Sidewinder

A friend of mine and I went today (Sunday) April 25th. Got there early, to a light crowd. We bought some stuff, but neither of us was looking for a gun on this trip. We thought some of the prices were a little high also. One item I was considering costs $140 + tax at the gun show, and Midwest USA had the same exact item for $99. The crowd picked up in the afternoon a bit, and there were some people walking around with private guns for sale, but not as many as I've seen in the past. Don't know if money is real tight right now, or if the weather hampered the crowd a bit. We gave it our financial support, but passed on a number of items because of the price.

When I was a boy, my grandmother used to black skillet fry them on top of the stove... prepared like Southern fried chicken. She also put them into dumplings, just like Southern chicken and dumplings. We didn't know about the Col. back there in the dark ages, but they would have put his KFC to shame. I would be a bit biased about my granny's cooking, don't you know. "The way to anger a Conservative, is to lie to him. The way to anger a Liberal, is to tell him the truth". Theodore Roosevelt

Congratulations... nice looking weapon. I just shot my new Bushmaster the first time this week, and love it. It's a 16" barrel, 1x9 twist, with a BEC scope (lighted reticule with bullet drop compensator) on the flat top. I could use a little more scope, I believe. They are a blast to shoot, and can make those 100 round Federal boxes from Wally World disappear pronto! Might want to consider getting into reloading! I plan to. Enjoy your gun. Looks like you've made an excellent choice. Did you get the 16" barrel? It kinda looks like a 20".

I used to re-load shotgun shells, back before God invented dirt! I still have my little MEC 600 JR. I'm about to stick my toe in the water on re-loading rifle ammo... primarily .223. Some of my friends re-loads, and suggested a good quality, durable press, that you can add things as needed, and as can be afforded. I'm thinking "single stage", but good quality equipment. I'll be checking out some of the gear in the M'boro gun show tomorrow. If anyone has a good, sturdy, used press at a reasonable price let me know. For those of you that re-load .223, using your own brass, what does the average round cost you to reload? Thanks...another re-loading newbie.

I agree with mgjohn, a pinned flash hider is probably your most feasible option at this point. Good luck, and some before and after pics would be nice. "The way to anger a conservative, is to lie to him. The way to anger a liberal, is to tell him the truth". Theodore Roosevelt

I have a practically new Bushmaster XM-15 that the ejector is scoring the shell cashing head each time it ejects the spent casing. The ejector head looks pretty flat. Should it be slightly rounded? Also, the spring seems like it might be a bit stronger than others, but it does press all the way in. A friend offered this suggestion: As the bolt tries to slightly turn the shell casing in the "unlocking" process, maybe the ejector is digging in if the casing is tight in the chamber. It is lirerally shaving some to the brass from the shell casing head! Any of you had this happen before? If so, what did you do to fix it? This was shooting Federal factory ammo, by the way. I'm considering getting a new ejector and ejector spring at the Murfreesboro gin show this weekend and changing it out. Any suggestions? Thanks.

The guys were friendly, respectful.... they didn't treat me like a newbie, even though I am one, helpful...when another gun shop wouldn't even look at it...and...wouldn't take a dime for their time and expertise. Thanks again On Target.

Otto, just got a Bushmaster AR this weekend, and ran about 40 rounds through it today. I still want to build one, so I'm looking for a stripped lower from an individual... not an FFL. I'll probably buy a lot of the parts "online", and from individuals also. Let us know how that Bushy piston power works. I'm a newbie, so I'm not familiar with the gas piston setup in the ARs. Is there an advantage over the regular setup? I'll probably just look for a complete upper instead of buying all of the individual parts. Update Edit: Well. just traded the above mentioned Busy for another Bushy that'll meet my yote hunting needs, should punch paper nicely, and offers the opportunity to be shooting, instead of building! I believe it's a "keeper", and I can'y wait to get out tomorrow and shoot it. Like new... 40 rounds down the tube...yum yum!

Slappy, thanks and congratulations on your build. That's a good looking AR. I have acquired an AR, and ran around 40 rounds through it today. It is an interim gun to get that shooter's fix with, while I slowly and meticulously build that AR that I want to bag some yotes with. I'll be following your suggestions pretty close, and in that vain am looking for that nice stripped lower... from an "individual", not an FFL. "The man" already knows too much about me, and all of us. I have no reason to not make my purchase public other than I don't want to. So, if you have an extra laying around, and want to sell it, shoot me a PM. I'm also open to other AR parts as well, as long as the barrel is clearly marked. Thanks to all, and I'm still hoping to get tips on this build process. I'm looking forward to it. Those of you that have already built yours can appreciate what I'm about to go through. Edit Update: Thanks to everyone that has offered help in my quest for a fully functional AR-15. This afternoon, I traded the above mentioned Bushy on a like new Bushy with only 40 rounds down the tube. I can't wait to shoot this one. I believe this one just might be a keeper. This one has the HBAR that ought to make a good yote gun, and hopefully a pretty good paper puncher too. Now, if I can just figure out how to get that apeture sight on the A3 handle to flip up and down! It feels like it's locked! Told you I am a newbie!

