AR-type Rifles

[Forrest Halley]

It’s funny this threads has surfaced for me. I have a healthy dislike for black guns, but I have an even stronger dislike of being told what I can’t do. So about a week ago I decided I’d start looking into one.

Now AR10/15 platforms are banned up north now, but AR18’s have snuck through. And there only seem to be a few manufacturers of uppers for them.

Are these platforms common south of the 49th? I was thinking if there was more selection, maybe I’d get something shipped up.

What exactly are you talking about with an AR-18? The actual armalite product to work around patent infringement or the BRN-180?

 

[Aaron N]

What exactly are you talking about with an AR-18? The actual armalite product to work around patent infringement or the BRN-180?

That’s right, the 180B

 

[jpr9954]

On an international level, other than the IDPA and IPSC, I’d be surprised if there were any.

I found an NRA rulebook for a high power rifle competition that has a 300m AR15 section.

http://rulebooks.nra.org/documents/pdf/compete/RuleBooks/HPR/hpr-book.pdf

The US Civilian Marksmanship Program Highpower matches are almost entirely AR-15 now. The exceptions are the matches for M1 Garands and Vintage Bolt Action Rifles.

Here is a link to the rifle competition rulebook. Start on page 35 for information on the rifles. https://thecmp.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/HighpowerRifleRules.pdf?vers=061821

 

[Challer]

Brownells makes a great 180

 

[Aaron N]

I just looked at it, it does look better than what is being made up here!

 

[sestoppelman]

It’s funny this threads has surfaced for me. I have a healthy dislike for black guns, but I have an even stronger dislike of being told what I can’t do. So about a week ago I decided I’d start looking into one.

Now AR10/15 platforms are banned up north now, but AR18’s have snuck through. And there only seem to be a few manufacturers of uppers for them.

Are these platforms common south of the 49th? I was thinking if there was more selection, maybe I’d get something shipped up.

Not common here either. Why does it get a pass over the 15?

 

[Aaron N]

Not common here either. Why does it get a pass over the 15?

Honestly I don’t know enough to have an idea. I guess because it hasn’t made the headlines? That’s the quality logic behind this all

 

[Aaron N]

Brownells makes a great 180

it looks that because they are made to fit an AR15 lower, that they are a no go…

 

[Safari Dave]

If you can legally own AR type rifles, I'd recommend stocking them high and deep.

I would really like to know the difference between a $2000 DD and a $500 PSA. (Please educate me, because I really don't know)



The first rifle I ever purchased was a 1977 Colt AR-15 (brand new - $278)

The first rifle my son ever purchased was a 2008 Bushmaster Predator AR-15 (used - $500) - Sub MOA with the right ammo!


I really want a DD, but I also want to know what I am paying the additional $1500 for...



In the US - our 2nd Amendment Right (part of the Constitution of the US - the right for individuals to keep and bear arms) is the only thing that make the other 26 "rights" worth the paper they are printed on.


It's too bad that the other 1st world countries don't have it.

 

[Forrest Halley]

Brownells makes a great 180

Yeah let's talk about that for a second...

If you get one, you need to remove the rubber bumper on the left hand side of the upper. Next, shorten the screw and re-tighten it in place with with a washer and blue loctite. Otherwise that ten cent bumper will get knocked off and it becomes a single shot in a hurry.

The screw that holds the bumper in place also holds the bolt guide rail. When the rubber piece is missing, there is slack in the system and suddenly the gun ejects, but comes back in an empty chamber and a click. The absolute failure was when the piece rotated 90° and became an unreleasable bolt hold open. This was resolved by removing the rubber piece entirely, saving the washer, shortening the screw and reinstall in place with loctite.

When I lost the rubber bumper, it occured in the front seat of my vehicle. There was no noticeable traumatic event to cause it to dislodge. Literally just caught on the seat entering or exiting the vehicle and came off so easily that I failed to notice it at the time. Other than that small failure point, I am enjoying mine immensely.

 

[mark-hunter]

What is the legal difference between ar15 and ar18?

 

[Challer]

If you can legally own AR type rifles, I'd recommend stocking them high and deep.

I would really like to know the difference between a $2000 DD and a $500 PSA. (Please educate me, because I really don't know)



The first rifle I ever purchased was a 1977 Colt AR-15 (brand new - $278)

The first rifle my son ever purchased was a 2008 Bushmaster Predator AR-15 (used - $500) - Sub MOA with the right ammo!


I really want a DD, but I also want to know what I am paying the additional $1500 for...



In the US - our 2nd Amendment Right (part of the Constitution of the US - the right for individuals to keep and bear arms) is the only thing that make the other 26 "rights" worth the paper they are printed on.


It's too bad that the other 1st world countries don't have it.

It’s a game of tolerances and hand fitting and materials. Many of the less expensive ARs are built from parts from a variety of vendors, many Chinese. Tolerances tend to be lose, either for cost or to ensure they’ll fit every AR variation. The vendor is just an assembler. Cheap ones can function just fine but generally will not get good groups. And many require tweaking to function properly. An LMT and similar will have mostly parts all fabbed by LMT, not just assembled. The parts are made to match up. The NM ARs have a lot of hand fitted parts.

if I were just starting down this path today and wanted something better than cheap but affordable, I’d get a CMMG Banshee. They have uppers in nearly every caliber to explore or different uses. After that I’d still have my MCX and SCARs.

 

[Challer]

I

What is the legal difference between ar15 and ar18?

In the US? None

 

[Challer]

Yeah let's talk about that for a second...

