first ar-15

[leatherman92]

i'm thinking about geting an ar-15 .223 for deer hunting and plinking,and i don't want to pay more than a $1000 for one what brand should i get?

[Pathfinder]

i'm thinking about geting an ar-15 .223 for deer hunting and plinking,and i don't want to pay more than a $1000 for one what brand should i get?

You can get a good DPMS for around seven with a carry handle, eight for a flattop maybe. If you make it a combo, adding a scope, ammo, or other accessories, you can maybe get the base price down a tad, depends on the local store.

[gunman42782]

Double Star makes good ones too, at reasonable prices. 

[tnroadrunner]

I'm lefty so I have a left handed Stag.

[jaybet]

I have fired Armalites and really enjoyed them...I think you can get the basic for about 750

[Sponsor]

[2HOW]

More to the point is what twist should you get, And what chamber? The 1-7s which Colt have will shoot anything, the Wyldes, will shoot 5.56 and .223, the .223s should not shoot 5.56. Lots of choices, long barrel, short barrel ,floating or not. My advice is get a standard carbine chambered for 5.56 with a 1-9 twist Some call them patrolman carbines. Olympic has some great starter rifles at low prices  GI-16[ SKU: GI-16 ]

View Full-Size Image
   Identical to our Plinker Plus model. The GI-16 features an A2 forged upper with A1 rear sight, 16" button rifled barrel and M4 collapsible stock.
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$743.00 MSRP

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  • Must be logged in with Dealer account to order. 

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AR-15 Specifications
Receiver Material 7075 T6 Aluminum Forged Receivers Machined By Olympic Arms
Receiver Finish Black Matte Anodized Receivers, Pakerized Steel Parts
Action Gas Operated Semi-automatic Action
Upper Type A1 w/ ajustable windage only
Front Sight Elevation adjustable post w/ bayonet lug
Handguard Fiberite carbine length caps
Barrel 16", button rifled, 4140 chromemoly steel
Chambering 5.56 NATO
Bore Long-life non-chromed bore
Twist Rate 1x9
Muzzle A2 flash suppressor
Stock M4 fiberite, 6-point collapsible
Length 31.75"
Weight 6.61 lbs

Identical to our Plinker Plus

[MikeBjerum]

More to the point is what twist should you get, And what chamber? The 1-7s which Colt have will shoot anything, the Wyldes, will shoot 5.56 and .223, the .223s should not shoot 5.56. Lots of choices, long barrel, short barrel ,floating or not. My advice is get a standard carbine chambered for 5.56 with a 1-9 twist Some call them patrolman carbines. Olympic has some great starter rifles at low prices  GI-16[ SKU: GI-16 ]

View Full-Size Image
   Identical to our Plinker Plus model. The GI-16 features an A2 forged upper with A1 rear sight, 16" button rifled barrel and M4 collapsible stock.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$743.00 MSRP

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  • Must be logged in with Dealer account to order. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AR-15 Specifications
Receiver Material 7075 T6 Aluminum Forged Receivers Machined By Olympic Arms
Receiver Finish Black Matte Anodized Receivers, Pakerized Steel Parts
Action Gas Operated Semi-automatic Action
Upper Type A1 w/ ajustable windage only
Front Sight Elevation adjustable post w/ bayonet lug
Handguard Fiberite carbine length caps
Barrel 16", button rifled, 4140 chromemoly steel
Chambering 5.56 NATO
Bore Long-life non-chromed bore
Twist Rate 1x9
Muzzle A2 flash suppressor
Stock M4 fiberite, 6-point collapsible
Length 31.75"
Weight 6.61 lbs

Identical to our Plinker Plus

My one recommendation on this list, if it doesn't break the budget, would be to go with the 20" medium or heavy barrel in 1x8 twist.  Nearly everyone gave me this advice, but I decided to save the bucks.  I went the 20" barrel, but stayed with standard 1x9 twist.  Coyote hunting with heavier bullets, which I'm sure you will want for deer, has made me appreciate the tighter twist in friends uppers.

I purchased a DPMS Classic and added a Leupold 2x7 and bushnell Trophy red dot.  Total for complete was just over $1,100 for gun, mount, rings and both optics.  It is great for everthing I do with it, from 3-gun, to plinking, to hunting.  I just wish I would have spent the extra few bucks for the tighter twist at the time.  But then again, now I have an excuse to buy a new upper with that barrel and floated handguard.  Where's the damn credit card?

[LaMott Cowan]

Hey, I just picked up the sig 556. it has a 1x7 twist is that good? for distance or close I dont quite understand how that works

[m25operator]

Leatherman, since you say for hunting and plinking,  especially deer hunting, something we hold sacred here in Texas. I'd go for a quality AR, DPMS, RRA, COLT, OLYMPIC ARMS, BUSHMASTER, with a 24" barrel for the extra velocity, flat top reciever so you can mount good optics and although the rifle does not kick much to begin with, it is less with a longer, heavier barrel. I'd go with a 1 in 9 twist so you can use the Barnes x bullets in 55  grn. But as new bullets come around you can use up to 70 grn bullets, but you need a high quality bullet to humanely shoot something of that size and expect it to penetrate and expand without losing weight. I killed my biggest deer, a honest     151 Boone and Crockett, with a .223, not an ar15, but a 24" CZ527 bolt rifle, I did not intend to do this, as I was actually looking for turkey, during deer season, but I loaded the Barnes X bullets just in case, well just in case happened. The shot was 80 yards, and I said if I do this, shoot for the neck, and I did. He dropped on the spot, bullet did not exit. For what your initial criteria  said, I think this would work well for you, rifle for 700 bucks down here, and that leaves you 300 bucks for optics. If you  already have the glass, you might splurge for a national match trigger and have a few bucks left  over.