Friends' Budget ARs

[Darrell]

I wrote before, IIRC, about a couple of friends' quests for basic AR rifles. One picked up a Del-Ton Sport or Sport Light, I haven't had a chance to look at it or shoot it yet. The other picked up a Ruger AR 556 off Gunbroker, we went shootin' last night. Decent looking gun, full featured with regular front sight, Ruger pop up rear sight, forward assist, dust cover and brass deflector (the S&W Sport lacks the dust cover and deflector). Pretty standard 16" carbine. The trigger is nothing to write home about, "mil-spec", I suppose. The gun shot very well with iron sights, the buddy was getting nice, close groups (mind you, this was just at 25 yds, getting it sighted in). One of the front sight pins fell out during handling. Hmmm. Ruger drills and pins its machined front sight. He'll have to do something about that. I know little about Del-Tons, the gun gets good reviews. Hopefully we can take it shooting soon.

In other news, I took along the Adams Arms and Daniel Defense guns. Surprisingly, the DD gun did very well with 55 gr ammo this time, shot a little closer than the AA did. The gun had previously not shot very close groups with either 55 gr or 62 gr ammo, the Adams gun typically outshot it. Both have 1 in 7 barrels. I may still have a scope or mount problem, it's wandered a bit in the past.

[Kommander]

I am pretty sure that the front sight is also the gas block in that Ruger AR, and from what I can tell its only held on by two pins, like most AR sight/gas blocks. Having random parts fall off a gun like that would not fill me with confidence.

[Darrell]

Yeah, I know. Makes me wonder about Ruger's QC.

I forgot to mention--the guy paid $629 for the Ruger. They were going for ~$589 before the most recent rush took off after San Bernardino and Obummer's pronouncements. The other guy paid $549 locally for the Del-Ton.

Where's the edit button now?

[rightisright]

http://www.ruger.com/products/ar556/models.html

That's not a standard A2 FSB. Are they held in w. set screws?

[randy]

Where's the edit button now?

Look at the top right of your post. There are a line of icons to the left of your avatar. The one furthest to the left with a picture of a pencil. If you hover your mouse over each icon it tells you what they are.

[rightisright]

Oh, I was at my local MoD a few days ago. He had the S&W Sport 2. Unlike the original Sport, It has a forward assist, deflector and dust cover.

[Darrell]

http://www.ruger.com/products/ar556/models.html

That's not a standard A2 FSB. Are they held in w. set screws?

Ruger is making their own FSBs, milled, not cast. And no, they're pinned in two places--see the two holes at the upper front and back? They do have the bayonet lug, though.

And thanks, Randy, duh!

[Lokidude]

We have two Del-ton rifles in the house. They run great, Del-ton customer service is wonderful, and they have delightful southern accents.

[Whirlibird]

Were I in the market for budget AR's, I'd be ordering the premium kits from Palmetto.
The included barrel is made by FN.

The PTAC blem kits (from Palmetto) are even less expensive, today's special of a 1-8, 16" nitride barrel M4 kit is $389, with blem lowers being $70. It's a flattop upper so some optic or buis is needed, better the price, not bad.

[AlaskaTRX]

My "budget" AR build - as in, what's a budget?!?!? The wife was none too pleased. I blame NPR...

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