I currently have two Colt HBar II's and a DPMS. I've had numerous Bushmaster's, but for some unknown reason don't have one right now. I know Cumpston has an exceptionally accurate Bushmaster Predator, and Jeff has had some very accurate Bushmasters. My HBar's are jaw dropping accurate for a short light carbine style (in the hands of folks that are better rifle shots than I am). The last time I checked the sighting on Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte with the suppressor attached, I fired a quick shot at the freshly painted gong at 100 lasered yards and then aimed at the bullet strike. The spot just grew a tiny bit and when I got down there the dimples were touching.

I have found that there is more difference between individual guns than between brands in the same quality and price range. If your not as big a stickler for short and light as I am, Look at the 20 inchers. I'm more likely to do a Keystone Cop imitation getting out of the truck in a hurry to shoot at a porker or a skunk than I am to bench rest shoot one. One thing that might be a consideration: Colts don't take the drop in adjustable triggers due to the sear block.

Extremely accurate. Built a couple of parts guns last winter and kept total cost under $600 per carbine. It can be done if you shop around.

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I have become very fond of Magpull's slim trim furniture and tough windowed P mags. I think 10 out of 11 guys at this Gunsite course had p mags they were dumped in the dirt multiple times and kept on running. Surefire's excellent but heavy 60 round mag works great. Fusils from CDNN are also very reliable.

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Of the Troops & For the Troops

I found a Sig M-400 Enhanced Carbine on sale at Wal-Mart just under 1,000 came with a neat backpack carrying case and one magazine. Flat top receiver, american made, weight 6-1/2 pounds 16-1/2 inch barrel, Seems to feel batter to me than the DPS they had which was about 100 bucks cheaper. Telescoping stock, Ithink this is a recent addition to the Sig line.Only comes with one Mag-Pull 30 round magazine. I like but haven't had it to the range for accuracy testing. FWIW

Here's the thing with the AR that does not apply to the 1911- parts is, pretty much, parts. Essentially ALL receivers, regardless of whose name on the side, are made by a very few outfits. They are Cavalry Arms, Continental Machine Tool, Essential Arms, JVP, LAR Manufacturing, Lewis Machine & Tool, Mega Machine Shop, Olympic, Sabre Defense, Sun Devil, and Superior. That list is about a year old so there may be others.

Most all of these makers have hope of military or LE contracts so their receivers are as mil-spec as they can make them. They also realize that a lot of cops will go out-of-pocket for a patrol carbine and they don't want a dogcrap reputation to ruin that for them.

If you're talking resale value, then get the big-name stuff. For a working rifle however, all that matters is that the receiver is of the proper dimensions, material and heat treating and that the holes are of the right size & in the right places. And that is one thing the platform shares with the 1911. The name on the side of a working gun don't mean squat, so long as it's right inside.

Keepsakes are something else altogether.

configs, I finally decided on light 16" and accurate with Aimpoint sight and back up mechanical sights, and Ace skeleton stock. Standard GI mags work fine for me. I've got an upper for 24" bull barrel if I want, or 16" bull bl if I want, and 20" Colt if I want, but the 16" light weight gets the nod usually. Also have 7.62x39 AR that shoots just as accurately as the 5.56x45. Think about what you want, then you just have to jump in and see.

I bought my first about two weeks ago. I decided to forego the gilly gollies and bought a plain jane LMT for just over one thousand bucks. Only shot about a box just yet. From sandbags at twenty five yards it will put them all in one neat little hole.

ARs come in so many styles that they are the Mr. Potato Head of weapons....short...long...simple....complex...light....heavy....

Whats best...who knows.......

At one end of this spectrum is the iron sight straight on AR15...no lights...no red dots....no rails....plain and simple....KISS....

This plain jane Bushmaster Dissapator earned me a Appleseed Rifleman badge...equivilent to shooting a couple of hundred rounds in field position into 4 MOA...

This JP Precision Rifle shoots to a level of accuracy that is hard to measure...a good pull will put a bullet on the crosshair...the brake is so effective that from a sandbag rest you can see the bullet hole appear...still it is very noisy and harsh to shoot because of it...this rifle with a can would be too cool for school...

After much wasted time and money I have decided the most "practical" AR15 is a fixed sight 16" dissapator style with a HIGH quality rail system (no airsoft junk)with a 1/7" twist chrome bore and a compact red dot sight mounted with a 1/3 cowitness and a HIGH quality high output LED weapon light.

The uber high zoot rifles are of course very good....the mid range ARs are just fine....

I prefer 1/7" as it allow the use of M262 style ammo....16" is long enought...the rifle should have iron sights....for a practical rifle I prefer the simple A1 style than the A2 target sight...or folding...it should have a red dot with battery life measured in 1000s of hours...it should have a collapsible stock to allow for better handling in close quarters and to fit children and small women...it should be fitted with a LED light of at least 200 LUME....

In addition...you should have a minimum of 25 mags...mix of 20 and 30...and most important....more ammo than you can carry....

Byron

Very Good Post

I have grown fond of the mid length gas system for a 16" gun. I also like putting a rifle length free float tube on them a bit heavier out front but I like the look and the extra real estate for my long arms.

I have had excellent luck building rifles from Del-Ton kits. Uppers come assembled and heads paced I can put together an accurate, reliable rifle in less than an hour for around $600. If its to be a possible SHTF or battlefield I agree that a set of iron sights is a must. I like a low powered variable. Both of my current ar's have 1.5-5x scopes. Cranked down they gives near red dot sped but cranked up I can still hit stuff at longer ranges. I'd reccomended a 16" medium heavy barrel. That will give goodballitics and accuracy and not too heavy for packing around.

...have some well defined focal points to consider now. Some relly appealing options there.

Also, need to get some trigger time behind a few variations, at the local club.

Will report when print becomes reality.

I have been contemplating the same sort of purchase. A basic, reliable, accurate carbine for general purpose duty and informal varmint eradication, with a lower worthy of adding an additional upper or two for specialized purposes.