new to AR game, need help

[tikkat3270wsm]

i
I am new to the AR game, but i do know that i want a piston gun. My questions are.
1). 5.56 or 7.62
2). price, 900-1900
3). Ruger and Sig are the one I have my eye on. What other manufacturers should I be considering?
4).Shooting distance, 100-800ish
5)varmint,paper, deer (if I go on a hunt in a state that allows semi's)
6). Optic capable. Vortex, Night force,Leopuld
7). will be reloading


gun)Thank you for any help,
Craig

 

[threejones]

LWRC and LMT both make a nice piston gun too. To stay within your price range you might have to stick with 5.56. A flat top receiver will hold whatever glass you want with the right mount (La Rue, Burris, Nikon all make a solid mount that will put your glass up and forward where it needs to be). If you plan on packing it very far at all, I'd avoid the heavy barrel, plus you don't need that extra weight to get good accuracy. My heavy 24in AR is a bit more accurate, but almost never comes out, unless it's strictly range time. My light weight recon profile carbine (16in tube) ends up like the village bicycle... everyone uses it for everything all the friggin time. My wife took a little buck with it last week, I took a buck and a pig of a doe with it so far this season, and a whole mess of yotes, gophers, etc.

 

[blksno]

i
I am new to the AR game, but i do know that i want a piston gun. My questions are.
1). 5.56 or 7.62
2). price, 900-1900
3). Ruger and Sig are the one I have my eye on. What other manufacturers should I be considering?
4).Shooting distance, 100-800ish
5)varmint,paper, deer (if I go on a hunt in a state that allows semi's)
6). Optic capable. Vortex, Night force,Leopuld
7). will be reloading


gun)Thank you for any help,
Craig

1) What is the draw to the piston rig vs a DI gas system?
2) It's just money, either save some more or go with DI
3) LWRC M6R2 ($2k+), LMT MRP ($2k+), HK416 ($2k+), Adams Arms (only 5.56 available), POF ($3k +), or even the option of a Piston Conversion for a DI rifle by places like CMMG.
4) All of them, in any caliber you want, will shoot 800 yds. Can YOU shoot it that far is the question.
5) if you plan to shoot deer with it, then go with the larger AR10 style frame, in .243, .260, 7-08, 308 etc etc etc. The 5.56 is capable of killing deer but it's a really poor choice.
6) Optics are always a personal preference, but the model you choose really depends what your primary objective of the rifle system will be. Lots of guys use the low end 1-6x style CQB type optics. They are awesome for hunting, I prefer the 20x(+) high end long range style optics for my precision AR's, but that may not be what you want or need.
7) pick your rifle, then pick your caliber.

Everything is personal preference and you're probably going to get suggesting for and against all of it.

My opinion is the piston system is a fix for a nonexistent problem. Unless you're dumping thousands of rounds down it in a fire fight or competition style shooting, then the heat and carbon build up of a DI gun isn't enough to warrant the extra cost and reduced modularity. Sure, it's nice to not have to clean the bolt and carrier a couple times a year, but instead, you're going to have to clean your piston system. Your gas gun will function just fine for a LONG time with moderate to high strings of fire and range sessions between cleanings.
I understand the "want" rarely has anything to do with the "need", but for a first time buyer...I just wanted to make you aware if you didn't already know.

 

[threejones]

1) What is the draw to the piston rig vs a DI gas system?
2) It's just money, either save some more or go with DI
3) LWRC M6R2 ($2k+), LMT MRP ($2k+), HK416 ($2k+), Adams Arms (only 5.56 available), POF ($3k +), or even the option of a Piston Conversion for a DI rifle by places like CMMG.
4) All of them, in any caliber you want, will shoot 800 yds. Can YOU shoot it that far is the question.
5) if you plan to shoot deer with it, then go with the larger AR10 style frame, in .243, .260, 7-08, 308 etc etc etc. The 5.56 is capable of killing deer but it's a really poor choice.
6) Optics are always a personal preference, but the model you choose really depends what your primary objective of the rifle system will be. Lots of guys use the low end 1-6x style CQB type optics. They are awesome for hunting, I prefer the 20x(+) high end long range style optics for my precision AR's, but that may not be what you want or need.
7) pick your rifle, then pick your caliber.