My bad... maybe I didn't explain that I was looking for a "used" Savage Model 10, from an individual, not a gun store, and at a price that fit my budget. Not to say I'm cheap... but I'm a Dave Ramsey fan, and always want the most bang for my buck. Yea, I guess I am cheap. Thanks again for your post.

Thanks "rystine" for your insight on the AR-15s. I'm a newbie to them, and appreciate your info, especially this chart. I'll be printing it out, studying it, and using it for reference from here on out. Just one question... the Brands "seem" to be listed left to right in the order of superiority... or by which is the overall "better" brand. Is this the case, as far as you're concerned? I was surprised to see the DPMS at the end of the list! Thanks again.

No disrespect "The One", but you obviously haven't been looking for one like I have for the last year. The .223s are not that common in the Savage Model 10 that I have been looking for. Believe me, if you've been on GOC, you've got to remember seeing my ads for the last ten months. I've just given up on the Savage Model 10 in .223, and decided I'd rather go with the AR-15 in .223, for faster follow up shots on the yotes. Even the pros need them! Thanks for your input.

"You don't really want to buy a $600-800 version of a rifle/carbine that should cost at least $1000." Not really sure what you mean by this saying in your post? Ever bought a $20K automobile for $12K because it is no longer new, and the seller "needs" money? I want the most I can get for my money. I believe that's the American way. Thanks for your post.

Hey Guys, thanks for all the good information. I just took it to some AR guys that know their stuff, and here's whats wrong with it. 1. The gas port is drilled off center. 2. To compensate for that, someone wallowed out the hole with the drill bit, presumably to make it and the tube port align up. 3. What I'm seeing inside is in fact, not rust, but an elongated and buggered up gas port! 4. The gas tube is improperly installed at the A2 front sight base. The pin used is a roll pin that doesn't go all the way through the tube. It's believed it's in the wrong hole and that the gas tube is ruined too. 5. The hand guards were removed, and there is no... "none ...nadda" markings on the barrel anywhere. The barrel was sold to me as a 16" DPMS HBAR with an A3 flat top upper receiver. 6. None of the parts could be identified as DPMS. 7. There's tool marks where the front sight base pins were installed. I'm currently working with the seller to get my money refunded, or an acceptable complete upper, so I'm not using any names or details at this time. Rest assured, I'll let all of you know if there is an agreeable upper exchange, or my money refunded. Thank all of you that responded. I feel like I've been through the mill, but still want a good AR-15 to shoot paper and coyotes with. Thanks again. Editing facts: The individual I bought it from said he bought it "built up" from another "parts guy" that sold him all his parts and moved out west. So, I'm not bad mouthing the skills of the seller... just the skills of whoever buggered up this nice setup. Edit Update: Seller and I are meeting tomorrow to give him the gun back, and get my money back. I'll report back as this has been done. Final Edit!!!! I just got back from returning the gun and getting my money back! Kudos to the guys at "On Target" for their expert opinions on the problems with the barrel and gas port/tube. I really appreciate you guys taking the time to look at it for me. And, they wouldn't take a penny for their time! We don't see much of that kind of service now-days. That's good old fashion service, and rare in these times where many are out to grab every penny they can get. Thank you guys at On Target very much. MODS, can close this thread if they'd like. My money is back in my pocket.

10mm4me, thanks for your reply. I did all of the things you mentioned, and the irregular shaped spot is still there. I'm beginning to think it may be a factory manufacturing defect. It almost looks like the rough edges around a hole, when too much pressure is used, and the drill "breaks" through, leaving jagged edges, or possibly slivers breaking away from the drilled hole. There are no markings on the barrel ( a 16" HBAR in 5.56 by DPMS) that can be seen without removing the hand guards. Don't know if there'll be any under there either. The rest of the bore cleaned up nicely. The only spot is around the gas port hole. I like this upper, but am concerned about problems with accuracy and functionality, if not now then later. Thanks again. Would all you AR-15 guys and gals look down your bores and tell me if you have a big spot around your gas port hole? Many thanks.

