M-4 ?

[CJB]

Two inches can make a big difference in some areas, but not in a carbine!

Well I'll be damned to go thru hoops and pay good money to LOSE two of those inches!

[CJB]

Question - does Colt still use the civilian pattern cross bolt sizes and locations on their civilian receivers, making them incompatable with mil spec uppers and lowers? There was a time when the Hartford Horsie (Colt) was distained because you couldn't swap uppers unless you went with weird offset pin hardware that was a ***** to use and made field stripping and overall rigidity quite poor.

For me, that reason alone would be reason enough to avoid Colt. I'm rather partial to DPMS, who's been around for a very long time. Bushmaster... maybe.... Olympic Arms, maybe. Armelite... yup.

[jdavis]

This is an interesting thread with many valuable.ideas and opinions. Most people offer thoughts on which AR rifles or components to purchase. Are there any to avoid? It seems to me that most companies manufacture to military specs. making parts easy to interchange regardless of the maker. Is there really that much difference in durability? I can't recall hearing of any failure issues with major components but, I may not be very informed on the matter.

[ParabellumJ]

M-4 ?

Question - does Colt still use the civilian pattern cross bolt sizes and locations on their civilian receivers, making them incompatable with mil spec uppers and lowers? There was a time when the Hartford Horsie (Colt) was distained because you couldn't swap uppers unless you went with weird offset pin hardware that was a ***** to use and made field stripping and overall rigidity quite poor.

For me, that reason alone would be reason enough to avoid Colt. I'm rather partial to DPMS, who's been around for a very long time. Bushmaster... maybe.... Olympic Arms, maybe. Armelite... yup.

Colt no longer has different lowers on civilian rifles, except for the safety selector obviously. Unfortunately Bushmaster and DPMS no longer build rifles to the same quality as they once did. Bushmaster isn't even made in Winham, ME anymore. Windham Weaponry is made by the former employees of bushmaster. Since those companies were bought by Freedom Group (including Marlin and Remington) they no longer are considered top tier rifles since the materials and processes cut corners in the interest of profits. They may still be good enough for most civilian use, but they aren't what they once were.

[ParabellumJ]

M-4 ?

This is an interesting thread with many valuable.ideas and opinions. Most people offer thoughts on which AR rifles or components to purchase. Are there any to avoid? It seems to me that most companies manufacture to military specs. making parts easy to interchange regardless of the maker. Is there really that much difference in durability? I can't recall hearing of any failure issues with major components but, I may not be very informed on the matter.

The biggest difference in quality is in materials and quality control. For example, Bushmaster may inspect one bolt out of an entire batch, if it passes inspection they all pass. Colt and other top tier makers inspect every single bolt. That is just one example, but there are many differences in materials and manufacturing processes that separate the best from the rest.

[mluikey]

The two inches will cost you about $150 for a firearms trust. Then $200 for the NFA title 2 paperwork and processing of form 4. The you'll usually have increased FFL class 3 dealer fee, and the normal FFL fee and background check fee.

Once you get a title 2 weapon - you wont be able to sell it, except through a class 3 FFL to someone who wants to go through the same runaround

And you cannot bring it out of the state thats put on form 4 as its residing state.

Just food for thought.... two inches aint worth that for me, but it might be for you

Plus right now the ATF is quoting 15 months for approval of the tax stamp. I am building a 9.5" 300BLK AR pistol. No wait and no tax if its a pistol (however it has no stock either).

[yqtszhj]

Unfortunately Bushmaster ..... no longer build rifles to the same quality as they once did. Bushmaster isn't even made in Winham, ME anymore. Windham Weaponry is made by the former employees of bushmaster. Since those companies were bought by Freedom Group (including Marlin and Remington) they no longer are considered top tier rifles since the materials and processes cut corners in the interest of profits. They may still be good enough for most civilian use, but they aren't what they once were.

I can personally confirm the above statement as TRUE!

Bushmaster #1 - TOP notch

Bushmaster #2 - OK only.

[CJB]

Plus right now the ATF is quoting 15 months for approval of the tax stamp. I am building a 9.5" 300BLK AR pistol. No wait and no tax if its a pistol (however it has no stock either).

Weird. My Class-3 has told me that everything has been taking six months, almost to the day. I'm waiting for my serial number to start Form 4 as we speak.

[mluikey]

Weird. My Class-3 has told me that everything has been taking six months, almost to the day. I'm waiting for my serial number to start Form 4 as we speak.

You can call the NFA branch at 304-616-4500 and give them your serial number. I called yesterday for a Form 3 for 10 suppressors that I submitted on Sept 24, 2013 and they said pending. I asked what is the turnaround. They said 4 months for form 3 and 15 months for form 4s due to the Gov't shutdown.

[mluikey]

Just got word today my form 3s were approved (Nov 5) and suppressors are shipping out today. Can't wait to start messing with them. :86:

You can call the NFA branch at 304-616-4500 and give them your serial number. I called yesterday for a Form 3 for 10 suppressors that I submitted on Sept 24, 2013 and they said pending. I asked what is the turnaround. They said 4 months for form 3 and 15 months for form 4s due to the Gov't shutdown.

[CJB]

Due to the contents of this thread.... I pounced on a new LE6920, black today. Dunno all the furniture thats on it. I understand they've changed that more than a few times. Its supposed to have MagPull forearm and carbine stock, as well as grip, and MagPull rear sight. It'll be in Saturday, so I guess we'll find out.

[ParabellumJ]

M-4 ?

Due to the contents of this thread.... I pounced on a new LE6920, black today. Dunno all the furniture thats on it. I understand they've changed that more than a few times. Its supposed to have MagPull forearm and carbine stock, as well as grip, and MagPull rear sight. It'll be in Saturday, so I guess we'll find out.

Congratulations! You have yourself one hellova rifle. If it's the Magpul edition, then it comes with Magpul MOE stock, rear sight, handguards, Verticle grip, and trigger guard. My rifle started life with the same furniture in FDE, but it's since been upgraded here and there, although I did keep the FDE color scheme. Let us know how you like it. Here is a poor picture I took of mine...

[CJB]

I'm doing more reading. It may have the Colt/Rogers locking rear stock, and MagPull everything else. Some time along in production, they made a switch in ...early 2013? Good chances its the Colt, which is ok I'm not picky. They also went from a square forend to a older looking round forend similar to the XM177. But thats supposed to be MagPull...got no idea. If I don't like the sight, I've got a nice Troy rear here that should do nicely. Also got GI magazines, bought when you could get them for a buck each, or 10 for six bucks. Twenty round mags. And some thirtys. The 80's were very very good to me....hehehe.

[Alfonse]

This thread is timely for me. I've been thinking of an AR. I am considering the Colt LE6940 and WW CDI. Para, I assume you like the angled foregrip?

I really can't believe I am considering an AR. Next I will think Glocks and Keltecs are attractive.

[aray]

I really can't believe I am considering an AR. Next I will think Glocks and Keltecs are attractive.

I never really wanted an AR either, until my state banned them in the post Sandy Hook hysteria. Up to that time I had standardized on just two calibers: 9mm and 22.

But when Maryland was about to ban Uzis a few years back, I went out and bought one before the deadline hit. Now, it's one of my favorite guns (along with my CW9). So, with the looming AR ban approaching, I first bought an off the shelf Core 15 (from Good Times Outdoors). Then later, I went further and build my own custom AR. And now I'm finding that, like the Uzi, I love the AR platform. Besides being a blast to shoot (no pun intended), it's like playing with Legos all over again!