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Quality of AR15 Brands
- Thread starter twoshots
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There isn't a major AR manufacturer that hasn't had a "bad batch" of something during their production history... not one that I'm aware of. Every manufacture has something that goes wrong at some point... RRA is not alone in that.
As for stuff being "out of spec" that happens more often than you'd think... especially in the "old days" and the RRA incident was years ago.
I remember (late 90's or early 2000 if memory serves) when Bushmaster went through a period when everything they were shipping seemed to be failing. DPMS has also had their "bad periods" to say the least.
If a defective unit or a "bad period" in the history of an AR manufacturer was grounds to trash them forever then I can't think of a single AR maker who you could recommend. Come to think of it that would apply to just about any product... not just AR's or firearms.
I think you'll find (today) that most of the major, name brand AR's are reasonably well built. Keep in mind that to some degree you get what you pay for... I'm not talking about the mark-up applied to cover import costs, etc.. I'm talking about the manufacturer's base pricing.
If two different AR's with equivalent features and accessories are priced far apart by their manufacturers then there's usually a reason for that. Different companies do different levels of testing on their products... the more testing and QC you do in the factory the less problems (in theory) the end-user will discover with his/her firearm. But you pay for this in the price.
Same with the quality of the components used. There's a difference in price (for the manufacturer) between a bulk shipment of Wilson barrel blanks and a bulk shipment of Mike Rock barrels. You pay for this in the price.
Because of the nature of our business we see a tremendous variety of AR's... not just the brands we distribute and retail but also hundreds of different "1 off" custom imports we've done for customers, many of which were very expensive custom build's by some of the top US custom AR builders. We've just about seen it all and had an opportunity to compare many of them to standard commercial products. We've seen some of those very high priced custom jobs that were (in my opinion) a total waste of money. I've also seen some that I suspect were very desireable firearms and worth the investment.
My overall opinion is that the vast majority of users do not have the ability to actually utilize those very high end custom systems... but if you can afford it and want it then you have every right to get it and I'm all for that. The vast majority of civilian shooters will be very well served by any quality AR built by any of the recognized names in the business.
I think I read that at last count there were over 300 companies in the US making AR's under one brandname or another. Remember that of that number only a handful (10 to 20 I think it is) actually make the components that make up the gun... the other 280 + "manufacturers" assemble the gun from component parts that are purchased from other companies or made for them to their own specifications. By the way... those 10 to 20 core manufacturers are also the main suppliers of all the "parts" to those other 280 + manufacturers who put their name on it and sell it.
With only a few exceptions the vast majority of AR's being offered into the marketplace are therefore parts guns... and the key to any parts gun is the components used to assemble it. Quality parts will usually result in a quality gun and a gun made from the cheapest of everything will likely be a cheap gun... no matter who stamps their name on it
Just my two cents worth
Mark
Trying not to repeat Questar's post, which is correct, I've seen every manufacturer have issues of one sort or another.
Colt (and that's mostly what I have) has some of the worst looking/asthectically appealing finish, to their product. Maybe as a result of a large operation producing a large volume of stff, but in my opinion, it shouldn't be.
Smith and Wesson ARs are completely built by contractors. S&W is a large name and a good reputation in the gun world, but they don't actually manufacture anything on their AR rifles.
As mentioned, I own some Rock River stuff and it appears/performs well. I've heard from other owners otherwise.
Dlask makes some good gun stuff. I've had some Dlask manufactured parts that did not meet what is considered "mil spec". I've still got some of that wet coast product.
20 years ago you could not give me DPMS AR parts. From what I have seen lately, appears fine.
I've been disappointed with Bushmaster parts kits that I have purchased, in that some of the parts were cheap. But the main parts, ie. hammer/triggers, have been OK.
I have found genuine Colt parts/internals to have been consistantly the best to rely on.
"Wilson" barrels are appearing with regularity lately in Canada. However, there are 2 Wilson companies. I've seen both and own both. They are not the same.
The receivers themselves, are relatively inexpensive both to manufacture and at retail, don't hesitate to experiment.
I've owned a LOT of different makes and parts.
By and large, look at what is in front of you. Assemble it, and test it. If it works, then it's as good as any other.
Before you guy, try to get some sort of warranty/guarantee from whoever/whatever manufacturer you are buying from. If it simply doens't drop in and work, there are numerous other manufacturers parts that will.
With ARs, there isn't a lot of 'gunsmithing' required.
And as I have been told numerous times, if you/me can hold any rifle to a 2 MOA, you/me will win every service rifle match, every time.
It's always the jerk on the trigger.
Colt (and that's mostly what I have) has some of the worst looking/asthectically appealing finish, to their product. Maybe as a result of a large operation producing a large volume of stff, but in my opinion, it shouldn't be.
Smith and Wesson ARs are completely built by contractors. S&W is a large name and a good reputation in the gun world, but they don't actually manufacture anything on their AR rifles.
As mentioned, I own some Rock River stuff and it appears/performs well. I've heard from other owners otherwise.
Dlask makes some good gun stuff. I've had some Dlask manufactured parts that did not meet what is considered "mil spec". I've still got some of that wet coast product.
20 years ago you could not give me DPMS AR parts. From what I have seen lately, appears fine.
I've been disappointed with Bushmaster parts kits that I have purchased, in that some of the parts were cheap. But the main parts, ie. hammer/triggers, have been OK.
I have found genuine Colt parts/internals to have been consistantly the best to rely on.
"Wilson" barrels are appearing with regularity lately in Canada. However, there are 2 Wilson companies. I've seen both and own both. They are not the same.
The receivers themselves, are relatively inexpensive both to manufacture and at retail, don't hesitate to experiment.
I've owned a LOT of different makes and parts.
By and large, look at what is in front of you. Assemble it, and test it. If it works, then it's as good as any other.
Before you guy, try to get some sort of warranty/guarantee from whoever/whatever manufacturer you are buying from. If it simply doens't drop in and work, there are numerous other manufacturers parts that will.
With ARs, there isn't a lot of 'gunsmithing' required.
And as I have been told numerous times, if you/me can hold any rifle to a 2 MOA, you/me will win every service rifle match, every time.
It's always the jerk on the trigger.
When S&W first introduced their AR's they were making almost nothing and assembling them from other people's compoenents, but it appears that they have slowingly been changing that and I'm told that the guns they now produce are in fact produced "in house" and they make all the major components now themselves. I haven't verified this but it came from usually reliable sources and this info is now starting to be published in some of the major industry mags as well.
Mark
I heard that too. I can only comment for sure on what I've touched. But yes, I understand that S&W is manufacturing some parts. I don't know exactly which though.
As you know Mark, I'm a big S&W owner, so I'm sure whatever they are making will be quality production.
It ain't like they are re-inventing the wheel. Hopefully they will continue with their quality.
Although, saying that, I've seen a bunch of S&W goof ups too. So they aren't invulnerable either.
As you know Mark, I'm a big S&W owner, so I'm sure whatever they are making will be quality production.
It ain't like they are re-inventing the wheel. Hopefully they will continue with their quality.
Although, saying that, I've seen a bunch of S&W goof ups too. So they aren't invulnerable either.
