Good AR?

J

JCooperfan1911

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I am looking to buy a basic, no frills 16” carbine for home defense. But I am wanting the highest quality, most reliable AR I can possibly get. Cost is of no concern.

I just want an absolute basic gun with no extra doodads and in original government configuration. I plan to add a red dot, flashlight, sling, and that’s it.

Thoughts?
 
Well, if $$ no concern, probably Daniel Defense, LMT, LWRCI, or KAC.

Though, honestly, a Colt, Ruger, or S&W is 95% as good for 1/2 the cost, the savings of which can go towards ammo, spare bolt, suppressor, etc.

Keep in mind an unsuppressed .223 is incredibly loud when fired indoors, i.e. "home defense," potentially disorientingly so for the shooter.
 
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BCM would be a really good way to go these days. Daniel Defense used to offer stuff like that (and I have one) but their rifles tend to be a bit tricked out with fancy rails and furniture these days. Colt also makes a civilian M4A1 and a M4 trooper.

The only downside to BCM is that you might have to buy the upper and lower separately to get the exact set of features you want. They make both M4 and Mid length 16" uppers.

IMHO, the mid-length gas system is the way to go if you want a general purpose 16" AR, softer recoiling than the carbine length systems and you can still use the bayonet lug like on a 20" rifle. Either that or go with a 14.5" M4 upper with pinned and welded flash hider to make it as short as legally possible. Or you could go with the "mock dissipator" that has a mid-length gas system but rifle length handguard and sight but not many companies make those.
 
I bought a Stag as my first AR. After that, I've built my own. Up to 12 of them now.

I can tell you this from my personal first hand experience.

Don't fall for the "Brand name scam".

I've used PSA, Areo, Anderson, BCM, Colt and Giessele.

I deliberate spent ALL OUT, Spared no expense, full on insane, building the Giessele..just to see if the "Brand" stuff was so much better than PSA.

It's NOT! Not even a little. My cheapest build (also done deliberate to see how cheap I could build one) shoots sub MOA, with zero defects, zero misfires, zero malfunctions...than I put $340 bucks into.

The Giessele "Brand snob" build set me back well into $3000. Is also shoots sub MOA...no defects, malfuntions...Yada Yada Yada.

It comes down to this...if it's mil spec, from a well know brand (other than Bear Creek...they are junk), it will just work. Even my Stag works just as well...and Brand snobs love bashing on Stag (for no justifiable reason in the least).

Is Daniel, KAC, Colt..really better?

NO, they are not. You pay for a stamp on the side, and maybe a few almost useless ergonomic "improvements"....

Here's a hint too...Anderson stuff is almost the cheapest stuff you can get...know who they supply to? COLT! So, there's that.

Next, I expect a whole lot of flak, telling me I'm wrong, but no facts to prove it.

A few things..and only a few, make a good AR better...and that's the barrel, bolt carrier group, and trigger. To a lesser extent, maybe an adjustable gas block. The rest is window dressing.
 
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JCooperfan1911 said:
I am looking to buy a basic, no frills 16” carbine for home defense. But I am wanting the highest quality, most reliable AR I can possibly get. Cost is of no concern.

I just want an absolute basic gun with no extra doodads and in original government configuration. I plan to add a red dot, flashlight, sling, and that’s it.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

Red dot means flat top with a flip up rear sight, IMO.

Maybe something configured like this?
https://fnamerica.com/products/rifles/fn-15-military-collector-m4/
 
JCooperfan1911 said:
I am looking to buy a basic, no frills 16” carbine for home defense. But I am wanting the highest quality, most reliable AR I can possibly get. Cost is of no concern.

I just want an absolute basic gun with no extra doodads and in original government configuration. I plan to add a red dot, flashlight, sling, and that’s it.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

Spare no expense...

LMT
 
Get the Colt OEM version or whatever it is that's just a 6920 without sights/furniture for $750 and put whatever stock, pistol grip and forearm you want on it.

Unless you want the basic M4 furniture, in which case, just grab a 6920. You want "original government configuration", that's just about as close as you can get.

Not my cup exactly, but can't argue with it either.
 
JCooperfan1911 said:
. . . basic, no frills 16” carbine . . . highest quality. . . most reliable AR. . . Cost is of no concern. . . absolute basic gun. . . no extra doodads . . . original government configuration
Click to expand...
Contradict yourself much?

What makes you think the "original government configuration" is even remotely "the most reliable".

