AR-15 What brand to buy?

PDshooter · October 16, 2001, 10:12 PM

I'm looking to buy a AR-15, which one should I buy? And which one should I stay away from

Jack Carson · October 16, 2001, 10:45 PM

As of right now the Bushmasters are the best of the breed for the money. They are accurate and reliable and have chrome lined bores and barrels. Their chambers are not as tight as some of the newer "match" or "game" rifles which helps their reliability a great deal. I am assuming you want a carry/self defense rifle or carbine. If so, go with the 16" barrel. I have the 14.5" with the AK muzzle brake. It's great for carrying but awfully loud and I am afraid I am giving up quite a bit of velocity in the shorter tube. this is just my opinion.
jack

HCKJMN · October 16, 2001, 11:16 PM

Go with the Bushmaster, Excellent product and excellent customer service in the event that you need it.

Jay

jto · October 16, 2001, 11:16 PM

GO BUSHMASTER

Mo_Zam_Beek · October 16, 2001, 11:34 PM

Bushy

gbelleh · October 17, 2001, 12:20 AM

I just got a Bushmaster M-4 type today. All experience I've ever had with Bushmaster has been very positive. They're great guns!

Melvin-Purvis · October 17, 2001, 01:07 AM

I used to buy only Colt, but switched to Quality Parts (Bushmaster) a few years back....especially BM uppers on Colt lowers...no complaints so far, and more options to boot.

Stumbled across an Oly pre-ban CAR with the 11.5/5.5 LW option...it's butt ugly as all get out, but a serious tack driver out to 200+...did I just get lucky with the Oly?

I've been posting a bit at KFC/BFC/TFC for the last year...it's nice to finally get back to my "gun guy" roots...

Tom B · October 17, 2001, 04:12 AM

Ruger !

outrigger · October 17, 2001, 04:36 AM

another vote for bushmaster. i love my xm15-e2s.

mini14jac · October 17, 2001, 06:22 AM

I get emotional when I talk about my Bushmaster.
(Or a good steak.)

I have a chart somewhere, I think it came from the Bushmaster page, showing that they sell way more guns than all of the competition.

JP
><>

Coronach · October 17, 2001, 09:34 AM

The Big Three producers that generally produce good ARs are Bushmaster, Armalite and Colt (in no particular order).

To that short list I have heard many people add Rock River Arms, stating that their stuff is milspec, and is just as good, and their price is way less.

The only AR I own is Rock River, and its nice.

Mike

Jeff Thomas · October 17, 2001, 11:07 AM

They used to say that "nobody gets fired for buying IBM", meaning to say it was the safe, solid choice.

There seem to be a few firearms that have a similar, legendary status.

Bushmaster seems to have that as the AR-15 choice. There are certainly other, good AR's, but Bushmaster seems to get very few raps on its reputation. Remington 870's seems to have a similar blessing, and perhaps Glocks too, but it gets a little fuzzy with handguns ...

You'll enjoy your rifle. Buy quality mag's.

Regards from AZ

uglygun · October 17, 2001, 12:43 PM

Bushmaster more than anything is just a rock solid value, you pay a fair amount of money for the gun but what you get is quite seriously what the darned thing is worth, it's also the closest you're going to find to mil-spec in a civilian AR15. Colts in my opinion are no longer worth what a person would pay for them and owning the thing for the name is just silly in my opinion. The only other AR15 manufacturer out there that gets me all tickled pink is Armalite, you pay a bit more but you get a lifetime warranty with those Armalites while also getting some pretty decent customer service(in my experience atleast).

Rock River Arms is also said to be a pretty decent value but I don't have any experience with them.

Companies to stay away from? Traditionally there are two to avoid like the plague, American Spirit Arms(ASA) and Hesse. Bad customer service(sometimes horrific in the case of ASA) and poor quality control are the main issues that both companies have seem to have been fighting for some time now.

And as for the list showing the sales of AR15s for the year 1999,

Clayton · October 17, 2001, 04:37 PM

Which specific AR15-type carbine do you guys recommend?

Steve Smith · October 17, 2001, 06:26 PM

I and several HP friends use Rock River...they work very well.

halfcocked · October 17, 2001, 08:22 PM

I love my Armalite M15 carbine. The fit and finish is great. I like the Armalite carbine because it has a longer forearm which gives it greater site distance and doesnt have that long length of barrel in front of the site. Oh yeah, it shoots great too.

JIH · October 17, 2001, 08:49 PM

I love my Armalites. Bushmaster makes a very good rifle, as does Rock River. Along with Colt, they make your upper-tier of ARs. (I'm not including specialty shops like Fulton Armory)

DPMS and Olympic make nice guns as well, though they are more a second-tier. I do not trust Hesse.

As far as price-to-quality considerations are concerned, Bushmaster is the best bang for the buck.

Armalite is higher-priced, but you get a lifetime warranty and arguably better QC out of it.

I have not seen Rock River carried by local dealers, so I don't know how they price.

