Best quality AR-15 for the money

[Z-Michigan]

After Colt, there is everyone else and if you want to go upmarket, start with the Colt. It will set the benchmark for you as far as reliability and value retention.

I think this is going too far in praising Colt. Sure, their 6920 is a good carbine (it should be since it's basically a semiauto 16" M4). But there are other makes that are just as good and even better, and some of them don't cost any more. I would take the DD carbine I linked above over a 6920 without a second thought. Colt might (might!) hold more resale value, but if that's a major consideration don't buy any of these rifles, just keep the money... or at least buy something truly collectible.

 

[Welding Rod]

For an M4 like carbine intended primarly for personal defense I would get a Colt 6920.

For an A2 or A2 NM, or a varmiter I would get a Rock River.

 

[W.E.G.]

Which is the "best AR?"

I vote for pie.

 

[Zerodefect]

bcm :d

 

[wally]

For an M4 like carbine intended primarly for personal defense I would get a Colt 6920.

I've yet to find one where the front hand guards didn't rock side to side -- doesn't scream premium quality to me! The 6940 is nice if you want a quad rail and don't mind the price.

Get a Colt if you plan to sell it, as I agree about the value retention thing, but IMHO they have been living off their reputation for years.

 

[RockyMtnTactical]

BCM is the best for the money if you want a true fighting rifle that you will abuse. LMT is a close second.

Stag is a great bang for the buck as well. Not quite as good as the two others I mentioned, but a lot less $$.

 

[possum]

i would build one with BCM parts.

but if i didn't do that, i would buy whatever was cheaper between a bushmaster, stag and s&W.

 

[Coltdude84]

I voted for bushmaster because it has ran 100% since the day I got it without a single hick up.. There are many good companies out there that make a good quality AR, Colt, RRA, heck even SIG and HK are introducting some pretty new concepts.. If I were in the market for another quality AR-15 without breaking the bank I would go for the Bushmaster or Rock River Arms..

 

[Zerodefect]

I voted for Colt. But you didn't list BCM which, IMO, offers a superior weapon than colt for a lower price. BCM's standard barrels are as good as the barrel a 6920 has. Their cold hammer forged are superior, and thier 410 SS are exrtremly accurate if your into that.

I recently bought a Colt 6920 ($1300). I wanted the Colt to round out my collection. A Colt has a bit of Panach (sp?) in the tactical class community, works well, and I wanted the name recognition. And let's face it, AR's are all Colt has going real well for themselfs right now.

When I build a rifle, for myself or my friends, I often start with a LMT, Cavalry Arms, or Noveske Lower. Then I use a BCM, Larue, or Rainier Arms upper and Magpul furniture.

Even though the "big name brand" lowers cost a little extra. It's neat when people oogle your "Noveske". Makes it easier to sell as well. Even if I mention that it's a build useng BCM components, all everyone sees is that logo on the lower all the time.

Unfortuneatly stripped Colt lowers cost as much as a complete AK. So they aren't the best for building, unless you can use the entire rifle like I did.

 

[jem375]

for the money, it's DPMS, we have 3 and they all work great..use money saved to buy ammo..

 

[UnTainted]

I would have voted armalite, but went smith.

 

[MIL-DOT]

Yeah, I was wondering why no "Armalite"?
Though I've owned a couple AR's,( actually,three) I'm inclined to vote according to what I've heard and read over what I've experienced, and if "best for the money" is the criteria, I'm also going to say Smith & Wesson.

 

[WarMachine]

Out of the ones you listed, a Colt or S&W.

And if you can afford either of those, you can afford to put a BCM upper on the lower of your choice. Doing so would be the way I would go (and did go).

 

[RatDrall]

The S&W is the best complete rifle, for the money. The only difference between the M&P15 and rifles from LMT, Colt, BCM, and other top tier rifles is the barrel on the S&W is made from 4140 steel instead of the higher grade stuff.

Other brands cut more corners.

If you don't mind buying the upper and lower seperately, you can buy a BCM completed lower for $360 and an upper for $435. All you'll need is some handguards ($20), and a bolt carrier group and charging handle ($145 with the upper). You could have a top tier rifle for just a hair over a thousand dollars, the price of the lesser rifles at the gunshop. All without any real "assembly", aside from snapping the handguards on all you have to do is pin the upper and lower together. *I know that the lower doesn't matter, reliabilitywise, but "Frankenguns" don't resell so well, matching names on the upper and lower helps*

http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-Lower-Receiver-Groups-M4-AR15-s/117.htm
http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/AR-15-16-Mid-Length-Group-s/27.htm
http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/Mid-Length-Handguards-Black-p/handguards mid length black.htm

 

[franconialocal]

Try this......Sorry if someone already posted it, but it's a great write-up.

http://forums.officer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=81462&highlight=jwise

 

[snakeman]

with colt you get a name what i would have liked to see is stag model 8

 

[BushyGuy]

I love Bushmaster so bad, i bought one with a giant hole in my pocket! I knew it wouldnt fail me and it hasnt! My first choice was Rock River but they are hard to find one for sale that time i was lookin so i bought My Bushmaster and i fell on love with it.