Everything is personal preference and you're probably going to get suggesting for and against all of it.

My opinion is the piston system is a fix for a nonexistent problem. Unless you're dumping thousands of rounds down it in a fire fight or competition style shooting, then the heat and carbon build up of a DI gun isn't enough to warrant the extra cost and reduced modularity. Sure, it's nice to not have to clean the bolt and carrier a couple times a year, but instead, you're going to have to clean your piston system. Your gas gun will function just fine for a LONG time with moderate to high strings of fire and range sessions between cleanings.
I understand the "want" rarely has anything to do with the "need", but for a first time buyer...I just wanted to make you aware if you didn't already know.

Listen to C-bass, he's spot on. One thing we both forgot to mention is that 223/556 isn't your only option in a AR 15 size platform. I use 223/556 on my friends farm for whitetails, but I'm very limited by distance and shot placement. 100yds max for heart/lung shots(only on smaller does and preferably closer) Neck shots only on bigger bucks. It works great, but if you don't have a hayloft or a swather, tractor, etc to get a perfectly set-up shot from a perfect position... DON'T TRY IT.

If the rig will be used for hunting I'd go 6.5 Grendel, 6.8SPC, or maybe 300BLK. All these will run off a standard lower but will give way more energy on target. They are a bit more spendy for ammo than standard 223/556. But are far better suited for hunting. Perhaps you might want to start with 223/556, then after you get familiar with ARs, pickup a new upper in a better hunting caliber.

 

[tikkat3270wsm]

I have been doing some more research and have found that POF has a great rep and I can pick one up for. 1600. That leaves me with about 2500 for glass and ammo. I have definitely thought about switching upper to a whitetail suited cartridge when the time and money arises. As for the near future, 5.56 will do what I want for now, paper and whistle pigs

 

[Full Auto]

build it, manufactors sucker you at twice the cost!!

 

[MudRunner2005]

I have 2 AR's....1 is a buy, 1 is a build. I have an LWRC M6A1 5.56, and it is probably the single best AR on the planet, as far as reliability and function. I have put thousands of rounds through it, and it requires so little maintenance, it is worth every penny. You can pick up a plain black M6A1 for right at $2,000.

My 2nd one is a DGI gun that I built with mostly Spikes Tactical parts (upper, lower, BCG), Magpul furniture, etc... However, once I get if finished with a Noveske 300 BLK barrel, gas block, tube, Diamondhead USA rail, and a few other little odd & end parts, I'm looking at easily $1,000 in just the recent parts, not including the ones I've already bought, which were pushing $500-650...Plus possibly a few other odd & end parts, we'll say I'll be nearing the $1,800 mark.

So, sometimes it might be a little cheaper, and to build one 100% the way you want it, but it will still be within a couple hundred bucks. And if you want to build a really nice high-end AR, you're gonna spend ****-near what it costs to buy one. But, it will be the way you want it, and you won't want to change anything about it, or put anymore money into it, other than for optics.


Just my $0.02 based on my experiences and opinions.

 

[Full Auto]

I like Bobby Lee Swagger, reminds me of my friend in Michigan, so if you were Bobby Swagger going for the Congressman than yeah, go for high end, doesn't mean I can't kill just as dead with any of my $600.00 guns built in the machine shop. There is a big difference between "need and want" you and I "WANT" a high end to keep up with the Jones, do we "need" one nah probably not. But tell ya this I can go down to the shop with the schematics of any gun on the market, lock the door and when I come out it will be "HIGH END" believe me. But your right Thank GOD we can have these discussions and have anything we want. Thanks for the nice conversation and good shooting. Try an 80% lots of fun.

ElDee McGill
SSG, USA Retired Infantry, Airborne

 

[wildchild]

build it, manufactors sucker you at twice the cost!!

EXACTLY!!! piece it together the way ya want it and save money, spend the savings on mags, brass and bullets!
there a learning curve but once understood there fun.

 

[Full Auto]

In the process of putting together a 300 AAC, little different but nothing that can't be figured out by the normal individual who didn't sleep in shop class. Hope to think it will be a hell of a shooter. Watched "Shooter" with Bobby Swaggert last night. OMG I really love that show. Wish Sniper would come on. Reminds me of crawling around in the jungles of Hawaii.