Alright experts, here we go again!

[TexasGlock23]

I need some help figuring out which one of the following would be the BEST OVERALL choice for a beginner! I mean price, function, form, durability, etc. I have been doing a bit of researching, but I want real world advice. Post up any experience with any. I just want to make sure I get what I want. I am leaning towards a flattop.

http://www.bushmaster.com/shopping/Carbon15/az-c15m4pre.asp

http://www.bushmaster.com/shopping/Carbon15/az-c1516m4ft.asp

http://ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=7&f=21&t=357091

Bushmaster Patrolmen

RRA
I like the: Entry Tactical and TASC Rifle but add the chrome lined barrel. So out of those two and the two from Bushmaster tell me what you guys think!

My fiance is getting me this instead of spending alot on a wedding band and etc for me. I am cheap to please and would rather have something useful. $800 is what I am looking at to spend.

Thanks guys

[Glockdude1]

http://www.bushmaster.com/shopping/weapons/bcwa3f16.asp

http://www.bushmaster.com/shopping/weapons/Images/bcwa3f16.jpg

Bushmaster XM15 E2S A3 16" heavy barrel. Great AR rifle.

:cool:

[TexasGlock23]

Thanks, I have been leaning towards that one, most say the same thing. I still have a little more to think about, and a few months to decide

[Riflemanz]

I bought the RRA ET rifle.I have a nikon buckmasters 3x9 on it and can put the rear sight back on in 1 min.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid183/pfedc2dae6083a1f012610d30056acd97/f29b9201.jpg

[Sir Hacksalot]

I had a Bushmaster Shorty HBAR "Clinton Era" rifle that I recently sent to Adco Firearms to have the barrel shortened and a Phantom Flash suppressor attached...I also added a collapseable stock..and I love my rifle.

Here are a few pics...sorry for the bad lighting.

Before: (Note, mine is not a flattop, this is just a Bushmaster file photo)
http://www.bushmaster.com/shopping/weapons/Images/pcwa3s16.jpg

http://x2.putfile.com/6/17218280567-thumb.jpg (http://putfile.com/pic.php?pic=6/17218280567.jpg&s=x2)

After:

http://x2.putfile.com/6/17218265543-thumb.jpg (http://putfile.com/pic.php?pic=6/17218265543.jpg&s=x2)

http://x2.putfile.com/6/17218252263-thumb.jpg (http://putfile.com/pic.php?pic=6/17218252263.jpg&s=x2)

This rifle will do anything I want it to do.

The only advice I'd give you...get a flat top upper, and go ahead and get a BUIS for it (BUIS)...learn your irons, then slap an EOTech or Aimpoint on it and call it a day. Spend lots of money on mags and ammo, and enjoy.

Hax

[PinkoCommie]

Originally posted by TexasGlock23

My fiance is getting me this instead of spending alot on a wedding band and etc for me. I am cheap to please and would rather have something useful. $800 is what I am looking at to spend.


I enjoy my RRA Entry Tactical, but there are many great ARs out there - the Bushmaster is a fine choice, too.

What I really want to say will matter a whole lot more than which rifle you choose (especially since both RRA and Bushy are good rifles). Take a moment to stop and think about how great a woman you are about to marry. She is buying you an AR instead of a wedding band? Make sure you do what you can to keep her happy. She sounds like she is well worth it!

--PinkoCommie

[TexasGlock23]

Originally posted by PinkoCommie
I enjoy my RRA Entry Tactical, but there are many great ARs out there - the Bushmaster is a fine choice, too.

What I really want to say will matter a whole lot more than which rifle you choose (especially since both RRA and Bushy are good rifles). Take a moment to stop and think about how great a woman you are about to marry. She is buying you an AR instead of a wedding band? Make sure you do what you can to keep her happy. She sounds like she is well worth it!

--PinkoCommie

That is exactly why I am marrying her, but now I might have to wait to get it. I am told the first two years in the USAF wont pay much and toys may have to wait! I don't know if I should have her mold on to the money or just buy it anyways. I am asking alot of her to marry me and come with me wherever I go and deal with the fact that I most likely will be "over there" at least once, if not many more times doing what I want in the AF.

[MrMurphy]

Considering what you're thinking about doing, go with the Patroman model or the RRA "DEA" model, flattop, M4 profile barrel. No carbon fiber etc.

It's the nearest civvy clone to what you'll be using (SF uses M4's exclusively now, though you'll shoot the M16A2 with everyone else in basic as well).


