Considering an AR-15, now ,,,,?

[Michael_C]

What is the best quality for the money, from whom, and ANY other advice a person can obtain ?

I had an AR-15 Colt H-Bar once,,I LOVED IT ! and might go back the AR route again,,,but with all the new offernings, I was wondering if there is an equal or better 'bang for the buck' value than the Colt out there on the AR circut. I would probably want another heavy barrel....

Michael

 

[RockyMtnTactical]

Best for the money, Stag Arms.

Got more money, try LMT.

You could also try building one?

 

[possum]

look at the stags, and bushmasters. i have more experience with bushmaster than all other make and models of ar's and i love em. i have a bushmaster, and owned another in the past they are good to go in my book.

 

[HGUNHNTR]

There are a million choices in vendors and configurations of ARs out there today. Fortunately almost all of them are of very high quality, just choose one that has the features you want and go for it.
Too many times people post this question because they don't know what they want and they are looking for someone to tell them. Make up your own mind what is important and get it.

 

[FlyinBryan]

ya, im with possum, bushmaster is the best brand ive owned. ive owned others but im not gonna bashem here.

16" barrel, 1" 100yrd groups all day long, 5000 plus rounds fired without a single stoppage of any kind, EVER!!!! less than 1000 bux.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

Go back to Colt.

 

[cbrgator]

Love my Stag.

 

[HGUNHNTR]

See what I mean, 3 responses, and 3 different manufacturers.
Don't sweat it, as long as you get an ar from a major manufacturer you will be just fine.

For the record I have a DPMS, with a delton upper, 100% reliable, and accurate. I have also owned Bushmaster, Armalite, and Saber Defence..all very good firearms.

 

[Warner]

I had a Colt SP-1 for 20+ years. It was accurate and gave me no problems. Today our family owns three Bushmasters and they perform fully as well as my Colt did.

Our decision to get Bushmasters was based on their lack of reported problems along with a higher prestige factor among those I've asked; right next behind Colt and LMT.

We bought factory-built guns 'cause that's the way they seem to work best overall. Also you have somewhere a bit easier to go with any problems during the break-in process.

W

 

[Rubber_Duck]

+1 for Bushmaster. I have one and she runs like a top.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Really, these are pretty good days for AR15 fans. Even the lower tier brands will do most of what a shooter needs to do and can be repaired easily if they don't for some reason.

If you plan on running the rifle hard and doing a lot of training, it is probably worth it to look at some of the higher end ARs (Colt, Novseke, Bravo Co.). If you are looking at more than one AR or are willing to play with it some, there are other options to consider as well.

 

[surjimmy]

Rock River, I was told this is what the DEA uses. Don't know if that's true or not, but I have never had any trouble with mine.

 

[deercop]

I've owned a Colt AR-15A3, a Bushmaster M4, and a Bushmaster 16" HBAR. I sold them all.

I now own a LMT factory M4, and just placed an order for another.

http://www.kiesler.com/police/productdetail.aspx?pid=21853

 

[30 cal slob]

i found this resource extremely helpful. take a peek at the chart, and then bone up on the link, which provides excellent reference material.

long and short of it: buy Colt, LMT, or Noveske.

http://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=6642

 

[basicblur]

Rock River, I was told this is what the DEA uses. Don't know if that's true or not...

What you were told is true-Rock River's DEA Carbine

Some seem to knock RRA because of "The Chart", but apparently RRA is greater than the sum of its parts? (read about the 9 makers who didn't make it to the final of the DEA's tests). I'd love to know more details AFA makers who were DQed and what test knocked 'em outta the running, but apparently nobody's talking?

I bought a RRA LE Tactical Entry when the AWB expired. Was at the shop the other day and they had received 'bout 10 Colt LE6920, and had 'em on sale for $1,224, so one followed me home. It looks identical to my RRA, 'cept the RRA has a 6 position collapsible stock (Colt has 4 position) and the RRA has a Hogue grip (Colt has standard grip).
Of course, The Chart points out some hidden differences between the two.

Don't know it would do the OP much good since he wanted a heavy barrel, but the dealer with 'em on sale is Town Gun Shop/Town Police Supply in Collinsville VA.
Online dealers with a better price were few and far between, but of course, they didn't have 'em in stock.

 

[30 cal slob]

RRA's are tighter than virgins in my experience.

 

[ftierson]

The chart just presented is seriously out of date, to the point of being quite misleading...

