PDA

View Full Version : New to AR's in NJ. Need some advice



jec1521
03-20-18, 11:31
Hi all,

New to AR's. I live in NJ, and have been afraid of what our new governor is going to do with an AWB. So I picked up locally a Spikes lower before I found this site. All other sites are pro spikes but this site doesnt seem to be because of business practices, etc. I appreciate this site the most because it really seems like you guys know what you are talking about, which is why I wanted to get some advice.

So, I am looking for an AR for the range. I am trying to stay below $1000 total. Do I...

1. Get BCM upper for my Spikes lower (I would like matching upper and lower for OCD purposes but doesnt have to be)

2. Get BCM lower and upper and sell Spikes

3. Get Spikes upper for Spikes Lower

4. Buy Colt LE6920 (Local shop recently had one for sale used for $850)

5. Buy M&P 15 Sport. Have them local for $630.

I am sure the M&P would be fine for the range, but I also subscribe to the notion of "buy once cry once"

Some tidbits about being in NJ. FFL transfers are expensive, hence why I went with what I can get local for lower receiver (I can get Anderson, CMMG, and PSA lowers local also) FFL transfers are around $50 + a $15 NJ NICS Fee. So $65 or so. BS, I know.

Also, our barrel length must be 16" (or 14.5" with comp, which is what I am leaning towards) You must have a comp in NJ as well. No flash hiders. Also need a fixed stock and no bayonet lug.

Any advice would be much appreciated since I am still new to ARs.

Alex V
03-20-18, 11:47
Hi all,

New to AR's. I live in NJ, and have been afraid of what our new governor is going to do with an AWB. So I picked up locally a Spikes lower before I found this site. All other sites are pro spikes but this site doesnt seem to be because of business practices, etc. I appreciate this site the most because it really seems like you guys know what you are talking about, which is why I wanted to get some advice.

So, I am looking for an AR for the range. I am trying to stay below $1000 total. Do I...

1. Get BCM upper for my Spikes lower (I would like matching upper and lower for OCD purposes but doesnt have to be)

2. Get BCM lower and upper and sell Spikes

3. Get Spikes upper for Spikes Lower

3. Buy Colt LE6920 (Local shop recently had one for sale used for $850)

4. Buy M&P 15 Sport. Have them local for $630.

I am sure the M&P would be fine for the range, but I also subscribe to the notion of "buy once cry once"

Some tidbits about being in NJ. FFL transfers are expensive, hence why I went with what I can get local for lower receiver (I can get Anderson, CMMG, and PSA lowers local also) FFL transfers are around $50 + a $15 NJ NICS Fee. So $65 or so. BS, I know.

Also, our barrel length must be 16" (or 14.5" with comp, which is what I am leaning towards) You must have a comp in NJ as well. No flash hiders. Also need a fixed stock and no bayonet lug.

Any advice would be much appreciated since I am still new to ARs.

Welcome to the board fellow prisoner.

You should look around for other FFLs. The one I use charges $25+$15 for NICS.

The spikes lower is fine, build onto it with a good lower parts kit like a BCM or Sionics.

I would get a BCM upper for your lower. You can get a 14.5" upper from BCM with a KeyMod/MLok/Quad rail and they will pin/weld a BCM Comp onto it prior to shipping. The comp is good to go in NJ and the overall length will be 16+". Add a BCG and their new CH and you are all set. You can also choose the Surefire brake of Battlecomp 1.5, both are acceptable in NJ as well.

If you choose a 14.5 upper with a front sight post it will have a bayonet lug. You can have an FFL cut it off. Mine charged me $20. Or, you can cut it off yourself (gray area since you have a lower in the house)

An LE6920 would be my second choice.

MisterHelix
03-20-18, 11:51
Option #1. Probably the most straightforward.

Or Option #3b. Buy a colt 6920. Nothing wrong with that.

Or do both.


