Best Quality AR Under $2000

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OH yeah, I want to clarify for those who may have misunderstood me. This is NOT my FIRST gun or first AR. I already own a ROck River Entry Tactical Carbine A4, as well as Saiga 308 and a DPMS LR-308.

I am just looking for what can be considered a fun gun, battle gun, SHTF gun, etc etc. I like to get something nice and tacticoolish that is of high quality to add to my collection. Since I do own an AR-10 and AR-15, a gas piston gun like XCR or SIg 556, might give the collection some diversity, I kind of like that. However, a real nice high quality AR that is beefed up and outperforms a gas piston gun would be my preference over an inferior gas piston gun.

Still I am wondering about XCR 7.62 x 39. Is it true XCR's have interchangeable barrels? That seems like a real unique feature that may be interesting. As far as XCR quality, I hear lot of good, but a few gripes. Not sure how it holds it own against LMT MPR, NOveske.

And of course I hear Gas piston system is not long term battle tested. However, from what I hear gas piston AR's seem to outlast DI AR's in torture tests, but that evidence is not conclusive or significant for most situations.


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.
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Well, I respect your belief, but I think AR's and automobile have one thing in common, they are mechanical structures with moving and interchageable parts and, although they do all have the same function, the quality from one manufacturer and brand to another does seem some variances in quality. For example, I will take a Subaru Outback anyday of the week over a Ford Sedan because of the endless problems I had with my Fords and the huge mechanic bills I ended up incurring. Thats not to say, that a Ford won't work for you, but it just seems the engineering of the car has some major flaws which were more prevalent over time. My Subaru I owned for many years and have yet to do any major repair job on it. Well, I think I can apply this same logic to AR guns, as well. Sorry, lets not ignite a Japanese vs American car debate here .. :p


OP, Other = CMMG and the extra $800 is for a good scope ~$400, 10 pmags ~$150, gun case ~$50 and ~200 of Ammo!.
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I got ammo, I got Nightforce for my .308, an Aimpoint for my ROck River and an ACOG that is crying and lonely for a new home :( . For now the Acog is on the Rock River along with the Aimpoint, but I need another AR to put that sight on.

SO, Since I got ammo and optics, now I like a nice gun to add to the family. Since, I am familiar with AR platform and have lot of mags, ammo , optics for it.. I thought an AR platform, where I Can share the parts would be an advantage.

Did I forget to mention about my interest in the XCR 7.62 x 39 though.. ahh.. I know.. Not practical, right? :rolleyes: Perhaps going to a new caliber is a pain, but if that gun could handle wolf ammo ok without damaging the gun I'd be intersted to know.

Is it a crime to have an additional AR? Also, I have heard from a few sources Rock Rivers are inferior and not Mil-Spec. Not that I think its a bad gun. Iam happy to own it and maybe it has some qualities that a Colt, LMT or other mil-spec gun doesn't have, I am not sure. I own it, so I am not planning on ditching it anytime soon.
 
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well, out of the ones on the list, id have to go with the noveske.

but if your seriously considering spending 2k on an ar, i would chunk another 2 hundred or so on the pile at try to find a knights armament sr15.

i could never bring myself to spend 2k+ on an ar however, and my upper end would probably be a sabre.
 
Sorry, I said under $2000.. $2000 + is not allowed :D

Actually, I am not wanting to spend $2000 on an AR. I think I would want to spend $1500.00 +/- a $200 or so. If I can spend less on quality, then I would be happy with that. But, I only said under $2000, so I could hear about guns that may be a little beyond what I am really wanting to spend. I like to get a gun with high quality flip-up sights, long quad rail, high quality stock, trigger and grip already built-in; if possible.
 
As far as XCR quality, I hear lot of good, but a few gripes.
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well, the xcr ejector looks like it should be holding an am radio in a 72 chevy.

Not sure how it holds it own against LMT MPR, NOveske.
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the same way bread holds up in a toaster set on high
 
If you're interested in variety, there's plenty of EBRs that can be had for less than 2 grand. Sig 556, MSAR STG-556.... Buds even has an FS-2000 for 1,999.

If you're interested in other calibers, the XCR is not a bad choice, and it is true you can convert it to and from different calibers. Although alternatively you could get an AK for around $500, and tacticool it up yourself later.

S&W also makes a 5.45 AR now, which can be found for even less than $1000. An AR-57 might make a fun range toy, and it certainly has a unique appearance, but you'll have to find a lower for it.
 
FlyinBryan said:
well, out of the ones on the list, id have to go with the noveske.

but if your seriously considering spending 2k on an ar, i would chunk another 2 hundred or so on the pile at try to find a knights armament sr15.

i could never bring myself to spend 2k+ on an ar however, and my upper end would probably be a sabre.
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i think i know why you like the sabre uppers :evil:
 
Been very satisfied with my Daniel Defense M4 - what's not to like. The CMMG would be my second choice - again what's not to like - both well made 'in-spec' items.
 