Moneywise, I've been in for 1 year, 1 month and 2 days.

I bring in about $2,000/month give or take. Then there's BAH (housing) since I have to live off base, my base has no onbase housing except the single dorms (lack of room). Plus there's COLA (cost of living allowance) which varies, but can be considerable. Stateside you don't usually get this, or get as much, but that depends where you are, Hawaii, Alaska and some other states you get a chunk. Then there's various other small allowances that come and go (uniform allowances every year or so etc).

It's not bad. If you budget and know what you're doing, you're fine. Pilotkitten doesn't work (hard to find work around here being overseas, even on base) and we do well for ourselves as long as we're not crazy about spending. But well enough I can drop $2,500 on armor over a few months, and not be overly worried about it (just pay a little at a time).

[TexasGlock23]

thanks Murphey, as always!

I saw the recruiter, I scored a 44 on the practice, but for EOD it has to be in the 60's:frown: I also still have to drop alot of weight. I cant go in until October, and the recruiter said November was most likely when I would go or later. So I have some time to lose it. I just want to go, I hate the max they have! My three choices so far are SF, EOD and firefighter, but we did not talk alot about jobs.

[MrMurphy]

Approximately 60+ % of EOD fails (it's a HARD school) and they have to crosstrain to SF (I saw 4 come through myself). Firefighters in the AF don't do a whole lot so they love life, but if you're looking for "interesting" stuff to do, aside from walkthroughs, safety stuff, and medical calls, not much happens. Few, very few fires from what I've seen, unless some idiot in the dorm blows up his microwave.

We get a lot of boring work (sitting in a Humvee in a loop for 8 hours is boring) but at least you're doing something guarding something worth it. And when alarms kick off (at LEAST once a day, sometimes up to 20+ for 1 post if the sensors are being weird or people are being dumb) you respond "real world" i.e ready to rock and roll, because you don't know what it is.... Al Queda on a strike? A rabbit tripped a sensor? Some idiot from AMXS who opened a sensored door without calling in for permission like he KNOWS he has to?

Every single day in Security Forces is different. Some suck, some don't. Some are great. Variety is good. :) Yesterday I had 8 hours of boredom, a rainstorm that thrashed me (Humvee turret hatch was stuck open) and 1 alarm. Today? Had the day off except 3 hours learning about intoxilyzers and radar speedguns. :)


The RRA carbine the DEA adopted would be my pick of the two. Add BUIS and an Aimpoint, rail fore-end if it doesn't come with one, and a vertical foregrip and you have the standard SF carbine (some don't have a rail fore-end and just have the normal foregrip, depends on your base).

Edit: I had to lose 40+ lbs. Concentrate on cardio, drink only water, do pushups/situps every day in sets of 20-30, flutter kicks and jumping jacks for variety, and if you go to a gym (I'd recommend it) the crosstrainers, arc-type machines etc are good no-impact running machines. That and the bikes will drop pounds fast.

[TexasGlock23]

thanks, I am doing alot of cardio, drinking mainly water, eating alot better, and eating more times but smaller

[deputy tom]

Bushmaster XM15 E2S A2 16" heavy barrel if you don't need optics.A3 if you must.YMMV.tom.:cool:

[New York Hunter]

I have a post ban (bought it new in 2003) RRA TASC Rifle (http://www.rockriverarms.com/item-detail.cfm?ID=AR1215X&storeid=1&image=06tasc.gif&CFID=14085893&CFTOKEN=16047935) with the mid length hand guard. It's the only AR-15 I've owned so far....it's a keeper that's for sure! If I was going to buy a new AR-15 knowing what I know now I'd get a RRA Mid-Length A4
(http://www.rockriverarms.com/item-detail.cfm?ID=AR1294X&storeid=1&image=06mida24.gif&CFID=14085893&CFTOKEN=16047935) with the Dominator EOTech Mount (http://www.rockriverarms.com/item-detail.cfm?ID=AR0125EASSY&storeid=1&image=rrdom.gif&CFID=14085893&CFTOKEN=16047935) and a EOTech 512 sight (http://www.rockriverarms.com/item-detail.cfm?ID=AR3780&storeid=1&image=eotech.gif&CFID=14085893&CFTOKEN=16047935). Bushmaster make a really good rifle too. You're not going to go wrong either way. Good luck in the Air Force! :) :beer: :rollsmiley: