Seeking opinions/advice on AR-15

[LAMW27549]

I am looking to purchase my first AR-15. I have been using the one my husband built, but I want my own that I can set up the way I want it and not have to keep changing anything for someone else to use. In my search, I have been attracted to a couple of different brands. I've been looking at a lot of reviews on YouTube and also reading reviews online. I am really just going to be using it at the range. I am not a hunter. I know I do not need a lot of bells and whistles, but I have the mindset that I want to purchase something that is good quality that will last. I will need to add a red dot, as my eye sight is getting pretty bad. I am right handed, but shoot left handed because of my terrible arthritis in my right hand. I am kind of used to brass ejecting out across my face, but am considering a left handed version so that won't happen. I have seen some Savage left handed ones for sale.

I came across the Springfield St. Vincent and really like what it has to offer, but I have seen some really horrible reviews about it consistently jamming. Has anyone out there had an experience with this?

I am also considering the M&P Sport II, Ruger and Savage. I know some of the M&Ps come with red dots, but I was not a fan of that particular red dot. I am not interested in an AR-15 pistol.

Any input you could give me would be helpful. I saw another post similar to this, but I did not want to hijack that person's post.

 

[Zbizzle911]

Buy the m&p. Other than being right handed you won’t have another complaint.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[LesBaer45]

2nd vote for the M&P. Nothing wrong with the Rugers I've shot although I don't own one.

 

[Desolo]

As someone who shoots lefty, I will say as long as the AR you choose has a deflector bump, Id just let it be.

The only thing the lefty uppers do is complicate things if you have failures or NEED parts. Just my opinion on that matter though.

 

[NCFubar]

You do not see them often but Stag Arms made a left handed AR and their stuff I do see runs nicely.

 

[Desolo]

You do not see them often but Stag Arms made a left handed AR and their stuff I do see runs nicely.

One note, Im not saying that the lefty ones dont WORK, Im just pointing out that any training one has dealing with failures with a "Normal" one go out the window and you have to adapt. It is also easy to see whats going on with a failure to go into battery, or double feed, etc when you can just look into the ejection port.


And IF something breaks, parts arent just lying around in most cases.

One can walk into just about any well stocked gun shop and find bolt components for a normal rifle, but is that true of any of the many lefty varients? Some lefty units use a normal lower, but do all of them?

 

[Tim]

As a lefty shooter with lots of competition time behind ARs, I say stick with a “right” handed one. As long as you have a shell deflector, it’s a non issue.

The only exception would be for sub-sonic suppressed applications (think 300BLK). I built a lefty version for that purpose so I can stop choking on the gas.

 

[Whoknows]

What’s your price range?

 

[Walkabout Dan]

Stoppage clearance should be a major part of your training and practice so don't let
that be an issue especially with the AR platform . Stoppages always happen
at the worst times.

 

[BigWaylon]

Depending on what makes your eyesight “pretty bad”, consider a prism sight. All my red dots have become blurry/double to me in the last couple years.

 

[Tim]

Depending on what makes your eyesight “pretty bad”, consider a prism sight. All my red dots have become blurry/double to me in the last couple years.

Prismatic optics are the bomb.

 

[DrScaryGuy]

Depending on what makes your eyesight “pretty bad”, consider a prism sight. All my red dots have become blurry/double to me in the last couple years.

so.... garage sale?

 

[BigWaylon]

so.... garage sale?

I’ve thought about it several times…what it would cost to replace them all, and what I could get out of the existing ones. Which is why almost all of them still have their red dots. Easily still minute-of-man, regardless of which of the two dots I use to aim. 😎

 

[LAMW27549]

What’s your price range?

I would really like to stay under $1,000 if possible.

 

[LAMW27549]

One note, Im not saying that the lefty ones dont WORK, Im just pointing out that any training one has dealing with failures with a "Normal" one go out the window and you have to adapt. It is also easy to see whats going on with a failure to go into battery, or double feed, etc when you can just look into the ejection port.


And IF something breaks, parts arent just lying around in most cases.

One can walk into just about any well stocked gun shop and find bolt components for a normal rifle, but is that true of any of the many lefty varients? Some lefty units use a normal lower, but do all of them?

