Monk

iTrader: (3)

That's a shame. I noticed that their available 22 ammo is overpriced, but I haven't actually purchased from them since I started my new job about a year ago. It seems like the selection in their catalogues has improved substantially though.

Pen2_the_penguin

iTrader: (4)

I dont order from sportsmanguide anymore because of the sketchy price hikes...

I also get my 22lr bulk ammo for 20 bucks than 35 and first pick locally because I befriended the shop owner

Efini~FC3S

iTrader: (4)

Yea...there's some fair reasons I did, but I'd be lying if I said there weren't days I wondered...

Schuyler

iTrader: (1)

Anyone own a metroarms, RIA, or High Standard 1911? Chime in.

Monk

iTrader: (3)

I owned a metroarms American Classic Commander. It was actually a pretty decent 1911, and I really liked the extended controls. The magazine it ships with is trash, so just throw it out as soon as you take it out of the box. It kept causing all sorts of failure to feed issues. Buy some wilson combat mags FTW.
I ended up selling it just because I sorta got over my 1911 phase.

EO2K

iTrader: (37)

I own a Springfield 1911A1, the one where they pulled out the blueprints from 1945 and just started making A1's again, all the way down to the parkerized finish. Its nowhere near as refined as some of the other fancy models I've fired, but it fills the 1911 hole in my collection and matches well with my other WW2 vintage shooters.

I'm not sure they make that specific model anymore because all the 1911 fanboys cried about the fit and finish, weight of trigger pull, A1 front sight and lack of accessory rail. You can find them extraordinarily cheap if you keep your eyes open.

Davezorz

iTrader: (2)

I have a RIA that has problems returning to battery. It is fine for a non-competition range gun if you have the 1911 itch, but I consider it unacceptable for a defensive firearm.

samnavy

iTrader: (7)

There is no better deal on uppers than the PSA Premium CHF 16" uppers. They buy their barrels in batches from FN large enough to be unbeatable for price. Their other models (non-CHF) are fantastic deals too, but the CHF barrels are pretty much hands down the best deal going for quality and accuracy. Upper parts are just upper parts, but the barrel is where you want to spend your money. Their midlength 16" is $319 all the time and they go about $30 cheaper on sale. This upper I think is hands down the benchmark for "can I come up with a reason to buy something else". For an all-around do-everything last-forever production upper, IMHO you can't buy better for the money. PSA 16" CHF Mid-length Premium Upper - Without BCG or Charging Handle

The Premium non-CHF is $249 and I've seen it for $219(blem) in the last few months on sale. This might be the best bang-for-buck production upper out there. Blemished PSA Premium 16'' 5.56mm 1:7 Carbine Length M4 Profile - Without BCG or CH - Barreled Upper Assemblies - AR-15

BUT!!! We've got the big sales weeks coming up. Black Friday should just be called Black Week of Awesome Sales on Gun ****... time to buy.

If I had a hard-on for a very specific length/contour of barrel for a specific purpose, I'd still buy all the upper parts from PSA ($125'ish). Barrels, (unless your talking about some mega-custom 24" Breitlien or whatever) are in stock. The market is ripe with quality $200 barrels right now, and you are not going to be able to take advantage of the last few microns of accuracy of even those unless you're handloading to spec or shooting FGMM out to 500yds. There are tons of $80 barrels out there that will work just fine for 95% of plinkin and having fun... but you still need to spend $125 on the rest of the upper, and by then, you're just $20 shy of a PSA Premium on sale. $20 is about 2 mags worth even if you're buying russian steel. Spend the money on a barrel that you know where it came from and the manufacturer will stand behind it.

stratosteve

iTrader: (1)

Anyone running a BCM bfh barreled upper? Bought it to run as my comp rifle and the groups at 50 yds are terrible. Never even tried beyond because I probably would have been better off throwing stones.

It's a 1 in 7 twist and I was shooting factory 55gr. I used pmc .223 and their hotter 5.56 and I also tried federal .223. Vortex optic on a larue mount in known working condition as it now sits on top of my back up stag. The stag (1 in 9) shoots tacks with same ammo.

I contacted bcm and the advice given was for quality mil spec ammo (read hotter). No mention of match ammo etc. Researching the problem, I find that is their generic response. It would seem the hotter ammo would correct function failures and not necessarily accuracy?

TurboTim

iTrader: (9)

I enjoy staring at my SW1911. Fit & finish make me smile. I put some amsoil 2000 on it after my front hub repacking and it feels oohhhhh.


