Help me pick my AR. Please..

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jimbombo

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Decided to finally make the ar plunge after some research. Here are my choices....

S&W m&p sport retails 739.00 but no fwd assist and no dust cover as well as a melonite barrel?

Stag arms model 3-really cool upper handguard!

Spikes tactical m-4 le carbine.

Or the S&W OR rifle-more expensive than the sport but with dust cover, fwd assist, and probably little better barrel. This gun is going to run about 150.00 more than the others! Is this extra money justifiable?

Have ruled out Bush, dpms, and cheaper from reading about issues these rifles may have. The stag might have a better lower and the spikes may have the better upper so I guess it would be a tossup.

Thanks for your help.
 
I'm happy with my Spikes Middy, don't think you can go wrong with it in the price range...
 
Stag is supposed to be a quality and affordable AR I hear. LMT and Noveske make the best stuff I've handled though, especially Noveske. The Noveske stuff is better than military issue, Colt or FN AR/M16/M4.
 
PSA patrol rifle, $1,000 gets you a rifle and a top-o'-the-line optic. For another $45, get a Blue Force VCAS sling. For another $30, get an Elzetta ZFH1500 light mount. For a final $80, get a Surefire G2LED. Now, for $1155, you have a combat-capable rifle.
Now, buy a Blue Force gear 10-speed chest rig for $80 and four USGI magazines with Magpul followers from Bravo Company USA for $11/piece. for a grand total of $1279+shipping, you have a ready-to-go setup. Now, off to a Magpul Dynamics course with you.

Aside from the Magpul course, which anyone serious about shooting an AR15 should take IMHO (or an equivalent class by Larry Vickers, Kyle Lamb, etc.), you're now in a combat-ready setup for less than a new Daniel Defense rifle. Congrats. Buy a lot of ammo, and attend that carbine class!
 
PSA
Spikes
S&W

all good, get the cheaper or the one with the most you want. That PSA patrol is a heck of a deal.
 
of the AR's you listed the Spikes wins hands down!my personal favorite is BCM check them out.i would recomend saving $200 more dollars and getting a top tier AR like BCM.
 
My suggestion is simple.
http://www.gandrtactical.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=6920

If you would rather have magpul furniture.
http://www.gandrtactical.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=6920MP

You can save a little money by going with PSA, spikes, or Stag. However you also give up quality. Other good options around the same price as the colt include

BCM
http://www.gandrtactical.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=MID-750-C

and Daniel Defense.
http://www.gandrtactical.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=XV-M4

Noveske is my personal favorite but you pay for a few features you may not need in a first carbine.
 
Stag

Stag is supposed to be a quality and affordable AR I hear.
Click to expand...

I have heard this as well. In my research Stag seems to have all that mil-spec goodness if you spring for the $100 "plus package" (gives you 4150 barrel, 1:7 twist, M4 feed ramps, etc.) but now the $895 Model 3 is $995....so now I am intrigued by the PSA option as well since it seems to have all that stuff as well, AND an optic. And of course I have also heard great things about Spikes. I'd say Stag out of the options you list but Spikes isn't far behind and definitely look into PSA!
 
Just get a Colt and not have to "wish" you did or explain why you "didn't".
Click to expand...

I buy Armalite, and never wished they were Colts, nor have I had to explain why I did what I did. I'd put my M15A2C against any Colt, any day. I'd bet good money other Armalite owners share my sentiment.
 
At current prices it's hard to see any reason not to get a Colt 6920. If you want a midlength, then get one of the BCM or Daniel Defense options.

That said, the Palmetto State Armory $999 deal for an M4-clone with an Aimpoint PRO is also very attractive, IF you want a red dot. I have a different PSA upper and it seems to be all that they claim it to be - although I haven't had the chance to really wring it out.

The S&W, Spike's and Stag options you list are "fine" but why buy a Chevy when a Cadillac costs hardly any more? The S&W and Stag do not meet some of the more important military specs, while the Spike's claims to but can be rough around the edges in some ways (some of this assessed on Spike's products I currently own, FYI).
 
care to tell us what makes your Armalite so much better?
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For one, it's a mid length.

Aside from that? Price, company. They're a little less expensive, and the company is top-notch to deal with when asking questions or ordering accessories. I don't think they've ever even put me on hold.

The rifle itself, in the same configuration? I don't feel that there's any tangible quality difference between a Colt and an Armalite. Or a good S&W, Stag, DD and a number of others. Of course, Colt fanboys seem to, and that's a major detractor. I'd rather buy something of the same quality that doesn't come with that stigma.
 
Thanks for all the input! mind almost made up

After all the reading and opinions in this forum(thanks for the help) I think it's either gonna be del-ton or PSA. I think the del-ton website looks more professional giving a little more peace of mind buying from them. I still like the PSA, but it just seems because they are a smaller company that things might be a little iffy!! Between these two carbines (psa) and (delton) would you rate the rifle as equals?? Thanks again
 
What do people have against Bushmaster. I live in New England; it's a local company and therefore readily available in just about any gun shop. The Bushmaster is a very popular gun around here and I've yet to hear a negative anecdote or unkind word about this rifle.
 
jimbombo said:
After all the reading and opinions in this forum(thanks for the help) I think it's either gonna be del-ton or PSA. I think the del-ton website looks more professional giving a little more peace of mind buying from them. I still like the PSA, but it just seems because they are a smaller company that things might be a little iffy!! Between these two carbines (psa) and (delton) would you rate the rifle as equals?? Thanks again
Click to expand...

The PSA website is awful; I know it, you know it, and trust me, they know it too.

However, don't let that deter you. Their retail shop is as professional as they come and their AR builds are properly manufactured & assembled to mil-spec. They don't take any shortcuts on their rifles.

R
 
I would avoid the Del-Ton. Just because they have a nice web site doesn't mean they make a nice rifle.

What do people have against Bushmaster.
Click to expand...
That would be a pretty long list. They cut more corners than any company has any right too. They then try to sell a second rate rifle for the same price as a much higher quality gun. One of the Mods on M4C.net is an armorer for a PMC that uses Bushmasters. The horror stories he has is enough to make you never want to touch them again.
 
Probably make purchase tomorrow....

OK after all of your awesome help and input it's between 3 right now

In no certain order(remember my budget is $600-$800)

1.PSA carbine
2.S&W M&P Sport ar15
3. Didn't think I could afford it but "cheaper than dirt" has an Armalite M15 A4 CARBINE for about $750.00.
4. Spikes Tactical

I really like the idea of the Armalite/ before I started researching AR's Colt and Armalite were the top 2 that I knew. I just took it for granted they were out of my range.

Give me your votes which you guys would get...

Thanks
 
Psa I did...should be here Mon. 700.00 total for the top of the line they offer. We'll see how it is. I would go for that.
 
I have the S&W M&P and couldn't be happier. Cabelas is having a sale on the Magpul M&P this weekend for 799. Good buy if you can grab one. Make sure what you get is all mil spec. It'll help with parts interchangeability and quality.
 
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