Thanks for the advice. I was also trying to avoid buying a left handed one in case I would need to resell it for something down the line. There probably isn't a lot of need for them. I am used to shooting left handed already with right handed guns.

 

[LAMW27549]

Depending on what makes your eyesight “pretty bad”, consider a prism sight. All my red dots have become blurry/double to me in the last couple years.

I am trying to train myself to shoot with both eyes open now, but have been doing the one eye closed thing for 10 years. That just wasn't working for me anymore. At 100 yards, it's a struggle though.

 

[Desolo]

I am trying to train myself to shoot with both eyes open now, but have been doing the one eye closed thing for 10 years. That just wasn't working for me anymore. At 100 yards, it's a struggle though.

One thing to try is if your rifle is equipped with a rear sight that cowitnesses, look through the rear sight with both eyes open, the red dot should be quite a bit sharper.

 

[Tim]

I would really like to stay under $1,000 if possible.

There's a good deal on an S&W rifle in the classifieds right now.

 

[Sp00ks]

M&P is a good choice, I've heard Springfield is a good one as well. However. I would consider a BPM (Barnes Precision Machine) rifle. Local manufacturer in Apex, out toward Jordan Lake. Great rifle.

Barnes precision machine

What ever you choose, get what you want and don't upgrade the base rifle later. In other words if it has an A2 front site post, don't upgrade to a floating handguard later. Just do it now, it can just be a waste of money. Optics and accessories are a different subject.

 

[CZfool68]

Go to Fuquay Gun & Gold and have them get you one of these:

BPM – BPM – Barnes Precision Machine

www.usamade-ar15parts.com

 

[NCFubar]

Go to Fuquay Gun & Gold and have them get you one of these:

BPM – BPM – Barnes Precision Machine

www.usamade-ar15parts.com

The BPC’s have been hard to come by for a long time … it took me 4 or 5 months to get the couple I picked up earlier this year. FGG usually has a couple of the more expensive BPM models on the shelf but the BPC’s hardly ever make it to the shelf … waiting lists and people “hear” Andrew‘s white dually was seen at FGG and they are gone.

 

[CZfool68]

The BPC’s have been hard to come by for a long time … it took me 4 or 5 months to get the couple I picked up earlier this year. FGG usually has a couple of the more expensive BPM models on the shelf but the BPC’s hardly ever make it to the shelf … waiting lists and people “hear” Andrew‘s white dually was seen at FGG and they are gone.

Well she has a functioning rifle now so put the order in and get an awesome rifle later..

 

[LAMW27549]

M&P is a good choice, I've heard Springfield is a good one as well. However. I would consider a BPM (Barnes Precision Machine) rifle. Local manufacturer in Apex, out toward Jordan Lake. Great rifle.

Barnes precision machine

What ever you choose, get what you want and don't upgrade the base rifle later. In other words if it has an A2 front site post, don't upgrade to a floating handguard later. Just do it now, it can just be a waste of money. Optics and accessories are a different subject.

Thank you. I will look into this.

 

[LAMW27549]

There's a good deal on an S&W rifle in the classifieds right now.

Thanks. I will look at it.

 

[LAMW27549]

Depending on what makes your eyesight “pretty bad”, consider a prism sight. All my red dots have become blurry/double to me in the last couple years.

Thank you. I am looking those up now.

 

[SCshooter]

https://palmettostatearmory.com/springfield-armory-saint-b5-mlok-5-56-ar-15-rifle-black-st916556b-b5.html?utm_medium=email&utm_source=daily_deals&utm_campaign=20210629&utm_term=afternoon&utm_content=5165500415

 

[Derek8404]

I’ll go ahead an echo what others have already said. I’m right handed but left eye dominant so I have been shooting AR lefty my whole life and have never felt I needed a dedicated left hand rifle. Only thing I do extra is add ambi controls.

 

[LAMW27549]

https://palmettostatearmory.com/springfield-armory-saint-b5-mlok-5-56-ar-15-rifle-black-st916556b-b5.html?utm_medium=email&utm_source=daily_deals&utm_campaign=20210629&utm_term=afternoon&utm_content=5165500415

I like the Saint Victor, but it seems to have had some issues in the past.

