AR15 Quality? ..... State of the Industry?

[mec]

I have the impression that most people are happy with their AR15s regardless of company of origin. I haven't run across board postings to the effect that any particular manufacturer of AR 15s Sucks. This is unusual since most discussions of a given firearm contain quite a few negative comments.
Do most ar shooters find that their rifles perform up to expectations?

Lately, I notice many source of AR type rifles and accessories( particularly Upper Units) are sold out or backordered. I ordered a target upper from Bushmaster three weeks ago along with a front sight mounted sling stud. the stud arrived but no upper. Is this normal or is it a reflection of greater demand for this kind of product? BATF stats on production numbers are a couple of years old and I haven't been able to find out about current trends.

 

[Onmilo]

Totally normal for Bushmaster and most other producers.
Bushmaster seems to consistently run about four weeks between placing an order and actually receiving it.

I think they build stuff in blocks.
When they get a sufficent quantity of orders they begin the build order.
Some guys get lucky and place an order right at the end of the order cycle and receive their stuff fairly quickly.

 

[mec]

thanks. great information.

 

[possum]

i have owned 2 ar's and i currently have one, they have both been bushmasters and i have been very satisfied with both thier performances. they are great guns that go bang everytime, and they run and run without an issue. i love the ar platform and even more so that i have a great ar that works everytime.

there are many great companies out there, and there are very few if any that i have read about that had real issues.

i like bushmaster, rra, dpms, but other good companies are out there, i would reccomend one slike stag and such but i have no experience with them, and i will not do that, but there are alot fo folks that have and love thier stags.

 

[ZeroCool]

I agree...

There doesnt seem to be much of a quality difference in AR Manufacturers anymore. If you go Colt, RRA, Bushmaster, Armalite, DPMS, Stag, etc... you are going to get a gun that works.

People are even satisfied with Olympic, who is pretty much considered bottom of the barrel.

Sure each company may turn out a lemon now and again, but overall, the State of the Industry is strong!

 

[RockyMtnTactical]

Trust me, there are some key differences, but most people don't shoot their weapons enough to know the difference.

 

[HorseSoldier]

People are even satisfied with Olympic, who is pretty much considered bottom of the barrel.

The only major failure I've ever had with a civilian AR component, having owned rifles or major rifle components from DPMS, Bushmaster, RRA, and Olympic, was a complete bolt failure (snapped in half while cycling, leaving front of the bolt head in the chamber) from an Olympic. In fairness to Olympic, the gun had an extremely high round count, as I'd bought the upper from a friend who'd in turn gotten it from another friend of mine.

Beyond that, though, I'd +1 what RockyMtnTactical said. Most civilian shooters, outside of competition guys, probably won't run enough rounds through a civilian AR to be seeing major differences in durability and such (unless you just happen to get a bad gun).

 

[MachIVshooter]

I haven't run across board postings to the effect that any particular manufacturer of AR 15s Sucks.

I think that pretty much sums it up. My personal experience is limited to Colt, Bushmaster, RRA and the two Armalite AR's I own. I've not heard bad things about Olympic lately as I used to, so I asssume they have improved (I know Oly's prices are up a bit). Stag has been in the business a long time building componenets for other AR manufacturers (I know Stag builds some of RRA's lowers).

The only ones I've been Admonished to steer clear of by many, many people are Hess.

 

[mec]

I've shot a few of them but my main experience is with my BushMaster Predator. I figured it would be a good multi-purpose utility rifle and it is working out that way. Fun to shoot. More fun to shoot than I thought it would be. It being non chrome, I avoid getting the barrel hot and have ordered the Target upper group so that I can guiltlessly put more rounds through it.

 

[Texas Gunman]

Alot of folks dont know the difference between chrome lined and none chrome lined.
Also, dunno lower priced ARs also have 4140 steel vs 4150, also their is fit and finish, heat treated & pressure tested bolts etc.

Their is a real difference.

TG

 

[jthuang]

Generally the big name manufacturers will give you a decent product.

That said, I would not recommend an ASA (American Spirit Arms) AR to anybody. They recently went through a change of ownership but I haven't read enough on their current offerings to change my opinion. Their old owner did a real number on ASA's reputation.