Bushmaster is better then Colt -reason cuz Colt chambers are too tight when they get dirty they jam, other then that they are good guns, dont buy a AR15 with a Wylde chamber they are good for slow fire but not combat- why you think alot of troops are complaining about it? just cuz they have mil spec doesnt mean they are better , If Bushmaster supplied the Marines their rifles there wouldnt be as many complaints!

who cares about customer service and warranties- if the AR is built to last then it shouldnt worry about the warranty, again another point for Bushmaster.

Go Bushmaster!!!! Rock River is second .

 

[RP88]

Try this......Sorry if someone already posted it, but it's a great write-up.

http://forums.officer.com/forums/sho...ighlight=jwise

this write-up puts a lot about the "Chart" in question if it's true - at least in regard to staking, feedramps, and some bolt things. And once again, CMMG either doesn't get quite the credit it deserves (I did not know they MP their bolts), or gives itself just a tad too much credit (still wondering why they no longer are credited with using MIL-EB115 milspec 4150 steel in their barrels when they were for the several years the chart has been around).

Also, I haven't seen it pop up yet, but Del-Ton is a good value buy as a kit. You can add some essential upgrades for a bit more and save $200 over building off a BCM, so long as you're okay with sacrificing a few things. I got an e-mail from them today where they answered several chart-related questions, and Del-Ton does a lot more right than I originally thought.

 

[TonyAngel]

If I understand your question, you're looking for the best bang for the buck to get you into an AR-15. There are lots of quality rifles out there right now. If I had to choose one best rifle for a fighting carbine, without breaking the bank, it would probably be BCM. I haven't bought a rifle from them, but have ordered enough parts to constitue a rifle and I have to say that the parts are quality made.

Another thing that you have to remember is that no matter what you buy, parts are going to wear out. You are going to need to replace buffer springs, bolts, rings, buffers, extractors, etc. It isn't a matter of if, but when you will need to replace the parts.

If you just want to get into a good AR-15, I believe that CMMG has what they call "bargain bin" rifles for something like $600. I really don't know where they get them, but the consist of rifles from many of the manufacturers listed in this thread. Some were surplus and such. Many have gotten them and like them.

Personally, based on what I've seen, if I were to buy a whole rifle, I'd go BCM. I've had RRA, Bushmaster and Colt. The Colt was nice, but geez are they expensive. The RRA and Bushy were nice, but not on the same level as the BCM stuff.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Bushmaster is better then Colt -reason cuz Colt chambers are too tight when they get dirty they jam, other then that they are good guns

Unless you are buying one of the few models with a .223 chamber, you are going to get a 5.56x45 chamber with Colt - which is the same chamber most Bushmasters use. In fact, I'll bet you money right now that if we take ten random Colts and ten random Bushmasters, both with supposedly 5.56x45 chambers, and gauge them both, Bushmaster will have a greater rate of chambers that do not match the dimensions of a 5.56x45 chamber.

dont buy a AR15 with a Wylde chamber they are good for slow fire but not combat- why you think alot of troops are complaining about it?

1. Troops in combat are issued rifles with 5.56x45 chambers, with the possible exception of specialized rifles like the SDM or Mk12.

2. You might take a look at some of Zak Smith's reports in the archives here. He has shot in competitions where gas blocks were charred black from the heat and aluminium gas blocks went single shot from heat expansion. Serious, heavy duty shooting - and with rifles using hybrid chambers either identical to the Wylde chamber or having only minor differences.

I'm not sure what you consider a "slow fire" firing schedule or a "combat" firing schedule; but I'll guarantee you that a Wylde chamber will handle a firing schedule that will cause parts failure in cheaper ARs.

And once again, CMMG either doesn't get quite the credit it deserves (I did not know they MP their bolts), or gives itself just a tad too much credit (still wondering why they no longer are credited with using MIL-EB115 milspec 4150 steel in their barrels when they were for the several years the chart has been around).

My understanding is that it was called into question whether the 4150 that CMMG uses meets the MIL standards for the AR barrel.

 

[SwampWolf]

RRA is a good choice-and be sure and include their NM trigger when you order if your plans include target/varmint shooting.

 

[Guns and more]

I bought the Colt because I took re-sale into account.
For the money is a big modifier.

 

[Z-Michigan]

I got an e-mail from them today where they answered several chart-related questions, and Del-Ton does a lot more right than I originally thought.

Please do tell! I have one of their kits and like it, but was considering some upgrades, and would definitely like to know if any of my proposed upgrades are redundant!

 

[Z-Michigan]

I bought the Colt because I took re-sale into account.
For the money is a big modifier.

Not to be snide but I don't think many people will be re-selling a quality M4gery. Too useful to keep and too much competition for resale to be that great even if it is a Colt.

 

[Detachment Charlie]

For the money? Add one more vote for Stag.