I bought my dad that same lower last Christmas and will probably buy him a lower parts kit this year. Any generic ~$60 LPK good or is one better than the other? Needs to be NJ compliant (I already had to convert his birdcage into a 'compensator') so no adjustable stock, or no stock at all, he'll probably want to pick that out himself anyway.

calteg

iTrader: (18)

If homeboy is looking to build a cheap AR, a quality barrel shouldn't be a consideration. FWIW I bought a cheapass PTAC upper last black Friday. Zero malfunctions, and it's reasonably accurate out to 100yds

Full_Tilt_Boogie

iTrader: (1)

Awesome advice, thank you.
I think Im going to try to pick one up during black friday if they go on sale.
I was considering picking up one of their cheapest of the cheap complete uppers (PTAC), but it sounds like its worth it to get a CHF chrome lines setup.

From what I understand the mid length gas system is ideal for 16", but is it really that big of a deal to run carbine length? I may shoot suppressed at some point, so I was thinking I would really want the mid-length.

There are a ton of parts kits. I ended up going with this one from PSA which included the milspec stock setup:
Palmetto State Armory Premium Classic Lower Build Kit - Lower Build Kits - Lower Parts - AR-15
Trigger feels pretty good imo. It may be worth getting the parts kit minus the trigger group and dropping in a fancy one if he is looking for a really nice trigger.
Assembly was quite easy. I didnt buy an special tools, just used a few punches and lots of painters tape.

TurboTim

iTrader: (9)

great, thanks I'll send him that link. If that stock is adjustable then we'll figure out a way to pin it. Finding a kit that includes the stock and buffer that's 1. not adjustble 2. inexpensive 3. not the M16 style is difficult to someone who doesn't know what to look for. Thanks again!

stratosteve

iTrader: (1)

Best cheap trigger I have is the alg defense act trigger. Or get a standard mil spec and add a trigger screw.

When I was in the market for a 1911, I decided against it due to all the parts. I ended up getting a sig p 220 in 45. Similar to a 1911....single stack and metal frame. Breaks down a whole lot easier and with less parts.

Full_Tilt_Boogie

iTrader: (1)

Tried to do one of those gun-glamor photos a couple weeks ago, forgot to post it:

samnavy

iTrader: (7)

Are you confusing "cheap" with "inexpensive"? Nobody ever sets out to build a piece of **** on purpose no matter their budget. People on a tight budget should always be looking for a way to get more and spend less, while simultaneously managing their expectations. The problem is when a person doesn't manage expectations and is disappointed when performance desired was unrealistic for the pricepoint. Pretty standard.

My point with such a long and detailed post was to show that a company that leads the industry in volume will be in a position to offer a product of measurable quality at a certain pricepoint that other manufacturers can't. PSA deals in volume, and specifically wrt barrels, they can offer an upper with a barrel that exceeds the quality of another brand at the same pricepoint simply due to scale.

As inexpensive (and "cheap") as you can probably buy new:
Barrel: $80, Receiver: $40, RxParts: $25, Gasblock or FSB/tube: $35, Handguard/parts: $30... $205.
Don't forget that if this is your first AR, you're going to need about $40 in tools to put it together, or pay somebody to put it together, or find a buddy who will do it.

PSA Premium w/FN barrel assembled (also inexpensive, but not "cheap"): $219

Literally for $14 more, you can have an assembled unit where all parts of the upper are of at least equal quality and the barrel itself is of known superior quality.

So when somebody says "I want to build a cheap AR", they don't mean "I want to build a piece of ****" or even "I want to spend as little money as possible and still have something that goes bang". They usually just mean "I don't have a lot of money, so how do I spend it wisely?" The very easy answer is usually PSA, specifically because of their FN barrels.

EO2K

iTrader: (37)

I had a Bravo BFH 16" midgas in my first build and it shot decently with everything I threw at it. Sold it to my brother and he has no complaints. Not sure what to tell you on that one.

I have another Bravo 16" midgas, but its a LW and not a BFH. Seems to do fine until it gets really hot, then it strings vertically (as expected)

My 20" build is also a Bravo, government profile standard barrel. I've not had a chance to shoot it yet.

lassi

Got bored, took some pictures... Poor lighting, so I stopped...

EO2K

iTrader: (37)

Holy **** this makes me miss shooting my X-ESSE. I need a couple magazines for mine, can't find them anywhere in the US for less than like $50/ea



Not mine, but I have the same exact configuration. The lack of .22LR on the US market is ******* killing me.

lassi

The xesse is seriously fun to shoot.

Try Larrys guns for magazines;
1234000 - Larry's Guns Inc.