What is the best manufacturer of AR15 rifle?

Question

What is the best manufacturer of AR15 rifle?

Answer 1

http://www.awrm.org/ubb/ultimatebb.php?u...

These guys know their rifles... you might not agree with their politics or anything like that... but they definitely know the "low down" when it comes to AR15s.

You can build you an M4-gery for under 900 dollars.... flat top, 5.56NATO chamber, 1/7 twist, chromed chamber and bore... chromed bolt carrier interior... you need to do some of the work yourself to save the cash, it isn't hard though.

http://www.lifelibertyetc.com/RangeBag.a...

Here is a link to build a lower receiver... that is where you save a lot of money. AIM Surplus has a good deal on Upper receiver groups from CMMG... you would have to change the bolt carrier out for an 80 dollar replacement for it to be in spec though.

Pay 30 for a rear sight from cheaper than dirt.... you are good to go basically with a very high quality rifle.

If you want one off the rack instead of doing any work.... BushMaster is decent... but you lose the details like the chromed interior bolt, the chromed interior gas key, and parkerizing under the front sight base to prevent gas system corrosion. They are not big issues, but it is the deference between a decent rifle, and a great rifle.

And when you look at the price difference, you are getting more bang for your buck building your own with the best parts.

Whatever you do, don't get one of these "gas piston" AR-15s... if you get a well made, mil-spec AR15 it will be plenty reliable... if you get a gas piston system, you lose accuracy, increase recoil, lose the interchangeability of some parts, and mess with the rifle other than the designer intended. If you want a piston, get an AK(which are overpriced). If you want something that is high quality with good value, get an AR15 with DIRECT IMPINGEMENT.

Answer 2

I'm a stocking dealer for Bushmaster. I really like the product as do my customers. I can order any brand. They have great customer service and warranty (which I've never had to sent anything back).  

Answer 3

Colt and FN are the only true mil spec manufacturers who are independently verified.  Lewis Machine & Tool and Bravo Machine Company   build to mil spec but are not verified.  CMMG does not shoot a proof round through their barrels.  Bushmaster is close to spec.  Armalite, Stag Arms, CMT, Rock River Arms and DPMS all build excellent rifles but vary from mil spec in materials or chamber, etc.  

What does that mean to the average target shooter or hunter?  Not much.   All of the above manufaturers are safe bets.

Answer 4

Stag Arms

Smith & Wesson

CMMG

Charles Daly

Lewis Machine Tool

All those are good manufacturers.

Answer 5

Depends what you mean by "best"...best price, best product, best quality? There are a few really good ones but my personal favorite is the DPMS Panther....they make a lot of different variations in a large price range and are of superb quality.

Answer 6

Go with a gas piston system, it is much more reliable than the DI design most AR platforms are based upon. LWRC is making some great rifles, but they are currently on back order. The best non-civilian unit right now is the HK416. I could go into a spiel about why this rifle is better than that, but I won't be telling you anything any of these manufacturers web sites don't already brag about, so have a look for yourself. The price justifies the research.

LWRC

http://www.lwrifles.com/

The best direct impingement AR15s are made by Sabre. They are quite a bit more pricey than those listed by others, but as the saying goes, you get what you pay for.

Sabre

http://www.sabredefence.com/

Rock River Arms makes some decent "lower end" rifles, they also make the M&P series for S&W. Colt and FN fall in this category as well.

Rock River Arms

http://www.rockriverarms.com/

Answer 7

People will say bushmaster. But there are those people who think that bushmaster is sub-par and to get a good rifle you must pay $3000-$5000 and everything under a grand is junk. It's a shame these people don't understand were not all rich.

Edit: Mine's made from several different manfacurers. For instance, my upper parts are made by FN, my trigger parts are colt, my barrel is Wilson arms, and my receiver is DS arms.

Answer 8

I am a personal fan of the M&P15T by Smith and Wesson...the parts are made by Stag arms and the rest smith & wesson tales care of...mine is very very accurate and I have yet to have one jam...plus I have not cleaned it in like three months and it still wont jam on me.