I can only tell you my experiences. I own a bushmaster and a colt. While they are both fine firearms, the colt has the edge in my opinion. The bushmaster is a little more picky with the ammo and will sometimes jam if im using wolf. But this is rare and only if using cheap steel cased ammo. The bushmaster also dents the brass slightly in the neck. I found the bushmaster is slightly more accurate but that may just be from the 20" barrel as opposed to the 16" on the colt. These factors, along with the fact that Ive never had a single malfunction in the colt in over the year that Ive had it, would def make me recommend colt. Also I like the 1 in 7 twist that stabilizes the heavier hornady tap ammo that I keep for self defense. But good luck finding one for $1,500 nowadays. I got mine new for $1,200 a year ago but then again, there wasnt a pending AWB.

 

I like Bushy and S&W M&P flat top with rear flip up and an eotech!

Virtually never shoot them anymore due to ammo prices so they remain in the safe where they will stay until "needed" or I just cannot stand the urge for some range time. I think they miss me.

 

The Colt is the rifle all others try to imitate and you pay for the quality.....There are a number of good copies though...Rock River, Armalite, LMT, Bushmaster.....

 

Best is a matter of opinion. People who love their AR's have been arguing over this topic for a long time. To give you some kind of answer though I'll say this. Colt has the most mil-spec parts, now military spec doesn't necessarily equal best but it can kind of help guide you.

Personally, I have a colt and I have a couple of S&W MP15's and all are fine guns.


Here is the "chart" put together buy RobS and the guys over at M4carbine. Please read the thread, it's not gospel, just a guide.

http://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=6642

 

IMO for the money, LMT is the best value.
A Colt 6920 is known as the best but, the lowers are proprietary due to FCG pin size.
They also have LEO/Gov. only roll marks which could be problematic in the event of a ban.
The mil-spec lower of a LMT is more versatile. The LMT has a proven reputation and has a Mil-spec TDP (Tecnical Data Package).
Noveske is an excellent brand but, far more expensive.
http://www.lewismachine.net

 

By the way, whatever you may or may not get. It's best not to make the same mistake I did as a newb and post pictures and tell what you have. It was just stupid of me.
Live and learn.

 

I have a M-4, (Bushmaster lower Stag upper), that I want to expand into owning another M-4 , with Bushmaster being the first choice. My old school Colt Post Ban 20 inch HBAR is inadequate for mobility purposes to get another one.

 

I think that you really can't go wrong with any of the mainstream brands. Stag is the best quality for the price I think because everything from their receivers to their barrels is built in house, they are still considered a 'inferior' brand for some reason which keeps the prices low, and they have EXCELLENT QC & CS.

Rock River gives you a chrome bolt carrier group at no extra charge.
Bushmaster probably has the best barrels along with Colt.
Colt is the orginal however you cannot interchange parts with Colt's and most aftermarket parts which could be a problem for preppers or SHTF.
Bravo Company Arms makes quality stuff.
Daniel Defense is probably the brand I would go if I was gonna get a new AR because they are strictly built as a fighting carbine with incredible attention to detail and also good QC and CS.

Armalite, Bushmaster, Stag, LMT, RRA, S&W, etc. etc. will all serve you well.

I think all the lower receivers are generally made in the same couple factories and then the company stamp is placed on them. Someone can correct me if I am wrong or confirm this if its true but I am pretty sure there are only 3 companies that make the lower receivers and then the rollmarks are placed accordingly.

 

There are so many errors and incorrect info in the following posts it's laughable.

I think that you really can't go wrong with any of the mainstream brands. Stag is the best quality for the price I think because everything from their receivers to their barrels is built in house,

False. They don't make everything in house and I can get a BCM/DD/Colt for the same money

Bushmaster probably has the best barrels along with Colt.

Is that some kind of joke? BM can't even consistently put a true 5.56 chamber in their guns and a great number of them have to be reamed out. Not to mention they are badly over gassed.

Colt is the orginal however you cannot interchange parts with Colt's and most aftermarket parts which could be a problem for preppers or SHTF.

False. Colt parts interchange just fine. If you are referring to the pin size, they changed to standard size pins many years ago.

Its not fear-mongering....with Colt you pay for the name....not much else.

False. You pay for a company that actually has and adheres to the TDP. Not to mention you're not paying anything extra for the name. You can get Colt's for the same or often less than then the other brands you mention.

Just look at their 1911's. JUNK. Give me a Springfield, Kimber, or even a Rock Island before I buy into that pony nonsense. They lost their way I am sorry to break it to you.

OK guy.

I guess you didn't hear that the Rock River Arms smoked the Colt in the DEA AR15 test hence why they carry RRA's and not Colt's.

You should really do your research before you regurgitate gun show/gun shop nonsense.


I will give you credit though that you hit the nail on the head with DD as they do make a very high quality product.

