different brands of AR's how do they rate?
With so many different brands of AR's now, how do they rate? who makes the best, Colt, Bushmaster, DPMS, Armalite, RRA, Olympic? What orde would you put them in from best to worst, feel free to add other brands.
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That will be a tough question as most of us have extensive experience with only a few different brands, the rest will be hearsay. Then there will be the time factor, are you only asking about current production rifles or every AR type made to date. Personally my Bushmaster Disapator 16" is already 10 years old as is my buddies 20" Armalite, they both work well, are reliable and it would be difficult to say which is better. But neither holds groups as well as either of our aftermarket bull barrel built form scratch varmint rigs that are no name except for the milspec type lower reciever. It might be easier to get the info you want by asking which ones folks haven't liked and why...... 0 -
I've heard good things about Rock River Arms and DPMS.
The only one I know to stay away from is Vulcan/Hesse/whatever they call themselves these days. You'll save money, but those savings are going to go straight to your doctor after you blow your hand off firing their guns.0 -
It all depends on what you are going to do with it, as to how good is it. If you are going to shoot match, you will want one custom built by someone with the know on how to ring the best accuracy out of one. If you are going to be doing the run and gun match, you will want one that is suited for that need. If you are planning on going over to the sand box, you will want to talk to someone with the know.
The Stag, Bushmaster, DPMS, S&W, RRA, Armalite, Olympic are all good. There are some better and some worse. The only ones I can tell you not to buy will say Vulcan, Hesse, or Blackthorne on them. They are junk as anything with their name on. It is pretty hard to screw up an AK-47 build, but they have done it!
Stag says their varmint model will hold 1/2MOA. That is damn good for a factory rifle. I just got a DPMS LR-308. I have only just got the barrel broke in, and fired about 10 groups using FACTORY ammo...Federal Gold Medal Match in both 168, and 178 grain loadings. It likes the 178 better and is no doubt a 1/2 MOA or better gun at the ranges I have tested so far.
The Colts are good to, but not nescessary, as they were not the original AR as a lot of people think. Stoner, and Knight were.
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quote:Originally posted by tsr1965
It all depends on what you are going to do with it, as to how good is it. If you are going to shoot match, you will want one custom built by someone with the know on how to ring the best accuracy out of one. If you are going to be doing the run and gun match, you will want one that is suited for that need. If you are planning on going over to the sand box, you will want to talk to someone with the know.
The Stag, Bushmaster, DPMS, S&W, RRA, Armalite, Olympic are all good. There are some better and some worse. The only ones I can tell you not to buy will say Vulcan, Hesse, or Blackthorne on them. They are junk as anything with their name on. It is pretty hard to screw up an AK-47 build, but they have done it!
Stag says their varmint model will hold 1/2MOA. That is damn good for a factory rifle. I just got a DPMS LR-308. I have only just got the barrel broke in, and fired about 10 groups using FACTORY ammo...Federal Gold Medal Match in both 168, and 178 grain loadings. It likes the 178 better and is no doubt a 1/2 MOA or better gun at the ranges I have tested so far.
The Colts are good to, but not nescessary, as they were not the original AR as a lot of people think. Stoner, and Knight were.
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Actually, Armalite and Colt were. Armalite was Stoners company.0 -
You guys say the Vulcans aren't worth snot for safety reasons. What exactly is the issue with them?
I ask because I just recently assembled two of their stripped lowers for a friend to build on.0 -
Vulcan, Hesse, Blackthorne all one in the same. The problem per say is that they have poor quality control. I do not believe the accually manufacture anything. I think they get factory rejects from other companies and make them work. I got two ar kits from blackthorne both work like a dream. the only problem with one upper was that the pin holes were egg shaped. I have never heard of an AR blowing up on its own. The ones i have heard were user error, I.E. bad reloaded ammo, or an idiot not knowing how to properly use the rifle and force a round into the camber. 0 -
Never used a vulcan(and will for sure now stay away from them.) Shot DPMS, COLT and even one that is assembled/manufactured someplace in Kentucky that I forget the name of. Most nice weapons (the one from the KY MFR "felt" cheap, sloppy connection between upper and lower halves, but it shot ok. not an accuracy rifle by any means). My first AR was a Stag arms. Did a little bit of reading and discovered that Stag (their parent company) was building uppers and lowers for places like S&W, colt and even Les Baer. Figured if they were the actual manufacturer of some parts behind these great names, I could not go wrong. Read outstanding stuff about their customer service as well. Lifetime warranty (limited of course to me not abusing it) topped off my purchase decision. Selected upper and lower assembly, bought 'em and have been very happy.
But the guys posting here are right. Do your research, check your local gunshops (Stag is on a 6 month back order, I imagine many are right now) and see what kind of deals you can swing.
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Just found the name of the KY MFR. Doublestar. Not sure if just assemble or if they manufacture any of the part. Just listed my brief (1 30 round magazine emptied) experience with one owned by someone else.
Good luck on your hunt for your rifle.0 -
...Can only speak with personal knowledge of the Colt & Bushy, fit/function was great never a problem, being a clean freak helps a lot with a 16, especially a Colt. Ive handled a RR, fit was nice and Ive always heard good things about them.
...Keep in mind EVERY gun, EVERY design has it's perculararities (sp/ck), rifle/handgun, that may cause a problem now and again...a gun is a mechanical thing; though I feel a few are works of art and I fondle mine as much as possible...[;)]
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No one has answered the first part of your question...why so many now??? Cause "they are" money!!!! AR-15s at this point in time are the most sought after firearms in production. Based on what I am seeing in the market they are going up 5-10% every month....
Relatively no name(no name in that they don't have the established brand recognition as Colt/Bushmaster/DPMS) rifles like RR, Stag or Double Star that sold for $850 a year ago are going for $1100 now....
Then you have the fraudsters...taking named lowers such as Colt/Bushmaster and putting cheapo no name uppers and selling them as the original rifle...Buyer Beware0 -
I can highly recommend RRA and also a local manufacturer Spikes Tactical. 0
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