Where Do I Start?

[zfields]

Price is a big deal for me considering I'm a full time student and I don't get many hours at GameStop. Can you give me an outline for the parts and prices that I should look into? I can mix and match accordingly.

I may just sell one of my Rickenbackers. That should get me a decent chunk of change.

You need to stop and re-evaluate your life right there. Those things are getting nothing more but MORE collectible.

[MrPlink]

the barrel diameter is close to 5.56, but that is nowhere near the gun he is looking for, it just looks like it sort of.

ETA- he also wont learn crap about the AR with that gun except for how to hold it

so are you trying to tell me he wont learn shooting fundamentals, how the sights work, or the manual of arms ie the important stuff?
Have you even handled a 15-22, because it sounds like you dont have the first clue about em.

You need to stop and re-evaluate your life right there. Those things are getting nothing more but MORE collectible.

Eh, if its newer production why not? If its vintage, maybe not.

Of course, all of mine were vintage and now I dont own a single one (Im a fender/gibson guy)

I also cant say Ive ever sold any of my nicer gear for gun stuff, just low to mid end stuff that was collecting dust.

[gunsarefun]

start here. Can be had for under 500 dollars. 500rds can be had for under 20 dollars, which means you can shoot ALL day even with a ramen budget.

All the same functions as an AR, so its a GREAT training rifle, even if you have the big boy versions.
Very easy to use for a beginner, but functions well enough that a pro will still enjoy it.



Smith and Wesson M&P 15-22

I'm going with what he said.

OP,
Have you ever even shot a .308 rifle? AR10's are big rifles. They are heavier, and bulkier to start with, not to mention the big recoil and boom of a .308 round. You would likely find almost immediately that it is more gun than you feel comfortable with, since you are new to guns.

I'd go with an AR style .22 like mentioned. You would be suprised how much fun you would have shooting that gun pictured above.

[dirtykoala]

so are you trying to tell me he wont learn shooting fundamentals, how the sights work, or the manual of arms ie the important stuff?
Have you even handled a 15-22, because it sounds like you dont have the first clue about em.



Eh, if its newer production why not? If its vintage, maybe not.

Of course, all of mine were vintage and now I dont own a single one (Im a fender/gibson guy)

I also cant say Ive ever sold any of my nicer gear for gun stuff, just low to mid end stuff that was collecting dust.

I didn't realize you were suggesting the .22 so that he could become familiar with the points you mentioned. If that's the case, an AR15 in 5.56 will suit him perfectly, and has more uses than a .22.

[Droppin Deuces]

I'm going with what he said.

OP,
Have you ever even shot a .308 rifle? AR10's are big rifles. They are heavier, and bulkier to start with, not to mention the big recoil and boom of a .308 round. You would likely find almost immediately that it is more gun than you feel comfortable with, since you are new to guns.

I'd go with an AR style .22 like mentioned. You would be suprised how much fun you would have shooting that gun pictured above.

Well, last night he suggested that he was some kind of weapons master who has never owned a gun. But then he edited that post. Unless it's still there and I missed it. Anyway, I assume that meant he has fired a .308.

[MrPlink]

Op: you mentioned you own some Ricks so here is an analogy you should appreciated.

Shortly after Chet Atkins received an early version of what would be the Gretsch Country Gentleman he took it to a gig. After the performance a patron came up to him and said "Wow, that guitar sounds amazing!" Chet handed the man the guitar and said, "How does it sound now?"

Point being, dont worry about fancy (expensive) calibers and whiz bang gizmos on a rifle, you need to build fundamentals first. If you just want to brag about specs and look cool at the range while shooting groups the size of a barn door, then by all means focus your time energy and MONEY on a fancy rifle to start with.

A lot of people here are going to get VERY defensive at this notion, because frankly they fit that description rather well. This place is filled to the brim with new shooters who are jumping on the AR craze and just had to build themselves a fancy mall ninja rifle.

At the end of the day there is nothing inherently "wrong" with starting with a fancy gun (for which Im sure calgunners will be coming out the wood work exclaiming "my first rifle was a top tier blah blah blah and shoot just fine!) Im just trying to say that if you really want to get into the sport focus on what matters not specs and gizmos

[dirtykoala]

Op: you mentioned you own some Ricks so here is an analogy you should appreciated.

Shortly after Chet Atkins received an early version of what would be the Gretsch Country Gentleman he took it to a gig. After the performance a patron came up to him and said "Wow, that guitar sounds amazing!" Chet handed the man the guitar and said, "How does it sound now?"

Point being, dont worry about fancy (expensive) calibers and whiz bang gizmos on a rifle, you need to build fundamentals first. If you just want to brag about specs and look cool at the range while shooting groups the size of a barn door, then by all means focus your time energy and MONEY on a fancy rifle to start with.

