Top 5 premium AR brands?

[mcb]

Here is my "premium" AR.

Nearly all the parts in this build are at best second hand or blemishes (the lower/upper). Most of the parts were well used, headed to, or already in a scrap bin. The only new parts are the recoil pad and Magpul MOE+ grip. Paid $20 for the scope... And its chambered in a obsolete cartridge 30 Remington AR. I used it the past two deer seasons. No deer yet but a big bobcats and a couple up-armored Opossums. Most of my other AR's are equally cobbled together although they usually had significantly more new parts put in them... But the above gun is special.

 

[Varminterror]

LOL as sure as the turning of the earth I knew some one was gonna come up with the age old I work 200 hrs a week coach run 2 more businesses volunteer at the YMCA . still find time to practice enter matches shoot 10K rds a month. was not taking about private people like you but cops gun writers military etc. it would take 5 men to do what you listed

If there were anything special about what I’m doing, I sure haven’t found it. I’m simply prioritizing my 168 hours per week to have time for things I enjoy, monetizing my time well to be able to afford them, AND not drowning myself in debt to accomplish it.

Your implication that military folks or law enforcement can’t afford to shoot high volumes is a ridiculous joke. I’d venture that around half of the shooters on any given firing line of any competition I have fired in the last 20yrs have been mil/LEO, or former. Two of my best friends are LEO’s, both of whom shoot more competition disciplines and more rounds per year than I do. Three other good friends of mine find the time as active military to both operate side businesses AND shoot more matches and more rounds than me each season. One of the guys I took pistol coaching from last season is a LEO who gave up PRS and is focusing on 3 gun and action pistol, and burns somewhere around 1500 rounds per month through his pistol and rifle. So your claim here that I’m doing something which can’t be done by others - especially specifically can’t be done by military or LEO’s is absolutely ignorant. Shooting sports are PACKED with high-volume-shooting mil /LEO guys.

If there is anything special about what I’m doing, it’s simply that I wasn’t raised with the luxury of accepting that I didn’t control my own destiny, such I could never make any excuse that I don’t have time or don’t have money. Because we say it that way for a reason - we MAKE time, and we MAKE money to support our priorities. If you want it, you make it. And it’s ok that you just don’t want to shoot more. Just don’t pretend it can’t be done.

When I shot my highest volume, I was in college school, working 5 part time jobs and riding bulls full time on professional tour, making around half of the State Mean Income after my school expenses (around $5-10k LESS per year than two of my buddies who were LEO’s which I traveled and practiced with for 3 gun), and still had time and money to do fire high round counts… far more volume than I’m shooting today…

it would take 5 men to do what you listed

Just like your limited exposure to AR’s, based on this perspective, I’d say you also need to meet better men. There’s nothing special about what I’m doing, and I know a lot of folks who I often think - damn, it would take 3 of me to do what those guys are doing.

Either that’s or you simply don’t think very highly of the capable men you DO know.

 

[marksman13]

that means my experience over 40 years. I have not seen everything but enough to draw a conclusion

I am truly sorry that in 40 years of experience, you’ve never handled an AR more accurate than a Rock River. I had a heavy barreled 20” Rock River rifle that I waited months for back in 2013 after Sandy Hook. I thought it was the most accurate AR-15 on the planet and it was a very accurate rifle. I took that rifle out to 800 yards pretty regularly.
Since that time, I have owned all of the brands i mentioned earlier. All of them are better than Rock River. The upper to lower fit is tighter. The barrels are better. The overall build quality is better. Rock River builds a fine rifle. There are companies who do it better. Generally, when I know I’m ignorant about a topic, I try to learn instead of trying to prove how much I don’t know. I wish more people followed that mantra.

 

[chicharrones]

Varminterror, you're a far above average hard worker and go-getter. There are lots of your kind in the world, but it's not a majority percentage.

My employer (business owner) has similar energy levels, entrepreneurial spirit, go-getter attitude, more ideas than time, high intelligence, competitive, etc. etc. I've never worked for anyone with his energy level before. And he tends to hang out with peers like himself, which may be what you're accustomed to . . . hanging out with people similar to yourself.

When I put in 60 hours a week for my employer, I still can't keep up. Come this Friday will have me working 18 out of 19 days for the guy. He energizes others and brings them up above their usual capabilities . . . but I want to go back to my home town and hang out with my wife and see the kids wherever they are.

Anyway, I really hope to hit the shootin' range sometime during the week after labor day. If . . . no one "changes" my schedule again. It's been way too long.

 

[David Hoback]

Honestly, it’s just names. While some companies machines Billet Uppers/Lowers & some parts, most part MOST manufacturers are buying the SAME MilSpec parts, not making them! Yeah, sure… Wilson makes the barrels (from blanks), but they don’t make the uppers & lowers… they don’t make the parts kits or handguard… And even at that, NO single manufacturer can have all the “best” parts anyway! Because it’s about money to them. People like me make the best ARs. I’ll take the AR’s I manufacture over ANY manufacturer because I make them better. My AR’s use top shelf parts down to the pins & even the springs! Even a $2900 AR uses a stamped steel, Milspec LPK. I don’t! Every single part is purchased separate & is either Billet steel or 7075 Billet Aluminum! Not a SINGLE piece of stamped steel or 6061 in the the LPK parts on mine! Same for the main parts as well. Take a high end, KAC SR-15 at $2500+ what do they use? STANDARD MilSpec Forged Lower. Which, nothing wrong with those…, but KAC doesn’t make them! One of the few Foundry Forges in the country does. And EVERY manufacturer uses them! I use 7075-T6 Billet Lowers that I machine. They use a standard Carbine Buffer & Spring! I use the Armaspec Sound Mitigation H2 Buffer assy. I use a Surefire WarComp Flash hider. They also use a quality 3-prong Flash Hider. They use a standard MilSpec BCG. Mine uses a Nitride Enhanced, Anti-Tilt BCG made by Azimuth. We both use premium barrels. We both use premium buttstocks. We both use premium hand-guard, although the KAC’s is made of 6061 Aluminum where as mine is made from stronger 7075-T6 Aluminum. And I already discussed the small parts. The KAC SR-15…once again, $2500+. I spent HALF of that, and my AR uses many parts which are superior.

People need to stop being fooled! Do the research, and do this! Build your own!

 

[General Geoff]

Wilson makes the barrels (from blanks), but they don’t make the uppers & lowers…

According to them they make their billet machined lowers and uppers in-house at their Berryville, Arkansas factory.

Designed by Bill Wilson and the Wilson Combat design team to be the base for the ultimate precision tactical AR-15 rifle, the BILLet-AR lower receiver is 100% machined in our Berryville, AR facility.

Even a $2900 AR uses a stamped steel, Milspec LPK.

Really? I have a $1600 AR that doesn't use a single part out a "stamped steel Milspec LPK"

 

[9mmepiphany]

Closed at OP's request