If you get one, you need to remove the rubber bumper on the left hand side of the upper. Next, shorten the screw and re-tighten it in place with with a washer and blue loctite. Otherwise that ten cent bumper will get knocked off and it becomes a single shot in a hurry.

The screw that holds the bumper in place also holds the bolt guide rail. When the rubber piece is missing, there is slack in the system and suddenly the gun ejects, but comes back in an empty chamber and a click. The absolute failure was when the piece rotated 90° and became an unreleasable bolt hold open. This was resolved by removing the rubber piece entirely, saving the washer, shortening the screw and reinstall in place with loctite.

When I lost the rubber bumper, it occured in the front seat of my vehicle. There was no noticeable traumatic event to cause it to dislodge. Literally just caught on the seat entering or exiting the vehicle and came off so easily that I failed to notice it at the time. Other than that small failure point, I am enjoying mine immensely.

Sounds you had a very bad experience with this one. I believe there was an update to resolve some of this. That said, I find all AR have too many small parts that get easily lost. Like detention springs in the grip.

 

[Forrest Halley]

Sounds you had a very bad experience with this one. I believe there was an update to resolve some of this. That said, I find all AR have too many small parts that get easily lost. Like detention springs in the grip.

There has been no update to solve this. Only four cases of this happening were reported. Most people transport this design with the stock or brace folded which protects this weakness. I have been using this gun every day four over four months. Since my modification, I have had no issues and my carriage habits have remained unchanged.

The update that I am aware of is the charging handle being altered to a straight design instead of an offset design which caused issues for optics mounting. This is called the sport upper.

I have disclosed the cause and effect of the failure to Brownells and Primary Weapons Systems. The latter was very helpful as they perform all the warranty work on them and built them to the spec of Brownells. They sent me parts and provided some assistance with forming a solution for which I am most grateful.

 

[mark-hunter]

I am looking for ar15 rifle. Purpose, target shooting, scoped. range 200 meters
Need some advice. No experience with such rifles before
Options:

Savage MSR15
Smith & wesson M&P 15
Armalite m15
Colt ar15 m4
Diamondback db12 (5.56) - others above are in 223 rem

This is now available in my LGS.

I dont mind spending more, if finding better rifle.

I would like advice from community, which from above would be best for purpose intended. Prone target shooting at 200 mtrs, with scope. Competition

For short time available were daniel defense and SIG rifles.
Would these two be worth looking for around, or wait for next occasion, when compared to above?

Advice on:
For 200 meters, optimum barrel lenght?
And for 40 rounds string shoot, optimum barrel thickness?
Caliber, 223, of course.

Thanks for input guys.

 

[Opposite Pole]

I am looking for ar15 rifle. Purpose, target shooting, scoped. range 200 meters
Need some advice. No experience with such rifles before
Options:

Savage MSR15
Smith & wesson M&P 15
Armalite m15
Colt ar15 m4
Diamondback db12 (5.56) - others above are in 223 rem

This is now available in my LGS.

I dont mind spending more, if finding better rifle.

I would like advice from community, which from above would be best for purpose intended. Prone target shooting at 200 mtrs, with scope. Competition

For short time available were daniel defense and SIG rifles.
Would these two be worth looking for around, or wait for next occasion, when compared to above?

Advice on:
For 200 meters, optimum barrel lenght?
And for 40 rounds string shoot, optimum barrel thickness?
Caliber, 223, of course.

Thanks for input guys.

If you don’t mind paying extra check out the German-made Schmeisser AR15 DMR, or Ultramatch (roughly half price to the former), 200m is nothing for it. I shoot their Dynamic version AR15 and it is a quality product. From the Yankee market Daniel Defense rifles are pretty good, give JP Enterprises a look as well.

 

[mark-hunter]

It looks like shopping frenzy for ar15 started on local market... many are sold out
Shop keeper told me ruger ar15 are being imported. Are they any good? (accurate, etc ... es per above requirements).

 

[WAB]

I am looking for ar15 rifle. Purpose, target shooting, scoped. range 200 meters
Need some advice. No experience with such rifles before
Options:

Savage MSR15
Smith & wesson M&P 15
Armalite m15
Colt ar15 m4
Diamondback db12 (5.56) - others above are in 223 rem

This is now available in my LGS.

I dont mind spending more, if finding better rifle.

I would like advice from community, which from above would be best for purpose intended. Prone target shooting at 200 mtrs, with scope. Competition

For short time available were daniel defense and SIG rifles.
Would these two be worth looking for around, or wait for next occasion, when compared to above?

Advice on:
For 200 meters, optimum barrel lenght?
And for 40 rounds string shoot, optimum barrel thickness?
Caliber, 223, of course.

Thanks for input guys.

You will likely get better performance if you build your own. Buy decent components but spend most of your money on the barrel and trigger. Go with a rifle length gas tube. Be sure to true your barrel to your receiver.

 

[mark-hunter]

Appreciate advice, but with gun laws in my place, this is impossible (or at least science fiction)
For barrel, I need one purchasing permit, for upper receiver another. For lower, one more.
After spending 3 purchase permits and assembling it, I will need to register rifle.

In order to do that, rifle must be in police database of firearms. As it will be unique, they will not have it in database, so it will have to go to forensic department, to determine type of rifle, and maker, put it in data base, and then to register.
Minimum 3-4 months process. (if I am lucky)

O, yes, if the barrel is not cip proved, it needs to be cip proved after fitting to receiver, and there is no CIP proof house in country. WIll have to be sent to Austria, closest place. (all in all, a year of my life, and ton of nerves spent)

Thus I need to buy quality factory rifle. Much easier, and actually possible.