How would people here compare a Colt 6920 , LMT MPR , Noveske to the much cheaper CMMG AR?

This guy has done a real serious review, examining the internal components of various AR models. His final conclusion was CMMG was on par with Colt, LMT and NOveske for much less of a price.

Here is a review:
http://forums.officer.com/showthread.php?t=81462

Do others here agree with this guy?
 
everyone is entitled to an opinion and jwise @ officer.com has put a lot of effort into writing his down, with nice pictures.

but no, i don't agree with him. cmmg is ok, but i'd spend the extra for the colt, lmt or noveske. (in fact, I have spent extra for colt, noveske and have passed on the cmmg)
 
i have a question, and my apologies if you've answered it somewhere and i missed it, but have your rock river and dpms rifles proven to be fords? or subarus?
 
i have a question, and my apologies if you've answered it somewhere and i missed it, but have your rock river and dpms rifles proven to be fords? or subarus?
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Well, I have not used much of either.. But, from reading various posts and experiences from others who have owned and used these rifles for a long time, I would say they fit more into the "Ford" category. I do have a DPMS LR-308, that I will keep, but I got rid of my 5.56 DPMS SPortical.


I have looked over the M4 chart and according to it, a Colt would seem the way to go.. And that is one of the ways I am leaning, but just looking at my other options. I like the fact that the LMT MPR and Noveske are setup with tactical features using higher quality components. The 6940, uses inferior components on its external parts, like rail and BUIS.
 
Cabelas is advertising a bushmaster for $949.00; I have not seen Bushmaster addressed in this thread. I hate to post another question when the OP is seeking answers, but any love for Bushmaster? I am an AK neophite.
 
if you build one, you can easily walk away from CMMG with a high-quality, entry-level match rifle, and a holographic sight, and still have money left over.
 
I have looked over the M4 chart and according to it, a Colt would seem the way to go.
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Look at the same chart. Look at a Charles Daly DM4-LE. For several hundred less than the Colt you're giving up, IIRC, parkerizing under the FSB, and nothing else. There were scarce for a while but are becoming available again, and I saw one online for only $995.
 
Isn't parkerizing under the FSB an important feature to prevent corrosion? I could b e speaking out of my backside. I think its either LMT or Noveske who doesn't do this as well, yet still is able to maintain themselves as mil-spec.

As ironic as it sounds I am seeing Colts for the same price as LMT's and lower and much cheaper than NOveske's. The warranty on Colt seem to suck.. Does LMT and Noveske offer Lifetime warranty? That alone may be a major selling point.

The LMT MPR is a gun I am considering... ANyh thoughts about it? Have found one for $1700. Seen them as much as $2500. Not sure if I can just take a colt 6920, chop off the iron sight or replace the gas block and turn it into a tacti-coolish rifle like the LMT MPR.. I like to run a real long rail on it like the MPR has.
 
Isn't parkerizing under the FSB an important feature to prevent corrosion? I could b e speaking out of my backside.
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Actually, I have some experience with this. I had a 16" Bushmaster HBAR that I removed the front sight base off of after almost 10 years. At that point, the rifle had been to a number of weekend shoots/fun matches, and three carbine classes. It had been shot in rain, sleet and everything in between.

When I removed the front sight base, there was a small ring of surface rust maybe .001" thick at the front and back edge of unparkerized part of the barrel. The remainder of the barrel was bright, shiny steel after ten years. No pitting, no corrosion. Not even dull.

Of course that is in North Texas which doesn't have a high humidity environment in general or much in the way of salt spray. I imagine if either of those were a concern for you, you might need a little more protection. My outside barrel maintenance consisted of wiping down the barrel and FSB with CLP once in awhile.
 
best AR under 2000 dollars lol i know its easy to spend more but i dont see a point if you have trouble finding a decent AR under $2000 your looking to hard.
 
well, the xcr ejector looks like it should be holding an am radio in a 72 chevy.
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the xcr maybe superior to the AR i would bet it is more dependable if i wanted another high end tactical 5.56/.223 it would be between XCR or SIG
 
TurboFC3S said:
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.
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Depends on if you ever want to sell it. Right or wrong the Colts hold their resale values much better than the other brands at similar price levels.
 
if you have $2000 to blow on an ar it really doesn't matter which one you get, there all good.
 
heh, well, if you went up to $2100, i'd say the KAC SR-15, hands-down
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Interesting. I am not familiar with those, will have to do some reading.

What is it that they do so well that they rank hands down above a Noveske for example?
 
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