Hey just wondering if any of you guys happen to be AR fanatics or have some experience with them. Im looking for a good entry level gun and for a while I was thinking M&P15. Then I started thinking maybe I would be better off building my own. But I realize that I am a very impatient person and unless I buy everything at once it would annoy me to no end to have a partially finished gun laying around the house. Then I saw that S&W teamed up with Magpul and came out with the M&P15 MOE (Magpul Original Equipment)

The difference is a MOE stock, MOE grip, Magpul handguard, PMAG(s), and MBUS rear sight. I think that is all but maybe theres more. idk.

Heres a link if you dont know what rifle im talking about
http://www.gandrta...e/SW/M&P15_MOE.pdf

Opinions, experiences, and advice is greatly appreciated.

I have one or 5 (or 7).
Buy off-the-shelf.
As with all things, you get what you pay for.
Question #1: What are you using it for?

I plan to look into that rifle more in person but I will probably purchase it from an online dealer I found with an awesome price and reputation. Probably get used for target practice most of the time and then some varmint and medium game hunting.

I realize this is old, but it may come up again. For the same price as this pretty good quality Smith and Wesson, you can put together either a Noveske or Bravo Company Machining absolutely top shelf quality AR. You would have to put together the Noveske's lower receiver yourself, but I recommend it anyway as it allows you to really see how your firearms operates. Plus Noveske is considered the Ferrari of AR's, and has a kickass Rollmark. :p

While I'd prefer to purchase my other firearms "pre-assembled" (lol), I really enjoy building up an AR for some reason. Could just be me. I think they're actually fun to build. And as previously mentioned, it really allows for a more in-depth understanding of the functioning (and troubleshooting!) of the weapon.

Also, since the system is so modular, it allows you to piece together specifically what you want.

But then again, I've also never bought a already-built computer from a store either.

If you're just using it for basic target shooting and minor hunting stuff, and you really arent into specifically what's on it or whatever, just buy one from a decent manufacturer pre-assembled. Go with the well known companies and you cant really go wrong.


I'm interested in switching to a piston instead of purely gas-operated system. (yes, I understand the piston itself is still 'gas-operated' initially, but still)
They're certainly more expensive, but as far as functional dynamics and shootability, does anyone have feedback on this?

There's really no need. I'm not a big follower of the whole piston/gas debate, but the general consensus from M4C (the forum for people who live and breath the AR-15) is that it's an expensive novelty that adds weight and things to go wrong.

Direct gas impingement is just the way to go in the AR-15 field. For more information, do some browsing on http://www.m4carbine.net/

=P

And you sir, should check out www.snipershide.com/forum for a good time, of course.

Thanks for the link though, I'll check it out.

I've been a longtime lurker and very occasional poster on Snipers Hide. ;)

Most assuredly NOT an AR guy. If its your deal, fine. I carry a good bit more oomph. If you are looking for a good magazine fed semi auto rifle, winchester made a real beauty in .243 for many years. Beats the shit out of 5.56, I guarandamn tee it.

What's your carbine of choice these days?

Posted by Jonsered Most assuredly NOT an AR guy. If its your deal, fine. I carry a good bit more oomph. If you are looking for a good magazine fed semi auto rifle, winchester made a real beauty in .243 for many years. Beats the shit out of 5.56, I guarandamn tee it.

Depends on what I'm doing. If you are taking about just walking about hiking in the brush, I have a spectacular Winchester WWII carbine with the para stock and an EO Tech sight. I am not bound by the Geneva Convention ya know, so I carry handloaded soft point ammo and it works nice. 110g at around 2100 fps

If I'm mine hunting down by the border where I may meet hostile two legged varmits, I tend to carry my Browning BLR lever gun in .243. Gives me a bit more reach, but still light, and I don't expect a full on fire fight with the pollos.

For bandit country.... the aforementioned Winchester semi .243. I want to say its a Model 100, but don't hold me to that. Light, quick, detachable mags, nice wide view scope, but its got a quick mount base and i have an Aimpoint for it a well. I couldn't find factory mags over 10 rounds, but a gunsmith friend of mine made me twenty 25 rounders. I replaced the original wood stock with a fiber, had some action and trigger work done and a few other things.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not dogging on the AR action, I just don't like the cartridge.

That's a seriously classy rifle.
With the standard mag, it looks like an adult-size 10-22, very clean and classy lines.
22" barrel, yeah?
Prob an ideal weapon/round for the terrain and ranges you are looking at.
_{I know more than a few in AFG who with they had anything bigger than a .223!}
Good on ya.