MotorCraft
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Ok, I am buying one of these as a gift... Which one is the best? Thx.
Ruger AR556, S&W Sport II, or Savage MSR-15 Patrol
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EMT40SW
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For me personally I went with the S&W Sport 2 & a Windham Weaponry SRC. Currently all your listed choices are the same price. The M&P & the WW has worked well for me & both have a lifetime warranty. I picked the M&P based on Ried Heinrich's recommendation for his school Valor Ridge. He only recommends M&P & Daniel Defense ARs for serious use. I did not go with the Ruger because some parts are proprietary. They can be changed but that adds cost. I would also add to your list Windham Weaponry (the original Bushmaster plant & gunsmiths) & Aero Precision. See below links & make sure the Windham AR you look at is an aluminum receiver & not carbon fiber so you have a fair comparison. Also relax it is hard to make a bad choice. This is simply a matter of a good, great, or smoking deal. Right now the market pretty much is all great or smoking deals. Pick whatever tool fits your mission.
WW $499
https://www.sportsmansoutdoorsuperstore.com/products2.cfm/ID/108741
Aero $550 coupon codes available
http://www.brownells.com/firearms/r...x45mm-nato-16-mid-length-rifle-prod82606.aspx
Go handle some & shoot your friends ARs to get some ideas.
WW $499
https://www.sportsmansoutdoorsuperstore.com/products2.cfm/ID/108741
Aero $550 coupon codes available
http://www.brownells.com/firearms/r...x45mm-nato-16-mid-length-rifle-prod82606.aspx
Go handle some & shoot your friends ARs to get some ideas.
I have the Ruger and the S&W. You can't go wrong with either one. Especially at these prices. https://www.smga.com/p-103282-smith-and-wesson-10202-mp15-sptii-556nato-16-30rd-blk.aspx
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Wanderling
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I am sure they are all fine. I was initially thinking about the Ruger until I saw some negative posts on Ruger's own forum, while Smith seems to have much fewer complaints. But I was sure then and I am still sure now that the vast majority of Rugers are perfectly reliable.
That said, I am very happy with my Sport II. I've only shot 250 rounds through it so far, no hickups and pretty good accuracy (for me anyway). It was a great deal at $500, now at $450 it's a steal.
That said, I am very happy with my Sport II. I've only shot 250 rounds through it so far, no hickups and pretty good accuracy (for me anyway). It was a great deal at $500, now at $450 it's a steal.
Varminterror
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I tend to see fewer complete newbies on the S&W forum, so you don't get that very emotional and irrational response you often see around the Ruger forum (.net, not .com, the .com guys are generally solid, but a lot less traffic).
The Ruger is fine, I picked up a pair on discount from Ruger to use as demo rifles in a "get to know your AR" course I do for rank beginners. I've seen a lot of different brands through that course, and have built/rebuilt hundreds of AR's over the last almost 20yrs... It's really hard to screw up an AR, and ANY brand can have unique problems with a certain percentage of rifles. The Ruger delta ring is what tends to get the most attention, and the over-barrel pinning used for the gas block - I like the delta ring, just gotta make sure it's not seized, and the gas block pinning is irrelevant for me, it doesn't affect anything at all if you don't replace the gas block, and it still doesn't affect anything if you know how to actually service AR's if you change gas blocks.
The Ruger is fine, I picked up a pair on discount from Ruger to use as demo rifles in a "get to know your AR" course I do for rank beginners. I've seen a lot of different brands through that course, and have built/rebuilt hundreds of AR's over the last almost 20yrs... It's really hard to screw up an AR, and ANY brand can have unique problems with a certain percentage of rifles. The Ruger delta ring is what tends to get the most attention, and the over-barrel pinning used for the gas block - I like the delta ring, just gotta make sure it's not seized, and the gas block pinning is irrelevant for me, it doesn't affect anything at all if you don't replace the gas block, and it still doesn't affect anything if you know how to actually service AR's if you change gas blocks.
MotorCraft
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What about the Savage? Are they any good?
2ndtimer
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I have an original S&W Sport, and 3 friends have new Ruger AR 556's. I think both the Sport II and Ruger are fine firearms, but if I was buying a new entry level AR today, and the three you mentioned were within $50 of each other, I would go for the Savage, based on the specifications, the 5R rifled barrel, Wylde chamber, the mid gas system, the upgraded furniture, the melonite coated barrel and the 1 in 8 twist rate. It offers better features than the Smith or the Ruger, and in my experience, Savage makes excellent barrels. Truth is, any one of the three will work fine, but I would personally go for the Savage.
cdb1
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The Ruger AR556 speaks to me the most out of the the OP's three choices. I really like the twist off delta ring. Windham speaks to me more though.
Mosin Bubba
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The Savage is an interesting one, as it's pretty much the only cheap factory AR with mid-length gas, and all the Savage rifles I've seen just shoot the lights out. At the same time, I hate to actually recommend one since I've never held it or shot it, but on paper it does seem to offer some real-world improvements over your normal entry level AR.
I'd say the S&W Sport and Ruger are almost equal. I would give the S&W Sport a very slight nod over the Ruger because of the nitrided barrel, but that aside, they're like 98% the same gun. The Ruger does have some nice touches like the delta ring and Magpul style pistol grip, and I think the talk about proprietary parts is way overblown. But those features aren't a huge benefit either. Ultimately, I wouldn't fault anyone for buying one rifle over the other.
I'd say the S&W Sport and Ruger are almost equal. I would give the S&W Sport a very slight nod over the Ruger because of the nitrided barrel, but that aside, they're like 98% the same gun. The Ruger does have some nice touches like the delta ring and Magpul style pistol grip, and I think the talk about proprietary parts is way overblown. But those features aren't a huge benefit either. Ultimately, I wouldn't fault anyone for buying one rifle over the other.
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MotorCraft
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I am going to order him the Savage today. Thx!.
TN Outlaw
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Plz let us know how the Savage works out. Im not in the market but sadly, if it works out well for him, ill probably get one anyway. This dang gun addiction!
"WILL SHOOT FOR FOOD"
Whichever one you can find for the lowest price.
I'm not trying to be facetious. They are all basic (some would use the term "entry level") ARs.
You put a magazine in them, pull the charging handle, take off the safety, aim, pull the trigger, they go bang. And by most accounts they all do so repeatably and reliably and if for some reason they don't are backed by good manufacturer's warranties and responsive customer service.
When I was faced with the same decision you are about to make, I went to several guns stores. At that time, none had the Savage. I looked at the Ruger and I looked at the S&W Sport II. The first time, the S&W was $40 less than the Ruger, so I bought it. The second time I bought one, the S&W was $100 less than the Ruger, so I bought S&W again. Had the price differential been the other was around, I would have brought home two Rugers to join my existing Mini-14s. I haven't regretted the decision and if I had bought the Ruger or Savage, I would probably be equally as satisfied.
Also, I always tell people they should never ask "what is best" because then they will get someone telling them what they would buy if I could spend your money. Well, in this case, I have done that, and I suggest the "best" one is the one with the lowest price.
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