Best bayonet for AR-15?

That particular model rifle, as I understand it, has an extended distance between the bayonet lug and the flash hider. Therefore, a standard bayonet won't fit. There are bayonets made that have extra long handles, for this purpose, but I'm not familiar with them. (Another solution might be a special flash hider that telescopes over the barrel.)

For a standard rifle, IMO, the best bayonet remains the M7. If you want a utility knife, go with the M9, but it's too heavy and clunky as a pure bayonet. The M9 is a "jack of all trades but master of none."

As stated a standard M7 or M9 bayonet will not work on any AR with a 16" barrel and carbine gas length. You will need a bayonet with a longer handle or an adaptor such as this: https://www.triple-r-products.com/products/triple-r-products-llc-674276739164-ar15ext005-5212

The only way to use a bayonet t with a 16" barrel without any adaptors is if it is a mid length gas system.

And @AlexanderA is correct. The M7 is the better bayonet while the M9 is a better all purpose knife.

On the short length gas systems the bayonet lug may have been left on the front sight gas/block casting out of simple economy, or the bayonet lug may be used to mount accessories that are not bayonets.

Some solutions are covered here.

M7. Adapter as shown. But why would you want a bayonet on a 16" carbine anyway? I'd want more stand-off distance.

I have the tripple R adaptor, it works, and its well made. I would get the clip on instead of the screw on. The M7 is a good bayonet, as is the OKC3S, I would not get an M9.

oh yea, if buying a bayonet, buy from the manufacturer, or at least a reputable outlet like Midway. Amazon/Ebay, and some others are fine with fraudulent products on their sites.

M7 (from a quality maker).
M9 if you want bells and whistles and gizmos of limited utility (do you really need a sub-par wire cutter that requires you to dismount the scabbard?)
You will need an adapter for that MP 15 2, or the muzzle ring will just rattle around pointlessly.
(On a 20" standard-length rifle barrel, the muzzle device will be the correct distance to the bayonet lug.)

Bayonet on an M4 (or clone thereof) is a bit like the bayonet on a FAMAS--a pointy bit for "show." Which did not deter the French from issuing them (and it's hard to argue that the Foreign Legion managed both panache and elan with theirs).

Is chainsaw wrong?….sorry, I had to go there…

The second best design for a bayonet blade, as a bayonet for sticking people is the blade design used on the M3 fighting knife through the M7. (The best blade would be a cruciform spike, but it has no other uses beyond being a bayonet.)

The M9, L1, and other "Bowie"-type blades are really not that great as stabbing knifes.

A person would have to ask why a bayonet? Are you planning on some trench warfare in the future?

A better question is why not a bayonet. If someone wants one, by all means get one. I still have my issue M7 bayonet.

wmgeorge said:

A person would have to ask why a bayonet? Are you planning on some trench warfare in the future?

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A person would have to ask why you would be concerned with what the OP asks about.
I like the M9, but I am more of a knife guy than a bayonet guy.

I've got an OKC3S I was given by a buddy. Never used it as a bayonet, but it's a mean pigsticker of a knife!

Edited to add: very nice sheath too, probably my favorite.

Dale Alan said:

A person would have to ask why you would be concerned with what the OP asks about.
I like the M9, but I am more of a knife guy than a bayonet guy.

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I would have to be concerned with why a bayonet when there were so many other useful things for a AR. I guess I am allowed to wonder why.

wmgeorge said:

A person would have to ask why a bayonet? Are you planning on some trench warfare in the future?

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People collect bayonets for old milsurps, so why not collect bayonets for more modern rifles?

Of course, some folks might collect bayonets without the rifle, but this is a gun forum so one might as well get the rifle too.

I'll still say "why?" but not to discourage, but to figure out which one you want. "Best" implies it is to be used, and then there are models like the KCB-77 series, of very strong but very lightweight bayonets that I rather like, but never adopted by the US.

If for collecting, then... it still depends. M7 would be Vietnam to today depending on which branch. M9 for Army since the 80s, and Marines from the same timeframe to... sometime then it was replaced with the OKC-3S. Or... then the often entirely different bayonets adopted by other countries entirely.

For completeness (have all the bits for your rifle) then maybe several?

If for use, sharpen it or more likely get it sharpened. The M9 especially comes not at all sharp, so is useless as an actual cutting implement, and you have to remove a LOT of metal to get a knife edge out of it, so get someone who knows how to use their wheel to put an edge on a knife, and won't mess it up either.

Nothing wrong with wanting a bayonet to compliment a Military Rifle. I have a couple for my M48 Yugoslavian Mausers and a reproduction one for my M-1 Garand's. But sticking someone? I'd really rather not. Bayonet training was Hell with the M-14 and thankfully none was done with the M-16. You have 18 or 28 rounds in a magazine and your going to use a bayonet?

Terry G said:

Nothing wrong with wanting a bayonet to compliment a Military Rifle. I have a couple for my M48 Yugoslavian Mausers and a reproduction one for my M-1 Garand's. But sticking someone? I'd really rather not. Bayonet training was Hell with the M-14 and thankfully none was done with the M-16. You have 18 or 28 rounds in a magazine and your going to use a bayonet?

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Weight of ammo is usually not an issue when using a bayonet. By the time you have to fix bayonets, you are out of ammo. To be honest I never used my bayonet mounted outside of basic training though it was always with me in combat.

And having a bayonet to go with your military rifle is a very good reason to me. I had my M7 sitting around since I retired and decided to build an A2 clone for it.

If you want a bayonet that's also a wire cutter and all-purpose knife, but is lighter and thinner than the M9, consider the Eickhorn. It's pricey, though.

https://www.eickhorn-solingen.de/ep...B/?ObjectPath=/Shops/62631327/Products/800101

By the time you run out of ammo for your AR and you need to fix bayonets it will not see much use. The bayonet was useful when we used trenches and it was over the top. But for modern combat its nice to have a good sharp knife in one hand and your Beretta in the other, just my 2 cents worth.

Nothing works like a bayonet for crowd control . . .

I appreciate the OP's question as I learned a lot about the various bayonet options for the M16 family.

In fifty years, our "junky" M7 (and M8/9/10s, etc.) will be "valuable milsurp."
And people will argue over how many kwatloos ought be spent on one, too.
And that one guy will be all wrong all day, too []