Plain Jane 20" AR15 A2

[Timradcliffe345]

What brands do you all recommend for a 20" AR15 - A2 style (5.56)?

Please share the pros and cons of the different manufacturers out there.

Also, post pics !

Thanks.

GOD BLESS AMERICA.

 

[Onmilo]

When it comes to a standard A2 rifle the basis is the barrel.
If you want a standard government profile barrel and you want a factory produced rifle, I still believe Colt sets the standard and you would do well to seek out a Standard Colt A2 Government Model rifle.

If you want a heavy barrel Target rifle, seek out a good used rifle in any form and have a gunsmith custom install a quality Match grade barrel.
I happen to really like Olympic broach cut stainless steel 20" heavy barrels for Match rifles because they are economical and shoot as well as many higher end barrels.
White Oak Armament is gaining a reputation as producing some very excellent target grade Match heavy barrels but they are a good deal more expensive.

A Government profile 1-7" twist barrel is on top and a heavy profile barrel is shown below in this picture for clarity.

 

[McKnife]

I still believe Colt sets the standard and you would do well to seek out a Standard Colt A2 Government Model rifle.

I too have been looking for a stock rifle length COLT AR-15 upper.

Where do you buy them new?

 

[Lovesbeer99]

I have a bushmaster with a heavy barrel right out of the box. It's not match grade, but it's not a skinny barrel either.

 

[Z-Michigan]

There are so many options. Major decision to make is whether you want something as close as possible to mil-spec, or just a nice, quality shooter that won't be banging around in a HMMWV for months on end.

If the latter, most options will be good, but I would personally recommend Bushmaster and Armalite as top picks. Bushmaster is usually slightly less money, and Armalite is usually slightly more nicely finished (mostly cosmetically) but either one is great and not unreasonably expensive. Armalite also provides a nicer (but not mil-spec) two-stage trigger as standard.

If you want mil-spec, I suppose Colt is good. Bushmaster has made various statements about being mil-spec, but the discussions online always seem to indicate they are not quite mil-spec. IMHO, unless you are using the rifle severely, the good consumer rifles will do everything you need for decades and decades.

 

[Onmilo]

The top barrel in my picture is a Bushmaster.
Bushmaster uses components that meet mil-spec standards, 4150 barrel steel, correct chrome lining, 1-7 twist on special order, however, simply put, if the complete rifle does not come equipped with an operational three position selector, it isn't Mil-Spec.
Bushmaster does not utilize a tall F type carbine front sight/gas block either, choosing instead to dimension their flat top receivers to regulate with standard front sight/gas blocks a la Diemaco/Colt Canada.

Of all the components Bushmaster uses to assemble their rifles, I am most suspect of the bolt and bolt carrier group and I personally choose to use other manufacturers offerings of this assembly.

Armalite products are uniformly excellent, however, they don't follow Mil-standards either, choosing instead to forge their own path.
They use a screw installed front sight/gas block instead of a taper pinned assembly.

Both of these manufacturers take cues from the Canadians who have made great strides in improving the AR15/M16 as a service rifle mainly because they don't have to adhere to American Military Specification standards.

 

[dispatch55126]

You have to define what exactly you want. A 1:7 twist will work best with heavier bullets but a 1:9 twist will even things out between M193 (Commonly found) and heavier bullets.

The next is barrel. A plain jane will be parkerized with a birdcage. A gov't profile will shave some weight but an HBAR would maintain accuracy longer with sustained fire.

Most uppers out there are about the same. They all basically use the same barrels, upper receivers, gas tubes, bolts, ect. Some with scan the parts and some won't. It's really more of a "premium" option. It's meant to check for microscopic defects. If this is a match or uber dollar item, it might be worthwhile.

For the money, Del-Ton is probably the cheapest. I had a leaky gas key which caused problems, but the customer service turned it around in a day. Bushy, Colt, and DPMS are about the same. I think you pay more for the name.

 

[Nhsport]

I agree with the thinking here . A H-Bar is nice for matches but is a clumsy nasty beast to drag aroung and shoot as a general purpose rifle.
I would recomend the govt profile ! I would also recomend that you strongly consider a flat top with a clamp on carry handle/sight. This setup offers so much more flexability .
I don't see them much but any Armalite I have put hands on seemed well built at a decent price. Factory triggers seem a step above the usual rough Bushmaster/Rock River ones.
Colt , Armalite , Bushmaster , RR , Stag are all fine , Dpms seems worth consideration

 

[sarduy]

cmmg make good rifles too

 

[Hoppy590]

Del-ton makes good uppers

they have 20 inch, rifle gas tube in both pre and post ban and A2 and A4