AR15 - Which should I choose?

[lawnguy]

Hello, I am getting very close to buying my very first AR15. I won't be shooting it a whole lot. I just want a an AR 15 that does what it needs to do when I want it to. I know there are a lot of guys like me who who don't eat,sleep,and drink guns,but just want a solid rifle. I mean no offense to most everyone on here who are very experienced gun guys. I post this because I respect your opinions,etc.

** Please feel free to make a suggestion other than these three rifles.**

1) COLT-CE1000
2) Smith &Wesson M&P 15 SPORT II
3) American Tactical Imports AR15 Omni Hybrid Maxx Ria 16"
4) Palmetto State Armory CLASSIC FREEDOM KEYMOD
5) Ruger AR 556
6) Anderson AM15-M4

[Jay Cunningham]

This has been covered a lot.

Colt LE6920 or AR6720.

[oldtexan]

To what purposes do you expect to use this rifle? Home Defense? Range training? Pest control? Other( please specify)?

What's your budget?

[blues]

On the S&W forums there are a number of threads by folks who appear to be very pleased with the quality of the M&P15 Sport II.

S&W is also very good at standing behind their rifles and make warranty work much less of a headache if and when needed. This is worth considering, imho.

[Peally]

The blackest, scariest, deadliest one. If it squints at you and talks through its teeth when you hold it, that's the one.

[lawnguy]

To what purposes do you expect to use this rifle? Home Defense? Range training? Pest control? Other( please specify)?

What's your budget?

Shooting at the range from time to time,and home defense.

$650 max.

[ReverendMeat]

S&W Sport or Ruger AR-556, then.

[Failure2Stop]

This has been covered a lot.

Colt LE6920 or AR6720.

I work for a rifle manufacturer, and I agree with the above.

[Failure2Stop]

$650 max.

Then buy a lower receiver and save up money for a good upper.
Or buy an M&P 15/22.

[23JAZ]

On the S&W forums there are a number of threads by folks who appear to be very pleased with the quality of the M&P15 Sport II.

S&W is also very good at standing behind their rifles and make warranty work much less of a headache if and when needed. This is worth considering, imho.
I am one of those ^ people. Couldn't be happier. Not a single issue with close to 20K rounds through it. Just keep her lubed up and she'll run!

[JSGlock34]

1) COLT-CE1000
2) Smith &Wesson M&P 15 SPORT II
3) American Tactical Imports AR15 Omni Hybrid Maxx Ria 16"
4) Palmetto State Armory CLASSIC FREEDOM KEYMOD
5) Ruger AR 556
6) Anderson AM15-M4

I'm disappointed that after the 11 page AR15 or AK47? (https://pistol-forum.com/showthread.php?22589-AR15-or-AK47) thread, this is the list that has popped out. I haven't even heard of some of the brands listed, and they weren't among the suggestions from the membership in that thread. Several members already warned you away from the American Tactical Imports model (which you previously had linked to in .300 Blackout, a very expensive cartridge).

At least the Colt and the S&W surfaced in the previous thread as possible recommendations, and though I echo Jay and F2S' advice above, if forced to choose from this list I'd pick the Smith.

And please seek training on how to use whatever you purchase.

[MistWolf]

Makers of $650 ARs use barrels with gas ports that are too large, carbine buffers instead of H or H2 buffers, barrels with gas ports that are too large and inferior springs that will suffer premature failure because the rifle is over gassed.

Upgrading a $650 AR to the parts it should have came with from the manufacturer will cost an additional $150 or more. A $650 AR can be shot as is, but being over gassed means it will continually suffer from premature spring failure and will need to have its inferior parts replaced.

Bottom line, the end cost of a $650 AR will be $800 minimum.

This is why experienced and knowledgeable AR shooters automatically guide newbies to the Colt 6920 or the 6720

[lawnguy]

Makers of $650 ARs use barrels with gas ports that are too large, carbine buffers instead of H or H2 buffers, barrels with gas ports that are too large and inferior springs that will suffer premature failure because the rifle is over gassed.

Upgrading a $650 AR to the parts it should have came with from the manufacturer will cost an additional $150 or more. A $650 AR can be shot as is, but being over gassed means it will continually suffer from premature spring failure and will need to have its inferior parts replaced.

Bottom line, the end cost of a $650 AR will be $800 minimum.

This is why experienced and knowledgeable AR shooters automatically guide newbies to the Colt 6920 or the 6720

Thank you very much for this info! I will save up more $ and get the Colt 6920.

[LittleLebowski]

Move quickly.

[Oukaapie]

If you lack funds buy a lower receiver and add an upper when you can afford to get the Colt/BCM/LMT/DD.

[LittleLebowski]

I'd be fine with S&W based upon personal experience. Not to impugn Failure2Stop (though he is a commie).

[Sero Sed Serio]

If you lack funds buy a lower receiver and add an upper when you can afford to get the Colt/BCM/LMT/DD.

This. I've had great luck with my 6920s and 6933, and while I have no experience with LMT or DD, I have no doubt that they are great guns. But BCM really seems to be the perfect intersection between hard-use quality and price, and when you can pick up a complete lower for $395 (less if you get a blem, I think), and an upper for 4 something before handguards/BCG, you're pretty close to your price point. BCM tends to run deals where you can get the BCG for over half off when you buy the upper as well.

