YAGT: OMG I love guns

[Gunslinger08]

I'm thinking about ordering this upper: http://palmettostatearmory.com/inde...12g2-chf-16-5-56mm-1-7-mid-length-a2-profile/

Any recommendations for cheap sights? I'm building my first AR, so I just want something basic until I figure out what I really want.

 

[TerryMathews]

I'm thinking about ordering this upper: http://palmettostatearmory.com/inde...12g2-chf-16-5-56mm-1-7-mid-length-a2-profile/

Any recommendations for cheap sights? I'm building my first AR, so I just want something basic until I figure out what I really want.

My man. Dissy is the way to go.

Keep in mind, MI (who makes your rail) offers a bunch of accessories for that. There's a handstop kit I was drooling over. OTOH, it uses a proprietary barrel nut and PSA doesn't include the wrench. Your first call should be to MI to order one, you'll probably have to pay.

I like MAGPUL MBUS as they always snap back to the same location. Some don't. I also looked at these http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=251248897446 if you're on a really tight budget.

My vote? Get the MBUS.

ETA: legit Magpul gear holds its value exceptionally well. I've been able to make money on some of it. Gun parts aren't like PC parts, they aren't constantly depreciating. Buy good quality name brand at a good price and you can often resell at full value. Also keep in mind Brownells return policy.

 

[Gunslinger08]

My man. Dissy is the way to go.

Keep in mind, MI (who makes your rail) offers a bunch of accessories for that. There's a handstop kit I was drooling over. OTOH, it uses a proprietary barrel nut and PSA doesn't include the wrench. Your first call should be to MI to order one, you'll probably have to pay.

I like MAGPUL MBUS as they always snap back to the same location. Some don't. I also looked at these http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=251248897446 if you're on a really tight budget.

My vote? Get the MBUS.

Happen to have a link to MI's accessories? Building this AR has made me realize gun manufacturers need some big help with website structure/information architecture. I can't find anything, but I'm also a noob.

My research also showed the MBUS to be the most loved set under $100. Any recommendations on a retailer? I see that it's counterfeited a lot and/or the Chinese airsoft version is sold as the real deal. Cabela's has them for right at $100.

I'm probably going to order the Magpul CTR stock (http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/Magpul-CTR-Stock-Black-p/mag310 black.htm) and BCM buffer kit (http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/Stock-Hardware-Mounting-Kit-Mil-Spec-p/stock hardware kit.htm) from Bravo Company. Sound good? I'm a little unclear on the buffer weight, but it seems like H2 is typically "best".

 

[TerryMathews]

Happen to have a link to MI's accessories? Building this AR has made me realize gun manufacturers need some big help with website structure/information architecture. I can't find anything, but I'm also a noob.

My research also showed the MBUS to be the most loved set under $100. Any recommendations on a retailer? I see that it's counterfeited a lot and/or the Chinese airsoft version is sold as the real deal. Cabela's has them for right at $100.

I'm probably going to order the Magpul CTR stock (http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/Magpul-CTR-Stock-Black-p/mag310 black.htm) and BCM buffer kit (http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/Stock-Hardware-Mounting-Kit-Mil-Spec-p/stock hardware kit.htm) from Bravo Company. Sound good? I'm a little unclear on the buffer weight, but it seems like H2 is typically "best".

OK, buffer weight. "In the beginning" 16" barrels had what is called carbine-length gas systems and were overgassed, causing the recoil system to beat the buffer to death causing all manner of problems. Keep in mind three points here: Mil-spec barrel and gas port, carbine-length gas system, and mil-spec ammo.

You are getting a mid-length gas system. It's automatically got less recoil impulse due to the location of the gas port and port size. At the same time, unless you're intentionally buying hot ammo, you're shooting softer stuff than the military uses. Running too heavy of a buffer can cause short-stroking especially if you're running weak ammo.

You should use buffer weights to troubleshoot issues, but on a midlength I don't think I'd start with an H2 unless you know it's overgassed, like a factory second barrel with an oversized gas port. This is also a situation where you want to be slightly overgassed instead of slightly undergassed. It's like voltage on a CPU. More than you need is usually OK, too little makes it do weird shit.

I'd try an H bufer. They go CAR->H->H2->H3 with some oddballs in the middle like Spike's ST-T2.

Also, to your question about the accessories: http://www.midwestindustriesinc.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_ID=450

On the MBUS, either get a used set for a person with good history on ARFCOM, or hit up Brownells. Whatever you do, dont buy from Amazon even if you get Fulfilled by amazon. There are counterfeits in their warehouse with legit ASINs.

