AR 15 Platform Rifle

[Acmemfg]

Quick question for the collective wisdom:

I am pretty knowledgeable when it comes to firearms, but I have never delved into the world of AR15/M16 style ordnance.

There is a plethora of manufacturers producing this style of rifle; the prices and I am sure quality vary a lot.

Is there any particular brand(s) I should AVOID?? Thanks.................................................

 

[thatsilverguy]

IMO there are much better long guns for pretty much anything you are likely to use an AR15 for.

There are a lot of good names on the market. The more popular names like Bushmaster and Colt are expensive but I have heard of second-hand rifles going for less than $800.

Best of luck with your search.

 

[The Nid Hog]

Feel free to talk about the pros and cons of the weapons system all you like. No more political comments. I couldn't be more serious.

 

[feralhog]

If you're a lefty, I'd look at Stag. They make lefty versions of both their DI and piston driven ARs. I can't say as to what I would avoid, but I have friends with Stags and Bushmasters and they have zero issues with their rifles.

If you're a righty, I'd personally look for a gun that was designed to be piston driven, not an AR that had a piston thrown in. I personally am not a fan of the DI system, but to each their own. If I was to buy an AR, it would most likely be one of the Stag lefties. But if I want the brass to be thrown in a direction other than in front of/at my face, my options are limited.

 

[huntingdan]

Just some points I was shown while looking to buy an AR, by no means am I pro because I have recently bought my first at the beginning of the year. I have not shot a lot of different types, so with that being said.

I was taught by a friend who is big into this platform two main things to look for:

1. Hold the rifle up to the light and look through the gap where the uppers and lowers meet, there should be very little gap and light shine through. Best thing I can tell you to see about how much it should be is pick up a cheaper model of a not as reputable brand and compare it to one that is around $4-5k. Then look at ones in your price range and try to compare.

2. The other thing which kind of correlates to looking for the light to come through is to hold the gun by the top rail and the handle. Flex the gun back and forth as if you were trying to fold it up lengthwise. This will show you how tight the connection is between the upper and lower, a well put together rifle will have hardly and flex, or be solid as a rock. Once again, grab a few and try this test, you feel a difference.

That being said I absolutely love my Rock River Arms, which if I'm not mistaken both RRA and Stag both get their uppers, lowers, and some components from the same manufacturer. That is one thing to read up on for other brands too.

The one thing that really DID turn me on to RRA was the fact that a lot of their rifles contain accessories that most people want on it already from the factory, without having to buy the rifle then buy the accessories only to waste, or I guess you could resale the stock parts.

Everything being said, I'm not going to "knock" the quality of any certain manufacturers. People seem to love and have great success with smaller brand names, have problems with midrange like RRA, Stag, Bushmaster and the likes around the $1000-1500 level. Heard great things about Daniel Defense, BCM, Larue. The seem to be great from what I have heard about them. You could always go buy the $4,000 H&K and Sig I saw

Anyways, good luck hope you find what you are looking for. Just remembered, Bushmaster is made by DPMS now.

 

[Acmemfg]

Found a Smith and Wesson M&P 15 for less than $600 new. Figured I wouldn't do much better than that.
Lifetime warranty didn't hurt either.

2nd choice was the Sig Sauer for an additional $300 which I figured could be better spent elsewhere.

 

[jkingrph]

Colt, S&W, Bushmaster. Stay away from Olympia, I have heard that their quality is not consistant.

I built several, using Rock River lowers, because I could purchase them locally, then ordered all other parts on line. A good barrel should be the top priority, then a good trigger. Stocks, handguards are non functining and while necessary a lot are cosmetic.

Some I built were shorty carbines, with collasapable (sp) stocks one a very .version for my wife, and a very long heavyweight targert version with an adjustable target stock, A couple are in a newer caliber, the 6.5 Grendel which seems to be excelling in long range work, but functioning through a standard AR 15 action. The cartridge is basically a necked down, blown out 7.62x39 (ak 47 cartridge). You can make your own cases by doing this, or buy factory cases which are a step better because of more quality control in mfr and they use a small rifle primer vs the large rifle primer in the 7.62 case.

 

[Acmemfg]

Not bad for $589.00...and if it breaks, lifetime warranty. Yeah I know, no forward assist and no dust cover. But....of all the times I have shot AR15/M16 platform rifles I have NEVER had to use a forward assist (rumor has it Gene Stoner did not even want one on the original M16 but the military made him do it), and I don't plan on an extended stay in the Middle East so I think I will be able to effectively keep funk out of the receiver.

As far as the chrome plated barrel, I found this data interesting:

"...The main advantage of Melonite barrel treatment is that it reduces friction in the bore and lessens bore surface wear, potentially extending barrel life. Melonite-treatment of a bore creates a new compound layer in the top 10-20 microns of the surface, creating a very hard, slick surface. Joel has found that this surface is so slick that carbon does not easily adhere, so the barrel is easier to keep clean. Real-world tests have shown that Melonite barrel treatment definitely reduces internal barrel friction. Joel notes that, after processing, barrels deliver 50 to 100 fps LESS velocity with the same load, a reliable indicator of reduced friction. (Likewise, you’ll get less velocity when switching from naked to moly-coated bullets.)."


So yeah, I think this will do

 

[MrMurphy]

I have around 20 years experience with the AR/M16/M4 platform. After time in the military I then worked for a manufacturer.


Upper/lower fit is irrelevant to accuracy, which is entirely in the upper and how it's assembled. I've shot expert with a rattly pieced-together M16A2 that had a 40-year-old original lower on it.

High end, top of the line manufacturers:

Colt (the original)
LaRue
Noveske
Daniel Defense
Bravo Company Manufacturing (BCM)
Lewis Machine & Tool (LMT)

"Good" rifles: fine for the average shooter and capable of holding their own in most things. If properly assembled and inspected, they can hold up in high-round count courses and combat-type conditions just like the high end rifles. For range use, plinking, hunting, and etc, these are all fine:
Bushmaster
Rock River
Stag
PSA
Armalite
Spikes

Questionable:
Brands that may perform well in 'sample of one' but across the board, exhibit QC issues.

DPMS
Olympic (which can be spectacular or craptacular, and you never know which........Oly's can be highly accurate, but also very poorly assembled)
Most of the smaller "one off" brands that are not commonly heard.

You're unlikely to ever find one, but a Vulcan or Hesse should be avoided like a $0.50 whore with gonoherpesyphilitis.