 

I like my Noveske, but Colts are really cheap right now. Buy one, and people need to stop with the stupid fear-mongering.
Also, any part on a 6920 after seriel number 70000 (2010 production or later, as the large-pin setups were all used up at the latest, summer of '09, although people have reported having the small pin FCG's as early as the 50K serial #'s) is going to interchange just fine with any other part made to spec.

Here is one for a little over 900 bucks. Pretty sure it's the new one, lol.
http://www.gtdist.com/ProductDetail.aspx?PartNumber=COLT-SP6920

 

Best there is you say. Well I have been through alot of them, and it seems as though I always end up back a Bushmaster. But I did get to demo one of these, and HOLY S***. Talk about nice and light. But you do without a doubt get what you pay for.

http://www.store.christensenarms.com/CA-15-Recon_p_65.html

 

Not what I would want for a survivalist weapon. Looks near for a range toy, though!

 

Its not fear-mongering....with Colt you pay for the name....not much else.

 

I meant some guy saying they go for $1500 when I can buy the le 6920 all day long at less than a grand. Colt is more than a name when compared to rra, dpms, bushmaster, etc.

 

I got a Daniel Defense for 1300 and some change shipped to my local pawnshop from cheaper than dirt. I chose it because I can shoot just about any brand and case in it and don't have any problems until i run out of ammo.(then I have to go home) I Know a Colt is a fine rifle since I carried one while in Iraq. I do think which is my opinion that the DD is a much better rifle. So since you asked I would order one online and have it sent to a FFL I promise you will be a happy shooter. love that this thread is 3 years old lol

 

Daniel Defense takes a giant poop on Colt and makes them eat it in about every area of rifle building you can imagine.

 

I haven't seen anyone mention Les Baer Customs yet. Makes me think they are too expensive or all hype.

 

They put the castle-nut on backwards so that it doesn't snag on anything. I think that they are a joke. The Les Baer TRS that I owned being a pile of junk doesn't help my opinion of the company, either. I avoid their crap with extreme prejudice. For illustration purposes, here is the inside of my hard chrome TRS.

Yeah. Won't be buying any more Baers.

 

So why do these threads always turn into a ****ING match? If something works for you, then go for it and be happy. If something someone else uses would not be your choice, THEN DON'T BUY IT!!!!!!.

Enough with the personal attacks. Let it go. I figure that the time is short enough already, that I personally don't have the time for school yard spats, my time can be much better spent preparing.

 

Because you can't determine "Best" without a bit of ****ing.

 

What matters most is a good trigger, who made the barrel, and your skill level.

 

Check out the new 2012 Colt Catalog (high res)
http://www.coltsmfg.com/MediaDownloads.aspx
I want the LE901-16s.

 

lwrc- $2000 for one. i like them.

 

I'm very partial to Rock River Arms, but I wouldn't hesitate to buy a DPMS, Colt, Bushmaster or from any other highly regarded company as long as the price was right.

However I will 100% stay away from Vulcan Arms because they are complete junk and I'm not a fan of stag arms because the ones I've seen at gunshows don't feel like all the other top of the line ARs I've fondled over the years. I will also stay away from Remington's ARs because my uncle had one in .204 Ruger and it keyholed because there wasn't any rifling in the barrel. I wouldn't mind the Remington 700 series, I just refuse to purchase their AR rifles because of the obvious lack of quality control.

 

You do know that Remington AR's and DPMS AR's and Bushmaster AR's are all produced by the same stock-holder?

 

Spikes Tactical/Bravo Company/Daniel Defense

 

I'll tell you after the riots which is best:

 

 

Bcm, colt, noveske. Daniels defense....spikes

 

I'm really enjoying this thread, so here's my $.02. I've had bad experience with Bushmaster, Colt, DPMS, and Olympic. Does that mean they're all junk? Not really, but I wouldn't buy any of them. I don't believe in the "tiers", but the chart is a good starting point for a newcomer to ARs. A few years back, Daniel Defense shipped a bunch of bad barrels, yet on certain forums they are "top tier". So much for mpt, etc. There are way too many opinions of others used by poeple to appraise the quality of ARs.
My next one will be a RRA lower with a PSA kit. It's funny how PSA meets all "tier 1" requirements, with a good reputation, yet they aren't placed wit BCM, DD, LMT, and Colt by the internet "experts". What it boils down to, is one shouldn't stake their life on a brand name, but rather a proven single rifle/carbine that the owner is confident in through training and proving in a secure environment. I'd take a Delton that goes bang over a "top tier" lemon with a name that someone told me was good.

0369

 

You may be right but I know Daniel Defense makes really quality gear. Thats unfortunate that they shipped some bad barrels but it does happen sometimes to companies that are growing as fast as they are. They forgot to ship me a rear sight that I ordered once and when I called their CS dept they were very kind, apologetic, and sincere. Shipped me one that day, no questions asked.

 

1. Noveske

2. Colt- Try to find the 6940 rather than the 6920

3. Daniel Defense

4. Bravo Company

5. LWRC

 

The Colt 6920/6940 still rocks. A local shop that sells a lot of AR's has never sent a Colt back.