OT: need advice on AR-15...

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Hey guys, sorry to ask this question here as it is not y2k related, but I have been reading this forum for awhile, and know that many of you are very knoledgeable on the subject of AR-15's. Hope you'll allow me to post this, as it is VERY important to me.

Here's the problem...I had a mini-14, but could NEVER find mags that worked properly. So now I'm going to blow a huge wad of money and get an AR-15. As you know, these things are getting RIDICULOUSLY expensive and increasingly hard to find. I was hoping for a Bushmaster as I am familiar with the name and have only heard good things about it, but I need a 'flat top' model so I can mount my scope properly (I really hate that hande...I need a gun, not a suitcase!). Anyway, I have found ONLY ONE person who has a flat-top model, but it is an Olympic Arms, and the guy wants $1100 for it!! I know that this is an outrageous price, but my only other option is to buy a Bushmaster for $800, then buy the $150 flat-top upper, then pay a gunsmith $100 to install it, and voila, I'm back at the $1100 mark.

Here's my question. First of all, how does Olympic Arms compare with Bushmaster, Colt, DPMS, etc? And second, I know that is expensive, but is it so outrageous that I shouldn't consider it? Would the Bushmaster conversion option be my best bet? Man, 20 something days till D-day, and I don't have a rifle yet....THIS REALLY SUCKS!! Thanks ALOT in advance! -Rational Doomer

-- Rational Doomer (doomer@big.time), December 04, 1999

Answers

go here and all your questions will be answered by the BEST in the biz.

http://forums.ar15.com/cgi/forumdisplay.cgi? action=topics&number=3&SUBMIT=Go

-- great site for AR info (bee@cool.com), December 04, 1999.


I know nothing about guns.

Neither does anyone else on this forum (hint hint).

Perhaps there are some gun-related web sites where such questions could be asked.

Nothing personal.

-- Me (me@me.me), December 04, 1999.


I'd recommend an Italian made Model 38 Carcano with a telescopic sight.

-- Dallas (grassy@knoll.***), December 04, 1999.

The Bushmaster is a very serious weapon and worth the money because it will perform everytime. the flat-tops are hard to get now (slow) but the a2 handle is ok.

If you want it for relatively close range, up to a hundred yards, the iron sights are good and acually faster once you get used to them.

My advice is get what you can now, and make a conversion later if you really need it. You know a scope will fit on the A2.

And hundreds of thousands of combat vets can't be all wrong. It's a good insurance policy if TSHTF.

Try AR-15.com for more info or the bushmaster.com for model variations.

Good luck.

-- selkie (selkie@undermyskin.com), December 04, 1999.


Check www.m-aparts.com for flattop upper assembly, stainless bull barrel-325.00, www.bushmaster.com for complete lower assembly with stock 220.00. complete rifles run around 750-800.00, 1100.00 dollars is way to much for an olympic arms unless it is a preban. If you go with separte uppers and lowers to assemble your own rifle be aware you will also need a bolt assembly and charging handle which will run you another 120 to 150 bucks.

-- Nikoli Krushev (doomsday@y2000.com), December 04, 1999.


Like the other guy said, check out the forum at ar15.com. Put in a "want to buy" for a Bushmaster flattop and you'll probably smoke one out soon enough.

http://forums.ar15.com/cgi/Ultimate.cgi?action=intro

-- impala (impala@wild.com), December 04, 1999.


The flat-top is good only if you need to mount a scope. Go for the carry handle, save the bucks and put it into extra mags and ammo. You'll find the iron sights are very adequate for whatever you're likely to be dealing with out to the combat effective range of the AR.

WW

-- Wildweasel (vtmldm@epix.net), December 04, 1999.


Forget the flat-top. It's too expensive, and has problems associated with it. If you want iron sight capability (and you SHOULD on a combat gun), you have to remove the scope and mount the iron sight rear. You may not have the time in a situation. Also, doing this off and on routine regularly may cause the scope mount grooves to wear and cause change of scope and iron sight zero.

Hopefully you have some skill with the rifles you have now. If not, getting a better rifle may not help you as much as you may think. I hope you don't fall into this category.

Also, don't just go out and get 55-gr ball because it's inexpensive. In many 1 in 9 twist barrels that are made nowadays, it's not very accurate. In my CAR-15, 55-gr loads stink, accuracy wise, regardless of manufacturer.

I suggest that you get some good 60-64gr SP loads. Avoid the 55-gr SP loads for the reason above. Winchester makes a decent one, (or PMC if you can find it) or you can reload them yourself if you are reloading-capable.

I reserve the military SS-109 loads for harder targets and longer range shots. One problem with the 55-gr loads that most people don't realize is that they can blow up pretty easily on limbs. This happened that the Miami shootout, where in at least a couple cases, the perps slugs hit arms and blew up too quickly (perp was using a mini-14 with a 1 in 7 barrel twist as I recall). A SS-109 load or a SP load probably would have continued on to hit the torso.

Make sure you have lots of ammo, at least 10 mags, spare parts, and web gear also. I suggest at least 1000 rds for a gun that you plan to defend yourself with, and extra ammo to pratice with is a big plus.

Sorry, Mr. Me, but some of us have thought this through, and are fairly knowledgeable about these kind of things, even if we have not seen combat yet.

-- Bill (billclo@msgbox.com), December 05, 1999.


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