Jump to content
Military Firearm Restoration Corner

If You Have Been Sitting On The Fence Wanting An Ar-15


AzRednek

Recommended Posts

A close friend and I went halvies buying his daughter a new Ruger AR-556. Ordering early and awaiting back order it was well worth the wait. Got it shipped and out the door from local FFL for about $480. Cost less than plastic lower receiver odd ball brand AR's. Ruger did not fool around with the adjustable gas piston operating rod system used on their high priced models. Instead using the conventional Stoner operating system. The no frills Ruger is a bargain but prices are already creeping up.

We drove to the desert, took it out of the box and fired a few hundred rds of a hodge-podge of ammo and not a single hickup. Shot some of my very mild hand loads that I loaded about 20 years ago, various brands of foreign steel cased, 1980's Chinese brass cased and a box or two of modern factory 223. Everything ran through like a hot knife through butter. May have been coincidental or deliberate. The fold up sights were dead on.

The only downs were a lack of a chrome lined bore, a non chrome bolt and a single cheapie plastic magazine. One thing really pissed me off is Ruger being such cheapskates, not wanting to pony up another two-bits. Does not include a rear sling swivel. Don't know yet, hopefully not a Ruger propriety item like their high priced scope rings.

In summary if you're considering an AR purchase. You can't go wrong for 500 or less.

http://www.ruger.com/products/ar556/models.html

3c1a5c42-d82c-4449-997b-8554273f4f1d_zps

Link to comment
Share on other sites

i just buy a lower and pick out a upper kit tomy liking with what i want and just assemble it

Thats the way I'd do it if I were to add another AR to my collection. The options are nearly endless from short barreled M-4 style suitable for combat to match grade, free floated, heavy barreled uppers suitable for long distance competition. Guess at my age I see the AR as a fun gun or a high priced plinker.

 

Guess I'm showing my age being satisfied with my early 70's Colt SP-1 Sporter. The triangular Nam era handguards and lack of a forward assist gets me a few strange looks from younger guys at the range. These younger shooters like to carry in their AR's showing of all kinds of bells and whistles attached to it. My last trip to a public range with it, seeing I was getting some attention from some younger shooters. I slipped on the original Colt bayonet and only inserted 20 rd mags. I loaded the mags using US GI stripper clips and guide. Sure enough a shooter sent his woman over asking me if I brought it home from Viet Nam.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Grab-a-gun has carbines for under $400, like $399. But for the few extra bucks that the Ruger goes for, That's a good one to get.

 

Have to do a bit of research before buying a low cost AR as they might be plastic lowers. I'm sure there might be plenty willing to argue the so called Polymer receiver is as good but I have my doubts.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That was an all metal lower carbine, not the "Hybrid" ones.


If I recall, I think you could get a no-name upper with bolt for $250 at the BIG gun show last November. Certainly not an Armalite, and for the extra fifty, that would be well worth it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That was an all metal lower carbine, not the "Hybrid" ones.

 

If I recall, I think you could get a no-name upper with bolt for $250 at the BIG gun show last November. Certainly not an Armalite, and for the extra fifty, that would be well worth it.

 

I'm wondering if Armalite is coming out of the same factory or from the same manufacture where the AR began or did somebody buy rights to the name. With the lower AR kits I've seen assembled on Youtube coupled with a quality upper. One could piece together a paperless AR for a decent price.

 

My guess ATF through a bureaucratic decree will eventually put and end to paperless kits as there is also an 80% Glock frame available. There is no longer the glut of mil-surp 1911 parts available but I imagine somebody will if it isn't already. Be offering up an incomplete but paperless 1911 frame.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...