New AR; Colt vs Rock River vs S&W

[Kachok]

Now that we have four more years of liberal control I am itching to finally get an AR. I think I have it narrowed down to Rock River, Colt or the new S&W. What are your thought on these three brands?
BTW I am getting a lightweight 16" carbine, and want to keep it under $1,200

 

[357SIG]

It depends on the features you want. You can get an S&W with a free-floated rail and flip-up sights installed for the price of a Colt. To add them on a rifle would be a few hundred dollars. With the Colt, you are paying for added QC and testing, which goes further to ensure reliability. That is not to say you get less reliability with the others, as some may feel. The choice is yours; a few hundred-dollar difference would make the decision for me, but less than $100, and I'd probably pay for the Colt to get the added QC measures. Comparing barrel metals, etc is merely academic, and does not seem to make a difference in anything. If a sear block bothers you, Colt is out. If 4140 steel bothers you,the others are out.

All three are excellent guns. Don't get caught up in the AR15 BS; all three will probably work in similar conditions including combat in the Middle East.

 

[Halal Pork]

Of the three, choose the cheapest one that has the features you're looking for. People pay a lot of money to have ponies on their guns.

 

[joed]

People pay a lot of money to have ponies on their guns.

I owned an Armalite AR a few years ago. I liked it but had QC issues with it. They weren't bad issues, just small issues. Still, I had QC issues, mostly jams. Eventually I sold the gun mostly because it was a post ban gun. I want reliability in a gun though.

Now, this year in May like you I decided it was time to buy another, this time a carbine. I looked at a few brands and was sold on Armalite, S&W and Bushmaster. What surprised me was the Colt was less then $100 more. Thinking back on the QC issues I went with the Colt and have never regretted it.

Back in May Colt was just about the only manufacturer that offered the 1-7 twist while the rest were 1-9. Now in Nov just about everyone offers 1-7. Colt has led the way, the rest just followed.

If you ever decide to sell it later the pony will fetch more money. You won't go wrong with the Pony. And the Pony will always go bang.

 

[C-grunt]

Of the three, choose the cheapest one that has the features you're looking for. People pay a lot of money to have ponies on their guns.

Colts can be had for under 1k if you look around online and for 1050 at Walmart. The Colt 6920 is the gold standard for a reason. The 6720 is the same rifle but with a lightweight barrel.

 

[CraigC]

In my lifetime, I have never seen a reason to pay a premium for a new Colt anything. I looked at one of their new AR-10's a month ago and if that's representative of their "better QC", they need to go back to school.

The Colt 6920 is the gold standard for a reason.

Perception is everything.

 

[Halal Pork]

...If you ever decide to sell it later the pony will fetch more money...

For sure, I think this is correct. The others don't compare if resale is a consideration. I own a pistol that has a pony plus "Colt Special Combat Government" on it and those don't seem to be depreciating too much at all lately.

 

[KansasPaul]

I've been down this road myself - I've looked at just about every AR out there - I researched all of the information that I could find. Currently I own 2 AR15 rifles, one is a "frankengun" that I built myself and the other is a Colt 6940. I've owned a Bushmaster which I sold because it wasn't accurate. My brother-in-law has owned other ARs that have had reliability problems. My Colt is extremely reliable and will shoot MOA if I mount a scope on it. I chose to go the Colt route because of perceived reliability plus the fact that the 6940 is a monolithic upper (which for some is a drawback because you can't swap out the front rail/handguard).

I believe that there is nothing wrong with any of the rifles you are looking at. The S&W probably has the nicest finish and likely will fit together really well. The RRA, depending on chamber (Wylde) will shoot the tightest groups out of the box with nice fit. The Colt might fit together okay or it might feel a little loose (upper/lower fit) with a finish that isn't as nice as the S&W. Where the colt shines is in function and rating of internal components - meaning that in theory it has the "hard use" parts installed.

Bottom line, determine what you want the gun for, pick the configuration and enjoy what you buy.

 

[SwampWolf]

If good, affordable trigger pulls are important to you, the RRA National Match trigger is hard to beat for the price.

 

[BoilerUP]

Get a PSA Premium M4 for $700 and spend the rest in ammo.

 

[bulletboy]

If you're buying an AR because Obama was re-elected then your buying for all the wrong reasons.

 

[Halal Pork]

If good, affordable trigger pulls are important to you, the RRA National Match trigger is hard to beat for the price.