 

[Gunslinger08]

I'll start off with the H buffer and see how it goes. Thanks for the help!

 

[TerryMathews]

I'll start off with the H buffer and see how it goes. Thanks for the help!

Sounds good. Just remember if you run some really weak shit like Tula and it fails to eject, you can still go down a buffer.

 

[Gunslinger08]

Alright, I've got everything for a full build heading my way in the next few weeks except for optics. What's the prevailing wisdom on scopes? I've seen a lot about red dots from Eotech and Aimpoint, but they are pretty expensive. Any recommendations on cheaper models and retailers? Or should I just bit the bullet and spend $600+ on my scope?

Looks like this is recommended a lot: http://www.primaryarms.com/Primary-Arms-Micro-Dot-With-Fixed-Base-p/md-07.htm. Need to figure out what mount to get.

 

[velillen]

Alright, I've got everything for a full build heading my way in the next few weeks except for optics. What's the prevailing wisdom on scopes? I've seen a lot about red dots from Eotech and Aimpoint, but they are pretty expensive. Any recommendations on cheaper models and retailers? Or should I just bit the bullet and spend $600+ on my scope?

I have a couple red dots. The Vortex Strikefire and Eotech 512 being the two i "use". The Strikefire is good for the money. They have gone on sale for ~130 so i would wait and save some money. The dot is clear and it looks great. Holds zero from trip to trip but i am not rough on them either. The Eotech is a bit clearer and a bit nicer feeling overall (at over twice the price though!). The Eotech definitely feels and looks more solid like it would hold up more when it truly needed to be. Which they do and have a proven record by being used by LEO and MIL.

I have a couple other red dots but they arent anything special. Have a super cheap NCstar on my mossberg 500 just for fun. And i have a SigSauer red dot. The sig isnt bad but at ~100 bucks i htink it is worth stepping up to the strikefire personally.

For general just fun out plinking though i dont think you can wrong with the vortex. it will do everything you want a red dot to do. If i want to go to a red dot i honestly grab it over the eotech most of the time since i just dont care about it as much.


For me though i find i use a scope most of the time.On my 223 AR I have a 1-4 primary arms scope which is actually pretty good for the money. Clear at all zoom and it has a light up dot you can turn on. So in 1x you can use it like a red dot but can turn it off and go 4x and shoot for groups too. I find the 1-4x to be a happy medium between a dot dot and a scope. 1x with the dot you can still get on target fast like the eotech, but you are a bit limited in field of view as well (FOV being the con). Same you can get some zoom to help shooting 2-3-400 yard shots even going for groups. But again you dont get as nice of a reticle and a higher power zoom scope would be nicer for groups.

My 300blk AR is in a limbo state at the moment. It had the 1-4 from above on it but i found i was shooting for groups more than anything. So put a nikon 3-9 on which is nice but not sure if i want to get more power or just stick with it. Obviously the 3-9 is nice for shooting groups and distance but not so much for fast target shooting.

I honestly think it all just depends what type of shooting you want to do. For me its usually a range at a paper target so nothing ot fancy and its the same target over and over. So a reddot, once sighted in, is kind of meh to me. But when i go out in the woods and its shooting popcans and multiple targets the red dot is a lot more fun to go from target to target.

Picking a scope or even red dot is tough. Everybody has one they prefer over the other. And you can spend from 50 bucks up to 3k. EVen when you give a budget there can be 10 good options for that price point.

 

[clamum]

I am hoping to get some advice with the purchase of a .22LR bolt action rifle. The main purpose of th erifle will be for marksmanship training (teaching the wife to shoot) and for simple plinking. The .22lr ammo shortage seems to be easing so figured it was the time to buy.

The Savage Mark II is the current frontrunner as it can be purchased locally for less than $200:

http://www.savagearms.com/firearms/model/MARKIIG


So what do you think?

Lots of good bolt action .22LR rifles, some of which were mentioned in this thread. I have a Savage Mark II that I bought for cheap at Walmart and haven't had a single issue with it so I definitely recommend it.

 

[Gunslinger08]

I have a couple red dots. The Vortex Strikefire and Eotech 512 being the two i "use". The Strikefire is good for the money. They have gone on sale for ~130 so i would wait and save some money. The dot is clear and it looks great. Holds zero from trip to trip but i am not rough on them either. The Eotech is a bit clearer and a bit nicer feeling overall (at over twice the price though!). The Eotech definitely feels and looks more solid like it would hold up more when it truly needed to be. Which they do and have a proven record by being used by LEO and MIL.

