Best Quality AR Under $2000

I'm gonna get crucified for saying this but considering the price range, warranty and actual value involved (not MSRP but actual price) you might want to take a gander at the Ruger SR556.

Out of the list I'd pick a Noveske or Colt--Colt due to many years of drinking the Colt Koolaid and knowing they hold their value quite well.

Noveske, Colt, LMT

Noveske, Colt, LMT

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Amen.

Double Star.

Other - The one you build yourself.

Decide exactly what you want it to do. Maybe you have already, but I don't see it spelled out above.

The first four on your list should all be great. I recently handled a Les Baer in a local store and frankly I'd take most $900 mainstream AR brands over that Les Baer. Too much money for little benefit, and I didn't like seeing the barrel gas block within about 1/32" of the supposedly free float tube handguard (which seemed to be an inexpensive YHM original style heavy tube, with even fewer ventilation cuts than normal).

LaRue and YHM should be good but I have yet to see any reviews.

Assuming your financial resources are finite and that you're not an infantry veteran or otherwise really experienced with the AR platform, I would seriously consider getting a less expensive AR and spending the extra money on training, magazines, ammo, and perhaps a high quality optic like an Aimpoint. There is not a lot of difference between a good $900-1000 AR and the Colt, LMT and Daniel Defense options that can't be identified and fixed quickly and inexpensively. The biggest thing to watch for is a truly in spec, shot-peened bolt, and for proper staking on the carrier (which is easily fixed if it isn't right). The Noveske on the other hand would get you a somewhat nicer barrel than most other companies offer.

If you want a piston setup I'd look at POF and the Ruger SR-556. I've shot the POF and it's quite nice (though not quite nice enough that I've decided to buy one).

Id have to say the Ruger SR556 is a best buy. Quality is yet to be seen but seriously folks its an AR they are all the same.

There's 2 types of people that buy AR's Those that buy one for the name and those that buy one to shoot.

My philosophy in buying an AR is buy a good BASE gun and make the modifications you want and make yours unique to you. If you want a "tier 1" gun, get a Colt 6920LE and pick out a set of rails that you want and put them on, iron sights that fit your needs, new grip that fits your hand, stock that has the features you want, so on and so on.

Daniel Defense AR's are nice.

My annoying AR statement:

"99% of the ARs on the market are perfectly fine for 99% of the shooters and if you happen to be the 1% you already know it and don't ask the question."


Out of your list I'd buy well.... nothing.

I'd get a Colt 6920.

The 6940 has a monolithic rail that has not had a love fest, as you mention.

But if you like the Colt rails then the 6940 is fine.

6920 and 40 use the same lower.

CDNN is selling the 6920 for $1200. That's hard to beat.

Out of your list the one there's no way you could get me to buy, the Les Baer. Silly.

I'm no smith, but I've built numerous AR's with no experience and just using basic instructions off the web. They really are a snap to put together, and it's a valuable experience to know the ins and outs of ANY firearm you own. I kinda cut my teeth building AR's, and now have much more confidence to take on all sorts of projects. I highly recommend anybody buy the parts and build it yourself.

I say go with STAG ARMS their doing work for allot of the major players.

I own AR15s, AR10s, Aks etc. for the money AND the quality I go with Rock River Arms. I dont think you can go wrong with these guys, their name speaks for itself.

CDNN is selling the 6920 for $1200. That's hard to beat.

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I can't see how the Colt is worth $350 more than a CMMG of the exact same configuration ... quoting CDNN price on the CMMG as well. Of course the Colt is a Colt, but other than the name they're equal quality.

I also don't understand why many people think you need to spend $1500-$2000 to get a good AR either. Unless you have a specific list of wants on your rifle, get a quality mid-tier rifle like a CMMG or Rock River and only add the extras if you feel the need. If your first AR is all tac'd out and weighs 10 pounds, you'll never realized the true beauty of a lightweight battle rifle. I've built plenty of AR's with the 13" rails, billet upper and lower, uber accurate stainless heavy profile barrels, etc. But now all my builds have final weight as a top priority, my favorite AR is maybe the most simple one - a 20" Govt profile with NO extras other than a nice sling, not even an optic. 6" 100 yard groups with a full 30 round mag are enough to make me feel pretty confident in getting the job done.

Rock River is hard to beat - I don't care how much money you spend.

Of those who recommend the Ruger SR556,
(1) why, considering it's unproven.
(2) do you own one, or have you done T&E on one?

I built one from parts. Not difficult, and with a $2K budget you can do a lot of things. And I second the idea of knowing your rifle inside and out. It is a good thing.

If I could pay less better, but not for sacrificing quality and cool and somewhat useless tactical features

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You can, you can pay much less. Give CDNN a call on Monday morning and ask about the CMMG line of rifles. Just pick whatever barrel length and profile you want and order the base model. I single CMMG out because they're what I believe is the best of the mid-tier rifles along with Rock River, but Rock River stuff is much harder to find in stock.

Get the base model, and decide AFTER you shoot the gun for awhile what tacti-cool accessories you want to add.

There's no need to consider a gas piston gun really, the track record of the standard gas system is outstanding. Gas piston stuff theoretically can improve reliability, but the track record isn't there to prove it. I personally own a Sig 556, and it's anything but cheap. They're very well built, they make many AR's feel like cheaply built toys. However I wouldn't recommend one in most cases, get something on the AR platform for your first rifle. The gas piston system really makes the gun more nose heavy and harder to shoot standing.

You sound pretty new to AR's. If you're not going to build it yourself, then keep it simple and get a basic but quality rifle. All the extra stuff just adds weight, but everybody has to have it because it looks cool. The cool factor wears off quick though once your light and mobile weapon suddenly is pushing 10 pounds.

If you want somebody to narrow it down even more, a perfect first AR I'd say would be one of the CMMG Medcon's, 16" barrel, middie gas, rifle sight radius with F marked FSB, 1:7 twist chrome lined, M4 feedramps, flip rear sight. The rifle sight radius is a very cool and worthwhile change from a standard 16" carbine, but keeps the weight down compared to a 20". A couple upgrades worth considering from the get go would be a different stock like a Magpul CTR, Vltor EMOD, or LMT Sopmod. Also a different grip, my favs are the overmolded Ergo and Hogue overmolded.

You could probably get that with the upgrades from CDNN for $1100, just guessing. Shoot it in that config for awhile before thinking about any other stuff like optics or rails. I bet you'll shoot it so well that you'll forget about all that other crap.

Take a look around at all brands, decide for yourself, look at examples in gunshops, look at examples (people you know or meet) that are privately owned. I waited way too long to buy my first AR, and when I looked around I chose a DPMS. I since bought a Bushmaster upper. But have dealt with, fired, and maintained hundreds of AR type rifles for many years.
I looked at the others, I shot some of the others many times, personally I dont think some of the top rated brands are near as good or even close to what they are given credit for.
Decide for yourself, dont listen to brand snobs, dont listen to the claims of those who will tell you that only certain brands will hold up to being fired more than a few hundred rds. Dont listen to those who will tell you that certain brands (aside from Vulcan ARs) will not hold up to carbine or rifle courses. I think most who will tell you those stories have never been to a carbine course, or have ever owned an AR.
I do think LMT makes a good rifle, Bushmaster, and many many others. You could also build a rifle from parts, then you know exactly what went into it.

OP, Other = CMMG and the extra $800 is for a good scope ~$400, 10 pmags ~$150, gun case ~$50 and ~200 of Ammo!.

Post #20, i have a rifle exactly like that. and yeah... it's a CMMG built by me.