and a new AR is born

A new AR is Born
or
How I spent my stimulus check

Ok so I recently became aware that Charles Daly Defense (a division of Charles Daly) has gotten into the AR market. At first I was like 'Charles Daly?' Yeah the same Charles Daly. But I read the reports, looked at the specs, and for the price point (right at $1000.00 out the door) I was like HOT DOG!!!

I chose the LE version for the features it has. Out of the box the weapon is encased in the standard plastic case and comes with one 30 round magazine and the mandatory instruction manuals and warning sheets. The barrel is chrome lined made out of MILSPEC 4150 steel, 1:7 twist, with the standard M-203 mounting depression on the barrel found on most M4s today. For the chamber, its a 5.56mm chamber (not .223 wyle) and it comes with M4 feed ramps, the front sight base is the correct one for a flat top receiver (I.e. "F" marked forged), an A2 flash suppressor, a MILSPEC diameter receiver extension with "H" buffer, T-Marked Flattop upper, standard 6-position butt stock, and double shield hand guards. A nice touch is the front swing swivel is rubber coated. Kudos to CDD on the properly staked gas key on the bolt carrier and castle nut. The staked gas key will go a long way to solving short stroking problems found on many rifles. Finally on the extractor you will find the beefed up extractor spring, black insert, and crane O-ring. This ensures that the rounds will be ejected properly. Lack of these parts can result in extractor problems over the life of the rifle. Its attention to detail on little things like these two items that give me reason to have faith in CDDs commitment to quality. Why some manufacturers bypass this simple and inexpensive 5 minute job that increases and ensures the reliability of an AR is beyond me.

The bolt carrier is a standard AR type, not an M16 carrier but looks well made with no obvious defects and operates smoothly. From what I know the bolts and barrels are batch high pressure tested and magnetic particle inspected. It is true that companies like Colt, LMT, and Noveske will inspect each and every item, but many others don't even do this. For me what CDD is doing is well enough and I cant see this being a problem so long as their manufacturing equipment is kept within their spec'd tolerances. In fact if it weren't for this and the AR bolt carrier I believe that this weapon would be as close to the MILSPEC TDP (technical data package) as a Colt or LMT.

The hand guards fit together with no glaringly obvious seams and the delta ring, though never the easiest item on the AR to manipulate, is remarkably tight, yet I don't need any assistance to retract it. Still, I think I'll continue to use the tool I got from Brownells just for that purpose. The rails on the upper are all smoothly cut with no obvious roll marks or any other marring. Please be aware that no BUIS or carrying handle comes with the LE model.

Visually, Fit and finish is well done with one minor nit to pick. The back side of the safety lever has a painted red indicator so that you can get an idea of the status of the safety with out having to flip the rifle over. The red bled a little bit, but thats about the biggest complaint I can find with this weapon from just looking at it.

As I said before, all of this for about $1000.00 out the door (thats FFL transfer fee, shipping, tax, background check, etc..). For this price point I honestly cant see how you can pass this rifle up if you are in the market for one.

The only problem I see is that I have to head out Friday evening for a camping trip and then on to Atlanta for two weeks of business. It looks like I wont be able to shoot this weapon until some time next week if I can find a range up there. Hopefully I can find a 200+ meter range if I'm really lucky. If I can I will be shooting some Prvi Partisan 62gr.

Oh and here are some pics I took. Please forgive my amaturish camera skills as well as my writing ability. Enjoy.

Updated the second paragraph

Thanks Guys. My post immediate purchase need is the side sling mount that fits under the front sight post. At the same time I'm going to get a sling. That fancy pants 3 point that I have on my Colt is good, but I want something a tad simpler. I could go with a Vickers 2 point or I may just go with a USGI sling held on with 550 cord. It wouldn't be the most elegant solution out there, but on the other hand its a working solution.

Then there are the rails. For the price Id go with the Troy DI hand guards. But if I had my druthers Id go with the Daniel Defense 7.0. The DD is a free float, the Troy isnt. Then again this aint a tack driver. So the DD would wind up being bling to me. Of course if you got rails you gotta hang stuff off of em, but I believe in the KISS principle. All I want is a light and mount and then a fore grip. I used to think the fore grips were were stupid, but I tried out a set up with them and I'm sold now. Take your pick as to model type. I dont need it to do anything fancy. For the light, I could wind up just getting a set of weaver mounts and putting an LED mag light in there and add a pressure switch. I'm more interested in seeing what Im shooting than blinding someone.

As for right now, no BUIS. I've got an el cheapo UTG right now that I will use until I can make up my mind. As for what I will finally settle on, take your pick...maybe a flip up GG&G, Troy, Midwest Industries, Yankee Hill, A.R.M.S., etc.. They are all about the same price point and they are a BUIS. So you relly cant go wrong. The only other thing I am considering is the BUIS from LMT. Its big and obnoxious, but it does have the elevation controls on it.

Then its on to an optic. Id love to get an ACOG, but damnit the cheapest model costs almost as much as the rifle. So I'll probably go with the Aimpoint M4S in a La Rue mount.

Oh and I gotta trade in my USGI mags for Pmags.

Thats all I want to round this out. Now for bells and whistles, maybe a VLTOR mod stock or a Magpul CTR and a green laser and possibly a magnifier for the Aimpoint.

Mind you I have fathers day coming up as well as a Birthday, Christmas, etc.. So I'm going to probably get a lot of the above as a present.

Well I knocked out some basic issues today. Short of the long I got a vicerks 2 point sling for about 50% off, nearly ditto for an A.R.M.S. 40 BUIS, and bought the US GI side front sling swivel adapter for $20 less than what Brownells was looking for. The Sling was a mis-price. As for the BUIS, I called a shop on the other side of the bay yesterday and spoke to him at length. The end of the call was that he would have a MI for me for about $90 and I would pick it up this afternoon. So I get there, there is the sight, I speak to the guy and tell him who I am, and he starts to get everything together. Then this other customer walks in because he has decided to buy a rifle he was looking at earlier. The owner asks me if I am done and I say "Nah, go ahead and take care of this guy, I'm going to look a little more and see what sort of trouble I can get into." Well the guy also buys the MI BUIS when Im not looking. By the time I discovered what was going on and before I can say anything thing the guy rings up the sale. I this point Im like So I tell the guy (nicely) that this is bullshit. The store owner is apologetic and the new owner of MY sight isnt saying a thing (cant blame him). So I hash is out with the owner and he gives me the A.R.M.S. for $90. Yes I'm feeling good right now. So the only major things I want now are a rail system (either Troy DI or Daniel Defense 7.0 free float), a vertical grip (maybe Tango Down) and a light. But I got fathers day, a birthday, and Christmas in the next 7 months, so I'll hold off on those now.

SOLD!!! (well I gotta wait a bit)