I have a couple other red dots but they arent anything special. Have a super cheap NCstar on my mossberg 500 just for fun. And i have a SigSauer red dot. The sig isnt bad but at ~100 bucks i htink it is worth stepping up to the strikefire personally.

For general just fun out plinking though i dont think you can wrong with the vortex. it will do everything you want a red dot to do. If i want to go to a red dot i honestly grab it over the eotech most of the time since i just dont care about it as much.


For me though i find i use a scope most of the time.On my 223 AR I have a 1-4 primary arms scope which is actually pretty good for the money. Clear at all zoom and it has a light up dot you can turn on. So in 1x you can use it like a red dot but can turn it off and go 4x and shoot for groups too. I find the 1-4x to be a happy medium between a dot dot and a scope. 1x with the dot you can still get on target fast like the eotech, but you are a bit limited in field of view as well (FOV being the con). Same you can get some zoom to help shooting 2-3-400 yard shots even going for groups. But again you dont get as nice of a reticle and a higher power zoom scope would be nicer for groups.

My 300blk AR is in a limbo state at the moment. It had the 1-4 from above on it but i found i was shooting for groups more than anything. So put a nikon 3-9 on which is nice but not sure if i want to get more power or just stick with it. Obviously the 3-9 is nice for shooting groups and distance but not so much for fast target shooting.

I honestly think it all just depends what type of shooting you want to do. For me its usually a range at a paper target so nothing ot fancy and its the same target over and over. So a reddot, once sighted in, is kind of meh to me. But when i go out in the woods and its shooting popcans and multiple targets the red dot is a lot more fun to go from target to target.

Picking a scope or even red dot is tough. Everybody has one they prefer over the other. And you can spend from 50 bucks up to 3k. EVen when you give a budget there can be 10 good options for that price point.

Lots of good info. Is this the scope you're using? https://www.primaryarms.com/Primary-Arms-1-4X-24-Illuminated-Scope-PA14X-p/pa14x.htm

 

[TerryMathews]

Lots of good info. Is this the scope you're using? https://www.primaryarms.com/Primary-Arms-1-4X-24-Illuminated-Scope-PA14X-p/pa14x.htm

Two words. Optisan Mamba.

 

[dud]

Lots of good bolt action .22LR rifles, some of which were mentioned in this thread. I have a Savage Mark II that I bought for cheap at Walmart and haven't had a single issue with it so I definitely recommend it.

How much did you pay for your Mark II? I was hoping to get a G model with iron sights and the wooden stock. The lowest that I've been able to find it for was $190 at a local sporting goods store.

Thanks ...

 

[velillen]

Lots of good info. Is this the scope you're using? https://www.primaryarms.com/Primary-Arms-1-4X-24-Illuminated-Scope-PA14X-p/pa14x.htm

Yes thats the one. I got the extended mount as well (50 bucks)

Two words. Optisan Mamba.

Which is another nice option. But the reticule is setup for 223 so i passed on it myself since itll get used on a variety of rifles/calibers But for the price you cant beat that one..

 

[TerryMathews]

Yes thats the one. I got the extended mount as well (50 bucks)



Which is another nice option. But the reticule is setup for 223 so i passed on it myself since itll get used on a variety of rifles/calibers But for the price you cant beat that one..

True. I mount optics to each upper and leave them. I also find the lighted horseshoe on the Mamba to be preferable to a true red dot.

 

[Gunslinger08]

True. I mount optics to each upper and leave them. I also find the lighted horseshoe on the Mamba to be preferable to a true red dot.

So if I order a scope, it seems like I should cancel my order for BUIS. Guess I need to figure this out soon.

 

[TerryMathews]

So if I order a scope, it seems like I should cancel my order for BUIS. Guess I need to figure this out soon.

Not necessarily. Some are designed to cowitness with red dots. I can vouch for the MBUS working fine with the Mamba.

The idea is, if you're in battle and either the battery died or the glass was damaged, hit the buttons on your BUIS and you're still shooting.

Do you need them? Dunno. They are nice and handy though. If you have the money for both, I don't think I would cancel.

 

[Gunslinger08]

Any recommendations on 5.56/.223 ammo? I can get this locally for about 38 cents a round: http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/product/AMM-285

 

[OCGuy]

Any recommendations on 5.56/.223 ammo? I can get this locally for about 38 cents a round: http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/product/AMM-285

Well are you shooting an AR which can shoot both or something like a Mini 14 which needs .223?

Cheapest of either I can find online is .40/rd with free shipping..so I guess that would only help if the lack of sales tax made up for the difference.

 

[velillen]

Not necessarily. Some are designed to cowitness with red dots. I can vouch for the MBUS working fine with the Mamba.