A lot of people here are going to get VERY defensive at this notion, because frankly they fit that description rather well. This place is filled to the brim with new shooters who are jumping on the AR craze and just had to build themselves a fancy mall ninja rifle.

At the end of the day there is nothing inherently "wrong" with starting with a fancy gun (for which Im sure calgunners will be coming out the wood work exclaiming "my first rifle was a top tier blah blah blah and shoot just fine!) Im just trying to say that if you really want to get into the sport focus on what matters not specs and gizmos

Excellent post, well said. Cheap .223 is not much more expensive (and sometimes less expensive) than quality .22, so 5.56 makes a good cost savings gun for ammo, and the AR15 is pretty inexpensive too, my 10/22 costs more than many ARs.

holding off on high priced optics and lights and lasers is a good idea. like i said, stick with iron sights and use your mall ninja money for ammo and range time. i see some really nice ARs at the range every time im there and it hard to not LOL when i pass by their target and see the "groups" they are making.

get a rifle chambered in 5.56, it will accept 5.56 and .223, if you get a rifle chambered in .223 the 5.56 pressures are higher and could damage your rifle. Learn the rifle well, build it your self, take it apart from time to time, clean it frequently, take it shooting lots, really learn it.

and attend an apple seed event when you get your rifle!

i started shooting handguns when i was pretty young, the first rifle that i really put a good amount of ammo down range with a rifle was my issued M16A2 and i became proficient with the rifle very quickly. a quality rifle, and some good instruction (apple seed), will set you up for a long time.

[dieselpower]

The first thing you need to know is, Do you OWN research. You need to take charge and do it yourself. You are wanting to build a firearm and are asking people for advise. Thats great, but when you start asking for build prices and time-lines those are thing YOU need to do.

Start with my build list. There are several links to pricing sheets in the posts that follow. Brownell's has a 13 page printable build sheet on line (link in my post) that you can use. Put my build list on top for ease of scanning to see what parts you still need.

To get rid of the Delta ring, delete the Delta ring, Weld Spring, Slip Ring, Handguard cap, Front Sight Base, Barrel Nut and Handguards from the barrel assembly. Add a Free Float rail system from YHM, MI, Troy, DD or GG&G. The gas block needs to be low profile to fit under the FF rail system. An easy way to do this yourself is to buy a barrel with a gas port and then buy a YHM Specter Low Profile clamp-on gas block. As long as the Gas block screws are torques down hard it will not move around. Search you tube for installation videos of FF rail systems to see what you are getting into. Its very easy though. There is a good one on installing YHM FF systems.

Print out all my links (buy new ink cartridges first...hahaha)

Good luck.

Good luck

[Dion]

Love the S&W .22 - a great suggestion!

Call me old, but thre are CG'ers selling Mini-14's for 1/4 of what that big AR build would be. I know featureless isn't fun in terms of looks, but dump a mag on a Mini-14 or M1 Carbine and tell us it was "boring".

Mini's can be bought new at Big 5 with minimal effort, and the .223 is a much more softer round than a .308, if the .22 rimfire is too small for you.

Featureless guns don't get enough love on this forum!

You can also go with the "poor man's AR" and start off with a HiPoint 9mm Carbine. When you're done, sell it to me for cheap!

[coyotebait]

Op: you mentioned you own some Ricks so here is an analogy you should appreciated.

Shortly after Chet Atkins received an early version of what would be the Gretsch Country Gentleman he took it to a gig. After the performance a patron came up to him and said "Wow, that guitar sounds amazing!" Chet handed the man the guitar and said, "How does it sound now?"

Point being, dont worry about fancy (expensive) calibers and whiz bang gizmos on a rifle, you need to build fundamentals first. If you just want to brag about specs and look cool at the range while shooting groups the size of a barn door, then by all means focus your time energy and MONEY on a fancy rifle to start with.

A lot of people here are going to get VERY defensive at this notion, because frankly they fit that description rather well. This place is filled to the brim with new shooters who are jumping on the AR craze and just had to build themselves a fancy mall ninja rifle.

At the end of the day there is nothing inherently "wrong" with starting with a fancy gun (for which Im sure calgunners will be coming out the wood work exclaiming "my first rifle was a top tier blah blah blah and shoot just fine!) Im just trying to say that if you really want to get into the sport focus on what matters not specs and gizmos

Mine was a Squire Bingham 22 rifle, second was a single shot 20 gauge shotgun, as a result, at age 12 I was shooting just as well as my parents and most of their friends.
22's don't have the "wow" factor of a 308, but if one wants to truly "wow" someone, do it with good shooting and fundamentals.

[Agent Tikki]

Read this.

http://www.ar15armory.com/forums/General-Advice-AR-Buy-t37314.html