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FYI, I finally took the rifle to the range this weekend (Bullet Trap in Plano). Love, love, love it!

I definitely need an upgrade to the iron sights. The rifle range at the Bullet Trap is always very dark, and I had a hard time seeing the black front sight in the gloom.

This is a pic I took when I brought the target in to look at my progress.


Close up of the target. Not great, but I'm sure it'll improve with practice.

Pawpaw wrote:AR-15's don't have any recoil. They just sort of "vibrate"!

I'll be out at Top Gun about 9:00 in the morning. Grab some ammo & join me!

I just saw this...was busy today, although I drove within 5 miles of Top Gun today on my way up to my parent's house in Savoy and back. (Our son is spending the night with Grammy and Pappaw.)

Definitely have to meet up there some other weekend. I'm anxious to put some rounds down-range!

I stripped and cleaned the rifle today, in preparation for taking it shooting. I also dressed it up a little by putting a new rear pistol grip on it, as well as adding a bipod. I had fun when I removed the old pistol grip...I didn't know about the safety detent and spring going into the handle. I saw the spring right away but I thought I was never going to find that detent. I did, though, and managed to get it all put back together. Hopefully it'll still go bang the first time I take it shooting. :-)

Well, I changed my mind. I didn't buy a Smith & Wesson M&P. I didn't get a "normal" AR.

I bit the bullet and got a Bushmaster M4 with a gas-piston system. I like the idea of lower recoil and cleaner action. It was a bit over budget but SHHHHH! (The wife doesn't know the difference...)

The sales guy at Cheaper Than Dirt Guns said that he felt I was getting a better rifle than the S&W M&P15PS. Was he telling the truth? Irregardless, I made the plunge and now I'm truly ready for the Zombie Apocalypse.

Here are some pics:

Based on the feedback, I don't think I need a piston AR as my first black rifle. It'd be nice, maybe, but probably just extra expense I wouldn't appreciate at first.

Thanks GigAg for your feedback. I think I'll keep it simple and upgrade in the future if I feel the need. That's the beauty of the AR platform, right? Legos for grownups?

One more question...should I get one that is gas operated, or should I pay for the gas-piston system?

For example, see this link: http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/61688-55.html

What does the gas-piston do for you, compared to normal gas-operated?

Based on Googling around, it appears that S&W licensed the technology from this company: http://www.adamsarms.net/

Too bad I can't add one of these...

http://www.knightarmco.com/m203_12ga.html

The 12-gauge Masterkey shotgun can be mounted under standard rifles as a breaching tool when used with special ammo. It is also mountable to KAC's Standalone Module. The system consists of a Remington 870 shotgun that can be mounted onto a M4 rifle in an under-barrel configuration. The shotgun has a 3 round capacity and should be only operated when attached to a host rifle or the Standalone Module.

Also, what's y'all's opinion the EOTech? I saw them in the Cheaper Than Dirt catalog.

AndyC wrote:Edit: Get a flat-top upper - a lot easier to add optics later.

The rifle I'm leaning towards is the Smith&Wesson M&P15. It has a removable handle for the rear sight. It looks like when I'm ready to add optics I can just pull the handle off.

Here's a pic:

As far as building my own goes...since I've never had an AR before, I'd rather get an assembled one and then learn how to take it apart, than try to buy all the pieces and figure out how to put them together. I've heard it's rather easy with the right tools and know-how, but I don't have that knowledge yet.

Pawpaw wrote:Since you're in McKinney, stroll on over to Cheaper Than Dirt. They have a pretty good selection including lots for under $1000.

I picked up a Colt AR6520 there last month for less than that.

I did exactly that yesterday afternoon. I'm still leaning towards the S&W M&P M-4...I think they want $979 and some change for it.

I'm concerned that our current administration is going to start pushing for more gun-control measures, especially if Uncle Obama gets re-elected in 2012 (God forbid) and I'm wanting to pick up an AR-15/M4 type of rifle while it's still legal to do so.

I'm wanting to get something basic at first...I figure once I have the rifle I can gradually trick it out over time. (As discussed in another thread, it's easier to get the wife to approve buying parts for an existing firearm than it is to buy a whole new gun.) I am also fairly certain I want it chambered in 5.56mm NATO so I can shoot military ammo as well as .223 Remington. I'm fine with open sights at first...I can add optics and a bi-pod and other toys later.

Any suggestions on a good brand? I'm hoping to keep the cost under $1000 if possible. Right now I'm considering the S&W M&P's.

Thanks,
MojoTexas