Differences in ARs?

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sphincterxxx

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hi all, i'm interested in getting an AR and have approx $1300-1500 to spend. I'm not opposed to getting a used one, but am absolutely blown away by the number of manufacturers making the platform. Questions:

1) I have no idea which brands are better than the others?
2) Certain uppers or lowers that are good/ to avoid etc?
3) Seems like many ARs being sold on the EE are pieced together with upper and lowers from different manufacturers? Is that ok?
4) How would i go about selecting a good one? Any manufacturers to avoid?
5) I would also definitely want to get a .22 conversion kit for it (looks like the CMMG kit is the one to get), so the AR i get should be able to fit that .22 kit.
6) Is there a large difference in accuracy between for example, a short 10.5 inch barrel, and an 18 inch one? Since the AR is restricted anyway, i might as well get a shorter barreled one. Thoughts?
7) Recommended barrel twist rate that will shoot most .223 rounds reliably?

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!
 
Norc M4. Best bang for the buck. Finish not so good but it shoots just as good as any other AR according to people here.

I was planning to build my own but just ended up with the Norc since it would cost hundreds more for better brand.
 
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I'm no expert but I'm in a similar boat. I think I will be going with the remington. I don't mind the camo, don't plan on accessorizing besides a quality optic, they're supposed to be reasonably accurate and well built, and the price is pretty good.
 
I would suggest a 16.1" AR-15. I won't take any position on make as most of them will work well for 99% of users...some may need the odd tweak like stock or gas key staking but that is easily taken care of at home. A 16.1" gun will work well for CQB/Tac matches, Courses or Service Rifle matches and with the correct paper work you can cross the line with it and shoot in the US. With good gun handling there is little to no penalty with CQB stuff, the 16.1" barrel is capable of winning matches to 500m though most end users are not and it is a very civilized length when standing next to guys on courses and one is less likely to to "turn" a longer barrel when doing dynamic drills. A 1/9" or 1/7" twist will serve you well. If you get a 10.3" barrel gun you are really limiting yourself in what activities you can participate in, the shorter guns can suffer from reliability issues over time. I see lots of guys with super short guns at evening play time, but almost never see them at the Big Boy matches or courses...they are usually too busy with symmetrical Molle pouch placement...Your money, your mileage...welcome to the addiction...
 
I have both CQ M4 and Colt HBAR, for the $$$, CQ M4 is great $, but if you are thinking about 200 yards+, I will suggest to go with Sparrow's advice, buy a 16.1" or 20" AR. My Colt HBAR has 20" barrel, I can see the difference in grouping size between M4 - 14.5" and Colt 20" at 100+ yards.
 
peter, interesting comment about the group variations to 100m. I have found my 14.5" guns to be more accurate at shorter distances...perhaps your Colt 20" barrel/ammo combo jives better. I really noticed the 14.5" group dispersion from 300-500m when the wind gets hold of it, I have broken 500 with a 14.5" barrel but it isn't pretty. The 20" ARs shoot the smoothest since the buffer doesn't even travel far enough to hit the back of the
stock...the length is painful though.
 
Can a Norc 14 incher be bought to start and then get a longer upper later to shoot that??

No legal issues with that either right, as it is restricted anyway?
 
sphincter### said:
so basically not much difference in quality of what you get between the manufacturers? i'm free to pick colt, Armalite, CMMG, Stag, dlask etc?
Click to expand...

Not so!!
There is a HUGE difference in quality between a norc and some of the better quality ARs. The 1s we make here in Canada have FAR better tolerances and have been proven to be FAR more accurate and reliable. My 11.5" AT15E is very capable of 1/2 moa accuracy and shoots well out to 300 yards.
Everything has a cost however.
Resale on a norc is much lower than residual value of a higher quality rifle.
In the end it really depends on whether you want a cheap gun that goes bang or a decent rifle that is accurate and reliable.
 
if norc is taken out of the equation, is there a noticeable/practical difference between the manufacturers?

alberta tactical rifle said:
Not so!!
There is a HUGE difference in quality between a norc and some of the better quality ARs. The 1s we make here in Canada have FAR better tolerances and have been proven to be FAR more accurate and reliable. My 11.5" AT15E is very capable of 1/2 moa accuracy and shoots well out to 300 yards.
Everything has a cost however.
Resale on a norc is much lower than residual value of a higher quality rifle.
In the end it really depends on whether you want a cheap gun that goes bang or a decent rifle that is accurate and reliable.
Click to expand...
 
That chart is a great resource but to "most" recreational users it means nothing...it does however lend to bragging rights and end user confidence I suppose. It should also be noted that should one have access to any of the Stag special run 1/7" guns they have all the checks same as the 6920 + a lifetime warranty and standard axis pin sizing...
 
The Chart puts to much faith and importance in individual testing.

Batch testing does not mean lower or inferior quality.

It saves costs giving the consumer a product of equal quality at a lower cost.

I believe KAC does not do some of those steps listed...yet you would be a Blasphemer if you stated a KAC Rifle was below an Armalite..:)

and.... Even I know that STAG has shot peened and MPI bolts with Staked Gas Keys....all of which are left out on The Chart.
 
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