Newbie to AR's, lots of questions

Dingle1911 · December 5th, 2005, 04:51 PM

Hello everyone,
This site has been so helpful in answering my questions. I thought that everyone coud help me with a few questions about AR-15's. I have grown up with pistols for most of my life and I have really been getting into IDPA competition. The same range that I shoot IDPA at has 3 gun competitions too. Some time in the next year I would like to get an AR. I have been searching the web, but it seems like all I find is the difference between the m-16 and ar-15.

1. Could someone please tell me the difference between the different uppers, (A2, A3, ect.)?

2. Are there any differences in the lowers that I should look for?

3. What is the difference between the flash supressors (bird, cage, izzy)?

4. Any pros and cons to the different manufacturers?

Which all my searching so far, I think that I like the ones with the rail on top with the removable carry handle.

Thanks in advance,
Dingle

san antone rr · December 5th, 2005, 05:04 PM

http://ar15.com/

All sorts of good info.

DirksterG30 · December 5th, 2005, 05:16 PM

Dingle,
I've found this site very helpful with regards to ammo selection, barrel rate of twist, etc.:

http://www.ammo-oracle.com/body.htm

rocky · December 5th, 2005, 05:44 PM

Between the 2 above links you should have lots of reading and research. Can you guess what kind of rifle my daughter is shooting in my avtar?

Kentucky · December 5th, 2005, 08:02 PM

The A2 upper has a non-removable handle, the A3's handle is removable to a flat top rail.
The Izzy comes in 2 forms, ie compensator or flash suppressor. It is usually permanently fixed to a 14.5" barrel to make it a legal length barrel. My Bushmaster 14.5 has the compensator Izzy which is a 3 port 'suppressor/compensator' (no port on direct bottom). This helps to prevent barrel rise and blowing dirt up when firing in the prone position. The Birdcage is usually used on longer barrels . The Izzy also creates one hell of a fireball out the muzzle !!
For good suppressor info , go to:
http://www.combatcarry.com/vbulletin...uote=1&p=61542

Free American · December 5th, 2005, 09:10 PM

The one thing I will add is if you choose an AR...Colt rifles have some parts that can only be changed out with Colt parts. Most other rifles have all Mil-Spec parts and you can just drop in aftermarket parts as you please. That is the biggest difference in manufacturers and the only thing I would have agianst Colt (proprietary parts)

Rob72 · December 6th, 2005, 11:40 AM

Re, flash suppressors: the best, original, Vortex is made by Smith Enterprises. Well worth it.
http://www.smithenterprise.com/

Bushmaster, RRA and DPMS are all excellent. My preference was for the HBar profile(16" or 20"), unless you see yourself carrying it much and shooting little- more muzzle control, retains rigidity far better when hot, and gives a lot more "whap" to your slap, if you need to hit something with it.

Oh, yeah, I would seriously look at POF's products
http://www.pof-usa.com/P-416/P-416pricelist.htm
Essentially a copy oh the HK contract replacement upper. You pay more, but you eliminate most of the weaknesses and work inherent to the original gas system. (+/- $1250 for a complete POF rifle, VS. +/- $700-800 for a stock BM/RRA/etc..)

srfl · December 6th, 2005, 11:47 AM

+1 endorsement of the Vortex!

I'm a Bushy owner myself.

ExSoldier · December 6th, 2005, 12:08 PM

AR's are fun and even historical, but they rate very low with me for serious "social" applications. My advice is to get something in .308 like an M1A or the M1A SOCOM or the various FAL rifles, or if you really like the AR platform, go for the AR-10. 5.56mm is a nice plinker. I have an old CAR-15 and a Ruger Mini-14 and they're fun. But when the SHTF, gimme the .308!

spacemanspiff · December 6th, 2005, 01:42 PM

find a colt, 6721 has a 16.5" heavy barrel with 1-9 twist, removable carry handle, 4 position coll stock.

