You Have $1,200....Which AR Would You GET and WHY?

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ugaarguy said:
If you want a Colt 6920 MagPul go for it because it's a great rifle.

My next AR will be a fairly Plain Jane 16" bbl with mid length gas tube & handguard.

I have stripped lower that I still need to build out, and will probably soon buy a PSA lower build kit for it. For the purposes of this discussion we'll say I'm buying a PSA complete lower for $200. I'd add a BCM 16" gov't profile hammer forgeded bbl mid length upper with bolt carrier group for $750. I'd finish it out with a MagPul MOE ML handguard for another $30. That would put me at $980. I'd use some of the remaining $220 to add a rear sight, MOE stock, and either an MOE grip or Ergo Grip to replace the standard pistol grip and stock...
Click to expand...

That'll be a great build! Last year I did much the same except got BCM's pencil profile LW midlength upper with BCM BCG (but not hammer forged barrel). With my stripped lower, DD LPK, BCM stock kit, MOE pistol grip and handguards, CTR stock, rear MBUS2 and Gunfighter charging handle I came in about the same as a Colt 6920. If I'd wanted carbine length gas I would have just got the 6920 but preferred the midlength BCM. Otherwise there's little difference between Colt and BCM. Both are excellent.
 
I took a year to research and decide and just last week bought the 6920 with Magpul hardware. Very happy with the purchase. There's something about that "COLT M4" stamped on the side that makes me smile.
 
you cant beat PSA's price when they have there daily deals. I looked a lot into building and buying and I ended up with a PSA upper/lower pre assembled from them.
 
BCM Mid16 Mod 0 would be my choice over Colt only for the little things like the Gunfighter charging handle and the BCM grip. End of the world stuff? No, but why buy them twice :)
 
Get the Colt - you will not be sorry.

My first AR was a Colt 6940. For my next AR I bought a lower and LPK and an upper assembly and I put all of the pieces together myself - a great learning experience with nothing to lose since I had a perfectly good working AR that allowed me the luxury of a low pressure assembly job for my 2nd AR.

My 2nd AR cost about 1/2 of what the Colt cost btw.

I have several stripped lower receivers just waiting for my attention one of these days.
 
I'd buy a Colt 6920.

Or I'd assemble a mid length BCM, but that would go slightly over. Of course, it would have a better handguard and a more expensive/upgraded stock over the Colt, but might go a tiny bit over budget.
 
I use to be an AR snob and have to have at least a colt 6920 or better. However, over the years I have seen Doublestar, DPMS, Bushmaster, etc. all perform just as well. I'm now pretty much convinced they are all the same gun. If something does break, you can interchange most every part. I can see spending 1,000-1300 just to have a good brand name, but beyond that I'll never know what you are getting for your extra money. I have shot ARs to death and have never seen anymore or less failures or breakages from one brand to the other. If you didn't have rollmarks, you would never be able to tell one from another. I use to buy in to "The Chart", but those days are long over. I watched a video of the DPMS factory and was very impressed. I use to hate their guns, but for no reason other than they were not listed high on the chart. If I were to buy an AR today it would be an Armalite, simply because the fit and finish seem so good. The only gun I would not buy are the new ARs with the carbon receivers. I wouldn't pay for rails either. Most people that shoot them alot end up taking them off or covering them up.
 
KYamateur said:
I use to be an AR snob and have to have at least a colt 6920 or better. However, over the years I have seen Doublestar, DPMS, Bushmaster, etc. all perform just as well. I'm now pretty much convinced they are all the same gun. If something does break, you can interchange most every part. I can see spending 1,000-1300 just to have a good brand name, but beyond that I'll never know what you are getting for your extra money. I have shot ARs to death and have never seen anymore or less failures or breakages from one brand to the other. If you didn't have rollmarks, you would never be able to tell one from another. I use to buy in to "The Chart", but those days are long over. I watched a video of the DPMS factory and was very impressed. I use to hate their guns, but for no reason other than they were not listed high on the chart. If I were to buy an AR today it would be an Armalite, simply because the fit and finish seem so good. The only gun I would not buy are the new ARs with the carbon receivers. I wouldn't pay for rails either. Most people that shoot them alot end up taking them off or covering them up.
Click to expand...

