Quality AR Suggestions
- Thread starter Willieno59
- Start date
As has already been pointed out, STAG and DPMS aren't the same company, nor are they owned by the same holding company. CMT, STAG's parent, however, does produce the vast majority of parts used in most of the "top tier" AR "manufacturer's you mention, including Colt.
DPMS, Bushmaster and Remington are all, now owned, by Cerebus. Hence, the Remington "R-15" & "R-25" rifles, etc...
I've owned and shot DPMS and Bushmaster ARs. When compared to the STAGs I've owned and continue to own, the STAG has proven the superior product in terms of fit, finish, uniformity of anodizing and accuracy. It may well be that I ended up with sub-par examples of Bushmaster & DPMS and superior examples of STAG...but I don't think so.
If you check the EE, there seem to be far fewer STAG rifles being listed for sale compared to Bushmaster and DPMS. Not exactly scientific, but I wouldn't be surprised if more guys are deciding to hold onto their STAG.
If you want to rate how Armalite compares in terms of Quality, features, availability and VALUE for your money...yes, Armalite is at the TOP.
Just over a year ago Wolverine was selling complete ARmalite 15's for $1000
If you can get an Armalite new for $1000, then for value it is certainly at the top. But using the same logic, that would also make the Norinco up there in Value although the finish isn't that pretty.
What features on the Armalite are you referring to? What is the current price? What are you using to determine quality? Here's what I can tell you about the Armalite... it uses 4140 steel for the barrel, the Colt, Noveske and LMT all use Mil-spec B11595E. The bolt on the Armalite has not been magnetic particle tested, or high pressure tested, and it doesn't use an M16 bolt carrier. It doesn't use an F stamped FSB, and the FSB pins are straight, not tapered.
What do all these things mean to us Zombie hunters? SFA. But given these technical short comings, I can't say the Armalite is at the top... but I'm sure it is a damn fine gun for the money.
Just curious. Why are you always such a Armalite fanboy? What do you know that the rest of the world doesn't seem to know?
As has already been pointed out, STAG and DPMS aren't the same company, nor are they owned by the same holding company. CMT, STAG's parent, however, does produce the vast majority of parts used in most of the "top tier" AR "manufacturer's you mention, including Colt.
DPMS, Bushmaster and Remington are all, now owned, by Cerebus. Hence, the Remington "R-15" & "R-25" rifles, etc...
I've owned and shot DPMS and Bushmaster ARs. When compared to the STAGs I've owned and continue to own, the STAG has proven the superior product in terms of fit, finish, uniformity of anodizing and accuracy. It may well be that I ended up with sub-par examples of Bushmaster & DPMS and superior examples of STAG...but I don't think so.
If you check the EE, there seem to be far fewer STAG rifles being listed for sale compared to Bushmaster and DPMS. Not exactly scientific, but I wouldn't be surprised if more guys are deciding to hold onto their STAG.
I was wrong about the DPMS buy-out. Thank you guys for correcting me. However, Cerebus owning several AR manufacturers hardly plays very hard in the equation. It's almost irrelevant to the final product. And please people, keep in mind that the top 3 tiers of AR's are SO CLOSE IN TERMS OF QUALITY AND FUNCTIONALITY that the differences are all mostly nit-picky, personal preference ones, or minor, easily correctable flaws. One mans "fit and finish" is all in the eye of the beholder for the most part. The bottom line is, all the top 3 teir rifles are tools that will consistently perform for you and if necessary you could stake your life on any of them. The reason you don't see as many STAG's for sale is because Bushmaster outsells STAG by about 10 to 1. Bushmaster is still the Gold Standard of Civilian AR's like it or not. They are the most popular civilian AR's in the world and it's not for no reason. And finally, the barrels on Bushmasters are 4150 steel. STAGs use 4140 barrels.
For curiosity's sake, other than the better barrel steel, what makes the Bushmaster "Gold Standard" as you say? I'd say that title has to certainly go to Colt. Followed by Noveske, LMT, and Smith&Wesson before Bushmaster. I'm no expert, just going by what I've read.
Colt uses parts that only work in Colts and their quality control as been pretty bad for last the decade or so. Colt just coasts on it's name. Only old guys who were issued Colts back in the 60's through 80's still believe that the Colt name is synonymous with "quality." Besides the company who makes "Colt Rifles" for the civilian market is actually not even the same Colt company that was around back in the day. Colts are like Jaguar cars. Some people buy them for the name, others because they don't know any better, but the gun--along with the car--is mostly an expensive piece of junk making it's living off of "remember when."
Bushmaster is the gold standard because they sell the most AR's and everyone pretty much uses them as a yardstick to compare how well or how poorly they are doing AR's. Not just 8 years ago nobody doubted that Bushmaster was "the best." Most of the companies you buy AR's from nowdays didn't exist 8 years ago. Bushmaster has been doing it for 30. Noveske is a custom AR assembler, not a stem to stern manufacturer. Noveske is really more of a custom shop and I don't actually consider Noveske to be a "Brand." They are the guys that I take my Harley Davidson to to have tricked out; savvy?
Edit: Keep in mind, my take on a "quality AR" is to get the best quality parts or assembed rifle from an actual manufacturer, at the best price. These are civilian sporting rifles we are talking about, not "top of the line" weapons of war or competition. The car analogy works best. I'm always trying to put together, or buy the best Corvette sports car that I can, not a Ferrari, because a good Corvette is more car all by itself than most people can really handle. Ferrari's are for professionals. The sad part about it all is that most Soldiers don't even get as nice a gun as you would get with a standard, new, Bushmaster; ain't that always the way for Soldiers though. The PMC's have it better, but that's a whole different story. They often get the Ferrari's but even then sometimes not. Believe me, any of you guys want a nice Corvette at a good price. That's what you REALLY want and need whether you realize it or not.
Last edited:
