AR-15 Help

[icenix]

Let me first say that I claim to be no expert, hence these questions. I am looking to purchase an AR-15. I basically want a 16 in, collapsible stock, rail system, fore grip, and am looking at a Spikes Tactical right now, but am open to suggestions.

I have been looking in to ARs for a while, but there is so much out there in terms of information and options that I can't help but feel overwhelmed. So, I have a couple of questions.....

1) Are chrome lined barrels the best option? What are all the options?
2) What's better, gas or piston?
3) I wanted a vertical fore grip, but am now considering an angled grip, for those that have used them, how do you like them?
4) Maybe a stupid question, but are all .223 ARs also 5.56's?
5) What did you learn after buying your first AR that you would have done differently if you could do it over again?
6) Does it take any longer to get an AR than any other gun in CA? How long should I expect?

Unfortunately the gun shops in my city and neighboring areas suck. They are all good 'ol boys clubs and are no help what so ever, so I would appreciate any help or comments.

[mreed]

Don't cheap out too much , get / build a quality rifle the first time.
I fire both through my rifle, it takes 10 days as usual, I personally like the vertical grip better, I like to put my thumb on handguard and use it sort of as angled foregrip, the angle foregrip just wasn't my thing, they have great reviews though

[icenix]

Thanks. I am willing to put as much as $1,400 into my first one. I just don't want to get screwed and over pay. With so many brands of parts and guns out there I don't want to get the wrong thing.

[mreed]

wow 1400$! i just built mine and its an amazing rifle, i think i have about 800$ into it?
youll get an amazing rifle nontheless with that cash!

[Mamluke]

4) Maybe a stupid question, but are all .223 ARs also 5.56's?

Yes, and No! ... they don't recommend shooting 5.56 NATO in a rifle designated
.223 Remington. But you can shoot .223 in a 5.56 NATO caliber rifle.

...........

[icenix]

lol, well key part of that phrase was "as much as" but that includes tax, extras, etc.

I basically need info on those questions above and I think I am about ready to buy. I already have info/opinions on some of them, I am just looking for a little more.

[gemini1]

5) What did you learn after buying your first AR that you would have done differently if you could do it over again?

I should have waited or researched more. I got a government profiled barrel but wanted a lightweight one.

[mreed]

^ i got lightweight but ended up wanting a govt' profile :P
ended up trading though thank jesus!

[icenix]

What do you mean government vs lightweight? Not familiar with those terms, or maybe it's just not clicking right now.

[drifter001]

for 1400 you can build/buy a very nice ar! so far i have about $850 on mine. as far as chrome goes, theyre far more durable. if youre looking into accuracy, chrome prob wont be your best option

[drifter001]

also make sure u build something thats legal. if youre going with features, which seems like you are, make sure you read up on the laws and into the almighty bullet button

[gemini1]

What do you mean government vs lightweight? Not familiar with those terms, or maybe it's just not clicking right now.

I would suggest a little more reading before you spend your money,
may save you from saying "I should have gotten that instead of this"

http://www.03designgroup.com/technotes/ar15-upper-receiver-weight-comparisons

https://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=tsU_kAjONKoGGfkDPaQZX1Q&single=true&gid=0&output=html

[davidk02]

To add on to question 4, I get that they say its ok to shoot 223 from a 556, and not vice versa, but I've seen magazines that say 223. Are these interchangeable?

[mreed]

Yes, and No! ... they don't recommend shooting 5.56 NATO in a rifle designated
.223 Remington. But you can shoot .223 in a 5.56 NATO caliber rifle.

...........

and yes you can ue 556 in a 223 mag

[GUNNTZ]

Info taken from wiki on 5.56 vs .223:

5.56 mm NATO versus .223 Remington

The 5.56 mm NATO and .223 Remington cartridges and chamberings are similar but not identical. Military 5.56mmx45 cases are often made thicker and therefore have less case capacity.[17] However, the NATO specification allows a higher chamber pressure. NATO EPVAT test barrels made for 5.56 mm NATO measure chamber pressure at the case mouth, as opposed to the location used by the United States civil standards organization SAAMI. The piezoelectric sensors or transducers NATO and SAAMI use to conduct the actual pressure measurements also differ. This difference in measurement method accounts for upwards of 20,000 psi (140 MPa) difference in pressure measurements. This means the NATO EPVAT maximum service pressure of 430 MPa (62,000 psi) for 5.56 mm NATO, is reduced by SAAMI to 55,000 psi (380 MPa) for .223 Remington.[18] In contrast to SAAMI, the other main civil standards organization C.I.P. defines the maximum service and proof test pressures of the .223 Remington cartridge equal to the 5.56 mm NATO.

The 5.56 mm NATO chambering, known as a NATO or mil-spec chamber, has a longer leade, which is the distance between the mouth of the cartridge and the point at which the rifling engages the bullet. The .223 Remington chambering, known as SAAMI chamber, is allowed to have a shorter leade, and is only required to be proof tested to the lower SAAMI chamber pressure. To address these issues, various proprietary chambers exist, such as the Wylde chamber (Rock River Arms)[19] or the ArmaLite chamber, which are designed to handle both 5.56 mm NATO and .223 Remington equally well. The dimensions and leade of the .223 Remington minimum C.I.P. chamber also differ from the 5.56 mm NATO chamber specification.

Using commercial .223 Remington cartridges in a 5.56 mm NATO chambered rifle should work reliably, but generally will not be as accurate as when fired from a .223 Remington chambered gun due to the longer leade.[20] Using 5.56 mm NATO mil-spec cartridges (such as the M855) in a .223 Remington chambered rifle can lead to excessive wear and stress on the rifle and even be unsafe, and SAAMI recommends against the practice.[21][22] Some commercial rifles marked as ".223 Remington" are in fact suited for 5.56 mm NATO, such as many commercial AR-15 variants and the Ruger Mini-14 (marked ".223 cal"), but the manufacturer should always be consulted to verify that this is acceptable before attempting it, and signs of excessive pressure (such as flattening or gas staining of the primers) should be looked for in the initial testing with 5.56 mm NATO ammunition.[23]

It should also be noted that the upper receiver (to which the barrel with its chamber are attached) and the lower receiver are entirely separate parts in AR-15 style rifles. If the lower receiver has either .223 or 5.56 stamped on it, it does not guarantee the upper assembly is rated for the same caliber, because the upper and the lower receiver in the same rifle can, and frequently do, come from different manufacturers – particularly with rifles sold to civilians or second-hand rifles.

In more practical terms, as of 2010 most AR-15 parts suppliers engineer their complete upper assemblies (not to be confused with stripped uppers where the barrel is not included) to support both calibers in order to protect their customers from injuries and to protect their businesses from litigation following the said injuries.