AR Newbie. Brand differences?

Siggy Stardust

Siggy Stardust

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Howdy all.

Been thinking of an AR here for a while, but when I actually sat down to start doing some research was pretty quickly overwhelmed with the amount of manufacturers and accessories available.

I guess what I'm looking for here is a starting point regarding brandnames.


Norinco, LMT, Bushmaster, Robinson, Sig Sauer, DPMS, Knights, Daniel Defense, etc., etc., etc....

Which are the higher quality names and why? Are there any brands that should be avoided?

What are your best options for an AR in .308?

Thoughts on ACRs?


Not looking to start a Ford, Chevy, Dodge, Coke, Pepsi argument here - just some constructive advice and input for an AR virgin.


Many thanks in advance for the input!
 
Yep pretty much just need to keep looking at the research. I only buy Daniel Defense now cause I think they make the best rifle at a decent price point. And I really don't think paying 2 or 3 thousand more gets anything more. ( I do wana get my hands on a spikes tactical heard good things might want to add it to your list)

Now another guy might come on and say that so and so is the best. And im wrong it really comes down to your research what YOUR guna use it for how much you wana spend.

I started way back when I bought my first by looking at what problems people had and kept a PDF list of those.
Took me about 6months before I bought my first.
 
I have a norinco 10.5 and it works great for me. It was my first black rifle purchase so I got in at $699, which I thought was reasonable. You can always get your money back by selling, and buy something different in the long run. For me, I just wanted something reliable, with detachable carry handle, 14.5" barrel or shorter, and to have fun with. I could have spent more $$, but the norc fit the bill fine and it just so happened to bethe cheapest.
 
I also have a Norinco CQ and like it. For me, it was not worth spending several thousand $$ for a rifle I can only shoot in the range at 50 yards...at paper. I have a bunch of pistols that i lie doing that with! For the same $699 i have fun without breaking the bank. :)
P.S. I picked up a JR (just right) carbine in 9mm which is NR and should be a blast.
 
If you buy a lightly used Norinco off the EE you should be able to use it and sell it for about what you got it for. The tolerances on a Norc AR15 are loose enough that they're fairly reliable (think Glock of the AR world). That said, I only use Colt AR15s, because they've earned my trust. Not saying other rifles are junk, just that I see no reason to ignore my past experience
 
Chris R. said:
I also have a Norinco CQ and like it. For me, it was not worth spending several thousand $$ for a rifle I can only shoot in the range at 50 yards...at paper. I have a bunch of pistols that i lie doing that with! For the same $699 i have fun without breaking the bank. :)
P.S. I picked up a JR (just right) carbine in 9mm which is NR and should be a blast.
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Agreed.

It's a range toy. No civilian AR15 is going to be beat around in the woods in all sorts of weather in this country.

I've seen AR's going for $2-3K before all the mall ninja accessories etc, crazy.....

That's a lot of money to punch holes in paper at 100 meters the odd time I get out to the gun club.

I guess that reality is one of the reasons you see so many of them all tacticalled up for sale on the EE in mint condition all the time.

Norc for me!
 
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Not to add to your burden of research, but another thing to consider is how soon you want to be playing with this new purchase. If you want something in the next month then your list of potential candidates may be smaller than if you are thinking of picking one up sometime in the next year.

I would also suggest you take a look at Windham Weaponry; good solid value there. As well, and I hope I don't doom this thread by saying so, but take a look at North Eastern Arms. Many of us have had great rifles from them and many have had problems - some will advise you to steer clear of NEA and some will tell you their "issues" are (mostly) behind them. I think they are at least worth consideration since they are a Canadian manufacturer with a lifetime warranty and a pretty hard to beat feature-to-price value.
 
I was looking at the Norcs but then found Olympic Arms which is American made which I prefer to spend as local as I can and the price point was about $100 more than the Made In China Norc. I found value in that and it seems to shoot well so far.
 
Any reason to stay away from Core-15 DI rifles? My search-fu might just be weak but I haven't been able to find much in the way of reviews on them.
 
I have both a Core 15 and a RRA.
Both are great guns and would recommend either (more so the RRA just because they have been around longer so less potential for ####ups)

Also you can wait for the next gen NEA stuff which are looking to be awesome.

If you have any friends who are willing to take you out to test their stuff would recommend that as well again when buying anything helps to have something in your hands to see how it feels for you.
GL with the purchase and remember one is never enough
 
Trinimon said:
I haven't read anything bad about the CORE AR's. All the reviews I've read have been pretty positive.
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Traveler said:
I have both a Core 15 and a RRA.
Both are great guns and would recommend either (more so the RRA just because they have been around longer so less potential for ####ups)
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Cool, thanks guys. I'm hoping the relative lack of chatter about CORE is just an example of Internet Rule #102 "If you can't say anything negative, don't say anything at all" ;)
 
you are right there are soooooooooooo many options and manufacturers it makes your head spin. There was a CGN tier chart in the works, but there were so many opinions that the author simply gave up, it was a decent guide but far from complete.

Until recently there were 2 ways to do it: Norinco for $700, or something north american for double that (or triple)


However there are now some lower cost north american options in between that price range, from a basic DPMS for ~$900 to other "middle" tiers for $1100-1200

Of course if you are filthy rich you can get a "top tier" KAC, sig, colt, noveske, etc, etc for $2500-3000, I think this is ridiculous for basic range plinking (not ridiculous if you are going to a battlefield), but if I had too much excess $$$ I would totally buy one


Will the cheap AR function fine --> most likely

Will a top tier AR be nicer in fit/finish/quality --> you bet, and probably have much better customer service if something goes wrong
 
TRaTSeRiF said:
Where can you get those? $100 price difference might be easier to swallow than $400 lol
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All the Norcs I saw were $699, I think I got my Oly for $799... it might have been $899 but pretty sure it was $799. I traded in my used CZ858, bought a scope and an ammo can of .223 so don't remember how it all broke down.

Either way, it's definately good value for the money for an American made unit, I'd definately buy it again.

I got mine through International Shooting Supplies in Surrey, their website is garbage if you're looking for specific things, but the service from the staff is great.
 
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