The $1,000 AR15

[Dynasty]

With a budget of $1,000 +/- $100 or so, what is the best overall purchase for an AR15? I'm talking accuracy, reliability, durability, and overall bulid quality/fit and finish. This will be a do it all AR which entails HD and plinking up to 200 yards. What AR15 is tried and trued to hand these tasks for around $1,000? I will be using iron sights for a few years and then upgrade to a nice optics set up down the road.

Currently, I'm thinking the Colt 6920 rifle is the go to. However, I am open to all suggestions.

 

[gennro]

S&w mp15

 

[C-grunt]

BCM from Midwestern Industries for 1025.

 

[gunlover_06]

I would also look at Windham Weaponry, for $799.00

 

[rule303]

Nothing wrong with the Colt, but I think there are a whole lot of better options in the 1k price range. S&W, RRA, and Stag to name a few.

 

[41]

I went with the S&W M&P 15 Optics Ready Carbine, and I love the rifle. If you plan to shoot irons, you may be better off getting a different model than the ORC, unless you want to use BUIS

 

[iLikeOldgunsIlikeNewGuns]

I'm glad Dynasty asked, because this is something I'm also looking into.

Gennro, C-Grunt, and Gunlover, care to elaborate on why those options would be a good choice? I have shot the S&W and loved it, but I'm far from being an expert on ARs.

 

[jogar80]

I would go with Colt

 

[HM2PAC]

From what I've seen the Windham or the Colt.

 

[Mobuck]

With requirements that general, there are lots of options. A DelTon upper on one of the plain vanilla lowers will do what you ask. You can get into something like this plus 1K of ammo and a bag of magazines for $1000.

 

[jmr40]

Palmetto State Armory,Stag, Rock River, S&W, Sig, Windham, and Colt are all within your budget and all have good reviews. I own the 1st 3, and have no problms with any. The PSA currently seems to be the most gun for the money in my experience. No personal experience with the others, but I wouldn't hesitate to buy any of them.

Look at the specs and features and buy what is most important to you. I've had the Stag and Rock River for a while, but bought the PSA more recently based on specs that were most important to me.

 

[meanmrmustard]

S&w mp15

+1. Best customer service I have ever had the pleasure of speaking with. That is worth $1000 by itself anymore.

Wouldn't touch another Colt for Chinese tea.

 

[CharlieDeltaJuliet]

+1 for the S&W M&P15

 

[1KPerDay]

Nothing wrong with the Colt, but I think there are a whole lot of better options in the 1k price range. S&W, RRA, and Stag to name a few.

Just curious what makes those better than colt....

 

[CmpsdNoMore]

I recently built a lower on a stag receiver and then purchased a complete upper from Palmetto State Armory. It ended up being around 900, even with a few nicer extras like a chromed BCG and magazines.

It's run great through 500 rounds!

 

[Sock Puppet]

I like the Rock River Entry Tac.

 

[Welding Rod]

For a single general purpose AR in a configuration that didn't need to be legal for service rifle competition I would pick something like this:

556 mid-length light weight 16" upper with Magpul plastic handguards and small rail section on left side for a Surefire light in a LaRue mount, and a medium GF charging handle (I have and like the BCM BFH upper in this configuration).

2-stage NM trigger

Magpul CTR stock

Aimpoint M4S or T-1, with Troy BUIS. Carry handle rear sight when irons are planned.

After owning pretty much every common configuration this is what I found I like the most.

 

[gatorjames85]

1) PSA + some mags and ammo
2) BCM
3) Colt (if you don't want a mid-length upper)

 

[mastiffhound]

+1 on the PSA! I just got my 20" upper today! Fit and finish is superb, say it again, superb. I tried two lowers on it. The Bushmaster lower was a decent fit. Amazingly it was the Ruger SR-556 lower that fit best. So I did some monkeying and now the SR-556 upper is on the Bushy lower, which also fit better? Weird right? The PSA fit both lowers, just the Ruger lower was a tighter fit. Dang it I have to get some pics now. EDIT: here is a pic!

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[NOLAEMT]

I would go with Colt. They have the TDP for the M4, and are basically the standard by which everyone else measures.

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

Armalite M15A4NM SPR, it is an ARmalite.

 

[DesertFox]

Been seeing Colt 6920 and a couple others at the sub-$1000 price-point myself, which is very hard to beat.

Resale value alone being reason enough...

 

[paradox998]

No question, Colt 6920 is the standard all others are compared to. Buy it and go for a good red dot like an Eotech.

 

[Tex4426]

http://www.rockriverarms.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=462

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

You have a lot of good options in ARs for $1000. If someone was just lost in all the options, I think S&W is providing the best value at the moment; but they aren't the only choice by a long shot.