Maybe Option #2, if your OCD can't handle the mismatch, or if you think there's something specifically wrong with your Spikes lower. Sure, BCM's lowers are probably more likely to be in spec, and have better QC, and have a nicer rollmark. But if your spikes is in fact in spec, trading it out is likely a waste of ffl fees, etc.

Options 3a and 5 don't sound like very good options to me.

Also, 1,2,3,4,5. That's how it goes in counting.

jec1521
03-20-18, 11:53
Option #1. Probably the most straightforward.

Or Option #3b. Buy a colt 6920. Nothing wrong with that.

Or do both.


Maybe Option #2, if your OCD can't handle the mismatch, or if you think there's something specifically wrong with your Spikes lower.

Options 3a and 5 don't sound like very good options to me.

Also, 1,2,3,4,5. That's how it goes in counting.

Oops, sorry. Fixed the number issue.

Nothing wrong with the spikes lower that I can see. They are high quality lowers as far as my research has gone. Just would like to do it the right way the first time.

longshot2000
03-20-18, 11:56
Welcome to the board fellow prisoner.

I would get a BCM upper for your lower. You can get a 14.5" upper from BCM with a KeyMod/MLok/Quad rail and they will pin/weld a BCM Comp onto it prior to shipping. The comp is good to go in NJ and the overall length will be 16+". Add a BCG and their new CH and you are all set. You can also choose the Surefire brake of Battlecomp 1.5, both are acceptable in NJ as well.

If you choose a 14.5 upper with a front sight post it will have a bayonet lug. You can have an FFL cut it off. Mine charged me $20. Or, you can cut it off yourself (gray area since you have a lower in the house)

An LE6920 would be my second choice.

The LE6920 would be my first choice. Colt is great quality, and their prices are really low right now. You will never go wrong with a 6920, and you can improve where you want over time. BCM is also a great choice, but aside from their BCG, it is just not Colt quality. Also, there is a great resale market for Colt, if you want to swap out "stuff." For example, a better trigger, like LaRue or Geissele is often a good first improvement, or a quad rail or M-LOK from Knights Armament or Geissele. Well, you can sell your Colt trigger (fire control assembly) and your Colt handguards, and get reasonable dinner money. Nobody wants your BCM trigger, for example.

Good luck, and welcome.

jec1521
03-20-18, 13:09
Welcome to the board fellow prisoner.

You should look around for other FFLs. The one I use charges $25+$15 for NICS.

The spikes lower is fine, build onto it with a good lower parts kit like a BCM or Sionics.

I would get a BCM upper for your lower. You can get a 14.5" upper from BCM with a KeyMod/MLok/Quad rail and they will pin/weld a BCM Comp onto it prior to shipping. The comp is good to go in NJ and the overall length will be 16+". Add a BCG and their new CH and you are all set. You can also choose the Surefire brake of Battlecomp 1.5, both are acceptable in NJ as well.

If you choose a 14.5 upper with a front sight post it will have a bayonet lug. You can have an FFL cut it off. Mine charged me $20. Or, you can cut it off yourself (gray area since you have a lower in the house)

An LE6920 would be my second choice.

Sucks doesn't it? Not sure where in NJ you are, but I have called everywhere in Bergen County, and $50 + $15 NICS is pretty much everywhere. I called OceanArmory and they have a good FFL fee ($30 with NICS IIRC), but are almost 2 hours away, so it wouldnt be worth the gas for the savings.

Alex V
03-20-18, 14:43
Sucks doesn't it? Not sure where in NJ you are, but I have called everywhere in Bergen County, and $50 + $15 NICS is pretty much everywhere. I called OceanArmory and they have a good FFL fee ($30 with NICS IIRC), but are almost 2 hours away, so it wouldnt be worth the gas for the savings.

