Who makes the best AR-15 on the market

[Darthbauer]

Im looking to get another AR... or two and just wondering who makes the best one. I hear alot of people say Colt is the only one that makes a true mil-spec rifle but I have shot one and didnt like it and have heard other people that didnt like or had problems with Colt. I hear alot of good and bad things about many of the companies out there. Im looking to hear about companies like Noveske, LWRC, and LMT. So far from what ive gathered from looking around on THR is that those are some of the best out there.

Also interested in gas piston systems. Wondering who makes the best system out there rather it be LWRC, Bushmaster, or Primary Weapons Systems.

Id go out and buy one of all of these and try them out for myself but god knows I dont have the money for that. Thats why im asking you fine folks here. Thank you for any help you all can give me on this matter.

 

[J Lambs]

For me, Bushmaster is the best value. You can pick up the Optics ready for around $900 at some places. I love mine, but at first, it was picky about the ammo. No Wolf steel for the first 200 rds.

 

[Bazooka Joe71]

A quick search would get ya squared away.

I believe you will find that the consensus is draw a name out of a hat and you'll be fine.

 

[ckay]

LMT IMO. You can get great rifles for less though. What's the purpose of this rifle? I see $3k rigs that miss paper at 100 yards on shooter error. Because you have the best weapon money can buy doesn't mean you'll shoot tight.

 

[Darthbauer]

What's the purpose of this rifle?

Target shooting at the range, HD, zombie killing when the world goes to hell...

 

[J Lambs]

Then you need a shotgun

http://www.ex-robot.com/archives/design/000015.html

 

[hso]

Target shooting at the range, HD,

While not completely mutually exclusive requirements, they do conflict heavily.

Consider that a target AR, match rifle, may have a long heavy match barrel with a twist tuned to heavy (90+ grain) match ammo, gnat's breath trigger, and 12 pounds of lead in the fixed stock and fore end. A big heavy unwieldy beast that isn't suited to action shooting but will happily make sub moa holes at a thousand yards.

OTOH, take a solid SD AR with a 16" barrel that will accurately run 55 gr or 65 gr .223s, rail fore end, crisp defensive trigger (horse fly's breath), collapsible stock, BUIS and ML4 Aimpoint. You sure won't get 1000 yard sub moa groups out of it, but you can run with it and turn and drop in the mud and it will shoot.

So, whatcha want it to do?

In my neck of the woods I'd have Predator Custom Shop put one together for me.

 

[KBintheSLC]

I don't think there is such a thing as the best AR anymore. The best AR is most likely a Frankengun that was put together in someones basement. Colt was at the top of the heap for a long time. Nowadays, most companies like RRA, Bushmaster, DPMS, etc... all get their parts from 1 or 2 manufacturers. They don't actually manufacture anything themselves. I would say that they are all pretty much the same.

 

[RockyMtnTactical]

Noveske and LMT make the best ones.

Stag for the best value.

 

[Darthbauer]

While not completely mutually exclusive requirements, they do conflict heavily.

Consider that a target AR, match rifle, may have a long heavy match barrel with a twist tuned to heavy (90+ grain) match ammo, gnat's breath trigger, and 12 pounds of lead in the fixed stock and fore end. A big heavy unwieldy beast that isn't suited to action shooting but will happily make sub moa holes at a thousand yards.

OTOH, take a solid SD AR with a 16" barrel that will accurately run 55 gr or 65 gr .223s, rail fore end, crisp defensive trigger (horse fly's breath), collapsible stock, BUIS and ML4 Aimpoint. You sure won't get 1000 yard sub moa groups out of it, but you can run with it and turn and drop in the mud and it will shoot.

So, whatcha want it to do?

I already have a carbine RRA with the heavy barrel and an ARMS SIR rail system on it. I kinda want to get atleat two more, one 20inch in 6.8spc for target shooting and then a super lite 16inch more for HD. Ive been looking at the Bushmaster Carbon 15 for the lite one but havnt really been able to get any info out of people that have one on if they are any good or not. (still not to keen on the no dust cover thing).

 

[strat81]

Rocky beat me to it, although I'd add Colt LE to the best category too.

A Stag Model 2 or 3 would fill your HD and plinking roles quite well while the Model 6 would be a good target gun. For a 20" 6.8SPC, I'd look at CMMG.

 

[H2O MAN]

I did a bunch of research and decided that the Colt LE 6920 was the best rifle for my needs.

 

[Gary G23]

Noveske

 

[BozemanMT]

Get one custom built the way you want.
MSTN did a couple for me that are flat amazing.
JP does a similar thing.

otherwise, all reasonably equal.

 

[Kharn]

IIRC, LMT is the current preferred manufacturer with the HS/LD guys.
But best value would probably be Bushmaster or RRA.

Kharn

 

[ID_shooting]

H20, what is the price tag on the colt?

I can tell not difference in that and my BM patrolman carbine.

Just currious

 

[CWL]

Um, you are in CA.

Unless you are LEO, the only ones you can get will be the lesser brands which are getting into CA (legally) under the radar.

 

[ugaarguy]

H20, what is the price tag on the colt?

I can tell not difference in that and my BM patrolman carbine.

Just currious

For those interested in what sets Noveske, Colt LE, LMT, and Sabre (and CMMG on some models) above the rest here's an image of a chart posted over on ar15.com.

 

[W.E.G.]

Thanks for thinking of this.

I was just meaning to ask this too!

 

[ScottG1911]

I love my Bushmaster. If you want a Mil-spec rifle go for LMT. Colt has very very bad costumer service, should anything go wrong with your rifle. Plus LMT is cheaper than a colt. Bravo Company sells LMT check'em out

 

[glockman19]

Stag for the best value.

+1

Being in CA you can't get a Colt, Armilite, Bushmaster any other "named" lower.

Stag's parent co makes most of the parts for other companies. Great Customer Service, Warranty.

 

[Soybomb]

I'd buy a LMT, colt, or noveske if you made me buy a premade rifle. That doesn't mean you can't do just as well putting your own together.

 

[ckay]

That chart means nothing to anyone and shouldn't, unless you are in the sandbox or the like.

IIRC, LMT is the current preferred manufacturer with the HS/LD guys.
But best value would probably be Bushmaster or RRA.

Kharn

I think RRA is the best value out there.

To the OP, have you thought about building one yourself? As mentioned above, MSTN builds nice rigs.

 

[556A2]

Colt & LMT

 

[Gunther]

Colt