4 choices for next rifle, LVOA, PWS, CORE TAC III, or Tavor

[This I'll Defend]

I am only breaking in my new PWS MK216 mod 1 and I am already thinking about my next rifle. I was thinking 5.56 rifle for sporting, tactical, and home defense. I narrowed it down to 5 choices, 4 known rifles and one wildcard, meaning, hold off on the decision to see what else comes out next year. I am a right handed but left eye dominant so ambidextrous is important to me. Below are the pros and cons I have identified:

War Sport LVOA-C 14.5 pinned and welded barrel, $3,050 standard
pros-ambi safety, ambi charging handle, ambi mag release, cool factor weight unknown, possibly add .22 conversion kit
cons-long wait time possible, expensive

Core 15 TAC III 16 threaded barrel, $989 from Gun Broker
pros-ability to individualize, light weight 5.9lbs, can add .22 conversion kit, fast delivery, mil-spec parts easy to find
cons-must purchase adds/essentials of ambi safety and charging handle

Tavor 16 or 18 threaded barrel, $2200 from gunbroker,
pros-left handed, bullpup, cool factor, fast delivery
cons-heavy ~8lbs, replacement parts rare

PWS 116, 16 inch FSC suppressor $1900 from local gun store
pros-lightweight piston ~6.5 lbs, cool factor, good company, fast delivery if in stock locally
cons-cannot add .22 conversion kit(unless complete upper)

Thoughts?

 

[Fried Chicken Blowout]

My thoughts would be that you're all over the place with what you're looking at. From a Tavor to an entry level AR with some upgrades. Because you have such varied tastes I would really recommend you build something. For that $3k you're looking at for one of those you can build any AR you want in any caliber to do anything and then have the tools and know how to change it if your mood changes. I stopped buying ARs a few years ago when I started building and I'd never go back. I did have a custom upper build recently for long range but the next one like that I'll assemble myself. Take a look at the Seekins lower/upper combos for a start of a build and pick and choose your parts. They are a site supporter and very good with customer service. You can always still do a pinned 14.5" through ADCO or other shop that can pin it locally and when you're done, you've created something rather than just opened a box.

Oh and one more thing... I'm left eye dominate and right handed so I shoot all long guns left handed because I'm almost blind in my right eye. Both the Seekins billet lowers are ambi as long as you add an ambi safety and a Norigon mag release which I've done on my last build. Then get the BCM/Vltor Ambi charging handle and you're set. I like the normal right hand eject so I can see into the chamber without rolling the gun.

 

[This I'll Defend]

Thank you

My thoughts would be that you're all over the place with what you're looking at. From a Tavor to an entry level AR with some upgrades. Because you have such varied tastes I would really recommend you build something. For that $3k you're looking at for one of those you can build any AR you want in any caliber to do anything and then have the tools and know how to change it if your mood changes. I stopped buying ARs a few years ago when I started building and I'd never go back. I did have a custom upper build recently for long range but the next one like that I'll assemble myself. Take a look at the Seekins lower/upper combos for a start of a build and pick and choose your parts. They are a site supporter and very good with customer service. You can always still do a pinned 14.5" through ADCO or other shop that can pin it locally and when you're done, you've created something rather than just opened a box.

Oh and one more thing... I'm left eye dominate and right handed so I shoot all long guns left handed because I'm almost blind in my right eye. Both the Seekins billet lowers are ambi as long as you add an ambi safety and a Norigon mag release which I've done on my last build. Then get the BCM/Vltor Ambi charging handle and you're set. I like the normal right hand eject so I can see into the chamber without rolling the gun.

Thank you, that is actually really good advice. I have been thinking about building one exactly because I feel like I CAN'T decide on what I want. My primary worry has been assembly of the parts as I acquire them. I would like to find a class on assembly nearby but i haven't seen or heard of one in Washington State.

 

[GONIF]

You can get a Tavor NIB for $1750.00 to $1999.00 ,$2200.00 is to much. The Tavor is a hoot to shoot . Look at the Spikes tactical le carbine ( middy) at AIM for $799.00 ,You could not build a better one at that price . You will be amazed how well it will shoot.

 

[This I'll Defend]

Awesome, is the Tavor from AIM as well? I have been trolling through gunbroker and locally, and Tavors typically sell around $2k and up unless you get a great deal.

 

[shooterman_zero17]

PWS MK114 (Mod 0) shoots super soft, virtually zero recoil, but it got toasty in my hand...I wouldn't hesitate to get a PWS 5.56 gun...it hammered 15 rounds of 77gr SMK into a ragged hole..thats just using an ACOG too, the gun hasn't had a failure either.

You could always build up on an Ambi lower too...add a Raptor Ambi Charging Handle...I've been thinking of doing another build and it seems finding parts to do so is becoming easier.

All the Tavors I've seen in stores are $2k flat. For $3k like that Warsport carbine, why not a SR15?

(Edit to Add: or a DD rifle? I'd buy one of their rifles in a heartbeat. Love my DD CHF barrel.)

Just some food for thought.

 

[This I'll Defend]

Shootermanzero17, That is also really appealing. I have looked at the seekin's precision lowers like Fried Chicken Blowout recommended, but nothing really caught my eye. Any other brand lower you recommend?

 

[HotAirBaloonInstructor]

As far as building goes, you're on the internet- that's all you need. Youtube and a couple Google searches and you're there, that's how I did my most recent ar15 and it shoots as good or better than anything else out there.

Best of Luck!

 

[This I'll Defend]

HotAirBalloonINstrument, Thanks! I am starting the search now with lowers with ambidextrous features. Then I will look for buffer tubes and parts kits.

 

[Fried Chicken Blowout]

Shootermanzero17, That is also really appealing. I have looked at the seekin's precision lowers like Fried Chicken Blowout recommended, but nothing really caught my eye. Any other brand lower you recommend?