December 5th, 2005, 04:51 PM	#1
Dingle1911 Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NC Posts: 174	Newbie to AR's, lots of questions Hello everyone, This site has been so helpful in answering my questions. I thought that everyone coud help me with a few questions about AR-15's. I have grown up with pistols for most of my life and I have really been getting into IDPA competition. The same range that I shoot IDPA at has 3 gun competitions too. Some time in the next year I would like to get an AR. I have been searching the web, but it seems like all I find is the difference between the m-16 and ar-15. 1. Could someone please tell me the difference between the different uppers, (A2, A3, ect.)? 2. Are there any differences in the lowers that I should look for? 3. What is the difference between the flash supressors (bird, cage, izzy)? 4. Any pros and cons to the different manufacturers? Which all my searching so far, I think that I like the ones with the rail on top with the removable carry handle. Thanks in advance, Dingle

December 5th, 2005, 05:04 PM	#2
san antone rr Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Look at my login Posts: 462	http://ar15.com/ All sorts of good info. __________________ Steve December 9, 2005 (CNN) While interviewing an anonymous US Special Forces soldier on his sniper skills, a Reuters News agent asked the soldier what he felt when shooting members of Al Qaeda in Afghanistan. The soldier shrugged and replied, "Recoil."

December 5th, 2005, 08:02 PM	#5
Kentucky Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 118	The A2 upper has a non-removable handle, the A3's handle is removable to a flat top rail. The Izzy comes in 2 forms, ie compensator or flash suppressor. It is usually permanently fixed to a 14.5" barrel to make it a legal length barrel. My Bushmaster 14.5 has the compensator Izzy which is a 3 port 'suppressor/compensator' (no port on direct bottom). This helps to prevent barrel rise and blowing dirt up when firing in the prone position. The Birdcage is usually used on longer barrels . The Izzy also creates one hell of a fireball out the muzzle !! For good suppressor info , go to: http://www.combatcarry.com/vbulletin...uote=1&p=61542 __________________ diplomacy ... the art of saying "nice doggie"..while looking for a big rock !!

December 5th, 2005, 09:10 PM	#6
Free American Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 612	The one thing I will add is if you choose an AR...Colt rifles have some parts that can only be changed out with Colt parts. Most other rifles have all Mil-Spec parts and you can just drop in aftermarket parts as you please. That is the biggest difference in manufacturers and the only thing I would have agianst Colt (proprietary parts) __________________ They who give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin Previously known as "cjm5874"

December 6th, 2005, 11:47 AM	#8
srfl Senior Moderator Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: FL Posts: 6,432	+1 endorsement of the Vortex! I'm a Bushy owner myself. __________________ USAF: Loving Our Obscene Amenities Since 1947

December 5th, 2005, 05:16 PM	#3
DirksterG30 Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 431	Dingle, I've found this site very helpful with regards to ammo selection, barrel rate of twist, etc.: http://www.ammo-oracle.com/body.htm

December 5th, 2005, 05:44 PM	#4
rocky Senior Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: MI Posts: 11,767	Between the 2 above links you should have lots of reading and research. Can you guess what kind of rifle my daughter is shooting in my avtar?

December 6th, 2005, 11:40 AM	#7
Rob72 VIP Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: OKC, OK Posts: 3,043	Re, flash suppressors: the best, original, Vortex is made by Smith Enterprises. Well worth it. http://www.smithenterprise.com/ Bushmaster, RRA and DPMS are all excellent. My preference was for the HBar profile(16" or 20"), unless you see yourself carrying it much and shooting little- more muzzle control, retains rigidity far better when hot, and gives a lot more "whap" to your slap, if you need to hit something with it. Oh, yeah, I would seriously look at POF's products http://www.pof-usa.com/P-416/P-416pricelist.htm Essentially a copy oh the HK contract replacement upper. You pay more, but you eliminate most of the weaknesses and work inherent to the original gas system. (+/- $1250 for a complete POF rifle, VS. +/- $700-800 for a stock BM/RRA/etc..)

December 6th, 2005, 12:08 PM	#9
ExSoldier VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Coral Gables, FL Posts: 4,209	AR's are fun and even historical, but they rate very low with me for serious "social" applications. My advice is to get something in .308 like an M1A or the M1A SOCOM or the various FAL rifles, or if you really like the AR platform, go for the AR-10. 5.56mm is a nice plinker. I have an old CAR-15 and a Ruger Mini-14 and they're fun. But when the SHTF, gimme the .308! __________________ Former Infantry Captain; 20 yrs as an NRA Certified Instructor; Avid practitioner of the martial art: KLIK-PAO.

December 6th, 2005, 01:42 PM	#10
spacemanspiff Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 134	find a colt, 6721 has a 16.5" heavy barrel with 1-9 twist, removable carry handle, 4 position coll stock.

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