Is the Colt Ar-15 Better/More Reliable Than Any Other For Military Usage?

[Kentucky]

I really hate to drag this up, because I know the question has been discussed in different posts many different times, but always with some slant.

My question is this: Is the Colt AR-15 Better/More Reliable for that 1% of users, or the military, than any other brand? I dont care if there is no appreciable difference for the use they are likely to get at the range, home defense, etc... I am asking, if you are going to be given an AR-15 and told that it has to last you the next 5 years and you are going to war, to be used hard, would it be better to have a Colt than anything else?

I bought my Bushmaster because I thought that the Colt was not any better, (notice I didnt say different). In a thread I read on THR yesterday some comments by some people who would know caused me to question this. Now my Bushmaster is perfectly adequate for what I do with it now, but for the hardest user in the world, is it as good as a Colt?

Also, is there something better than Colt, such as LMT? If so, why?

 

[HorseSoldier]

For hard usage, Colt, FN (for real .mil rifles), or some of the other high end manufacturers (LMT, Noveske, etc.) will tend to out perform the mid to low end manufacturers in a big picture, statistical sense. Individual mileage may vary, though, on a rifle by rifle kind of basis.

 

[RockyMtnTactical]

Better than what? No better than LMT, Noveske, etc...

 

[Kentucky]

That is a good question RMT. I am not familiar at all with some of the upper end such as LMT, Noveske, etc...I suppose I need to do more studying of those brands and do some research to see what makes them so expensive. I had just always assumed that there were adding on a bunch of extras that caused the price to go up so much. I didnt think there was really a difference in quality for the base rifle. Sounds like maybe I was wrong? I am beginning to get the impression that the Bushmasters, RRA, DPMS's of the world are good enough, but not the best available.

My hazy idea that is beginning to develop is that the brands fall into these categories:

Junk:
Hesse
Vulcan

Plinkers
Oly
CavArms

Good (Use if you like to shoot and your life may depend on it some day:
RRA
DPMS
Stag
Bushmaster

Best (Use if you EXPECT your life to depend on it, today, or if you use it HARD:
LMT
Noveske
BCM
Wilson?

Is this a fair representation? Does Colt bridge the gap between Good and Best? Or does it stand with the Best?

And what makes a Noveske so doggone expensive? $2200 is twice what a brand new Bushmaster costs. I understand the law of depreciating returns. I understand that most people will feel there is not $1100 worth of difference between the two. But what IS the difference?

I am a very tight person by nature, and I dont like to pay more for a name. I am however reaching the point in my life where I like to have top quality of a few things. I am trying to figure out the difference between top quality and name brands.

I'll just go ahead and throw this out there. I am 23 years old and this is a world that is changing fast. I am getting to the point where I almost EXPECT to need my rifle to defend my life, the life of my family, or my freedom some day. I enjoy my guns and I intend to keep playing with them. I do however feel it is time to get serious with forking over the dough for some top-notch TRAINING and top gear to go along with it.

I read reviews of classes such as are given over in Camden, TN and I read about how many AR's simply fail to make it through. Why do they fail so much? Is it a flaw inherent in the AR design, or is it that difference in quality that 99% of people dont ever notice? I am 100% confident that if clean and loaded with good ammo my Bushmaster will work perfectly in a home invasion scenario. But I also know that after rolling around in the dirt and shooting for two days at Appleseed's, it will start having problems after a few hundred rounds of Wolf. It might do much better with brass ammo, but I shoot very little of my brass, I tend to save it because of the cost. (Frankly, I dont shoot that much Wolf these days, have a Ciener .22 adapter)

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

You might want to go over to M4carbine forum and review information available there. Generally speaking, lower end rifles fail in such areas as extraction, bolt carrier gas key staking, that sort of thing. You can address issues like these on your Bushy by simply replacing, staking, etc.

The higher end manufacturers tend to be the ones that sell rifles that meet the milspec in as many areas as possible. You'll have to decide for yourself if your Bushmaster is satisfactory or not. But a simple exercise of a couple thousand rounds shot in a day will teach you a great deal about the reliability of your weapon and help you discover weak areas, if it has them.

I don't think I'd replace the Bushmaster with a Colt if I took the time to shoot the weapon as much as I've suggested, then addressed any weaknesses or concerns.

BTW, a lot of failures relate to improper maintenance or lack of adequate lubrication. The impingement gas system gets very hot and if your weapon isn't nice and "wet" with lube, the lube will dry out and soon enough, your weapon is no longer lubed. Something to be aware of.

Regards,

Dave

 

[Kentucky]

Dave,

Thanks for the suggestion, I will head over there and read what they have to say.

I am not trying to decide if the Bushmaster is satisfactory as much as I am trying to figure out what is Best. I am not planning to replace my Bushmaster, but I may add another member to the family

I also need to spend some learning learning more about how these rifles work so that I can understand for myself what makes a difference in function and quality. For instance, I have no idea what you mean by "bolt key staking". I will go research it and find out, but that is the kind of thing I need to know. Thanks for your input.

 

[Kentucky]

You were right, M4Carbine forum rocks. If anyone else is asking the same questions I am, this thread will answer some questions.

 

[rob_s]

Definitely take a look at the second link in that thread.