The idea is, if you're in battle and either the battery died or the glass was damaged, hit the buttons on your BUIS and you're still shooting.

Do you need them? Dunno. They are nice and handy though. If you have the money for both, I don't think I would cancel.

That is sort of how i feel. I dont leave my magpul buis on 223 AR since it feels cluttered around the scope zoom adjustment. On my 300blk AR i leave them on since they arent in the way at all. But for me, im not pretending to be some tier 1 operator or whatever so they really serve no purpose except when i am using them without a scope on and having fun shooting iron sights.

Any recommendations on 5.56/.223 ammo? I can get this locally for about 38 cents a round: http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/product/AMM-285

Thats decent ammo and at 40 cents a round isnt a bad deal either. You could also go for steel cased which saves some more money. The PSA uppers are 556 rated and have cheap barrels so wearing out the barrel shooting steel cased is a meh thing to me. But yes that ammo at ~40 cents a round isnt a bad deal at all in todays market

 

[Gunslinger08]

Lower parts kit came in today and I have it assembled. Buffer and stock should be in later this week. Not sure on PSA's shipping time for the upper.

Hammer was by far the hardest lower part to install. Huge pain to compress the spring and slide in the pin while holding it. Would have been much easier with a vise.

 

[marvdmartian]

Well are you shooting an AR which can shoot both or something like a Mini 14 which needs .223?

Cheapest of either I can find online is .40/rd with free shipping..so I guess that would only help if the lack of sales tax made up for the difference.

Actually, only the oldest Mini 14's are limited to .223 ammo. Can't remember when they upgraded them, but it's been a while, and they can shoot .223 or 5.56mm ammo. I have a stainless steel model, and have shot both calibers out of it, without harm.

Joshsquall, if you don't mind shooting .223, this is probably the best price I've seen at Slickguns. PMC is made in South Korea, and I've had no problems shooting it. Of course, you're going to deal with some hefty shipping from Cabela's, unless you have one you can pick it up from close by! For me, it was $19.95 shipping, plus an extra shipping charge of $8, plus tax.

http://www.slickguns.com/product/pmc-223-55gr-fmjbt-ammo-wdry-box-1200-rounds-49999

 

[dabuddha]

So I finally got around to choosing which gun I want to get for my first one:

link

and I can't find it anywhere locally. Any suggestions?

 

[BlitzPuppet]

So I finally got around to choosing which gun I want to get for my first one:

link

and I can't find it anywhere locally. Any suggestions?

Find a local dealer, see if he can order it...if not ask if he does FFL Transfers and for how much. Over $25-30 is rape IMHO.

http://www.gunbroker.com/All/BI.aspx?Keywords=sr1911

Hope you've at least shot a .45 and know what to expect, I always preach 9mm for a first gun if you have never shot anything before.

 

[dabuddha]

Find a local dealer, see if he can order it...if not ask if he does FFL Transfers and for how much. Over $25-30 is rape IMHO.

http://www.gunbroker.com/All/BI.aspx?Keywords=sr1911

Hope you've at least shot a .45 and know what to expect, I always preach 9mm for a first gun if you have never shot anything before.

I've made about 4-5 range trips with some friends to test out various guns just to be sure and I really like the .45s. The one 1911 I really liked was the Kimber Stainless II that I was able to rent from the range. Little out of my price range. All of the gun stores said they have no idea when they'd be able to get it in if they order it for me. The lowest FFL xfer fee I was able to find was $30 + a $2 virginia police fee of some sort.

I did find it @ this site:

http://www.jgsales.com/ruger-sr1911...teel-1911-semi-auto-pistol.-new.-p-57903.html

I just don't know if they're reputable or not

 

[BlitzPuppet]

I've made about 4-5 range trips with some friends to test out various guns just to be sure and I really like the .45s. The one 1911 I really liked was the Kimber Stainless II that I was able to rent from the range. Little out of my price range. All of the gun stores said they have no idea when they'd be able to get it in if they order it for me. The lowest FFL xfer fee I was able to find was $30 + a $2 virginia police fee of some sort.

I did find it @ this site:

http://www.jgsales.com/ruger-sr1911...teel-1911-semi-auto-pistol.-new.-p-57903.html

I just don't know if they're reputable or not

JGsales is fine, I've bought a lot of stuff from them before.

I don't own a .45 because I don't want to pay the ammo cost . Plus I don't shoot pistols that much, I go through ammo too fast compared to my bolt rifles.

Use this to look for FFLs in your area. Some may be cheaper. :http://www.gunbroker.com/ffl/dealernetwork.aspx