First AR - advice

[Fr3EK]

personally I would stick to the regular right hand upper along the lines of maybe daniel defense or BCM

[richdkim77]

I'm a lefty rifle shooter, and I've never had any issues shooting a "normal" upper. I don't think I've ever felt there was anymore gas or brass blowing back in my face. Maybe you should shoot more with the righty uppers to get a better feel of them. I've never owned a lefty upper because of the availabity of parts and a price premium.

I do wish there were more complete ambi lowers such as KAC on the market, but I do realize that those kinds of ambi controls command a premium.

There are a few benefits on being a left shooter though. You don't have to spend any money on BAD levers.

[SeaDutyMarine]

If you are looking at not putting too much $$ into it, DSArms has a M4 upper assy with 16in barrel and M4 feed ramps for $275. (No bolt carrier assy or charging handle). Also, CDNN has a few parts including a piston upgrade kit for $189. I am also new to the "black rifle" community and maybe the other gents on this forum can lead you in the right direction. I'm just a rookie AR owner.

DSA Upper:
http://www.dsarms.com/DSA-ZM4-Forged...info/DSZM4CBU/

CDNN Piston Kit:
http://www.cdnninvestments.com/ar16calerega.html

[Whootsinator]

If you are looking at not putting too much $$ into it, DSArms has a M4 upper assy with 16in barrel and M4 feed ramps for $275. (No bolt carrier assy or charging handle). Also, CDNN has a few parts including a piston upgrade kit for $189. I am also new to the "black rifle" community and maybe the other gents on this forum can lead you in the right direction. I'm just a rookie AR owner.

DSA Upper:
http://www.dsarms.com/DSA-ZM4-Forged...info/DSZM4CBU/

CDNN Piston Kit:
http://www.cdnninvestments.com/ar16calerega.html

I mean no offense, but you are definitely a rookie... When you admit this, I generally would spend more time reading before offering advice on a forum that specializes on AR-15 pattern rifles. You won't find many here that would support your recommendations.

Check out some of the stickies to get some of info you're missing.

[Iraqgunz]

I won't get into the left handed/ right handed thing, because I am right handed and what works for me, may not work for you.

However, this subject has been Attachment 6895 about one hundred times.

Don't buy cheap garbage. There is no reason for it, especially in todays market.

[500grains]

I'm a lefty and i've shot right-handed ar's before and never had a problem with them. However i'm not very keen on getting gas/powder/brass thrown past my face. Also, it seems to me that it'd be a little bit easier to clear weapon malfunctions with a left handed ar using the same techniques that right handed users can use but reversed, am i wrong here?

A lot of people will encourage you to learn to shoot a right handed rifle, and their view has merit. Your concerns have merit as well. So, assuming that you will be seeking a lefty:

Noveske will build/sell you a combat-quality LEFT HANDED AR-15 with either a cold hammer forged chrome lined barrel or a polygonal-rifled precision stainless barrel.

Personally I have NOT owned a Stag, but there are too many stories out there about them not running properly for me to have confidence in them. There is also The Chart. Noveskes are expensive for a reason: They are really good.

Here is an example left handed Noveske:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=207047023



Noveske: www.noveskerifleworks.com

[marco.g]

You dont need a lefty upper to do right handed things on an AR15. Gas doesnt go in your face and brass doesnt hit you. All the controls are on the lower, so an ambi selector and mag catch would solve those issues. The bolt catch is advantageous in its stock form for leftys. I run my ar completely in stock form as far as controls go. the only thing i really am considering is a ambi mag release.

[bornhunter04]

Thanks for all of the input guys, i just pulled the trigger on the smartgunner.com deal, so i'll be anxious to get my rifle put together, now to buy a ambi, safety and ambi mag release! Maybe, i'll look into a noveske at a future date, but for now i think i made the right choice. Now the question i have to find the answer too is an optic, i'm dead set on a 1-4 optic, my AO is a rural environment and i want to use the gun for shooting coyotes too so i figure this will fill all of the needed roles. I'm looking for a good quality optic in the 5-600 range, any advice? I like the look of the vortx viper pst except for the turrets not being capped, this is not a long range weapon, so i dont feel the need to dial in my shots, i can use kentucky windage for the ranges i'll be using this gun for, i have a bolt action 308 with a mark 4 for long shots! but anyway i digress, are there any truth's to the 2011 model viper pst having capped turrets?