AR questions and a few others

[papafloyd]

Let me start off by saying I've done several searches and read alot....so much that I'm brain dead, even more than before. So I don't know crap about the AR platform....what the differences are between each and what needed to build one. That of course is readily available here on several threads. My plan is to build or put together a rifle that I know nothing about! My use will be for the range. I will purchase a complete upper and put together the rest. I really like the look of the Remi R15/R25 but not sure what platform they are built on or made to look like. Back to the upper....it seems like BCM and LMT are of high quality and interest me. Would I be better with a SS barrel or the Chrome moly? What would be a good lower to go with either of the above uppers? Would I be better off to buy a matching upper/lower? Oh yeah I have to make it CA compliant, again don't know much about a bullet button or fixed mag, I know you have to have a tool to remove the magazine with a bullet button but how do you load the fixed mag? Which is the prefered one? I have some money for some but not all of the purchase yet so I was thinking it would be best to get the lower 1st since it has to go to the FFL. That brings me to another I've never been clear on, I know when you buy a handgun you can't buy another for 30 days, can I purchase a rifle before the 30 days are up. Thanks for any help and sorry to be so long winded but I'm really new to this as I only have rimfire right now. But I do have the BUG!
Thanks again, Ken.

[Don29palms]

What is your budget? LMT and BCM are the best and are expensive. There are alot of great rifles out there in different price ranges. Addax makes excellent custom uppers. Do you want a 16",18",20" or 24" barrel? Free float ar standard hand guard? Fixed or collapsible buttstock? Is weight a concern or not?

[dieselpower]

1) what the differences are between each and what needed to build one. That of course is readily available here on several threads. All AR15s are the same. The differences are in the materials used and how it was done. Other differences are length of barrel, type of stock and those are choices you make based on what you want from the firearm. AR15s are supposed to be interchangeable, so a Stag-15 lower will fit a DPMS upper or a Bushmaster. they are all supposed to be made using the same design specs.

2) I really like the look of the Remi R15/R25 but not sure what platform they are built on or made to look like. The remi R25 is different then other because its not a standard build rifle. They are AR15 type firearms. its like the Firestorm 1911s. they look like standard 1911s but few 1911 parts actually fit in them. this is how the AR chambered in anything other then .223 is made, they look like they are the same but they are not. IIRC there are three different types of 308 Armalte, DPMS and Remmington..they will not interchange with each other.

3) it seems like BCM and LMT are of high quality and interest me. they should..top quality stuff on both manufacturers

4) Would I be better with a SS barrel or the Chrome moly? Your call. research both and see what fits your needs

5) What would be a good lower to go with either of the above uppers? Again its your call. It boils down to what logo you want on the side of the lower

6) Would I be better off to buy a matching upper/lower? I think so...others will say NO you dont...again its all in your philosophy

7) I know you have to have a tool to remove the magazine with a bullet button but how do you load the fixed mag? you use a tool to eject the magazine from the rifle and load it, then insert it into the rifle. You can also pre-load magazines and use a tool to drop the empty magazine and then install a pre-loaded magazine. the law only requires two things. 10 or less maximum capacity and only a tool is allowed to remove the magazine. if you can do it with your finger..its a detachable magazine and is an AW

8) Which is the preferred one? again...whatever you like

9) I have some money for some but not all of the purchase yet so I was thinking it would be best to get the lower 1st since it has to go to the FFL.buying the lower and going through the FFL is a good start. But you can also start by making a list (my first link) and watching for deals

10) I know when you buy a handgun you can't buy another for 30 days, can I purchase a rifle before the 30 days are up. its a handgun law

[MrPlink]

Bcm expensive? Given their features I thought they were a good deal

[reidnez]

Lots of questions.

1) BCM and LMT are great choices. There are many others that will serve you well. In my opinion, almost any brand will serve you well. Stay away from Hesse/Vulcan. The thing to understand is that price yields a diminishing return in quality, as you spend more. In other words, a $1000 upper might be significantly better than a $600 upper, but a $2000 upper is not so much significantly better than a $1000 upper. Make sense?

2) Stainless will cost you more and has some benefits, principally accuracy (although a chromed barrel will still be plenty accurate for any use other than matches.) I would definitely recommend a chromed bore over a non-chromed. Almost all quality uppers these days will have chromed bores.

3) I'm of the opinion that a lower is a lower. Just make sure it's off-list, of course. You can spend big bucks on a milled lower if you want to, but there's no real benefit. Your money is better spent elsewhere.

4) You load the magazine like you would any other magazine. It is released with a tool and loaded. The only difference is you need a tool to drop the magazine.

5) The one-per-30-days rule only applies to new handguns bought from an FFL. You can buy as many longarms as you like. You can even put multiple rifles on the same DROS.

6) Buying a lower first would be a wise choice; like you said, it's the only piece you have to get through an FFL. While you're waiting for your lower to get out of 10-day-jail, you can decide how you want to build your rifle and mail-order everything else you need.

Just make sure you read and understand the flow chart, it's fairly simple. If you don't like the idea of a bullet button, you can go "featureless" and your rifle will not require one. Lots of people prefer that route because you retain the original function of the rifle.

[donking]

Let me start off by saying I've done several searches and read alot....so much that I'm brain dead, even more than before. So I don't know crap about the AR platform....what the differences are between each and what needed to build one.
...
But I do have the BUG!
Thanks again, Ken.

It helps to see the different ARs in person. Go to a local gun store and look/touch what they have, then when back at home re-read some of the threads to see if they make more sense. It may take a couple trips back and fourth to understand all the different parts.

On youtube there are videos of people shooting, which don't help much at normal speed, but there are some slow-motion vids that show the bolt, gases, and ejection of cases that helps in understanding the function.

Along those same lines there is this site that shows the operation of an AR

http://www.bushmaster.com/anatomy_bushmaster.asp

Also, look for a local range that rents them so you can try one out. Here is one in Palm Desert.

http://www.theacademy.us.com/

If not, then look in the shoots, meets forum for an event/outing where someone may let you shoot a few rounds.

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&f=115

Good luck,