I'm not the most avid ar shooter so while i know most all the basics that can be read, I don't have too much experience own one and more importantly putting it through its paces. I squandered my fantasy football winnings on a DDM4 upper for an existing lower based on the belief that if I get a factory built complete upper that is from one of the fancier manufacturer, then I should have a rifle that I can "abuse."

Here comes the point I promise...

By "abuse" I mean i want to be able to shoot all sorts of cheap ammo, up to several hundred rounds in a weekend, as long as I maintain the weapon between outings regularly. Questions:

1. Assume I am only looking into brass so anything else like re-manufactured or whatever is considered fair game. Is there something I should watch out for watch out? I've learned now not all re-man ammo is made the same and I'm looking for long distance accuracy here.
2. Is there is good resource that shows one how to fully maintain a well running AR? I'm imagining something like an instruction video or how to guide for maintaining an AR for someone like an avid 3 gun competitor. Found too many yahoo on youtube and don't feel like watching a bunch to find a decent one.

thanks in advance,
-kr

Keep the gun well oiled and blast away. ARs don't function well when they become dry

I'd agree, blast away!

I would add though, the 22lr conversion kits are a different story
and will require extra cleaning. Cheapest way to shoot though.

Oil it till oil is running out of the stock and receiver. And don't shoot Freedom Munitions.

Too much oil is bad. First, extra lubrication increases resistance. Second, too much lube collects carbon and unburned powder and gums up the action. Here is a kinda long, but pretty good video that proves you should oil the gun and then wipe away the excess.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5LeeIfvLm0
This is the way the Texas DPS lube their guns and they go through a lot of ammo on a range day.
There's also only 4 points that need to be oiled on the outside of the BCG. Any extra is not needed.
Cheap brass ammo is fine. If you are going to a range, avoid the FMJ. Most won't let you shoot it in case it's steel core.

I'd go to M4carbine and look up maintencence (don't post, they will be jerks about that).


"cheap" ammo is usually less powered than say M855. Some rifles are gassed only to run higher pressure rounds. Now usually a lighter buffer can fix this (which your un-named lower probably has anyway. )

Nothing "bad" with running steel, but the jacket usually has a cheap steel which is harder on barrels, and need to be replaced soober (think like 7-10K rounds rather than 10 to 15k). (I would not recommend paying out the rear for really accurate barrels and then shoot steel.) Your average DD barrels are not marksman barrels, but good sturdy barrels.

PRices are starting to come down on ammo now anyways. Close to 30 cets for brass.

If your really want accuracy, you have to shoot accurate ammo through yyour rifle. Not mil-spec surplus. Military is only required to shoot 5MOA (usually much better thab that but not the mst accurate rounds)

What issues did u have with freedom munitions?

And no then will not be for "long range" shooting, even by ar standards. I don't know what the style is card, but we're mount one of those 1-4x24 scopes so realistically nothing over 200yars.

Yea, what issues with Freedom Munitions? I've shot thousands of rounds of their reman stuff with one isolated issue...blown primer. (As luck would have it, it was in the middle of a stage and the primer stuck in the locking lugs.)

I've had good luck with their stuff in .223, 9mm and .300blk. Another thing I love about them is that they are a big supporter of the competition community.

.

Nothing wrong with freedom munitions. They sponsored the Aggie 3-gun team and they shot thousands of rounds of their 9mm and 5.56 and it was fine.

Like the others have said, just oil it properly and shoot the heck out of it. I have a DDM4v1 and its had several thousand rounds through it. I clean it regularly and use Froglube and it runs like a champ. Not a single issue with it so far.

They sure do sponsor a lot of shooting teams. Who pays for all that? Oh, I guess we do.
I've used some of their stuff. No problems so far other than they always run out of the smaller quantity boxed stuff.

As far as Freedom's remanufactured ammo goes, here is the list of issues I've seen:
1 Tavor that was blown up and had to be replaced ( they bought a new one)
9mm that wouldn't chamber in a stock Glock 17
Several over-pressure .223 rounds that blew primers and wouldn't eject (saw this twice at one club match)
Extreme variance in powder charge--going from several shots with no fireball to one with a huge fireball, and much louder, at 11:00 on a sunny day.

And keep your rifle plenty oily. When was the last time a rifle was jamming and you herd someone say, "Wipe all the oil out of it."??

I hear that when in doubt, an ar should be run "wet."
Do yall generally agree?

As for Freedom, I'm fortunate enough to live in Houston and went to their retail store today. I got 62gr bulk remanufactured for 40.8 cents per round. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Once again, my somewhat naive belief is that my ddm4 5.56 should be able to handle all the variances.

I know it's not the same thing but I'm totally open to reman after some of trg Chad's 308 made from reman lake city brass.

All I shoot is reloads. But they're my reloads, and they are good.

Wolfe and Tula will probably shoot just fine....I shoot it in both my AR's. Silver Bear too.