I just bought a, supposedly, brand new unfired DPMS complete upper yesterday from an individual. When I got it home and inspected the bore with a bore light, I found what looks like rust pitting in the area where the gas port was drilled into the barrel! Actually, this spot is so large it can be seen without a bore light. I thought it was debris, and pulled a Bore Snake through it a couple of times. It was still there, so I ran a brass bore brush through it with some Hoppes No. 9 trying to remove it. It was still there, so I pulled some patches through, first with Hoppes and then just clean dry patches. The spot is still there. Assuming it is rust pitting, and I believe it is, will this affect the accuracy, being that the gas port is about half way up in the bore? Is it possible for it to start shaving material that would eventually restrict the gas port, and therefore the gun's operation? The person that sold it to me is working with me, at this time, to try to resolve the issue, as he built it. One other question, about this upper. He said it is a 5.56 Mil Spec, but I can't find any markings to that on the barrel. Possibly, it's under the hand guards, but I haven't removed them yet. I tried, but apparently it's a two man operation with that pesky D ring. Suggestions on doing it solo, without the tool is appreciated. Thanks for any help you guys are willing to share with this AR-15 newbie.

No! That's not it! I didn't post twice! I don't know what happened. If a MOD would delete the second thread I'd appreciate it. Sorry, about that!

I'm not sure if this is in the right place, so if it's not would one of the MODS tell me and I'll post it where it's supposed to be. I know many of us buy from individuals. Someone has a gun, and you have cash. You check out the gun, hand them the cash, and they hand you the gun. No personal data questions, no drivers license records, no signing sworn statements, no recording carry permits, addresses or anything like that. I think that's why gun sale sights like GOC and TGO are so popular. Otherwise, we'd all just go to an FFL dealer and jump through all the hoops, right? I'm trying to deal with an "individual", says he's not a dealer, and that this is a private sale, but wants my drivers license, address, and a signed statement/bill of sale before he'll sell me the entire rifle! He'll sell me everything but the lower receiver (which has the S/N) without all of my personal data. I do not want my personal records in anyone's database... especially one that the government could get their hands on! I feel my Second Amendment rights assure my God given right to own and bear arms... including buying and selling among friend, without transactional databases. Maybe I'm just paranoid! How do the rest of you feel on this? Am I out of line in not wanting "big brother" to have all of my private data? Every one's opinion is appreciated. To do all of this, would kill the private transactions, in my humble opinion! What do you experts think? "To anger a Conservative, lie to him. To anger a Liberal, tell him the truth." Theodore Roosevelt

I'm not sure if this is in the right place, so if it's not would one of the MODS tell me and I'll post it where it's supposed to be. I know many of us buy from individuals. Someone has a gun, and you have cash. You check out the gun, hand them the cash, and they hand you the gun. No personal data questions, no drivers license records, no signing sworn statements, no recording carry permits, addresses or anything like that. I think that's why gun sale sites like GOC and TGO are so popular. Otherwise, we'd all just go to an FFL dealer and jump through all the hoops, right? I'm trying to deal with an "individual", says he's not a dealer, and that this is a private sale, but wants my drivers license, address, and a signed statement/bill of sale before he'll sell me the entire rifle! He'll sell me everything but the lower receiver (which has the S/N) without all of my personal data. I do not want my personal records in anyone's database... especially one that the government could get their hands on! I feel my Second Amendment rights assure my God given right to own and bear arms... including buying and selling among friends, without transactional databases. Maybe I'm just paranoid! How do the rest of you feel on this? Am I out of line in not wanting "big brother" to have all of my private data? Every one's opinion is appreciated. To do all of this, would kill the private transactions, in my humble opinion! What do you experts think? "To anger a Conservative, lie to him. To anger a Liberal, tell him the truth." Theodore Roosevelt

How does it feel in your pocket? I have a Glock 26 and need one for my right front pocket. I bought one of their IWB for my Glock 26, didn't like the feel, and have never carried my Glock because of that. I carry a Kel-Tec P-11 9mm in an Uncle Mike's soft holster in my right front pocket now. What was your cost, and how long did it take to get it? Did they compensate for the extended mag release handle? Thanks for the info.

Still got that 20" HBAR upper? Want to sell it? Just checking?

Wow! There is an education to be had on the ARs, isn't there? Thanks to everyone for your input. All the differences is mind boggling! I'm still doing research, but it looks like one could be built a lot cheaper than for what I see them advertised on the gun sale sites. I'd still be willing to buy a complete one, at the right price though, and spend my time shooting instead of building. Thanks to everyone, and I'll still take all the tips I can get. I know everyone has an opinion... but, I'm considering a Double Star factory gun. Anything to look out for? Good points and bad points would be appreciated. Thanks.

Thanks KahrMan, but I already have a Savage in .243 with accutrigger. I was trying to find one in .223, but feel I have a lot more choices in .223 in the ARs.

Are there any problems with certain "lowers" that I need to watch out for? I'm thinking I need to buy a good quality lower first, and then work from there. What is a good quality lower, and what can I buy a used one for from an individual? Should I go for a complete, instead of a stripped lower? Anyone got one for sale at a decent price? Thanks. cjwaa1@msn.com

Thanks to all of you for your input. You've given me a lot to think about. Many of your suggestions interest me, especially the thought of building one. I'm giving this option some serious consideration. I think it could be fun, and save me some money. Thanks again.