The Definitive List of 2012’s Top Five AR-15s

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Good list! Did you write that?

Anyway, I have a blend of three of the five, DD and BCM 16" LW midlength uppers on my own DIY lowers...
 
Quentin said:
Good list! Did you write that?

Anyway, I have a blend of three of the five, DD and BCM 16" LW midlength uppers on my own DIY lowers...
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It was in my email inbox, from Cheaper than Dirt, when I checked today. I found it to be much better, and more well written, than I expected.

I have a 6920. Just got it this year. I already want another one or three. Will probably get a DD or BCM next (whenever the heck I can afford that), as I believe they are every bit as good as the Colt and variety is cool. Might even make the next one a middy!
 
Warp said:
It was in my email inbox, from Cheaper than Dirt, when I checked today. I found it to be much better, and more well written, than I expected.

I have a 6920. Just got it this year. I already want another one or three. Will probably get a DD or BCM next (whenever the heck I can afford that), as I believe they are every bit as good as the Colt and variety is cool. Might even make the next one a middy!
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I'm fawning over that DD V7
 
BluEyes said:
Hmmm, DIY AR with a DD lightweight barrel here. Great minds must think alike?
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Yeah it's my favorite AR, it's on a S&W lower so I call it Dan Wesson. :D

Well your rifle's supposed to have a girl's name so Danielle Wesson.



Warp, I love the Colt 6920 or the LW 6720. Probably would have got one but wanted midlength gas.
 
Top five for what? Given what criteria? I wouldn't trade my Noveske for any of them. It is as reliable or more than anything on that list and I'd wager more accurate than any of them.

Of course cheaper than dirt (who I refuse to buy from because of their business practices) doesn't sell Noveske.
 
Girodin said:
Top five for what? Given what criteria? I wouldn't trade my Noveske for any of them. It is as reliable or more than anything on that list and I'd wager more accurate than any of them.

Of course cheaper than dirt (who I refuse to buy from because of their business practices) doesn't sell Noveske.
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Did you read the article?

Noveske makes a damn good AR15. I would be more than happy with Colt, Daniel Defense, BCM, Noveske, and some others as well.

Of course I doubt there are any retailers who carry every single manufacturer, and of course their list will come from items they carry or have carried.
 
Yes the author simply says these are my most own ARs. I would question why someone needs as much duplication as those choices. That is another discussion. There is nothing in the article about what makes these five better than other choices, how they compare to other guns. The little bit of discussion on differences does nothing to state why those things make it a better choice. There is nothing about how a gun is going to be used, what criteria the author considers, etc, etc, It is basically just s\a product description of each. It is in essence an add for a company that sales those guns. It is pretty poor as an article and an assessment of ARs let alone a ranking of them. I'll also note the list is titled the Definitive list. It falls very far short of such a bold title.
 
Girodin said:
Yes the author simply says these are my most own ARs. I would question why someone needs as much duplication as those choices. That is another discussion. There is nothing in the article about what makes these five better than other choices, how they compare to other guns. The little bit of discussion on differences does nothing to state why those things make it a better choice. There is nothing about how a gun is going to be used, what criteria the author considers, etc, etc, It is basically just s\a product description of each. It is in essence an add for a company that sales those guns. It is pretty poor as an article and an assessment of ARs let alone a ranking of them. I'll also note the list is titled the Definitive list. It falls very far short of such a bold title.
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An in depth technical article on whether or not you want an MPI Bolt or an HPT barrel, it is not. Nor is it meant to be.

The opening sentence: "Of course claiming a definitive list to AR enthusiasts is tantamount to using a .25 caliber to clear your sinus—but I thought it might get your attention and while you are here you might as well read on comment with your own list."
 
The point is there is little value in ranking guns with out some kind of discussion as to what the basis of the rankings are. Moreover this list doesn't even really tell us what they are rankings of, best all round gun? best first AR? best hard use gun etc?

The closest it comes is to say these are 5 must own rifles? That sounds like the author is suggesting one should own all five. That makes the list even more absurd. The guns listed are pretty duplicative. There is also no discussion of why one needs each of them. I would rather have one great top end gun than five good ones. If I were going to get 5 ARs they wouldn't all be very similar guns.

In sum, it's not a great article, not even an OK one really. Its not particularly informative and it is not even a good basis for discussion or debate about the list since its not clear what it is even a list of and there are no arguments given to support the rankings.
 
Alright, then for the sake of discussion...give us your list. All of those things you complained about being missed...make them up and make your own list. Then we can discuss it.
 
I would agree that its a good list, maybe save for not having Noveske which we all know are pretty expensive so it didn't make the top5. I would buy a Noveske in a heartbeat, but my wallet always says no! Lol.

BCM and Colt are always my top 2 AR brand suggestion, closely followed by DD or Noveske if you had the money to burn.
 
Alright, then for the sake of discussion...give us your list
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My list of top AR's for what? fighting guns, competition guns, internet bragging rights guns, general purpose guns, what five rifles I would buy if I didn't have any ARs and wanted to buy five ARs? Are we constrained by budget? Are we trying to account for value in terms of price versus what one gets, or is it just best guns period?

Noveske which we all know are pretty expensive so it didn't make the top5.
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A N4 light basic is about $1500. An upper only is $800 so if you source a decent lower and go with an upper, which is where the critical stuff is, you can come in even cheaper. The DD gun listed is what $1600 but comes with a rail. You can get a light with a rail for $1700 or $1800 and it comes with a better stock, a better tango down grip, a Noveske end plate, and a vortex flash hider. In short they really aren't that much more, if any more,expensive.
 
No love for the MR556. A guy in my gaurd unit has 2 of them with police trade in 416 uppers we have been shooting the hell out of those things on a very regular basis without a single mishap. But he recently got a 12.5 Noveske and we can't get it to fail. I'm currently trying to save up for a noveske upper
 
I'd say outside of the top 5
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In my experience, I wouldn't put Spikes Tactical very far outside of the top 5. They make an excellent product backed by a lifetime waranty.

You just have to look past the silly rollmarks.
 
Fishbed77 said:
In my experience, I wouldn't put Spikes Tactical very far outside of the top 5. They make an excellent product backed by a lifetime waranty.

You just have to look past the silly rollmarks.
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It seems that Spikes does make a good product. A very good product, perhaps. Their business practices and public behavior can be a HUGE turnoff, though. And I still think Colt/DD/BCM/Noveske and the like are a half step above anyway.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6cwh4IxXSc
 
As much as I would like to do something with Spike's it seems whenever I am ready to purchase something, like a couple of stripped lowers last week they are out of stock.

I think I had them on my short list a couple years ago when I purhased a complete midlength but ultimately went with BCM. Good product, good service.

I just purchased another mid length upper (16 inch this time) from BCM last week. It was at my door in three days.

BCM-URG-MID-16LW20BFH20VTRX11-2T.jpg

PA050007.jpg

You never know what is going to show up the BCM box. Posters, hats, stickers, CDs!!
 
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