luxury we have never had; but once obtained, it is not in human nature to surrender it voluntary.

ImportConvert

Buy from BCM. They will sell you a great weapon at a great price with no BS.

MacCool

Bravo Company is absolutely top quality with excellent customer service. I have BCM barrels on two of my SBRs and always use their bolt carrier groups. The biggest problem with them is that they simply don't have the manufacturing capacity to keep up with the demand for their excellent rifles and occasionally suspend rifle sales while they try to catch up. Currently, you can't buy a rifle from Bravo Company -- they anticipate resuming taking orders sometime "summer 2011". In the meantime, another excellent rifle is Daniel Defense...they might be more available a little sooner. And, be aware that you can buy a Colt 6920 for $1095.99. Colt is still at the top of the heap relative to overall quality in the AR platform.

Two good places to shop rifles are Rainier Arms and G&R Tactical. If you call or email G&R, ask Grant about availability. He can give you great advice and put together a great package. He's utterly reliable and prices as good as anywhere G&R Tactical . He might have some Bravo Company units around. He's the kind of guy that if you describe basically what you want to do with the gun, he'll suggest appropriate rifles and accessories. He is objective and honest, and won't give you self-serving advice.

I wouldn't go with a piston gun for my first AR...I'd get one that works the way the platform was designed - direct impingement.