Just Bought an AR15

Congrats. A couple of things. Order a MOACKS tool and stake the gas key screws pronto. Doing that will avoid a lot of problems. Then I would at a mimimum buy a spare bolt carrier group. I'd suggest either the LMT or Bravo Company brands (forget colt, too expensive and the same damned ones anyways). Oh and Im not saying this to bash Bushmaster. No matter what rifle (even a colt) always make sure the staking is done properly and that you have a spare bolt carrier group. Oh and Id order some spare firing pin retaining pins and extractor pins. The damned things can disappear on you.

Take it back to your dealer for inspection and possible repair. The magazines should seat with out any fudging or caressing. If they arent there is a problem some where. Yes dont slam em in but you shouldn't have to finesse them in either. Dont count on it wearing in. An AR right out of the box should be worn in all the way.


As for a primer about your AR, read this post. Follow the link in there for a treasure trove of all data. You'll never have to come back here for AR questions.

Quick question, this is the model with the 16" Barrel correct? Would you do me a favor and look at the left hand side of your front sight base and tell me if there are any markings imprinted into it? Should be just one letter. Let me know.

Now some accessories I would suggest:
MAGAZINES: MAGPUL PGMAS. Best magazines on the planet for the AR hands down
RAILS: Troy Industries MFR or Daniel Defense Omega 7.0 rails.
VERTICAL GRIP: Tango Down.
M-4 USGI BARREL MOUNT SWIVEL: Examples can be seen here and here
SLING: Vickers Two point (either padded or not, your preference) from Blue Force Gear to go along with your new swivel mount.

That's just for starters. Then you have optics (Eotech, Aimpoint M2 or M4, Aimpoint or Eotech magnifier, or an ACOG by Trijicon). Or you can get a light to mount, trade out the grip for a Houge or MAGPUL MAID, or swap out the buttstock (MAGPUL or VLTOR). The things you can do to the rifle are simply amazing.

Now another word of caution, inspect the barrel (dont pay attention to the stamping on the lower receiver) to determine if your rifle is marked for .223 or 5.56 NATO. If its the latter, you can run just about anything through it. If its the former, never run 5.56 through it. The chamber dimensions on a .223 rifle cant take the NATO 5.56 pressures and size. If your barrel has a 1:8 or 1:9 twist, you can go up to a 69gr round. Sure you could load something higher, like a Hornady TAP 75gr , but accuracy will go out the window if you get a heavier round. Oh and save your self some problems and stay the hell away from Wolf ammo. No personal experience but I have heard of enough horror stories about that ammo to never want to touch it.

Well 1st of all, unless you are 100% certain that this is not a case of operator error, see if you can get a hold of Shoes or someone else with a bit more AR experience to evaluate your AR and get their opinion. Once you know for sure that you have a problem you could call BM customer service. I wish you the best of luck with that. Failing that, google for a gun smith in your neck of the woods.

Talk to me when you are ready for your next AR (you cant have just one afterall). For about $200 more you could have a Charles Daly, an ADS (upgraded through a specific dealer, get a hold of me when you are ready), a S&W, or if you want to build one (its easy as all get out) an LMT.

Oh and next time, just save your money over time and then when you are ready buy your firearm though gunbroker.com, gunsamerica.com, or gungenie.com to get a pretty good deal. Or failing that, find the gun message board(s) in your state and look through their buy/sell/trade forums.

Oh, did you look at your front sight base yet?

Ya know the triangle looking thingy that at its base wraps around the barrel and gas tube and at the top of the thingy the front sight post is located. Look on the sides of it and tell me if you see any markings. Should be just one letter forged into the metal.

In fact you should see the marking in the area that I circled. The second pic shows the entire assembly

Just to confirm you do not see a letter in that area at all, correct? You looked on both sides of the front sight base?

Ok, let me know if you have problems zeroing in that rifle. I'll be interested to hear what you have to say. The reason I was asking is because there are two different front sight bases. There is the standard FSB that is / was used with the M16, M16A1, and M16A2 (and the AR equivalents). Once they came out with the flat tops (M16A3, M4 and AR equivalents) a different, lower profile, FSB was needed. That FSB should have an F forged into it. So I'll be very interested to hear your reports on zeroing in your rifle and how that goes.

Even a plane jane rifle should have the caliber marked on the barrel. However if it doesnt you have one of three things you can do. You can assume that it is chambered for 5.56 (and I think this is safe since it should be). Or you can ensure that you only shoot .223 through it, or you can take it to a gunsmith who can also check out the bore and confirm.