Do we need to review the list of components so that you understand what the difference is when you compare something like a Colt to something like a DPMS or Bushmaster?
 
Components are more important than the rollmark on the lower.


For $1200 you can build an excellent rifle with a Geiselle trigger, match grade barrel, and in whatever configuration suits your purposes.

Colt 6920 is a good rifle built to a standard, but there are indeed higher standards out there. :)


I think my rifle shoots a lot nicer than a plain M4.

http://youtu.be/NVOFZNaHPfI
 
Unless I was going for a SBR, I wouldn't get a Colt. If you're stuck with a 16-inch barrel, you might as well get a mid-length gas system and have a longer hand guard.

Maybe a PSA or Spikes and have some money left over for extras.
 
I purchased your proposed gun Friday. A Colt LE6920 MP for $1239 OTD from a Walmart in Southeast Texas. Tax rate is 8.25%. Only purchased it because I didn't have one in my collection. My advice as to what you should do, do what feels right!
 
Magnuumpwr said:
My advice as to what you should do, do what feels right!
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Best advice here.
No one else can be happy with your purchase. I won't hang my head at night if you kick yourself for buying the wrong rifle.
FWIW though, a Colt is on my wishlist at some point in the future.
 
If you put a quality upper on a low-end lower receiver (e.g., Olympic Arms), do you end up with a good gun? The key components are in the upper receiver, except maybe the trigger group.
 
I know guys who have put a good quality upper on a less expensive lower. The consensus seems to be that as long as you use a decent lower (and not the cheapest thing you can find) and everything matches up well, as it should with a mil-spec upper and lower, it should work fine. I may end up going this route myself at some point. I've got about three AR's on my wishlist right now (as do many of us I bet).
 
Love my "stock" 6920 but it's not as accurate as a rifle with a free floated barrel.

If you can get a Colt set up that way, do that.
 
IndianaBoy said:
Components are more important than the rollmark on the lower.


For $1200 you can build an excellent rifle with a Geiselle trigger, match grade barrel, and in whatever configuration suits your purposes.

Colt 6920 is a good rifle built to a standard, but there are indeed higher standards out there. :)


I think my rifle shoots a lot nicer than a plain M4.

http://youtu.be/NVOFZNaHPfI
Click to expand...

I would love to see a breakdown of that, with prices, and links.

Mid length 16" as the configuration, please.
 
I'd buy the Colt. It's the gold standard

Also don't believe that "they are all the same" talk. If you only shoot a couple hundred rounds a year than any will do. However, as a person who uses these guns for a living I can tell you there is a difference.

My original work gun was a Bushmaster and I had several problems with it. Almost all the other Bushmasters had problems as well. The Colts experience far far less problems because they are made right, not to a price point.
 
Warp said:
I would love to see a breakdown of that, with prices, and links.

Mid length 16" as the configuration, please.
Click to expand...
PSA had a complete(minus rear sight)hammer forged stainless 16 mid upper a week or so ago for like 600. Not sure of the ultimate quality of the barrel.

Upper $600
Geissele Super Semi with lower parts and MOE grip $240
Lower $100
MOE stock kit $70
Troy rear sight $120, or like I did, the fixed Troy for $60
Throw in a MOE handguard for the hell of it. $35
 
hatt said:
PSA had a complete(minus rear sight)hammer forged stainless 16 mid upper a week or so ago for like 600. Not sure of the ultimate quality of the barrel.

Upper $600
Geissele Super Semi with lower parts and MOE grip $240
Lower $100
MOE stock kit $70
Troy rear sight $120, or like I did, the fixed Troy for $60
Throw in a MOE handguard for the hell of it. $35
Click to expand...

But it's out of stock and not available now. And I hate to nit pick, but we're assembling our very own AR here, we get to nit pick. You said "any configuration". I opted for a mid length. I don't know how a "it used to be in stock" carbine (?) length upper really qualifies here...

Link to the Geissele SSA with MOE LPK for $240, please? I haven't seen it...would love to see where that is.

Link to MOE stock kit for $70?
 
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