I need your opinion on AR-15's
- Thread starter Ironstone
- Start date
I have 2 Eagle Arms (Armalite) I built up, 3 Bushmasters I built and 2 SGW's. All of these rifles function perfectly, are accurate are about equal in value and cost. What you want to do with your rifle determines how much you want to spend. Do you just want to stand in front of your mirror in your underware and take pictures of you posing with it or do you actually want to use it for competitions?
Scott
Scott
Ditto. And Stags are on sale now at Arms East.
I have an Armalite and I love her. It's my only AR... for now. I'm looking into a Stag as soon as Armseast get some in stock.
Colt are the gold standard but priceyyyyyy... From what I've read (again Patrick Sweeney's AR books - a must for the AR anthousiast by the way) Rock River Arms and Stag Arms stand out of the bunch.
But like m39a2, it really depends on how you're willing to spend. Basically you can't go wrong with any of the big names IMO. There is no BEST AR, just ARs who work fine and some who don't.
Colt are the gold standard but priceyyyyyy... From what I've read (again Patrick Sweeney's AR books - a must for the AR anthousiast by the way) Rock River Arms and Stag Arms stand out of the bunch.
But like m39a2, it really depends on how you're willing to spend. Basically you can't go wrong with any of the big names IMO. There is no BEST AR, just ARs who work fine and some who don't.
aftermidnight
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- West Kelowna BC
My RRA lower/ DPMS upper combo is just as nice as my Colt Match HBAR.. actually the trigger on the RRA is better than the Colt's..
Better is a relative term , lots of guys will claim how great Colt is ( mil spec bla bla bla ) but at the end of the day , my RRA Varmint, Noveske Barreled custom, WOA custom and LMT all outshoot my Colt . Not really a fair comparison because despite the "quality" all the Colt guys talk about they really dont use anything special for barrels
What do you want to use the rifle for?
Don't forget, although we can talk about quality / mil spec/ proper staking of carriers , taper FS pins etc, for most of us cilvilans this is a moot point - all our ARs in Canada are range queens. All the brands you mentioned are good brands . Since we are stuck using them at the range, accuracy to me is important.
If you want a very accurate factory rifle out of the box RRA Varmint will do .75 MOA at worse !
As someone already mentioned the triggers on the colts are nothing to write home about ( again, Colt doesn't claim to have match triggers ) Both RRA and LMTs 2 stage triggers are well worth the premium $$ of their standard
What is your budget ?
You will end up with a FAR better rifle ( and learn lots in the process ) by building a custom with good components . Don't scrimp on the barrel . Buy a Noveske ( Pac Nor ) / WOA / Shilen etc . That will be the hardest component to source here in Canada ( unless you will be satisfied with a plain "mil spec" barrel ). Only problem is its easy getting the black rifle disease and before you know it you have sunk stupid amounts of money on the latest rails, optics, carriers .
Other than a LMT MRP, I haven't bought a compete upper in years. Much more fun going custom. Its really not hard to put one together. There are lots of drop in trigger modules available ( Timminey / CMC etc ) that anyone can install properly.
If you have lots of $$ buy a finished custom like a Noveske / Les Baer / Wilson Combat .
Only downside is you will spend far more than what a Colt is worth
What do you want to use the rifle for?
Don't forget, although we can talk about quality / mil spec/ proper staking of carriers , taper FS pins etc, for most of us cilvilans this is a moot point - all our ARs in Canada are range queens. All the brands you mentioned are good brands . Since we are stuck using them at the range, accuracy to me is important.
If you want a very accurate factory rifle out of the box RRA Varmint will do .75 MOA at worse !
As someone already mentioned the triggers on the colts are nothing to write home about ( again, Colt doesn't claim to have match triggers ) Both RRA and LMTs 2 stage triggers are well worth the premium $$ of their standard
What is your budget ?
You will end up with a FAR better rifle ( and learn lots in the process ) by building a custom with good components . Don't scrimp on the barrel . Buy a Noveske ( Pac Nor ) / WOA / Shilen etc . That will be the hardest component to source here in Canada ( unless you will be satisfied with a plain "mil spec" barrel ). Only problem is its easy getting the black rifle disease and before you know it you have sunk stupid amounts of money on the latest rails, optics, carriers .
Other than a LMT MRP, I haven't bought a compete upper in years. Much more fun going custom. Its really not hard to put one together. There are lots of drop in trigger modules available ( Timminey / CMC etc ) that anyone can install properly.
If you have lots of $$ buy a finished custom like a Noveske / Les Baer / Wilson Combat .
Only downside is you will spend far more than what a Colt is worth
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Of your choices listed, I'd go with LMT (Colt prices for their LE/M4 line is insanely expensive in Canada and simply not worth it unless you're looking for an "investment" rifle that you don't plan on shooting.) LMT aren't cheap, but they're the equivalent of Colt in every respect that counts. My second choice would be STAG, after that...whatever turns your fancy or meets your price point.
I disagree 100%
Many of us take our rifles or uppers down South to train -- so the staking, the barrel steel etc is a factor.
Secondly as one who has several custom barrels -- unless I am shooting 400m+ or playing some ### how small can I make a hole game - a Colt or LMT barrel will shoot just fine - and more than enough for DCRA Service Rifle - even at the 500m V Bull
After some of the BS RRA has pulled with their make beleive M1993 spec rails of a few years ago - and several other issue s- I would never buy a RRA product -- the DEA got shafter with them due to them being the low bidder to Colt -- even when their guys wanted Colt...
Given Colt's outrageous price (and I collect them), LMT is probable the best choice in a service rifle type carbine.
CMT/Stag's annodizing has been thin in several runs -- but Walt at Arms East looks after customers and will replace stuff if their is an issue.
Armalite has started to look after their QC a lot better these days and other than the 1:9 twist issue, they make a nice product.
Bushmaster's QC has gone to hell and I would not buy one. -- you may get lucky - but based on larger user groups -- your much more likley to get a dog with them...
As for parts guns --- I have several, and if your building with high end parts and know what your doing its fine -- but for the early owner -- one is best off to buy a complete factory rifle -- and go from there...
Things like properly staked gas key and castle nut are not there just to satisfy "milspec". They are done to ensure proper function and durability.
There are definitely two different perspectives on what a good AR should be. Some put more focus on "niceness" such as accuracy, "fit and finish" and the "feel" of the trigger.
While the other camp focuses on the issue of proper quality control on metarial selection and manufacturing. The "bad" trigger of Colt was tested for proper hardness and the design will last million years. You have to give some to get some others.
So you have the choices of what you personally think it is more important to yourself
There are definitely two different perspectives on what a good AR should be. Some put more focus on "niceness" such as accuracy, "fit and finish" and the "feel" of the trigger.
While the other camp focuses on the issue of proper quality control on metarial selection and manufacturing. The "bad" trigger of Colt was tested for proper hardness and the design will last million years. You have to give some to get some others.
So you have the choices of what you personally think it is more important to yourself
- Location
- big sky country
I own one of each. Both these manufacturers are fantastic.
