10-17-2013, 07:20 PM
There's going to be a new wave of AR15 builders hitting the market in the post-Sandy Hook era. Think how many hundreds of thousands of people bought AR15's for the first time, and are starting to figure out that they can put together one themselves.
If I had a time machine
If I could go back in time to myself, I would have taken all the money wasted on stupid impulse buys at gun shows and gun shops, and put that money towards AR15 parts. Stupid buys I made when I was much younger:
* Mossberg Shotgun (FTExtract 50% of the time...minus $239)
* Stupid stocks and accessories for shotguns (minus ~$300)
* Mini-14 (jam-o-matic):mad: (minus $275 purchased in 1993)
* Stupid gun show gimmick after-market stocks and accessories for Mini-14
* USA and Pro-Mags for Mini-14 (one wouldn't even lock into the gun, the others all failed)
* Crappy .22 LR conversion kit for the AR15 that didn't work (minus $129.95)
* Gun show gimmicks like the trigger that's supposed to help you bump-fire (doesn't work, is totally wothless, minus $20)
* Stupid holsters that are complete garbage, can't be used to carry comfortably or securely, usually ~$20 x umpteen attempts to find a good one
* More expensive stupid holsters that only fill up my trail of tears holster box
* Really expensive 3-point slings with huge buckles and poor mounting systems that rattle, and dump the gun upside-down when released (minus $89.95)
* Unnecessary AR15 pistol grips that break in cold weather
* $640 Quick Barrel Change Uppers that now sit in boxes unused (think of all the usable parts I could have purchased....)
The Value Added List
As I've gotten older, I've learned to be very discerning about my purchases. Interestingly enough, I don't have any regrets about the following purchases:
* AR15's
* AR15 lowers
* AR15 complete uppers
* AR15 barrels (quality)
* Basically any quality AR15 parts
* Quality or USGI AR15 magazines
* Military Surplus equipment: I still have all of the ALICE gear, ponchos, poncho liners, etc. that I started collecting as a kid. When my dad says we need to go buy camping equipment, I dig into some duffel bags and storage, pull out rucks and existence load gear for everyone, and we're done.
I have always walked away with more money than I invested when I have sold an AR15 on rare occasions (especially during the Clinton ban).
If I could go back in time and slap the crap out of myself, I would take this list and give it to myself. Think how many SP-1's and rare semi-auto rifles I could have owned at a fraction of today's costs. I remember when lowers were always under $100, and Colt AR15's could be had for $400-$600. I used to sit in class and read through parts distributors lists for AR15's even in the 1980's.
If I could tell myself what to buy, I would have bought everything AR15 related that was quality or rare, and stored them for future builds. I would not have spent a dime on all the gimmick, cheap $20 gun show garbage impulse buys, or terrible holsters.
The only Mini-14 stuff I would have gotten, if any, would have been stainless folder factory Mini-14's and Stainless Ruger 30rd mags, but I wouldn't have because I would have spent the money on AR15 stuff instead.
[SIZE="5"]For those of you with similar experiences, what would you not buy, and what do you wish you bought?[/SIZE]
If I had a time machine
If I could go back in time to myself, I would have taken all the money wasted on stupid impulse buys at gun shows and gun shops, and put that money towards AR15 parts. Stupid buys I made when I was much younger:
* Mossberg Shotgun (FTExtract 50% of the time...minus $239)
* Stupid stocks and accessories for shotguns (minus ~$300)
* Mini-14 (jam-o-matic):mad: (minus $275 purchased in 1993)
* Stupid gun show gimmick after-market stocks and accessories for Mini-14
* USA and Pro-Mags for Mini-14 (one wouldn't even lock into the gun, the others all failed)
* Crappy .22 LR conversion kit for the AR15 that didn't work (minus $129.95)
* Gun show gimmicks like the trigger that's supposed to help you bump-fire (doesn't work, is totally wothless, minus $20)
* Stupid holsters that are complete garbage, can't be used to carry comfortably or securely, usually ~$20 x umpteen attempts to find a good one
* More expensive stupid holsters that only fill up my trail of tears holster box
* Really expensive 3-point slings with huge buckles and poor mounting systems that rattle, and dump the gun upside-down when released (minus $89.95)
* Unnecessary AR15 pistol grips that break in cold weather
* $640 Quick Barrel Change Uppers that now sit in boxes unused (think of all the usable parts I could have purchased....)
The Value Added List
As I've gotten older, I've learned to be very discerning about my purchases. Interestingly enough, I don't have any regrets about the following purchases:
* AR15's
* AR15 lowers
* AR15 complete uppers
* AR15 barrels (quality)
* Basically any quality AR15 parts
* Quality or USGI AR15 magazines
* Military Surplus equipment: I still have all of the ALICE gear, ponchos, poncho liners, etc. that I started collecting as a kid. When my dad says we need to go buy camping equipment, I dig into some duffel bags and storage, pull out rucks and existence load gear for everyone, and we're done.
I have always walked away with more money than I invested when I have sold an AR15 on rare occasions (especially during the Clinton ban).
If I could go back in time and slap the crap out of myself, I would take this list and give it to myself. Think how many SP-1's and rare semi-auto rifles I could have owned at a fraction of today's costs. I remember when lowers were always under $100, and Colt AR15's could be had for $400-$600. I used to sit in class and read through parts distributors lists for AR15's even in the 1980's.
If I could tell myself what to buy, I would have bought everything AR15 related that was quality or rare, and stored them for future builds. I would not have spent a dime on all the gimmick, cheap $20 gun show garbage impulse buys, or terrible holsters.
The only Mini-14 stuff I would have gotten, if any, would have been stainless folder factory Mini-14's and Stainless Ruger 30rd mags, but I wouldn't have because I would have spent the money on AR15 stuff instead.
[SIZE="5"]For those of you with similar experiences, what would you not buy, and what do you wish you bought?[/SIZE]