I have a ? for (Moderator: USSA-1) and members

[Pathfinder]

thanks Pathfinder that DPMS looks good but in the $/gun factor is the S&W M&P15 a better choice?
 

I paid $700 for the DPMS with a fixed carry handle, last time I looked at the M&P they ran from 1200 to 1700. I paid $1300 for my Sig 556 after looking at the M&P and noting that the comparable M&P rifle was 400 more than the Sig. I've seen Bushmasters at 900 along with flattop DPMS about the same. Buy now as I am detecting slight increases at the local gunshops, and I think as the election progresses, and especially afterwards, prices will spike.

Haz, understood. I do have a couple of 7.62 including a WASR. There may be an SKS in my future as well, unless you object to those too?   

[Hazcat]

SKS will shoot.

[USSA-1]

Tex,
     First thing I would tell you is to find another gunsmith!  AR's are relatively simple to keep running and I'm surprised you are having issues with it.  Have you contacted Bushmaster?  They will stand behind their product and like many, I've never had a problem with any of my Bushmasters....but I digress.

Any of the major AR manufacturers produce a very good AR

Armalite
Bushmaster
Colt
DPMS
Rock River
Sabre Defence
Smith & Wesson (as funny as that sounds!)
Stag Arms
CMMG

Plus a few others I'm probably forgetting.  I've had experience with all of them and they all worked well.  My favorites right now are Rock River & Sabre Defence, but I would use any of them.

One manufacturer that I'm very happy with is Patriot Ordnance Factory (POF).  POF makes a piston-driven upper.  Think of it like an AR with a FAL style gas piston.  The AR pictured in my avatar is a POF M4.  If you really want a do all setup, the POF is very hard to beat.  They are more expensive, but they perform and talk about easy to clean.  I once went 1,200 rounds without cleaing just to see what would happen.  When it came time to clean the rifle.  I took a rag and wiped off the bolt and carrier and it was clean!  No scrubbing, scraping, gouging, or cussing.  It would have easily gone another 5,000 rounds.  I'm really sold on the piston driven systems.  One other thing about the POF's. They are quite accurate, but they are not sniper rifles.  You will get outstanding accuracy (1 MOA or better in some instances) for a combat rifle, but if you're looking for precision rifle setup, you'd be better served with a standard AR with a match grade barrel.

As for your use of a cane, it really depends on what courses you are interested in taking and how much you rely on the cane for mobility.  Give me a call at your convenience and we can privately discuss your situation.  USSA will make every effort to accomodate you, but I want you to know what our courses require so you'll have all the information you need to make an informed decision as to whether it would be worth the effort to travel to our facility.

Erik
703-798-2226

[Bidah]

I will second what Erik said.  Find another gunsmith.

I have 3 Rock Rivers ( 1 midlength carbine, 2 standard carbines, and my DCM rifle ).  I also have 1 other that is a Stag Arms, being a Standard A2 rifle with free float tube.  The only one to give me any problems was the Stag, and that was a loose carrier key (not uncommon), and the buffer detent broke off (doesn't stop the rifle, just a pain to strip/put back together.  Both were easy to fix.  My RR AR's have been fantastic.

A friend of mine had a Bushmaster that would jam.  I am not sure what all he did to it, but I know it went back to Bushmaster twice,  plus he had a local look at it.  Never did get fixed, and he sold it before I could buy it from him to take a good look at it.

-Bidah

[2HOW]

Tex, Im suprised your bushy is bad. Mine was good and will probably buy a Bushmaster again if I buy another AR, I sold mine, just didnt float my boat, keeping with the AK platforms for now, and going to Saiga for .308. They are pretty much like 1911s aii clones except the original and they all run, some a little better fit and finish. If you got the $ the new piston model is supposed to be the best. Good Luck 

[Sponsor]

[Outlaw]

I have a Bushmaster 'Shorty' carbine in 5.56 and it eats anything and shoots as fast as you can fan the trigger. It's also very accurate. Never had a jam/FTF/FTE. I spoke to a Bushmaster rep out of Florida once and he said If I ever had a problem with one of their rifles to send it back and they would fix it for shipping only, no matter how old or how new. Don't know if that still works but I'd try them first.

I also have a Mac 90 in 7.62 that I gave $200. bucks for and wouldn't trade it for a new AR made by anybody. It is by far one of the most accurate and best shooting firearms I have ever owned. Once again, never a jam/FTF/FTE.  Keep in mindGood luck with yours.

[Kelly Neal]

Erik, you hurt my feelings.  Where is DSA or JP on your list?? Get a VTAC AR from JP and all your worries will be over.

But I suspect Bushmaster will make that AR right.

I would echo Erik's comments about the POF piston upper.  Mine is accurate and exceptionally reliable.

[USSA-1]

KELLY!  Good to see you on the board.

Sorry, my bad.  But in my defense, I did say that I'm sure I was forgetting some good manufacturers.

Let me make if official-
I would also consider any of the DSArms products.  The make very high quality AR's and are the leaders in the FAL market.  The ONLY FAL I would use is a DS Arms.

JP?  Very good stuff.  Outstanding innovation and a leader industry in custom AR Parts and designs, but very pricey.

Erik