 

[LAMW27549]

I’ll go ahead an echo what others have already said. I’m right handed but left eye dominant so I have been shooting AR lefty my whole life and have never felt I needed a dedicated left hand rifle. Only thing I do extra is add ambi controls.

Yes, I am pretty much used to it. None of my handguns are left handed.

 

[SCshooter]

I like the Saint Victor, but it seems to have had some issues in the past.

I've owned a Saint since shortly after they came out - it's one of my favorite AR's.



I don't have any experience with the Victor's.

 

[Tailhunter]

Just get your husband (or you just do it) to build you one to your specs.

Then you get exactly what you want.

 

[JBoyette]

I am left handed and have been around AR's for 20 + years, when I say around them I mean physically carried one and/or shot a rifle at least one full week out of a month for 10 of the 20 years. If I had to quantify my statement.

I own Lefty AR's, I have shot right ejects for the above statement.

IF you are looking at a Lefty AR the only brand I buy is a Stag Arm's https://www.stagarms.com/

As to the question of a factory rifle, with a RDS, I would do this IF I was you.

Lefty

Stag 15 Tactical Rifle 16 in

Stag 15 Tactical Rifles are chambered in 5.56 NATO and built around a 16" barrel with a 1/7 twist rate.

www.stagarms.com

Righty

SAINT® 5.56, M-Lok® AR-15 Rifle - Springfield Armory

www.springfield-armory.com

RDS

Patrol Rifle Optic (PRO™) Red Dot Reflex Sight - QRP2 Mount

The Aimpoint PRO red dot sight comes in a ready-to-go kit at a budget friendly price, a concept that appeals strongly to Law Enforcement units.

aimpoint.us

 

[LAMW27549]

Just get your husband (or you just do it) to build you one to your specs.

Then you get exactly what you want.

I have considered this option as well.

 

[LAMW27549]

I've own a Saint since shortly after they came out - it's one of my favorite AR's.

View attachment 349603

I don't have any experience with the Victor's.

View attachment 349604

Thank you. I will look into the Saint's again.

 

[LAMW27549]

I am left handed and have been around AR's for 20 + years, when I say around them I mean physically carried one and/or shot a rifle at least one full week out of a month for 10 of the 20 years. If I had to quantify my statement.

I own Lefty AR's, I have shot right ejects for the above statement.

IF you are looking at a Lefty AR the only brand I buy is a Stag Arm's https://www.stagarms.com/

As to the question of a factory rifle, with a RDS, I would do this IF I was you.

Lefty

Stag 15 Tactical Rifle 16 in

Stag 15 Tactical Rifles are chambered in 5.56 NATO and built around a 16" barrel with a 1/7 twist rate.

www.stagarms.com

Righty

SAINT® 5.56, M-Lok® AR-15 Rifle - Springfield Armory

www.springfield-armory.com

RDS

Patrol Rifle Optic (PRO™) Red Dot Reflex Sight - QRP2 Mount

The Aimpoint PRO red dot sight comes in a ready-to-go kit at a budget friendly price, a concept that appeals strongly to Law Enforcement units.

aimpoint.us

I have seen that Stag sells lefty's, but I haven't decided for sure to go that route. I will look into the Saint's again. Thanks.

 

[Stogies]

There's a good deal on an S&W rifle in the classifieds right now.

That would be a solid choice. Personally I was also a first timer AR buyer and just went for a basic Ruger AR556 with factory flip up read sight back when they were thrown away for 430$. Should have bought a five pack ... works just fine as a basic shooter.

 

[COTTON]

Larue Tactical has a 4th of July sale going on now for their M4 uppers for $699. Their guarantee states if you are not happy we are not happy. That qualifies you for one of their lowers for $199, the stock kit and trigger will put you just a tad over $1000. If I were to only own just one rifle it would be LARUE. People might bring up arguments on the fact but look around and count how many are for sale, hard to find in the wild. If you are worried about assembly on the lower there plenty of people on this forum that will volunteer.

