Questions to ask...
Buy local or internet?
If internet, what FFL to choose? (http://fflgundealers.net/transfer/hawaii/)
AR-15 or 300BLK? (This is less of a silly question than you might think.)
Iron sights or scope?
If scope, how much to spend on a scope because anything less than $100 is a waste of time?
Picatinny hand guard or keymod? (I definitely rec a free floating hand guard.)

Other than that, welcome to the addiction. It's like black tar heroin. Once you get that sweet taste in your veins, you can never have enough (apparently).

Thnaks for the both humorous and truthful reply.

5.56/.223 only. Iron sights preferred (entry level). I don't know enough about picatinny vs keymod (or any other trade standard) to care, but I know picatinny from my Army time so... I guess picatinny then?

Depends what is your primary purpose for it.  Close quarters shooting, plinking, highpower rifle, precision rifle, hunting, self defense,   etc.

Nevermind I see target shooting.  I'd go with a 16" heavy barrel which is better for precision and also helps with accuracy standing.  Chrome lined barrels are good in that it's easier to clean and long lasting.  I think most low cost AR15's nowadays shoot great.

If you have never shot a rifle before, I suggest you go to the range to get some coaching, take a class, and find out what kinds of things you want in a rifle.

retired 20-yr grunt, AB, Rgr, so I shot a little bit here and there. I know what I WANT in a rifle but the trouble is I ain't willing to pay for it (kid starting college, and wife has a wrangler JK, so there is LOTS of competition for my dollars), I can't get the M14 or Galil or AK that I want. So I'm settling for a black gun the kind I used to shot, the kind that it looks like everyone has and is cheaper than a AK/Galil/M14/M1/M1Carbine/1903. Also I don't live/breathe guns as a hobby so even though I was a career grunt I couldn't tell a key mod from a key fob as far as personally  owning or buying my own gun that uncle sam ain't tossed at me and said here ya go.

Looking for cheap to take to Koko Head someday but not something so junk that the cops at the Single Window at Beritania are gonna laugh me out of the line over (or you guys at the crater).

A basic AR will cost about 700ish. Most gun stores have them in stock.
Remember, its the indian, not the arrow.

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Yeah, and this injun don't shoot so well. Not good enough for high optics and free floating barrel won't help me none, not that great a shot.

I would consider myself a great "practical" shot whatever that means. Most of my time in the service I did NOT qualify expert. Yet as a Drill sergeant every time a kid had trouble hitting because "something was wrong with the weapon" I managed to grab it from him, not adjust sights, and standing up knock down more than him - just to prove to him aint nuttin wrong wit da weapon. But no, i'm definitely NOT a great sub-MOA at the far end of the KD range kind of shooter nor gonna enter any competition. So accessories and minute improvements (free float vs not) etc would just be wasted on me. I'm good enuff when I have to be good enuff shooter. Not great.

Gahh so many options!

Which is why I took a break form self-educating and came to this forum!!! You know the pain I'm feeling now. Especailly if this first one has to be "right" because I probably won't be buying many, nor often. Thanks for the reply.

you wont really know exactly what you want in an AR until you shoot it for a while and get to know what you want and what works for you
you can always modify your AR later too

Unfortunately (or fortunately) looks that way ,especially with black guns today. Thanks for the reply.

I think AERO PRECISION  should have a mention here. I have found it nice quality at a economic cost. And yes the colt is also  good.

DirtyLickens is such a local username, especially for those of a certain age group. I wish I thought of that first.

Check out the Gun Show this weekend--there will be a lot of rifles and accessories available.  If you find something you like and it's in your price range then buy it.  Don't make the mistake of walking away thinking you'll be back later to buy it--odds are that someone else will spot it and buy it out from under you.

I'll have some ammo and a NIB 6920 for sale.  There'll be a lot of used rifles for sale, but unless you know what you're looking at/for, I'd recommend sticking to new guns (at least they come with a manual).

Speedtek can help you put together a rifle, if you're looking for a customized piece (and he'll be there at the show).

Good luck!

Aww, missed the show, didn't even hear about it and just read this Tuesday afterward.. This is one of THOSE states I guess, where guns are driven socially underground then, no advertisers, no news station announcements... Thanks ofr the show advice tho, do appreciate the reply.

I wonder if it's like the gun shows on the mainland...?

