greenhorn's ar guide SUMMARY, & the TROY PAR

​So let's wrap this guide up with a few critical points.

Firstly, it’s probably smarter to buy a factory rifle for your first AR purchase unless of course your profession (i.e Military, LEO etc) has already allowed extensive familiarity. A new factory weapon will better ensure you get something that works from the offset and will provide warranty in case the guns fails to function reliably, whereas with a franken-gun you’re on your own: prolonged frustration over any gun is the primary cause for anyone abandoning a given firearm or platform. There are 4 or 5 price tiers among AR manufacturers on the AFD, check out our page and browse down: http://www.americanfirearmdirectory.com/ar-rifles--parts.html. Look for high user star ratings and the dollar symbol to determine pricing.
 
Secondly, regardless what you choose you probably want to put a thousand rounds through it to break it in and determine for certain that it’s trustworthy.  I’ve made the mistake of buying a firearm and not test firing it before going to the range with friends only to discover it was factory flawed. It’s embarrassing and spoils the mood, but just imagine if the AR you’ve bought to defend home and family turns out to be a lemon in the event of need? Test it, 1000 rounds, it should run like a clock and if it doesn’t send it back. Anything short of a boutique manufacturer who’s testing every unit prior to shipping is going to turn out mistakes from time to time, I’ve had a few, even from the most reputable companies. But, if you’ve chosen a premium marque then they’ll take care of repairs and roundtrip shipping so there’s no cost to you other than time in waiting. 

Thirdly, you should probably go with gas-impingement over piston. Gas-impingement is simpler, lighter, more uniform between manufacturers and they're cheaper than piston rifles. Simply put, both systems aid in the efficient cycling of rounds and without them you’d not eject your empties reliably. The downside of gas (or direct) impingement is it dumps fouling particulate back into your chamber along with the gases, so more frequent cleaning is required. Piston systems are relatively new to the market and cleaner, but tend to be proprietary to each individual manufacturer which makes for potential complications when purchasing aftermarket enhancements and or DIYing repairs. Most AR’s on the market are gas impingement.

Finally, there’s also one manufacturer who makes a pump-action AR for states or hunting scenarios where semi-auto is disallowed: Troy. Actually it’s 50-state legal. Obviously the rifle utilizes neither a gas nor piston setup so it’s cleaner shooting all round, and yet the slide-action is light, inherently reliable and smooth to operate. Pump action weapons are typically quite fast to shoot (v's lever or bolt) because it's your supporting hand that actuates battery, plus you’re less likely to burn through as much ammunition than with a semi-auto so it's easier on the wallet. Troy rifles are nicely fit and finished, potentially more accurate due to the closed breech, lightweight at 6lbs, AND they accept any AR mags, the follower of which will keep the bolt open after the last round. They come with or without a folding stock and you can choose between 223 or 300 Blackout. Though you forfeit modular compatibility with most aftermarket AR components, the beauty of this rifle is it’s simplicity and for the fact it bridges the gap between traditionalists and black rifle proponents providing familiarity for old schoolers along with the ergonomics of modern sporting rifles.  

P.S. For a crash course on the anatomy of the AR, see this excellent article on Pew Pew Tactical: https://www.pewpewtactical.com/ar-15-buyers-guide-how-to-choose-your-first-ar-15/

Best of luck and safe shooting whatever you finally choose. AH.