LMT vs KAC vs ATR

AOWM

AOWM

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As the title suggests I am looking at a higher end AR.
I am looking for user feedback on these rifles and knowledge of availability, like where to purchase LMT in Canada and wait times to be expected for all three.
I am looking for a light precision rifle that is accurate and reliable chambered in 5.56/223 while getting the most for my dollar. This will be my first such purchase (higher end precision AR).
Thanks in advance for any help offered.
 
LMT . If you want better you will have to buy a larue. Questar is a good source. The machining quality of lmt is as good as it gets.
 
AOWM said:
As the title suggests I am looking at a higher end AR.
I am looking for user feedback on these rifles and knowledge of availability, like where to purchase LMT in Canada and wait times to be expected for all three.
I am looking for a light precision rifle that is accurate and reliable chambered in 5.56/223 while getting the most for my dollar. This will be my first such purchase (higher end precision AR).
Thanks in advance for any help offered.
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Having read many of your posts in other threads with precision rifles I suspect you really do mean a precision rifle ie sub 1 moa at least. There are two criteria you will want. The first is Direct impengment (no piston AR rifles) the second is a SS match barrel. A chrome lined barrel will get you 1 moa maybe a little less. That's with a quality CL barrel. For precision you want a SS match grade barrel. You stated a light precision rifle.

Which brings us to the options: There are four options I can suggest.

1) Noveske. They offer high quality match grade SS barrels in their rifles. At all lengths including the short stuff. 14.5" to 16" are the most logical choices for you description. I prefer 16" for Ar rifles myself but the 14.5" are a bit lighter and handier. Questar. There must be others but I'm not sure.

2) KAC but only the 18" barreled version as it's a Kreiger I believe SS barrel. The rest are Chrome lined and not suitable for what you're asking. The issue is it's an 18" barrel. You're getting out of the light precision rifle category fast. Questar, One shot tactical, EE and maybe import by irunguns.

3) LMT MRP (only the mrp model). It comes with a CL barrel though. Unless you can get a smoking deal on one and then buy the SS barrel (proprietry) it's probably not worth it. I bought one of the export models at a smoking good price from Questar a while ago. I then found a 16" mrp SS mike rock 1:8 twist barrel (The very first Mike Rock barrels were 1:8 for the mrp and they stay thicker after the gas block). Total cost was cheaper than any of the other two options. But that was then, I couldn't get it for that today. Questar, the EE and maybe irunguns can get them in for you.

The other option is to get whichever AR you want and get a good barrel along with trigger for it. Any AR with a match barrel, free floated and a match trigger will shoot exceptionally well. There are barrels available that meet this criteria and can be swapped with a regular AR barrel.

LMT mrp with SS 16" barrel:

DSCN0010_zpse39ac33b.jpg


LMT mrp with SS 1:8 twist Mike rock barrel on left. LMT MWS (.308) with SS 1:11.25 SS mike rock barrel on right.

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The last picture was meant to introduce you to yet another option. The 308 AR. Often referred to as the AR10.
You can get them with 16" barrels. The LMT MWS on the right came with a 16" CL barrel 1:10 twist. But there is a Mike Rock 1:11.25 twist SS 16" or even a 12.5" I recall. The 16" barrel is a lot handier. But for 308 I generally like 20" barrels.

The 308 rifles are a bit of a different ballgame as there isn't the same standards. It's another thread on it's own.
 
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100% KAC E3. They are the DI AR15 evolved. Better bolt, gas system, excellent machining, CHF barrels, Ambi controls. You get what you pay for.

LMT is top notch as well, but it doesn't have the bells and whistles of the KAC.

ATR is what you build it to be. Nice billet lower and upper. Barrel? match grade something.
 
I should also add for a true "precision" AR there are a few other purely sporting rifle choices.

With a 20" barrel there is the pinacle of the precison AR rifle the Les Bauer super varminter. Sub .5 moa with some getting closer to 1/4 moa. The non light but much more affordable precision AR the Stag 6 with 24" SS bull barrel. Not light but guaranteed sub .5 moa out of the box. The price was about $1500 when I bought mine. Arms East sells the stag.
 
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I'd stay away from the stag, some shoot, some don't.
The kac's are beautiful rifles, but a bit overpriced, and the accuracy isn't proportional to the price.
The lmt's are accurate with the rock barrels, but it's kind of a limiting platform should you want to change anything in the future.
Atrs is an option, but I had a friend that had qc issues with his upper to lower fitment...

I'd go with a build from armtac, as he can get the good stuff when it comes to parts.
Do a vltor upper/lower with a noveske ss barrel.
He uses vltor/bcm/noveske components, so you end up with a top grade ar, and the noveske ss barrels are universally sub moa with 75 grain hand loads. Consistently sub moa. Not "shot a sub moa group a couple times" sub moa.
Here's one he built for me last year with a 16" noveske lightweight barrel.

Very high quality barrels, even with the lightweight profile, there is no shift in poi with long strings of fire. Sub moa, and light enough to be used as a carbine. One of my favourite rifles.
 
TinkerBell said:
what I bought was the stag 3G... 18" fluted stainless match barrel with wylde chamber.... single stage match trigger stock and a hell of a gun. I would put it up against any of the guns you posted above

Stag3G.jpg
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Didn't realize the 3G had a stainless barrel. I pretty much never looked at it as it's geared for 3 gun competitions. Good to see.

One other thing to add with the "Light precision" AR rifles. As seen above with the Stag, LMT, KAC etc. They all have A frame stocks. LMT SOPMOD / B5 Crane for the LMT/KACK. Magpul ACS for the 3G. The STR etc also are A frame stocks. It gives a much better cheek weld than a CTR and isn't as heavy as a PRS.
 
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Tagging along, some excellent info in here.

I personally think there's a lot to be said about building your own precision AR than buying one out of the box as many factory AR's aren't going to be exactly the way you want it to be. Although the Christensen Arms ones are very appealing but haven't fondled one yet.

At least with building one you can get the combination you want the first go around. Not saying you will save any money as this is usually the more expensive route to go but your not spending your money twice making changes. I think I have 2500$ into my current precision build and that's without optics. Pretty reasonable price in my opinion but only time will tell if its going to be a good shooter or not.
 
Can't really go wrong with a factory Noveske, KAC, LMT MRP/MWS, DD. BCM or Colt. If you are going to build something, make sure the parts come from reputable and proven manufacturers, and have somebody competent and qualified put it together for you.
Steer clear of mystery parts, no matter how good the price.
 
Thanks to all posters. To clarify I definitely mean sub MOA when I say accurate, barrel up to 20" is fine SS is preferable.
I very much appreciate having the options that I missed pointed out... Lots to look over and consider before making a final decision.
 
You need a KAC LPR. I got mine from Questar. Although KAC has suspended commercial sales, and the Krieger barrels
are apparently in short supply, which is limiting production.

P1080745_zps3f2f1298.jpg
 
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There was a superb custom built AR for sale in the EE a couple of months back that would have fit the bill. Seller had it up for a long time as it tickled only a selected few dedicated long range precision AR shooters.

Would have to look up EE thread to see if it's still there or not.
 
Although KAC has suspended commercial sales at this time we do have a large order already in which will be filled.

It does include a number of LPR's.
 
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