It sounds like you want someone to suggest an AR configuration so that you don't have to familiarize yourself with the domain. You will probable end up unhappy if you continue.

Megawatt maker said:
The rest is window dressing.
Click to expand...
I'd go a step further; the rest is counterproductive.

I would propose that your $340 PSA, with the $1000 in ammo already shot through it, is a far more reliable weapon than a $1340 BCM/Colt/etc with only 100 rounds through it. And you'll be a better shooter after shooting the $1000 in ammo too.
 
NIGHTLORD40K said:
my "Red Dawn Event" rifle is a lowly Del Ton
Click to expand...

And if ever used as intended, the popo will confiscate, electric pencil etch evidence numbers, and otherwise abuse it until trial….and then you still might not get it back….

Two thoughts - get the best of the best, and realize it is a ‘goner’, or get what works and realize it is a ‘goner’…either are entirely satisfactory based on the likelihood of bad things happening….
 
If youre going with a red dot, or other optic, Id skip the uppers with a fixed front sight. If you feel the need to have a front sight, you can always add one of the rail mounted fixed, or flip up BUIS's.

I agree with the "Don't fall for the "Brand name scam" " line of thinking. Something like one of the S&W flat tops will do you just fine, and leave you money for better optics and ammo.
 
Like many others, I also have some experience with various grades and styles of AR.

If you want the short answer, BCM is my favorite. I run a lot of Bravo Company parts even on non-BCM builds.

Other turn key options are the IWI Zion 15. Or PSA Sabre. Or any other brands, I like Stag, I like Aero sometimes (same parent company as Stag). Colt sucks anymore but that will make people mad.

But truly, sometimes the "tactical" rifles are actually simpler than the "no grills GI models". Take a free float rail. Simpler, smoother, lighter, better than an old multi-piece plastic unit.

Or, if you want to stay boomer, there's this:

Screenshot_20230402-094926.png
 
rabid wombat said:
And if ever used as intended, the popo will confiscate, electric pencil etch evidence numbers, and otherwise abuse it until trial….and then you still might not get it back….

Two thoughts - get the best of the best, and realize it is a ‘goner’, or get what works and realize it is a ‘goner’…either are entirely satisfactory based on the likelihood of bad things happening….
Click to expand...
Well, if Im using a long gun for defensive purposes, its likely there AREN'T any popo anymore....but everyones tactical situation is different, lol.
 
NIGHTLORD40K said:
Though, honestly, a Colt, Ruger, or S&W is 95% as good for 1/2 the cost, the savings of which can go towards ammo, spare bolt, suppressor, etc.
Click to expand...

NIGHTLORD40K said:
Well, if Im using a long gun for defensive purposes, its likely there AREN'T any popo anymore....but everyones tactical situation is different, lol.
Click to expand...

Buy cheap, and stock deep….
 
As asked in the OP's post, I'd suggest buying the FN Patrol Carbine above. What I would DO is buy the FN 16" barrel with a mid length gas system, a BCM upper, extended latch charging handle, NiB coated BCG, add the handguard of your choosing (I'm digging the Aero Precision Atlas S-One these days), and an EoTech sight with BUIS. Put that on whatever in spec lower you like the roll mark on and install a good trigger group and whatever stock and grip you like. Spend at least as much as that costs on ammo and shore up your mag supply.
 
James Fonteneaux said:
As asked in the OP's post, I'd suggest buying the FN Patrol Carbine above. What I would DO is buy the FN 16" barrel with a mid length gas system, a BCM upper, extended latch charging handle, NiB coated BCG, add the handguard of your choosing (I'm digging the Aero Precision Atlas S-One these days), and an EoTech sight with BUIS. Put that on whatever in spec lower you like the roll mark on and install a good trigger group and whatever stock and grip you like. Spend at least as much as that costs on ammo and shore up your mag supply.
Click to expand...
Mags are like cowbell. Can never have too much.
 
At first blush a Colt LE6920 is probably wanted:
Port small.jpg

If using a RDS, that FST is not entirely necessary, and a person can get back-up irons (and, especially 45° offset ones to clear the center sight line)

Which then argues for going to PSA and getting mix-n-match upper & lower to suit.

Might be worth looking at KE Arms' Civil Defense Rifle based of their KP-15 polymer lower, too. Or the WWSD carbine (other than not having a military appearance, but having a 5.5# [M-1 Carbine weight] weight before sights, & mag & ammo)
 
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