02-28-2014, 12:38 AM
I could say don't buy a stock AR if your long term goal is to turn it into a Ferrari but I do get where you're coming from.
You could just buy a cheapy second-hand Bushmaster or DPMS. Then sit in front of the telly with it cradled in your lap for a bit. Get familiar with it and shoot it at 100 to see how it groups with stock shop ammo.
Then when you're ready to start changing parts start with what will improve the gun the most. I'd go the barrel first. For your situation something like a Lilja M4 'Navy' profile (.223Wylde, 16", 1:8). You'll need some basic gunsmith tools to do this. Then the trigger group; something like an adjustable Giessele High-Speed National Match or even the SSA and E variant. Then put a decent short/medium-range hunting scope on it. Bottom end magnification below 3*, say a Vortex Viper 2.5-10*44 or the new Nightforce NXS Compact; 2.5-10*42 (more expensive). And while you're doing that be hand-loading rounds that match the harmonics of the barrel, and the targets you want to drop.
Everything else; grips, stocks, bolts, buffers, receivers can also be changed, and sure you'll feel good when you do this, but unlikely you'll see marked changes in group sizes.
Then start thinking Grendel. For that I'd keep the .223Wylde upper and just build another upper, using the same lower. Then buy a new scope because swapping the same scope between calibres is going to be a nightmare. And on it goes...
Is there something like 'AR Anonymous' out there? You know, like, "Hi, I'm Klem and I'm an addict." "Hi Klem" [other shooters sitting in a circle]
You could just buy a cheapy second-hand Bushmaster or DPMS. Then sit in front of the telly with it cradled in your lap for a bit. Get familiar with it and shoot it at 100 to see how it groups with stock shop ammo.
Then when you're ready to start changing parts start with what will improve the gun the most. I'd go the barrel first. For your situation something like a Lilja M4 'Navy' profile (.223Wylde, 16", 1:8). You'll need some basic gunsmith tools to do this. Then the trigger group; something like an adjustable Giessele High-Speed National Match or even the SSA and E variant. Then put a decent short/medium-range hunting scope on it. Bottom end magnification below 3*, say a Vortex Viper 2.5-10*44 or the new Nightforce NXS Compact; 2.5-10*42 (more expensive). And while you're doing that be hand-loading rounds that match the harmonics of the barrel, and the targets you want to drop.
Everything else; grips, stocks, bolts, buffers, receivers can also be changed, and sure you'll feel good when you do this, but unlikely you'll see marked changes in group sizes.
Then start thinking Grendel. For that I'd keep the .223Wylde upper and just build another upper, using the same lower. Then buy a new scope because swapping the same scope between calibres is going to be a nightmare. And on it goes...
Is there something like 'AR Anonymous' out there? You know, like, "Hi, I'm Klem and I'm an addict." "Hi Klem" [other shooters sitting in a circle]