Aww, missed the show, didn't even hear about it and just read this Tuesday afterward.. This is one of THOSE states I guess, where guns are driven socially underground then, no advertisers, no news station announcements... Thanks ofr the show advice tho, do appreciate the reply.

I wonder if it's like the gun shows on the mainland...?

No, it's not like guns shows on the mainland


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I think the Springfield Saint is a good deal. Saw one at Danger Close for less than 900

Young Guns had an impressive display of gun show priced weaponry. They had one for $500 fresh out of the box. Others like SEC were ammo only or had >$2k rifles.

I've got a BNIB Ruger 556 that will probably fit your needs--PM me if you are interested.

CDNN has Ruger ARs for 499.00 check there newsest flyer online

cant  go wrong with a colt 6920 you now get the ones without furniture around $850. You could build it however  you want.

I've only seen a few Colts but I've never been all that impressed.  My buddy has one and the finish is terrible.

https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=93629%252FTROY+SCARSP316BT+CQB-SPL+A3+5.56+16+BK

pretty hard to beat this deal. troy makes solid products.
comes with a free float rail plus battlesights for only a few bucks more than the colt oem, which would have been my suggestion til i saw this the other day.

I've only seen a few Colts but I've never been all that impressed.  My buddy has one and the finish is terrible.

me neither, but it seems like it has one of the best resale values and overall brand recognition. the oem can be had for as little as 650 nowadays so thats why i usually recommend it for first time buyers. when they were close to 1000 i thought it was not a good deal at all.

i personally like the finish on the aero precision products out of all the cheaper ar's ive seen.

I've only seen a few Colts but I've never been all that impressed.  My buddy has one and the finish is terrible.

My first AR is a Colt 6940 with monolithic upper.  Great shooting and perfect engineering.

The "impressive" thing about Colt is, they actually own the AR-15 patent (purchased from Armalite), was the sole producer of AR-pattern rifles for the military, and is the only make many police departments will allow their officers to purchase  for carry on duty.

All other AR-15s are "AR-style" or "AR-pattern" rifles, since only a Colt can technically be called a true AR-15.

True that others may have made improvements in their models.  Those are good, too.  But if you want to be impressed, be impressed in the fact that Colt made all M16s and through 2011 all M4s used in actual combat.  The M16 started production by Colt in 1964.  Colt had the exclusive M4 contract from 1993 to 2011.

The other makers used model numbers and names other than M4, and were called by many "M4gery" (M-forgery).  Colt sued to protect their patent of the shorter barreled M4 name.  Bushmaster won a court case to use the name M4, as it's now become a generic name for AR-15 pattern rifles, even those with 16" barrels for legal US sales to the public. 

Part of owning a firearm for many is the history of its design and the military's adoption and use of it.

My first AR is a Colt 6940 with monolithic upper.  Great shooting and perfect engineering.

The "impressive" thing about Colt is, they actually own the AR-15 patent (purchased from Armalite), was the sole producer of AR-pattern rifles for the military, and is the only make many police departments will allow their officers to purchase  for carry on duty.

All other AR-15s are "AR-style" or "AR-pattern" rifles, since only a Colt can technically be called a true AR-15.

True that others may have made improvements in their models.  Those are good, too.  But if you want to be impressed, be impressed in the fact that Colt made all M16s and through 2011 all M4s used in actual combat.  The M16 started production by Colt in 1964.  Colt had the exclusive M4 contract from 1993 to 2011.

The other makers used model numbers and names other than M4, and were called by many "M4gery" (M-forgery).  Colt sued to protect their patent of the shorter barreled M4 name.  Bushmaster won a court case to use the name M4, as it's now become a generic name for AR-15 pattern rifles, even those with 16" barrels for legal US sales to the public. 

Part of owning a firearm for many is the history of its design and the military's adoption and use of it.

Alright, thanks for allowing me my own opinion seems I hurt your feeling.

Alright, thanks for allowing me my own opinion seems I hurt your feeling.

Simply posting my own opinion.  You're welcome to yours.

If I hurt your feelings by supporting mine with an explanation, tough!   

Simply posting my own opinion.  You're welcome to yours.

If I hurt your feelings by supporting mine with an explanation, tough!   

Thanks

Milspec AR's are commodities now and more or less the same, including Colt.  Colt's are made well, however you're paying for the brand.

One of the reasons LE use Colt's is their armorer has to be certified on that brand and model of the gun.  The armorer's not going to get 20 different certifications for different brands and models of AR15s.