I'm in Middlesex Co. I use Monmouth Arms. There are guys that charge $100 + $15 NICS too lol

michaelc
03-20-18, 16:42
I would say you should either get the BCM upper or go with the Colt LE6920 (http://reddotshooters.com/the-rock-solid-colt-le6920-the-best-ar-15-under-1000-dollars/)...

The BCM uppers are fantastic and you can easily get them with a 14.5-inch barrel with a comp attached. And the 6920 has become sort of a classic because it's the closest thing you can get to an actual M 4. Both are well built, strong, and reliable in my experience.

Good Luck!

misfit47
03-20-18, 19:23
Build the lower out. Use good parts, it'll be just fine. You have already have it and your ffls are criminals for the fees they charge.

Kain
03-20-18, 19:45
Build the lower out. Use good parts, it'll be just fine.

This. Spikes isn't like DPMS or PSA in their quality. They have just had some bad moves in the past. And the dueling dicks don't help. But other than that the quality should be fine.
Since you are in NJ, I would say slap either an A1 stock on their, or the Magpul Fixed Carbine stock is a really nice option, and feels good too, and is pretty cheap. And, unless things get stupid, if you leave NJ you can then go to a collapsible stock with ease.

On the upper front BCM is always a good option in my opinion.

hile
03-21-18, 10:03
Question from the peanut gallery: Is a WarComp kosher in the Socialist Prison East of me? Technically, it's a comp.

Alex V
03-21-18, 12:36
Question from the peanut gallery: Is a WarComp kosher in the Socialist Prison East of me? Technically, it's a comp.

Negative. It is advertised as a flash hider. Similar to the AAC three prong hider.

hile
03-21-18, 12:43
Negative. It is advertised as a flash hider. Similar to the AAC three prong hider.

Well that blows, not that it affects me. I wish there were a rule that to legislate about XXX, you need to be an SME about XXX. Douche canoes writing laws cause your problems.

Kain
03-21-18, 12:45
Negative. It is advertised as a flash hider. Similar to the AAC three prong hider.

What MDs are kosher in the Soviet Republic of Jersey these days anyway? I think the PWS FS556 was a thing at one point, but it has been ages since I have helped anyone out there and the last one I was talking to who was building one was going with a barrel which was plain, no threads.

Alex V
03-21-18, 12:49
What MDs are kosher in the Soviet Republic of Jersey these days anyway? I think the PWS FS556 was a thing at one point, but it has been ages since I have helped anyone out there and the last one I was talking to who was building one was going with a barrel which was plain, no threads.

The FS556 is good to go. The Surefire brakes are g2g, Battlecomp and similar. There is no legal specification or litmus test that can be pointed to. The law is intentionally vague in order to get people in trouble. Most of the time we try and avoid anything open on the front or sides like the A2 birdcage.

Kain
03-21-18, 12:55
The FS556 is good to go. The Surefire brakes are g2g, Battlecomp and similar. There is no legal specification or litmus test that can be pointed to. The law is intentionally vague in order to get people in trouble. Most of the time we try and avoid anything open on the front or sides like the A2 birdcage.

Well between FS556 and a SF brake, having spent time besides both. Spend the coin, if it is even more anymore, and get the surefire. Your friend's and their fillings will thank you.

jec1521
03-22-18, 10:07
OK guys, I have decided to start with another lower. Just ordered an Aero stripped lower for $70 shipped. Found another FFL around me that does $40 transfers. So $110 total. I could also get a PSA lower local but that would be $110 total as well and it seems Aero lowers get better reviews.

So I'll put a BCM upper on the Aero lower, until BCM has blem complete lowers available again, then I will hold the Aero lower for a future build.

rauchman
03-27-18, 22:09
Sucks doesn't it? Not sure where in NJ you are, but I have called everywhere in Bergen County, and $50 + $15 NICS is pretty much everywhere. I called OceanArmory and they have a good FFL fee ($30 with NICS IIRC), but are almost 2 hours away, so it wouldnt be worth the gas for the savings.

