marksman13
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Five brands and "some others" is a loooong way from owning almost every brand out there.
Which AR?
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Five brands and "some others" is a loooong way from owning almost every brand out there.
Maybe you are just lucky. Every non-Colt extractor spring I have used started failing before 500 rounds were put through the AR.
Some people are obsessed with being contrary for the sake of being contrary. I don't use Colt M4 extractor springs because they're milspec, any more than I use SSA triggers, MagPul stocks or A5 REs because they're milspec. I use them because they work
wally
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I hardly see this as a factor at all for an AR. There is nothing I can think of that you can't replace yourself should something break and there is no gun in the world that is easier to find replacement parts for than the AR.
Don't know about him, but I always lie about phone numbers, birth dates and ages on web forms. I also make "typos" in addresses and zip codes too if its not to get something shipped to me.
Varminterror
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Then you know more about them than I do, and it sounds like a toss up as far as which one, and if Windham is one of the AR sellers that go under it will still be a quality product with millions of aftermarket parts that will fit it. I would still lean Ruger for the setup. Rather have a front sight post.
Varminterror
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I don't know much, but when I was riding PRCA, they were a national association sponsor/partner, so I took the opportunity to communicate with them. They did a nice job taking care of us Cowboys, and the products are good - dead ringers for Bushmasters of the era which made Bushmaster famous.
I don't PERSONALLY ever worry about firearm warranties, as I'm generally quick to invalidate any agreement or warranty by significantly modifying my firearms, or not buying a factory rifle at all, but if a guy is buying off of the shelf, I can appreciate a logical paradigm where the length of a "lifetime warranty" might mean something to someone. It blows my mind, on this forum especially, AND especially for AR issues, how many folks are happy to send firearms back to the mothership for warranty repair, when an hour on a Saturday afternoon would have their firearm running as it should... Not my cup of tea... But it must be worth while to some folks - and for those folks, if something breaks 20yrs from now, Ruger would fix it. Windham may not be around (no idea how their corporate succession planing might look).
Crowman
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Seems to me that mil-spec are minimum standards for the lowest bidder to meet...just sayin...
maxxhavoc
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Of the two I would get the Ruger. It has a better set up for iron sights, which is my preference. If you want a warranty, the Ruger wins as well.
However, for me I would go with neither.
-Aesthetically as well as shooting-wise I prefer a mid-length for a 16" carbine. (And it will securely mount a bayonet without looking goofy if that is important to you. I'm just mentioning that because not everybody knows it starting out, and some want to have the option.)
-If you are using irons and using a standard front sight, a 20" rifle works better at hitting accurately. Because of the sight radius, not necessarily the barrel length.
-If you are shooting with irons and not using a standard front sight, and want a 16" carbine, get one with a 15" freefloat tube with a rail section on top. Once again, longer sight radius. And freefloated barrel.
-If you are using any kind of optics, any length barrel and freefloat tube works best. No front sight at all.
-No gun has ever needed a warranty less than an AR. If it works out of the box just about any part can be replaced easily, inexpensively, and with good quality parts.
However, for me I would go with neither.
-Aesthetically as well as shooting-wise I prefer a mid-length for a 16" carbine. (And it will securely mount a bayonet without looking goofy if that is important to you. I'm just mentioning that because not everybody knows it starting out, and some want to have the option.)
-If you are using irons and using a standard front sight, a 20" rifle works better at hitting accurately. Because of the sight radius, not necessarily the barrel length.
-If you are shooting with irons and not using a standard front sight, and want a 16" carbine, get one with a 15" freefloat tube with a rail section on top. Once again, longer sight radius. And freefloated barrel.
-If you are using any kind of optics, any length barrel and freefloat tube works best. No front sight at all.
-No gun has ever needed a warranty less than an AR. If it works out of the box just about any part can be replaced easily, inexpensively, and with good quality parts.
Shawn Dodson
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Tommygunn writes:
MilSpec isn't a "minimum" requirement. It's THE requirement specified by the military with no additions or subtractions. MilSpec says "you are required to manufacture it to THIS exact specification."