 

[tuckfinn]

M&P for the win. It's a solid gun. But Barnes Precision Machine, located in Apex, NC puts out some of the finest Rifles. They machine everything they can in house (rare) and it def competes with my Daniel Defence. They have one with all the good stuff that counts; and just cut out luxuries like cases, sights, things you will probably change anyway to bring a super nice rifle with cheap furniture for tad over 800

 

[LAMW27549]

Sorry I did not get back to this post sooner, but I did make a purchase a couple of weeks ago that I am very happy with. After leaving the local gun store in Wendell, I contacted Kevin with Silent Arms to see if he had anything I could look at. I told him what I had been looking at, i.e. M&P and Saint, and he said he would put a couple out for me. He was super nice to accommodate us just dropping by without much notice. He had one that looked very similar to the M&P, but I do not like the hand guard on it. I don't like it on the M&P either. I did not want to spend a bunch of money for something and then have to spend more money to change it. The next one he showed me, I liked right away. The price was very reasonable I thought. The third was way more than I needed, but he just wanted to show me just in case.

After much discussion regarding the AR and other things, I made the purchase. The price on it was $795, plus tax and credit card fee. He also made me a good deal on flip up sights, and he installed those for me as well. I did see the exact ones in a store so he really did give me a good deal on those. I don't have a spec sheet like I would if I had purchased one from a store, but I do know the lower is from Palmetto State Armory. I am hoping I can get a little more information from him about it.

Before we went to the range, I took it apart (thanks YouTube) and put a little oil on it as instructed. I put it back together with no issues. We tried to set up on the 100 yard range, but two trucks full of people came over to set up steel targets on the 250 yard range, so we moved over to the 50. Since I was sighting it in, that was probably the best place for me anyway. Since this was only the second time I ever fired an AR, I was a little hesitant, but I did pretty well. At the present time, I only have the flip up sights, but will be adding a Primary Arms 3x or 5x prism scope soon...I hope. I am hoping to get back to the range this weekend to give it another go. We joined Freedom Gun Club back in April, and it is wonderful to have a place only 15 minutes from our house.

Here are some photos plus a picture of my best grouping.

 

[tuckfinn]

Sorry I did not get back to this post sooner, but I did make a purchase a couple of weeks ago that I am very happy with. After leaving the local gun store in Wendell, I contacted Kevin with Silent Arms to see if he had anything I could look at. I told him what I had been looking at, i.e. M&P and Saint, and he said he would put a couple out for me. He was super nice to accommodate us just dropping by without much notice. He had one that looked very similar to the M&P, but I do not like the hand guard on it. I don't like it on the M&P either. I did not want to spend a bunch of money for something and then have to spend more money to change it. The next one he showed me, I liked right away. The price was very reasonable I thought. The third was way more than I needed, but he just wanted to show me just in case.

After much discussion regarding the AR and other things, I made the purchase. The price on it was $795, plus tax and credit card fee. He also made me a good deal on flip up sights, and he installed those for me as well. I did see the exact ones in a store so he really did give me a good deal on those. I don't have a spec sheet like I would if I had purchased one from a store, but I do know the lower is from Palmetto State Armory. I am hoping I can get a little more information from him about it.

Before we went to the range, I took it apart (thanks YouTube) and put a little oil on it as instructed. I put it back together with no issues. We tried to set up on the 100 yard range, but two trucks full of people came over to set up steel targets on the 250 yard range, so we moved over to the 50. Since I was sighting it in, that was probably the best place for me anyway. Since this was only the second time I ever fired an AR, I was a little hesitant, but I did pretty well. At the present time, I only have the flip up sights, but will be adding a Primary Arms 3x or 5x prism scope soon...I hope. I am hoping to get back to the range this weekend to give it another go. We joined Freedom Gun Club back in April, and it is wonderful to have a place only 15 minutes from our house.

Here are some photos plus a picture of my best grouping.

I'm assuming (fingers crossed I dont make an a$$ of myself) you want prism because of astigmatism? I have it too and absolutely love the Vortex Spitfire line. I dont have any experience with Primary Arms but they look good to go too. Let us know your experience with them. They have my attention but would love a customer's POV.