In the same boat as the OP, I chose RRA.

 

[Skylerbone]

Kachok, any more info on what you'd like? Flat top? Sights? Rail space?

I used to recommend RRA because I really like mine for its accuracy and reliability. I was panned constantly, told I hadn't run it hard enough to realize how unreliable it was, called bitter for spending too much on an inferior rifle and accused of wanting to spread my delusions and misinformation with others.

Well, mine isn't the ideal set-up for precisely what I do but a compromise that gets it done with aplomb while being capable of reconfiguration for other uses. Having read about, handled and used a number of other black rifles since purchasing my Rock River I am still one very satisfied customer. With that said, I would not hesitate to own an S&W among others. My sights are currently set on Windham for an affordable next rifle for my oldest son.

Any specific suggestions will really benefit from knowing how you plan to configure your rifle and for what purpose.

 

[Girodin]

Of those three I would pick a Colt, without hesitation. For $1200 I'd also look at BCM.

 

[Captains1911]

Colt, you won't regret it.

 

[C-grunt]

In my lifetime, I have never seen a reason to pay a premium for a new Colt anything. I looked at one of their new AR-10's a month ago and if that's representative of their "better QC", they need to go back to school.



Perception is everything.

People who use their rifle for a living usually have a different view.

 

[chad1043]

Well, if you can sort through all the M4Carbine BS you can figure out your own answer. I got a chance to shot a Rock River with the match trigger, it was very smooth and broke so nicely. I had a little AR envy going on... OP, seriously, you can do a search on this forum and come up with a thousand threads that will lead you around in circles. It comes down to what you are gonna do with it.

 

[henschman]

You are leaving some very good ones out of consideration... I would look at PSA and BCM.

 

[Dr.Rob]

I put 3000 ish rounds through a Colt before I had a jam 9that was pretty much my fault).

S&W is building a nice rifle for a lot less.

Kind of depends what you'll use it for.

 

[CraigC]

People who use their rifle for a living usually have a different view.

People who are issued their rifle by the government usually have a narrow frame of reference.

 

[Kachok]

I intend to use it for yote/hog/varmint extermination, and home defense, no I don't live in the suburbs, so over penetration is not an issue.
My main qualifications are light/handy, accurate, reliable and a GOOD trigger, After years of playing with Savage and Tikka triggers I am spoiled rotten and while I realize that no factory AR comes with a Tikka good trigger, I don't want some gritty as sandpaper, creepy as a snake, 8lbs hack job either.
Flip up iron sights and tactical rail are a plus, I think I will go flat top because I do want a low power flip down scope

 

[Halal Pork]

People who use their rifle for a living usually have a different view.

"(Some) people who use their rifle for a living...have a different view."

There. I fixed it for you.

 

[G.barnes]

Why buy good when you can buy okay for the same price. I have a Daniel Defense and recently had a bushmaster. The dd was 1280 with 12 inch omega x rail magpul stock and trigger guard. The bushmaster was 900 for just a plain rifle. The bushmaster was such great quality that the take down pin couldnt be removed without the plastic tool that comes with the rifle and a hammer. (always good for a quick cleaning at the range). The extras on the dd were 350 if you bought them after so explain how the bm or stag or rra for 900 to 1100 is a better deal than a bcm or dd or many other top brands in the exact same price range. If sub moa is want you want then look at a stainless barrel not one that wasn't chrome lined. For those who don't want rails dd and bcm and colt all have offerings right around 950.

 

[hardluk1]

If you wanted a match grade rifle buy a RRA Varment and up grade the trigger.

If you wanted a rifle from a company that assembles parts sourced from outside buy the colt. They don't build the parts.

If you want a cost effective 16" rifle buy the m&p sport for around 600 dollars and still have a rifle capible of sub-MOA. They do build it all in house now and the melonite barrel is a plus over a chrome bores.

 

[chad1043]

See, I told you it is very opinionated.. I have a Spikes, he has a DD, the other guy has a M&P and they all have different value to each person. They all shoot 5.56 and .223 and all are very accurate. The shooter is usually the accuracy problem. You need to learn how to care for your rifle and keep it operational. It is not a bolt action Marlin that you can shoot it and leave it for a year dirty as all get out and come back and shoot it some more. It needs to be maintained. Oh and if you have never shot on, you might want to. It is a different experience than shooting a bolt action. There are a lot of things going on inside that rifle, I was surprised by all the sounds... You get used to it though...