I was really tempted by DD/KAC when I bought my last AR, but I just couldn't get past the economies of scale for the BCM guns. Plus being able to break the rifle up into smaller purchases really helps.

[Beat Trash]

You set a budget of $650. For $100 more, you can purchase a Colt 6920 OEM1 for $750 with free shipping.
https://www.armsunlimited.com/Colt-OEM-AR15-M4-556mm-Rifle-No-Furniture-p/le6920-oem1.htm

Buy one of these. Then look for an on-line sale and pick up a set of MagPul furniture, trigger guard and a MagPUl MBUS. You will have an extremely dependable and reliable carbine.

[HCM]

I'd be fine with S&W based upon personal experience. Not to impugn Failure2Stop (though he is a commie).

I've had good experience with my S&W M&P 15T but just like the Colt Expanse is not the equal of the 6920, the S&W sport is not the equal of the S&W M&P15. The price differences in both lines have to come from somewhere.

The Sport II seems to be the best of the $650 AR's but I think Beattrash nailed it - the Colt OEM is the way to go.

[Failure2Stop]

You set a budget of $650. For $100 more, you can purchase a Colt 6920 OEM1 for $750 with free shipping.
https://www.armsunlimited.com/Colt-OEM-AR15-M4-556mm-Rifle-No-Furniture-p/le6920-oem1.htm

Buy one of these. Then look for an on-line sale and pick up a set of MagPul furniture, trigger guard and a MagPUl MBUS. You will have an extremely dependable and reliable carbine.

That is a very good recommendation.

[Chuck Whitlock]

Makers of $650 ARs use barrels with gas ports that are too large, carbine buffers instead of H or H2 buffers, barrels with gas ports that are too large and inferior springs that will suffer premature failure because the rifle is over gassed.

Upgrading a $650 AR to the parts it should have came with from the manufacturer will cost an additional $150 or more. A $650 AR can be shot as is, but being over gassed means it will continually suffer from premature spring failure and will need to have its inferior parts replaced.

Bottom line, the end cost of a $650 AR will be $800 minimum.

This is why experienced and knowledgeable AR shooters automatically guide newbies to the Colt 6920 or the 6720


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bigZ1fmwD-Q

[blues]

http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/halofanon/images/9/98/Department-of-redundancy-department.gif/revision/latest?cb=20101007224941

[RevolverRob]

If you lack funds buy a lower receiver and add an upper when you can afford to get the Colt/BCM/LMT/DD.

This.

Last time I decided I "needed" an AR. I just bought a couple of lowers. Later, I built one up into a 9mm Colt-pattern gun and the other lower is destined to get a HK556 upper.

[Lex Luthier]

I think we might need a recommended -at this point in time*- lower assembly or stripped lower thread. I will say that the Arms Unlimited page shows Colt M4 complete lowers listed for $400- though currently out of stock...

Brownells is showing BCM complete lowers with pistol grip and buttstock for the same price-
$399, and in stock.
http://www.brownells.com/rifle-parts/receiver-parts/receivers/lower-receivers/ar-15-m16-complete-lower-receiver-w-milspec-m4-stock-prod83803.aspx?utm_medium=email&utm_source=marketo&utm_campaign=2016_10_20_newproducts&utm_content=newproducts&cm_mmc=email-_-marketo-_-2016_10_20_newproducts-_-newproducts&mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiT1ROak4yVTROakJoWkRBeiIsInQiOiJ6ND ZtXC8rNVh5c284REFYaG5ZVlMxbWE1aUdsYWQ3dkNhNkZ2b0x1 cUIzT1kzemR2Wkdkdkd1dHdzTWtjc0J1WGd1RlpwaXBmd2V2ek d6cFFjRWdFbFd1TTdQQkM1YzJyVG9VSm9HaEQ5SVU9In0%3d

This or the Colt OEM-1 might be one of your best bets right now.

* Not sure how Tom et al might feel about it, but maybe a yearly sticky to help the newer folks find parts that are proving known good would be a useful addition to the long guns section.

[Chuck Haggard]

FWIW, the S&W Sport continues to impress me for a gun I bought for under $500

Still no gun related stoppages, and only one of any kind, due to being a Vietnam era mag loaded with Norinco ball ammo in a very dusty Pannone class and being shit in "SBU prone". Mag was at fault, can't blame the gun.

[Lex Luthier]

FWIW, the S&W Sport continues to impress me for a gun I bought for under $500

Still no gun related stoppages, and only one of any kind, due to being a Vietnam era mag loaded with Norinco ball ammo in a very dusty Pannone class and being shit in "SBU prone". Mag was at fault, can't blame the gun.

I was hoping to hear more from you about this, but didn't want to pester you. Is there a part II to your review coming up on your blog?

[Chuck Haggard]

I was hoping to hear more from you about this, but didn't want to pester you. Is there a part II to your review coming up on your blog?

Rich Grassi has been asking me for more articles for the Tac Wire, so yeah, pretty soon.

[Dallasmed]

Does anyone know where I can find a 6920 OEM 2? I can't seem to track one down anywhere locally.

[blues]

deleted ----- info out of date