For a couple of examples using only RRA for a minute, RRA offers chromed bores as well as non-chromed ones (your choice), RRA offers the Wylde chamber on many of their guns (theoretically allowing greater accuracy than the standard NATO chamber but still allowing use of NATO ammo without pressure problems like the standard .223 Rem. chamber can produce) with the 5.56mm NATO chamber on others, offers several flattop models equipped with front and rear sights, and straight pins on the FSB...??

Although still a small player (although RRA is now the third largest producer of ARs), Doublestar is not even on the list (and they sell a fine product).

While I appreciate the effort in presenting the chart, I just want to remind everyone that it might not be very helpful...

By the way, much of the 'problem' with the chart is that it compares one model from each producer, which may well not do a good job of allowing a fair comparison across all models...

Forrest

 

[rangerruck]

colt, will be the only one that will either maintain, or go up , in value. I would get a piston drive ar myself, and i believe colt makes one of these now, as well.

 

[rob_s]

ftierson, the great thing about the chart is that it's easily modified.

Go to the link provided, make a case for your arguments, and it's quite easy for me to change the chart.

Or you can do what most people do that claim that the chart is incorrect.

 

[rob_s]

To the OP:

The Chart is a good jumping off point. Yes, there are some minor errors in it, as there always will be with those makers that do not hold to any standard as they change vendors and features(both for the better and worse).

However, even if Olympic Arms all of a sudden started selling a chrome-lined barrel, it still wouldn't much matter as to the overall quality of the firearm.

In addition, The Chart is about the models referenced which are all "M4-pattern". If you're varmint hunting, or shooting NRA Hipower, or something to that effect then it's likely that none of the rifles listed will serve you very well.

It is impossible for anyone to suggest a rifle to you without first knowing what it is you want to do with it. Failing to do so negates the advice given and calls into question the motivations of the giver. Most people will have experience such that their sample size = 1, yet will feel confident in recommending their pet brand based on this insignificant sample size.

So, what do you want to do with it? Matches? Classes? Plinking? Hunting varmints? Hunting something bigger? Home defense? LE patrol? Contracting in Iraq? The list goes on and on.

Tell us more about your wants/needs and we can better help steer you towards what may work best for you. And no, "general purpose" is not an answer.

 

[30 cal slob]

i'm hoping all the major manufacturers are paying attention to "The Chart."

whatever the chart's particular status at any given time, it's the individual features of the rifles that prospective buyers should be paying attention to.

most AR's are suitable for casual range use and plinking.

however, if one is going to stake one's life on an AR ... it behooves one to pay attention to the details of individual manufacturer features.

 

[rob_s]

You are absolutely right, and I'm glad you brought that up.

The important thing is to read the writeup that goes with The Chart. If one or two items here or there are off, it really doesn't matter as long as the consumer is educating himself about what he is buying.

I just posted an update to the chart just now, and I'm going to move it to the bottom of the post so that people hopefully read the explanation first.

Thanks for the idea!

 

[basicblur]

I know a gunsmith/bench rest competitor who looked at the chart and stated he'd rather have the 4140 barrel than the Colt's chromed-think I've read blurbs 'bout this before stating 4140 for accuracy, chromed for durability.
Anywho...as others have stated?, don't put too much faith in The Chart, and decide what's important to you.
Back when I bought my RRA, I checked around and at the time most folks seemed to prefer the Colt or RRA (bullseye shooters), so based on price I went with the RRA. I wasn't too concerned about the ultimate in durability (but it's a bonus) etc as I'm not going to subject the gun to such. Apparently The Chart is not the endall AFA judging a gun's durability, as the RRA looks pretty bad on The Chart, but it passed all DEA's tests (including torture testing).
I'd still like to know 'bout the 9 rifles that didn't make it to the DEA Finals!

If you're buying as a collector item, I'd think you'd have to go with the Colt AFA possible appreciation in value (as well as historical perpective).

When I bought my Colt a few days ago, I had him open the box so I could eyeball it-shop said he preferred to do so to make sure serial #s match, but said he'd had a number of collectors buy 'em who did not want the box opened.

 

[rob_s]

Anyone that has ever spent more than 10 minutes involved in any aspect of LE "trials" (whether fed, state, or local) will quickly dismiss the use of any such trials in marketing by the alleged "winner" of same.

Also, AFAIK it's required to verify the serial number on the actual firearm for the FFL's log books. When I was selling guns we had this problem with several collectors that took issue with the practice, but we always opened the box to ensure that the correct serial number went in the log book.

 

[yesit'sloaded]

This is the only AR upper you will ever need. .223 is for weenies. Use 50BMG