Just got an ar-15 but have no experience with rifles. What should I do first?

[FNGGlock]

Make sure to learn how to clear a jam or malfunction with Maglock, it can be dangerous if unfamiliar with how those work. Ask the instructors in the class, watch videos how to do it, ask range safety officers if you feel uncomfortable.

Also get mags where you can drop the base plate while inserted, to relief pressure on the rounds. Ideally something where the rounds, etc can drop out the bottom. This can be a real help, pending the maglock system. Magpul 10 rounders are simple to drop the base while inserted and fully loaded.

[jimbo74]

Lube up the gun, find ammo, go shoot

[Angrysnarf]

It's been a few days what did you do first?

[deckhandmike]

Buy a bunch of crap like Chinese laser/lights, bipods and a tactical vest. Don’t shoot it, sell it and upgrade to a more expensive cheesier rifle that you also don’t shoot. Then give us advice.

[Oceanbob]

Everyone should own at least 3.

car, house, boat. Lube it, sight it in. Buy more Ammo.

Bob

[70runner]

One rifle is not nearly enough. Give some thought to building your next one. No better way to learn the parts and function.

[dC0m]

Besides what others have mentioned; get yourself a rifle cleaning rod to help clear FTE casings.

[ShredLA]

Just got an ar-15 but have no experience with rifles. What should I do first?

Seblo, there were a lot of replies so forgive me for not reading each one to see if what i mention is or is not covered.

Clear your rifle and BE SURE that there is no ammunition in the room with you.

Fondle it, get a basic understanding of what your rifle feels like.

Get confident in separating the upper from the lower receiver and removing the charging handle and bolt carrier group.

While you're at it, learn how to take apart your bolt carrier group. Put some CLP oil or whatever flavor you are going to use to lubricant with.
Dont worry about where to lube the bolt/carrier, a thing coating all over the bolt is acceptable, there are some important spots to lube on the carrier as well but you can just do the same as the bolt - thin layer of oil/lubricant.

If you put TOO MUCH it wont hurt anything, it will just give you a few light mistings of black junk when you first get to fire it at the range.

Dont get caught up in buying what you see on youtube or instagram, a lot of it is just hype.

If your rifle is closer to the budget side (its not a bad thing) you may have a basic black A2 pistol grip... the Angle that that grip curves at may or may bot be too extreme for your wrist. There are other options for under $40 (think Magpul, Daniel Defense and BCM)
These other options can have less of a strain on your wrist.
BE CAREFUL IF YOU REMOVE YOUR PISTOL GRIP! When you remove your pistol grip there is a spring and very small detent that will SHOOT OUT if you're not careful. They are a pain in the *** to drop and or lose.

Aside from that, dont get too anal about a zero
Do a "hasty zero" to get yourself on paper and then just stick with a 50 yard zero. Shoot off the bench with some sort of support like a bean bag or a back pack. If you're consistently getting all of your rounds into the circumference of about a grape fruit you can push out to 200 yards and confirm that youre in the ball park of a 50/200 yard zero. At 50ish yards your projectile is on an upwards travel, at "about" 200 yards your projectile is likely on a slight downward path.

When youre at a 50 yard zero and you aim at something about 200 yards, dead hold, your point of aim should be your point of impact +\-

Inside of say, 20 to 30 feet you start having to take into account your height over bore of whatever your sighting system is..
**for instance** with my current setup, inside of 20 feet i have to aim roughly 2.26 inches above my target to hit where im actually intending.

If you want a good set of irons you have a couple options.. theres the magpul pros which are metal construction and flip out of the way, or you can get some Daniel Defense irons that are permanently up. I personally prefer the daniel defense. To each their own.

Identify what you realistically want to do with your rifle.. are you sitting on a bench smoking a cigarette and shooting one round ever ten minutes? Are you looking for home defense?
Are you preparing for the aliens to invade?

GET YOURSELF A SLING
A proper sling is akin to a proper holster.
I personally love the unpadded Larry Vickers sling from Blueforce gear.

If you want optics, again, figure out what youre trying to realistically do with your setup. Buy once cry once, do it right the first time.
Dont go get a 5x25x50 scope and think youre going to be able to do urban rifle classes.

If you get a red dot, it's pretty much true- you get what you pay for.

Holosuns are cool, they're actually getting pretty damn good. I dont know if I personally would want to depend my life on one, but for a toy theyre rad.

Aimpoints are expensive but theyre great, theyve been in all the recent wars and have proven themselves.

Eotechs are great as well for all the same reasons at mentioned for Aimpoint. Eotech is a holographic and aimpoint is a red dot.. your vision may prefer one over the other. Theyre both made to take advantage of shooting with both eyes open.

Trijicon Acogs are rad but theres better options.

As far as scopes
I personally like Steiner... BUT if you have the coin for Nightforce, or Vortex's higher offerings like the 1-10razor, those are fantastic.
If you dont want to drop $2k+ on a scope, and youre looking for something with a low to medium zoom range, look for a Vortex with a good reticle that is FIRST FOCAL PLANE, you can do MOA but I personally think MIL adjustments are easier.

Most of all

Get decent ammunition.
Steel case is cool, it is cheap(ish), it WILL get jammed from time to time so if you go that route bring yourself a rod to tap them out with.

Brass cased 5.56 or .223 loads from makers like federal is where its at. Dont shoot your friends brothers cousins hand loads that he's making in his moms basement. If he measures wrong he can blow your upper into your face with a squib.

Figure out what your rifle is chambered in and buy ammunition accordingly. Ive shot 5.56 out of a .223 and never had a problem, i WOULD advise against it tho.
If you have a 5.56 upper, it can SAFELY handle both 5.56 and .223 pressures.
A .223 is not advised to shoot 5.56

[otteray]

Find a good deal on ammo and pack it high and deep.

[RNE228]

100% agree.

But I like some variety. Get a bolt rifle(buy or build). Get a Garand. Get a Muzzleloader(buy or build from kit). Get a lever action.

I haven't shot my AR since I got a Garand.

AR's are fun, but so are lots of other rifle

One rifle is not nearly enough. Give some thought to building your next one. No better way to learn the parts and function.

[RNE228]

Agree. A Garand, a bolt action and shotgun. Or a smoke stick(muzzle loader). Or a lever action. In pistol and in rifle cartridges.

Wait that's more than 3

Everyone should own at least 3.

[RNE228]

Would recommend an Appleseed session. Learn NPOA, how to use a sling, multi position shooting. They are a great affordable training session.

[xblax619]

Would recommend an Appleseed session. Learn NPOA, how to use a sling, multi position shooting. They are a great affordable training session.

i second this. awesome good time.