As part of the American experiment in self-determination and citizenship you’ve decided to get your 1st AR-15. What are the ways to go about it? How do you get a good one? How to get it safely, and what accoutrements should you get? How can you learn how to pick out Red Coats at 400 yards, the quarter mile rifleman’s territory?
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I recommend your first or second AR-15 is chambered in .223 (generally civilian) or 5.56mm (NATO standard). As an American you may buy both calibers. The 5.56mm rifle can accept the .233 round; but not reverse due to the 5.56mm chamber able to withstand a little more pressure. When you buy 3rd and 4th AR, I would get AR-10 chambered in .308/7.62x51(NATO).
So, now to get your rifle:
1st: If you don’t live in NY, New Jersey, Commifornia or one of the few States which do not respect the Constitution I would move, or build my own. The easiest way to build it is to buy an assembled upper receiver and complete lower parts kit. Also today, the Feds are acting strange, so it better not to know they have one, one ten.
Get the lower turns into a weapon by adding lower parts & the upper receiver!
Just put this barreled on the lower and you are good to go!
Buy the parts at a place like:
www.palmettostatearmory.com/
www.brownells.com/
www.kygunco.com
www.natchezss.com/
www.Midway.com
www.bearcreekarsenal.com
Then you manufacture the lower receiver. You may start with a block of aluminum which you can literally buy anywhere, or purchase an 80% lower. With an 80% lower one just need to the remove 20% of material which than allows you to add in the important parts.
80% Lower Receiver-Top View
80% Lower receiver- Side Pic
You can use a mill machine common in any machine shop. Or you can buy a personal desk top mill, like the Ghost Gunner, or you can use a hand drill.
80% Lower with magazine well machined
AR-15 controls machined out of the lower
2nd: In 39 good states anyone, 18 years of older, without a felony conviction, you may buy one. There are several ways to go about it.
Visit a local firearms store, a guns show or a trade show. Work with a retailer, fill out the 4473 form, hand over your license to let the State Police(SBI). Then you may purchase what they have, or custom order for you.
As a first AR, I would buy a reputable brand such as:
Smith & Wesson
Ruger
SIG
Rock River
Springfield.
If you have financial power you could pay for a:
Daniel Defense
Lewis Machine Tool
Noveske
Barret
Knights Armament.
If you are budget restricted, look at bargains like:
Bear Creek Arsenal
Palmetto State Armory,
· Definitely buy at least 5 low capacity magazines ( 20) or standard capacity (30) round magazines. Extra points for buying a hi-capacity magazine with 50 or 100 rounds. This is still America!
3rd: Order a complete weapon online and take possession of it at a local dealer or gun club. You still need to fill out the 4473 Federal form, unless you are named Hunter Biden, and pass the NIC(National Instance Crimal) background before it will hand over to you.
Companies like:
· Palmetto State Armory
· Brownells
· Midway
· KYguns
4th: Order an assembled lower receiver assembly and purchase an assembled upper receiver which you can assemble in 5 minutes. This way you can customize it to your heart’s content. Don’t’ forget to add back up sights, a weapon-light, a sling and an optical aiming sight. If desired you may add a forward grip to the rifle as well.
5th: You may purchase a serialized, naked, lower for which you the NICS. Then you add the trigger assembly and other components before building it into a pistol or rifle. There are some nice triggers like Geissle, Rise or Rare Breed(Avoid using a credit card to purchase this because the ATF have deemed them machine guns) which are a a bit better than GI MilSpec triggers; but definitely not needed.
6th: You may purchase a rifle from a friend or relative without going through to NICS check. I have bought and sold a variety of rifles over the decades. Also you can check these websites. If you are local to any purchaser you may purchase with present of Concealed Carry License (in Florida).
Armslist.com
GunsAmerica.com
Gunbroker.com
Now you have the rifle. Time to get some training.
The Appleseed Project is a low cost great rifle training. From their website: Skilled Marksmanship: An American Tradition
You can’t write the story of America without including several chapters about the skill and bravery of our forefathers. On April 19, 1775, at Lexington and Concord, American colonists stood with muskets in hand and faced down the British forces that were trying to seize their arms. The colonists did it with grit, determination, and superior marksmanship. They were real marksmen: nobly and ably putting their skills on the line in pursuit of liberty.
We are the descendants of those fearless men and women who earned our freedom on the battlefield. We honor their pursuit of liberty by passing along the skills and knowledge that aided them in securing it. Today’s Rifleman understands that owning and mastering a rifle is part of his/her American heritage. Whether you’re a new shooter or a seasoned marksman, Project Appleseed can help transform you from a person with a rifle into a principled and skilled Rifleman.
Gunsite Academy is world class for instruction of rifles and pistols, From their website:
223 Carbine Class
The Modern Technique, as applied to the carbine. Learn to manage your environment from arm’s length to 300 yards. This course will help you become thoroughly familiar with your carbine and your capabilities with it.
Of course we will cover all the important aspects of marksmanship, gun handling and mindset. You will shoot from a variety of positions and learn how to use them to conform to available cover in our outdoor simulators including the famous Gunsite Scrambler. Outdoor simulators will challenge your ability to locate and put accurate fire on targets out to 300 yards.
In addition to the range drills, school drills, carbine “El Presidente” and simulators, you will shoot on the move, learn to get off the line of attack, transition from carbine to pistol and shoot in low light/no light conditions.
Carbines make an excellent choice for home defense. You will learn tactics that can be employed in your home or place of business in our live fire indoor and outdoor simulators.
There are a number of good schools, such as these and more. Get training!
Lethal Force Institute
Front Site
Smith & Wesson Acamdemy
Sig Academy
In conclusion, each citizen should own at least one true expression of freedom. The AR may be called an implement of war by critics of Liberty however just as in Lexington Green, American Patriots 80 million strong may soon need to keep a mad leviathan in its place. Get it, feed it and practice with it! Master your AR!
About the Author: Devin Standard is a defense contractor by profession, a firearms instructor by passion and immoderate in the pursuit of Liberty. He has harvested plains game in Africa, a moose in Sweden, tons of Texas Hogs and over 1,000 doves down in Argentina. Standard is a certified 1-Mile Marksman, enjoys competing in Steel Challenge, and just launched the Safety Academy USA South in Central Florida.
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