Mega Arms is another good upper/lower combo. I have both the Seekins (billet) and Mega (Forged - Not Ambi) and both have a great attention to detail and finish.


The assembly is easy. If you can change spark plugs in a car, you're good to go. As mentioned, most of the info can be found on YouTube or at Brownell's. I buy all the miscellaneous parts at Brownell's such has lower parts kits, receiver extensions, buffers, springs, bolts and such. Panteo Productions also has an AR15 Armor video available on Brownell's. FYI, you DON'T need an ambi lower to shoot left handed. I have 3 that are standard lowers (two of which are my home defense type guns (Both SBR's) one with a 10.3" barrel and another with a 12" barrel... Both suppressed all the time... They are standard lowers and work find with the Norigon mag release, ambi safeties and BCM ambi charging handles. The only ambi lower I have is the Seekins one on a precision long range gun and I've yet to use the right side bolt release because I'm used to using the standard one with my trigger finger. Build yourself a nice AR for $1200 - 1500 and use the other money for a suppressor or for NFA fees for an SBR.

 

[Supergyro]

Yes, building an AR is really easy. (so long as you don't lose your detents lol, but there are tricks for that too) I've built 5 at home and I got instructions off the net. If you have a bbl nut wrench, torque wrench, vise grips, needle nose, receiver extension wrench, and duct tape, you're good to go.

 

[AvsFan]

KAC SR-15 Mod 1 or, LPR...done!

My $0.02

AvsFan

 

[This I'll Defend]

Fried Chicken Blowout, I've taken a look at the Mega arms upper/lower combos and I like what I see, I also heard about the AXTS AX556 lower and I am interested in it as well, you have any experience matching an upper with an AXTS lower? I have the raptor charging handle on my pws mk216 and love it. I am interested/stuck on ambi mostly because I shoot for recreation and self defense. I use a non-ambi ar at work all the time but i don't get much trigger time on it being what the frequency or range time for active duty regular army is. I just want something that is personalized to me and has that "cool" factor as well as functionality. Thank you for the advice, I am trolling google now for assembly directions.

 

[oubeta]

I really like my Tavor. Great for home defense. Nice and compact and flat out runs.

 

[This I'll Defend]

What are the forum's thoughts on a white oak 12.5inch SS barrel and a 4.25 inch BLACKOUT® 51T FLASH HIDER M.I.T.E.R. MOUNT permanently attached? I think that would make it overall length legal without NFA paperwork. Is that something feasible and legal? I haven't heard of anyone doing it with anything short of 14.5 inch barrel.

 

[BobinNC]

Just buy one of these BCM 16" Recce upper's and mate it with a quality lower of your choice. These Reece's split the difference between a M4 carbine and a MK12 Mod1 precision AR. Accurate enough for precision; short enough for HD.

As far a a quality lower, try one of these LMT Defender's, just ad a Geisselle SSA-E trigger and your GTG:

https://www.rainierarms.com/?page=shop/detail&product_id=3773

AR-15, 16" Recce Upper Groups (Mid Length)

 

[346ci]

For $3K, go with a JP.

I build my own as I haven't ever found a factory built rifle with all the specs I want. Since you mentioned CORE, they make a nice rifle. We have sold several of the EVOs and a few of the C30 .308 rifles.

For receivers, you won't beat Mega. Go with some well known name brand parts after that and you will be fine. If you get stuck building it, I'm sure the crowd here will help.

 

[45ar]

If I was paying 2 grand I'd get a Scar.

 

[This I'll Defend]

I spent the last week looking through all my local gun stores and cataloging and pricing the parts for my own rifle build. I found a lot of things I like and determined definitively that I will build a rifle on my own sometime in the future. For now, I am leaning more and more to the LVOA, simply because I know that I will always want one even after I build my own rifle. Although expensive, it has all the features I am really looking for and the price is comparable to what I would build on my own, or at least what I would end up with. I like the barrels from White Oak Armament, and will focus my build around a barrel from them, but I will have to compromise on some aesthetics and functions initially. For now, I am "get everything up front" guy and will spend more time later tinkering and refining a build of my own.

 

[This I'll Defend]

Thank you to everyone that commented and provided advice.

 

[Monmouth]

I don't really know what to think about the Tavor. I handled one and part of me likes it, the other part of me finds it gimmick'y. So my friends asked for me to explain what I don't like about it and my response "there's something just not right about it". Hope this makes sense, haha.

 

[This I'll Defend]

Thanks, that is what I have been feeling too. The as at the range the other day and a guy had a SCAR 17s and a Tavor and was just standing and shooting targets at 25 yards. I don't think he really zero'd them or anything was just happily plinking away. I got to handle his Tavor and ask him a few questions but he seemed to get it for the "gimmick" factor. The more I think about it that is why i would get it. It looks cool, shoots okay, trigger supposedly sucks, and not to many parts out there for it yet. I think if I get a piston driven rifle, besides short overall length, I will get a PWS mk1 series.

 

[45ar]

Thanks, that is what I have been feeling too. The as at the range the other day and a guy had a SCAR 17s and a Tavor and was just standing and shooting targets at 25 yards. I don't think he really zero'd them or anything was just happily plinking away. I got to handle his Tavor and ask him a few questions but he seemed to get it for the "gimmick" factor. The more I think about it that is why i would get it. It looks cool, shoots okay, trigger supposedly sucks, and not to many parts out there for it yet. I think if I get a piston driven rifle, besides short overall length, I will get a PWS mk1 series.

A friend of mine in a LGS orders a lot of AR's and mil type semi-autos and some come back to trade in or sale for another rifle.He said Scar 17's never come back and their owners won't sell them even if offered a very good price.