Fellow prisoner here. I'm in Bergen County as well. Try Police Products in Midland Park. I used them for an incoming transfer for a handgun not too long ago and IIRC, he was $40 inclusive of NICS, although I'm far from positive in my recollection of cost.

For the OP, the biggest pain in the ass to modifications is the pinned muzzle device. One of my AR's is a S&W M&P with no muzzle anything. It allows for relatively easy swaps of hand guards and what not, especially those that require a barrel nut change. Having said that, the muzzle throws a fireball. Also, not being allowed to have a collapsible stock, I've gone either fixed A1 length (VLTOR Rifle, Cavalry Arms A1) or MagPul fixed Carbine. Why have a faux collapsible vs. a stock made from the outset as a fixed design? I haven't done it since I like the stock options listed, however I understand some shops will pin your preferred collapsible stock to your desired length.

For mags, Mapgul makes 15rnd mags in 3 sizes that I've seen (30rnd full-size body, 30rnd chopped body and straight 20rnd body). While inefficient in size, the full size 30rnd body makes for easier extraction from a mag pouch.

Alex V
03-28-18, 09:44
For mags, Mapgul makes 15rnd mags in 3 sizes that I've seen (30rnd full-size body, 30rnd chopped body and straight 20rnd body). While inefficient in size, the full size 30rnd body makes for easier extraction from a mag pouch.

Magpul doesn't make 15rd AR mags. Third parties modify the mags to hold 15 rounds. We will soon be limited to 10 rounds.

jec1521
03-28-18, 13:59
Fellow prisoner here. I'm in Bergen County as well. Try Police Products in Midland Park. I used them for an incoming transfer for a handgun not too long ago and IIRC, he was $40 inclusive of NICS, although I'm far from positive in my recollection of cost.

For the OP, the biggest pain in the ass to modifications is the pinned muzzle device. One of my AR's is a S&W M&P with no muzzle anything. It allows for relatively easy swaps of hand guards and what not, especially those that require a barrel nut change. Having said that, the muzzle throws a fireball. Also, not being allowed to have a collapsible stock, I've gone either fixed A1 length (VLTOR Rifle, Cavalry Arms A1) or MagPul fixed Carbine. Why have a faux collapsible vs. a stock made from the outset as a fixed design? I haven't done it since I like the stock options listed, however I understand some shops will pin your preferred collapsible stock to your desired length.

For mags, Mapgul makes 15rnd mags in 3 sizes that I've seen (30rnd full-size body, 30rnd chopped body and straight 20rnd body). While inefficient in size, the full size 30rnd body makes for easier extraction from a mag pouch.

Where are you at in Bergen County? Doesnt seem to be too many firearms users in this area. Just getting my FID card laminated at a Staples I got some dirty looks...

I found Wortendyke in Midland Park who used to do it for $40 but they are out of business. Sent my Aero lower to Police Products but it is in Wyckoff. Not sure which one you were referring to. He must have changed recently because he said $50 with NICS included.

hile
03-28-18, 17:02
What is the rationale behind banning flash hiders? I know I used a word whose root is 'reason' in the same sentence as NJ politicians, but still.

Kain
03-28-18, 18:06
What is the rationale behind banning flash hiders? I know I used a word whose root is 'reason' in the same sentence as NJ politicians, but still.

Because, OMG THEY BE SCARY AND THE CHILDREN AND THEY SCARE THE CHILDREN AND MAKE THE GUN 1000BILLION TIMES DEADLIER!!!!!!!! :suicide:


And politicans making laws about shit they know absolutely nothing about.

Eazyeach
03-28-18, 19:06
You should’ve just built the Spikes lower. The Aero might be a smidge better , but I’d rather have $100 worth of ammo than a slight upgrade on a lower. If you didn’t already have the spikes It would be different. That being said I think Spikes is kinda dumb looking. But I hate spiders.

Oops , I just noticed you are going to eventually build both lowers. Please excuse my idiotic post.