Best NM/DCM AR-15?

[model14]

I am saving this winter to purchase a NM/DCM AR-15 for competition this spring. Options are DPMS, Bushmaster, Rock River and ArmaLite. All are about the same price, and I believe all are made in the USA. Which manufacturer would you choose?
Thanks,
Richard

 

[WNTFW]

Model14,
24 hours and no response. Hopefully that is not THR saying you are not worthy.
In my area the White Oak has a good following. The Rock River is pretty popular. Not to put down Armalite, but I think they are a tad higher. That said look at which barrel it comes with.

http://www.whiteoakarmament.com/complete_uppers.htm

I might be building a rifle to compete in service rifle. Fact is if money were no issue I would just by one. I am going to make sure it would be worth DIY before proceeding.

 

[Howard Roark]

Bushmaster or RRA. My RRA uppers sight tracks fairly well for not being pinned. Both have good hand guard tubes. I don't know much about DPMS or Armalite.

If White Oak is an option, it is the best one by far. The Wilson barrel will take you all the way to high master.

 

[W.E.G.]

This question gets asked now and then.

Many of the better highpower competitors tend to not frequent the chat boards.

Any purpose-built, National-Match-legal AR by a reputable manufacturer is probably going to perform extremely well.

Two big tricks to the National Match game:
1. How to keep inside the 9-ring offhand - which has very little to do with the choice of rifle manufacturer; and
2. How to stay inside the 10-ring at 600 yards - which is as much about ammo and wind-reading as it is about rifle.

Then there is the issue of seeing the sights.
You may need glasses and/or aperture lenses.
Another factor that has nothing to do with who built your gun.

Then you have to set aside time to train.
Offhand skills and position skills don't come from one match every other month.

 

[model14]

What great responses to my question. Thanks all.

Last night at our club meeting I asked the same question and several responded with the exact answers you guys gave me.
Richard

 

[jhallrv4]

My RRA suffered a couple of warranty issues early on, and I have to say the customer service was totally, completely, NON-EXISTENT.
No return calls, no e-mail responses. Zilch, nadda, zip.

I would not go with them again. YMMV.

Jeff

 

[Mike OTDP]

Honestly, I would try one of the smaller makers. Fulton Armory or Compass Lake should be able to set you up with a good rifle.

 

[WNC Seabee]

I bought the stainless DPMS DCM upper from Midwayusa.com and had terrific luck with it. I did not shoot formal High Power matches since there aren't any at my club, but with a stock carbine trigger (read: creepy, heavy and rough) I was easily getting 1" groups at 200 yards with cheap (Prvi Partizan 55gr) ammo.

 

[constructor]

Wilson Arms makes the barrels for RRA and Armalite.
I would try Frank at Compass Lake Eng. or a Shilen barrel from WOA.

 

[taliv]

i have an RRA NM that has served me well. no complaints. however, compass lake that was mentioned above does good work. they've made some custom AR barrels for me that worked well.

I was easily getting 1" groups at 200 yards with cheap (Prvi Partizan 55gr) ammo.

uh huh

 

[wanderinwalker]

White Oak upper, RRA lower and go to work. It's all you need. A stock RRA, DPMS, Armalite or even a Shrubmaster will let you post good scores too. Just be warned, the Bushy triggers are borderline junk and you WILL replace it if you go that route.

My rifle is an Armalite with a WOA-chambered 1-7" Wilson. The rifle and barrel are absolutely zero handicap to score. All accuracy issues can be traced to originating behind the buttplate...

W.E.G has great advice. Learn to shoot offhand and read conditions. But learn to shoot offhand.

 

[WNC Seabee]

---- >Edited myself to maintain the high road

Think or say what you will, but I had incredible results with the DPMS upper.

 

[bgeddes]

White Oak upper, RRA lower and go to work.

This is exactly what I use to shoot in Benchrest competition. The lower was actually built by me, on an RRA receiver with a NM trigger installed. The White Oak upper is capable of doing anything I am. The biggest problem I have the the nut behind the trigger gets a little loose.

When I ordered my upper from White Oak, I was told on the phone that the wait was 6 weeks. Three weeks later the new upper was at my house. Their customer service is exceptional.

 

[lonegunman]

Best in what price range? You can buy a small car for the price of a gun these days? I have shot RRA, Bushmaster, Armalite and some purpose built ANG Marksmanship Training Unit (All-Guard Team) guns. The MTU makes an awesome rifle, but you have to join up, shoot really good and try like heck to get one and then you have to give it back when you are done.

I have a personal Rock River that runs like a champ. The Armalite was about the same in quality and accuracy. Armalite customer service was better than average.

In the customer service area, there is a relationship between demand and service. Most gun companies could care less about service if they are selling well. The better they sell the less they care. Springfield Armory for instance has non-existant customer service and that is about as nice as I can relate my experience with them. They cancelled my ten gun order and closed our conversation with, "We really don't need your business, we have orders for the next two years."

I like good customer service and will pay a bit extra for it.