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Posted: 8/31/2011 9:00:56 PM EDT
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I recently caught the bug for a black gun. I went cheap and bought a Bushmaster Carbon 15 for $650. (Mistake) came with a Red dot scope which I replaced with a 4X10 scope. Problem #1 it doesn't group for crap. I assumed I needed a free floating hand guard to correct this but then I see that the top rail wiggles side top side which is no good. Then I stripped out the screw that holds the top rail, after all its basically just into plastic. 1st things first I'm selling this gun. (after I fix the screw)
My question is what do I really need. I'm sure I need a free floating hand guard because I want decent accuracy at 100 yards yet I want something capable when SHTF. I was thinking maybe M&P but I I'm open to suggestions. I'm upping my budget to about 1K if that's what it takes to get a decent AR that fits my needs. Any Ideas? |
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First I would suggest reading a lot on this site and figuring out what you want the rifle to do and what you'll need to get there.
Then go browse Bravo Company, PSA and Spike's websites and see what your looking for. Best of luck and be sure to keep asking questions... |
Just grab a del-ton kit, a lower, and put it together yourself. You'll even learn something in the process I dont notice a difference at 100yds between my ARs with free float rails vs regular handguards, both group about the same. Are you sure its the rifle? It could be scope or scope rings too. |
| I'm using a Konus scope with a Burris forward mount. The thing that gets me is the play in the top rail. You can push the scope side to side and see movement in the rail at the rear. Now the screw is stripped that holds the rail. It just screams cheap. One day i'll learn that you get what you pay for. I guess my thinking (NOW) is after I put on the scope,mount,laser, and tactical light and reloading components I'm going to have $1500 or better in this thing so I may as well add the extra few hundred more to get a quality rifle to build on and this Bushmaster isn't it. |
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Couple of options:
1. Buy a complete rifle from a good maker: Colt Bravo Company LMT Daniel Defense Spike's Tactical Palmetto State Armory Pick the configuration that will work best with how you plan to set it up. You don't need a free float, but if you plan on running a scope why not get a full length rail and flip up front and rear sights? Palmetto offers several set ups like this. Check out their stainless 16" upper with free float already on it. 2. Take what you can off the BM Carbon15 and build an upper that will work. This is also an option if you want two rifles 1 as a SHTF and another as a range toy/truck gun. I believe you can use the barrel, but will need a new barrel nut (approx $5), upper receiver (approx $90), and possible a hand guard cap and delta ring assembly (approx $25). You will need the tools to put one together (action block, set of punches, barrel nut wrench, torque wrench, and vise) or find someone local to you here on Arfcom that will let you borrow the tools. The advantage to buying the tools is that you can do further mods with your rifles as well as build other ones at your own pace. As a side note, Palmetto is going to be offering their stripped lowers for $49 for the holiday. buy a couple and later you can sell the carbin15 lower to someone looking for a light weight build. |
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Quoted: I'm using a Konus scope with a Burris forward mount. The thing that gets me is the play in the top rail. You can push the scope side to side and see movement in the rail at the rear. Now the screw is stripped that holds the rail. It just screams cheap. One day i'll learn that you get what you pay for. I guess my thinking (NOW) is after I put on the scope,mount,laser, and tactical light and reloading components I'm going to have $1500 or better in this thing so I may as well add the extra few hundred more to get a quality rifle to build on and this Bushmaster isn't it. If you've got any play at all in the rail that your scope is on, you're going to have terrible groups.... Not sure how to fix that, but we found your issue  Just grab a new upper, the lower should still be good to go. |
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Nuts to that set up. Lose the cheap optics, get some nice irons, and drill on your fundamentals. When your grouping nice out at 50-100 then start looking at optics. A cheap rifle is better than no rifle, and its better to learn on a beater. Classes will probably help a bit too.
Just my $.02 |
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