MilSpec isn't a "minimum" requirement. It's THE requirement specified by the military with no additions or subtractions. MilSpec says "you are required to manufacture it to THIS exact specification."
Tommygunn
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Yes....but how does that prevent a commercial company from making a better one? My point was that it IS possible to buy a better one, while some people adhere to mil spec as the "sacred cow" of the AR world.
someguy2800
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"Milspec" has become a marketing term. What it should means to say something is milspec is that it confirms to the material, finish, and dimensional tolerances listed on the drawing that was approved for that part. The firearms industry has taken the term milspec to mean "similar to the colt manufactured parts for an M4". Nobody is inspecting these parts and enforcing that they actually conform to the colt drawings so I can make anything I want and call it milspec if that's what people want to hear.
glaizinman
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i have the Ruger 556 with the Vortex strike fire red dot on it. i have fired 3k rounds though it with zero issues. from factory ammo to my reloads.very accurate i feel for a low cost rifle it is a good value.
EMT40SW
Member
The Windham Weaponry SRC for the following reasons:
The barrel is a chrome lined 4150 vs the Ruger's non-chrome lined 4140
It is built by former Bushmaster gunsmiths in Bushmaster's old factory.
Ruger has some proprietary parts that not everyone likes.
I can personally recommend one because I own two. The one pictured is my primary AR. WW makes a quality AR. Here is someone much more knowledgeable on the subject that me:
Tim former US Marine from MAC on YouTube
https://search.yahoo.com/search;_yl...hannel+windham&fr2=sa-gp-&fr=yfp-hrtab-s&fp=1
Watch for price shifts I have bought WW for $440 to $630. Lately they have been like $500ish but $550 current price at :
https://www.sportsmansoutdoorsuperstore.com/products2.cfm/ID/108741
is good. Also avoid the carbon fiber receivers, make sure the one you buy is aluminum.
The barrel is a chrome lined 4150 vs the Ruger's non-chrome lined 4140
It is built by former Bushmaster gunsmiths in Bushmaster's old factory.
Ruger has some proprietary parts that not everyone likes.
I can personally recommend one because I own two. The one pictured is my primary AR. WW makes a quality AR. Here is someone much more knowledgeable on the subject that me:
Tim former US Marine from MAC on YouTube
https://search.yahoo.com/search;_yl...hannel+windham&fr2=sa-gp-&fr=yfp-hrtab-s&fp=1
Watch for price shifts I have bought WW for $440 to $630. Lately they have been like $500ish but $550 current price at :
https://www.sportsmansoutdoorsuperstore.com/products2.cfm/ID/108741
is good. Also avoid the carbon fiber receivers, make sure the one you buy is aluminum.
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imashooter
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If you like both, I'd take the WW anytime over the Ruger.
cdb1
Member
I prefer Windham. Don’t have anything concrete to prove it but believe they are better rifles. The Ruger has one thing I really like which is the delta ring. Much easier to use. Give me a Windham with the Ruger delta ring.
cdb1
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Whispering Bill Anderson?
Varminterror
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Not that one! Just a generic name I use when I don't want to fill out a form asking for my blood type just to get a simple online answer... Where I grew up, there were two older farmers, brothers, Bill and Tim Anderson. I've thought my entire life - how much more generic does a name get than "Bill Anderson?"
I'll admit though, I envy the 111 N Main fake address I use, as my address, in a development community, is rather lengthy.
Charliefrank
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I purchased the Ruger. Only rifle I've ever bought that I didn't have to adjust the sights. So point of aim right out of the box. No malfunctions as of yet. Great little rifle, especially for the price.
cdb1
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Shawn Dodson
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I was replying to your statement that "mil-spec is the minimum requirement for military applications." Mil-spec is exactly what it means: "Military Specification". The article must be manufactured to the exact specification with nothing added or subtracted.
DannyLandrum
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Why do that when you can get a middy for that price used if you look around? Those very basic carbine gas ones should be $450- $500 in the current buyer's-market climate, and in fact HAVE been in certain sales at Academy etc. You're paying too much.... unless the Parkland shooting has changed up everything. I'd hold out for a 1 in 8 middy 16" so you can definitely shoot 77 otms and have a more reliable, softer shooting rig.
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