The $1,000 AR15

[TonyAngel]

A do all AR for around $1K? Bravo Company, Spike's or Colt.

I do have to say, though, that an LEO friend of mine asked me to help get him into an AR and he brought me a list of manufacturers approved by his department. This list included Bushmaster, Rock River and Smith and Wesson. Those are the three that stuck in my head.

Of course, those guys have an armorer to take their rifle to if/when they have trouble with them.

I've worked on and fixed plenty of ARs. Those that I first mentioned are just a few off of the top of my head that I have had very few people bring to me to fix or have seen have problems with. Still, the fact of the matter is that if you know ARs and how they are supposed to run, you can probably get the least expensive AR that you can find (within reason) and keep it running right without much fuss.

The most important thing is to buy one that the manufacturer will stand behind.

If I didn't know much about ARs and wanted to buy one and had the money, I'd buy one of those that I first listed. My reasons are superior barrel material. More attention in the assembly process and the barrels are coated under the gas block. This last detail can be important if the rifle is subjected to adverse climates.

 

[Tex4426]

@ 1kperday...the advantage over colt is accuracy...not say colt isnt accurat enough but with RRA and stag offering garunteed under. 75 inch thats pretty good

 

[TonyAngel]

I don't think that RRA's "do all" models are guaranteed to shoot under .75 MOA at 100. I believe that only applies to their varmint models. Of course, if you don't mind the extra weight, it wouldn't be a bad way to go.

 

[Tex4426]

U could be right on that as i have a predator pursuit and i think most of them i checked where match grade

 

[gp911]

I went with a Colt Talo Edition LE6920MP-R but I also think the S&W M&P line is a great value.

 

[jim243]

Colt 6920 is the standard all others are compared to.

He dosen't want a standard rifle, he want's a good rifle. Much like Chicken of the Sea wanted "Good Tasting Tuna, not Tuna with good tast". (LOL)

Jim

 

[MistWolf]

He dosen't want a standard rifle, he want's a good rifle. Much like Chicken of the Sea wanted "Good Tasting Tuna, not Tuna with good tast". (LOL)

Jim

Colt is the standard and the standard is set high. It's the AR all others are compared to. $1050 for a Colt lightweight carbine and it's currently in stock at G&R Tactical
View attachment 624423
http://www.gandrtactical.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=6720

Not only does it taste good but owning one is simply good taste

 

[meanmrmustard]

Colt is the standard and the standard is set high. It's the AR all others are compared to. $1050 for a Colt lightweight carbine and it's currently in stock at G&R Tactical

http://www.gandrtactical.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=6720

Not only does it taste good but owning one is simply good taste

Unless of course you ever put it up against a S&W wearing a melonite 5r barrel. Then you have a accuracy conundrum that leaves a nasty $1000+ taste in your mouth.

 

[jim243]

owning one is simply good taste

Sorry, Colt leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Too many people died using their products (ie:1964-1974). The only standard that Sam Colt set was for profits. They should have stuck to the Peacemaker as their primary product.

Jim

 

[proven]

Colt leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Too many people died using their products (ie:1964-1974)

this is just as silly as the guys who refuse to use or own an ak because "too many of their buddys were shot by one in vietnam".

 

[kenken]

For a $1000.00, I would get the Colt any day of the week. The RRA, S&W and all the other middle of the road may be a good piece but will not compare to the Colt. Don't settle, get the Colt or BCM and enjoy. Then get yourself an Aimpoint PRO. Done...

kenken

 

[jim243]

this is just as silly as the guys who refuse to use or own an ak because "too many of their buddys were shot by one in vietnam".

That's his choice and right. I don't own one, however I do own a Yugo SKS. You have to love a rifle with it's own fixed bayonet and grenade launcher built in.

Jim

PSA is more gun for your money.

 

[mljdeckard]

I concur with 1k in post 14. I don't necessarily agree that Colts are as good as some people think they are, but they are a step above Stag, etc.

 

[Tex4426]

In tgis day and age colt is just anotherAR 15 ..with so many well made clones at comparable and better prices that its really a crap shoot. Its like the 1911...look how many quality makers there are for that and every year their are more....anywhere from my cheap Rock Island that hasnt hickuped yet and a 1000 dollar springfield to a 4000 dollar custom ....my 450 dollar 1911 hasnt hickuped yet and i would have no problem trusting my life with it as i would have no problem trusting my life with another AR ather tgan colt

 

[dprice3844444]

ratworxusa.com or mgewholesale.com colt

 

[7thCavScout]

+1 for the Colt LE6920.

 

[MistWolf]

Sorry, Colt leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Too many people died using their products (ie:1964-1974). The only standard that Sam Colt set was for profits. They should have stuck to the Peacemaker as their primary product.

Jim

Profits are bad??

