AR-15 help please

[NorthLiberty]

I have only owned a pistol, never a rifle and now I am browsing for an AR. I have spoken with several folks about proper ammo and some say use .223 or 5.56 as they are the exact same. Do all AR-15 rifles accept either one unconditionally?

 

[quiggly]

Not necessarily.

5.56 can have higher pressures which you should not shoot in an upper that is marked .223.

A 5.56 can shoot .223 but the .223 should not shoot 5.56.

 

[NorthLiberty]

Thanks, also I have only bought from a dealer with all the paper work and stuff, but most sales in marketplace say ftf only. What exactly does that mean? FFl is different, correct?

 

[indykid]

FTF in this case is Face To Face, as a personal sale not thru a dealer.

When you get an AR in any style make sure it is set up for the 5.56x45. That way you don't have to worry about which ammo you use, .223 can be shot in a barrel set for 5.56x45 but it can get dangerous to shoot 5.56 in a .223 barrel.

 

[NorthLiberty]

I really am new to firearms in general and will continue asking questions. Will someone please explain exactly what a 30.06 cartridge is as far as the numbers relating to actual measurements?

 

[townmarshal]

Google "3006history", w/o parentheses, and a good explanation will come up at
"olive-drab.com".

 

[JcJ]

The .30-06 Springfield cartridge (pronounced “thirty-aught-six” or "thirty-oh-six") or 7.62 x 63 mm in metric notation, was introduced to the United States Army in 1906 (hence “06”) and standardized, used until the 1960s and early 1970s.

.30-06 Springfield - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I had to look myself.. I never new..

 

[techres]

I have only owned a pistol, never a rifle and now I am browsing for an AR. I have spoken with several folks about proper ammo and some say use .223 or 5.56 as they are the exact same. Do all AR-15 rifles accept either one unconditionally?

Welcome to the world of black rifles! Like others say, get an AR is 5.56 as it makes your life easier. There are AR's now of all calibers but for your first, I would go with the norm.

 

[NorthLiberty]

If I purchase one called a flat top, is it still possible to mount a carry handle on it without having to buy a new upper? Also I like the old look of the Vietnam handguard that was a little more triangular than today's round and picatinny style. Is there a website that might sell something like that, or would I have to look at an entirely new upper reciever?

 

[techres]

If I purchase one called a flat top, is it still possible to mount a carry handle on it without having to buy a new upper? Also I like the old look of the Vietnam handguard that was a little more triangular than today's round and picatinny style. Is there a website that might sell something like that, or would I have to look at an entirely new upper reciever?

Uppers come in A1 (Vietnam style as it were), A2 (taller handle with better sights - up and down, left and right), and flattops. You can get a latch on A2 to go on the flattop which is very common and probably the most versatile setup for you to start with. You can also just buy a rear sight with no handle which is also nice and those can be A1 simple or A2 robust.

 

[NorthLiberty]

Great, I thank you all for your help.

 

[techres]

Great, I thank you all for your help.

NO problem, as I had my turn to ask all these questions and got answers. Now I get to give back. Actually, there were questions I wish I had asked because if I had done so I could have made fewer mistakes and saved big time money.

So ask away!