The problems with the M16 in 'Nam were due to changes McNamara & his Whiz Kids specified. Colt delivered what the government specified. Once the rifle was returned to it's proper specs and proper maintenance performed, it proved both reliable and deadly

Nothing wrong with the Colt, but I think there are a whole lot of better options in the 1k price range. S&W, RRA, and Stag to name a few.

What do any of these makers offer that's better than the Colt? Rails? Rails make an AR better somehow?? Wait, a 1:9 barrel is better. An RRA two stage trigger with durability problems better. RRA & Stag bolts of questionable heritage is better. Anything is better than a Colt which manufactures the best infantry rifle for the best military in the history of the world, right?

 

[TonyAngel]

Unless of course you ever put it up against a S&W wearing a melonite 5r barrel. Then you have a accuracy conundrum that leaves a nasty $1000+ taste in your mouth.

This sort of stuff shows what good marketing can get you. I really don't have anything against the Smiths. They are running strong against the likes of Rock River and Stag, but many somehow think that they got a $1K rifle for a really good price. The fact is that the Smith is a low cost alternative to more expensive rifles and Smith can offer it because corners were cut.

Although I'll agree that melonite is a heck of a treatment, it doesn't make up for the fact that inferior steel in used in the barrel. 4140, I believe it is. The little 5r plug is also a bunch of bull. There's nothing special about 5r rifling that makes it any more inherently accurate than any other form of rifling.

One thing to consider if you're looking at the Smith Sport is that I believe that the Sport model has an integral trigger guard. If this is true, this alone would turn me to something else. It sure would suck to bend it and not be able to replace it.

In tgis day and age colt is just anotherAR 15 ..with so many well made clones at comparable and better prices that its really a crap shoot.

This is also wrong. I'd call a Bushmaster, Rock River or Stag, just another AR, but the Colts are definitely a step above most. I'm not going to rehash the materials used in manufacturing, but Colts are superior. If an all out revolution ever took place and I had to trust my life to a weapon that worked and had to keep on working, I'd definitely go for something that was a step above the rest.

Of course, most of this is just academic. Most people that buy ARs will never put more than a couple thousand rounds through them in a year's time (if that much), so they will likely never see the benefits of getting an upper tier rifle.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

What do any of these makers offer that's better than the Colt?

. More options at the same price. You won't get a midlength gas system from Colt. Is Colt still selling carry handle irons as opposed to folding irons? That fancy Colt telestock is a new option - added to compete with the Magpul and Vltor stocks you could buy on production rifles from other manufacturers for the last 10 years. Colt makes a good rifle; but they are not exactly leading the way in innovation or consumer options.

 

[Wicked]

RRA

 

[Tex4426]

Yes colt is just another AR...thay are all ARs..the all g bang...they all will kill...untill colt can offer a lower priced AR with more options most ppl will not buy one period...u can argue all u want about what steel is used but the fact of the matter is the guy using the cheaper steel making the gun cheaper and still has a great reputation for durability is gonna sell more rifles because most ppl realize that it still goes bang...its still accurage and it still cool..the cool factor being the number one selling point of most ARs...ppl want new inovative designs and options..something colt hasnt done

 

[shooter_from_show-me]

For a $1000.00, I would get the Colt any day of the week. The RRA, S&W and all the other middle of the road may be a good piece but will not compare to the Colt. Don't settle, get the Colt or BCM and enjoy. Then get yourself an Aimpoint PRO. Done...

kenken

+1 for the Aimpoint PRO...awesome red dot there.

 

[TonyAngel]

Tex, just wondering. How many ARs do you have experience with? Your statement suggests that you either have very little or have been very lucky.

 

[Tex4426]

1 dpms AR10 ..2 dpmsAR 15...1 rra... 1bushmaster...the guy i shoot with has a colt...dont remeber what model but its an hbar...accuracy is god awful 3 inches on a good day...ive been working with him on some new ammo so we will see if it gets better...im not suggesting colts arnt durable but id rather spend my money elsewhere wher im gonna have a rifle that not just fires but can shoot lights out...my rock i took it straight out of the box put a Rock hi rise mount and weaver scope...first 3 shot. 5 inch group with 1 inch of the bulseye....moved the scope next 3 all in the 1 inch bullseye

 

[Infidel4life11]

1. CMMG
2. Colt LE6920MOE
3. Bushmaster MOE

CMMG good Family owned American company, Colt carried it in a few Countries and made some widows with it, it's mil-spec need I say more. Bushmaster good entry weapon just ordered one to put it through its paces. To get the best bang for the buck you really want mil-spec parts and mil-length gas system. Bravo Company is by far my favorite out there quality control is 2nd to none they build weapons and part for warfighters and take it very seriously. I haven't been able to break their stuff and I've tried very hard. Daniel Defence is another I really enjoy. I doubt you will be storming trenches kicking in doors and balls deep in sand so the top 3 will do everything you want and them some. You always hear bad stuff you hardly ever hear the good stuff, 1,000 perfect guns go to **** when 1 falls to fire it seems now days one bad thing counters all the good.