Colts are sometimes overpriced, sometimes underpriced... sometimes the name sells them, sometimes the name prevents their sale. Kinda depends on how political your local shooters are. I dislike Colts because they are proprietary. While I typically stick to Armalite parts, if I really want to put someone else's upper on it, I want it to fit, and fit right.

Wilsons are overpriced.

DPMS, at least in my area, is usually priced at the same level as Bushmaster... Get the Bushmaster if this is the case.

Olympic prices low.

Hesse... I don't care if they give them away, I'm not putting my face near one.

Melvin-Purvis · October 18, 2001, 12:33 AM

The reason Oly's are so much lower priced is because they paint the damn things...

Twice out and it looks like a Somali special... And they're loose, giving "Shake, rattle, and roll" a whole new meaning...

But they work. Mine does anyway, and it works quite well.

(Kinda like my buddy's Remington-Rand 1911A1...butt ugly, but it rolls out the rounds...7 rounds, <2 seconds...)

-S

madmike · October 18, 2001, 01:06 AM

My Oly is anodized, tighter than hell, MOA and sweet. The machine work is gorgeous. Seen an (admittedly older) Bushy flash suppressor that was turned 5 degrees off...you could see it wobble as it was threaded on. I hear good things about their new stuff, but they used to make some right crap, and I haven't had the $$ to blow to let them redeem themselves.

mini14jac · October 18, 2001, 06:37 AM

Clayton,
If you are asking about configuration,
try the Maryland AR shooter's sight;
http://communities.msn.com/TheMaryla..._whatsnew.msnw

It has a lot of good info for a beginning AR shooter.
Basically, depending on what you want to do with it,
you'll probably be happy with a 16", light barrel.
(Either M4 profile, or fluted.)
You will have to decide if you want a removable handle or not.

I prefer a real stock to a fake folder, and I like the shortest, lightest barrel possible.
(IMO muzzle brakes are too loud, and not needed on a .223)
I put an A1 stock on mine, as it is about 1" shorter than the A2 stock.

Be safe, have fun!
JP
><>

Bob Locke · October 18, 2001, 07:07 AM

I own an Oly Arms PCR-4 (Politically Correct Rifle - gotta love it). The only fit it gave me was the chamber was too tight from the factory. The first couple of rounds I sent down-range left the case in the breech.

I sent it back, they reamed it out just a smidge, and the thing has been flawless ever since, but I will agree that it's a bit more "springy" than other AR's I have handled.

Bushmaster's go for about $100 more than Oly Arms. I think I would probably pony up the extra money and get one.

Colt's aren't worth the extra money IMO.

The Armalites are great as well, but you're talking another $100 or more over the Bushmaster. I don't see the added value for the money.

Have no experience at all with Rock River, but everything I've heard is good.

DPMS has a solid rep among the folks I know as well.

Stopdropnroll · October 18, 2001, 09:24 AM

Hard to beat the "Dissipator" in A3

Its 16" barrel but with full 20" barrel's sight radius and longer handguards that protect you from hot barrel.

SDnR

KelTeKee · October 18, 2001, 09:37 AM

Bushy 16" post ban will eat all...Put mine together for just over $500. did ALOT of scroungin' but found the good stuff...

Jeff Thomas · October 18, 2001, 10:54 AM

Stopdropnroll and others make a good point ... the model matters as well. I've heard a lot of positive comments about the Dissipator model, mainly due to the longer sight radius. Others aren't as happy with them because they have a different balance.

I like the A3 sights, because they give you much more flexibility in sighting systems.

Check this one out, for example:
http://www.bushmaster.com/shopping/w.../pcwa3s16d.asp

Good luck.

Regards from AZ

Clayton · October 18, 2001, 11:07 AM

Can I put a Vortex flash hider on a new Bushy or Armalite?

October 16, 2001, 10:12 PM	#1
PDshooter Senior Member Join Date: March 30, 2000 Location: Indiana Posts: 607	AR-15 What brand to buy? I'm looking to buy a AR-15, which one should I buy? And which one should I stay away from

October 16, 2001, 10:45 PM	#2
Jack Carson Senior Member Join Date: July 13, 2001 Location: Central Oklahoma Posts: 275	For a new model, go Bushmaster As of right now the Bushmasters are the best of the breed for the money. They are accurate and reliable and have chrome lined bores and barrels. Their chambers are not as tight as some of the newer "match" or "game" rifles which helps their reliability a great deal. I am assuming you want a carry/self defense rifle or carbine. If so, go with the 16" barrel. I have the 14.5" with the AK muzzle brake. It's great for carrying but awfully loud and I am afraid I am giving up quite a bit of velocity in the shorter tube. this is just my opinion. jack __________________ Jack C.

October 17, 2001, 12:20 AM	#6
gbelleh Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2001 Location: Kansas Posts: 435	I just got a Bushmaster M-4 type today. All experience I've ever had with Bushmaster has been very positive. They're great guns! __________________ gbelleh Last edited by gbelleh; October 17, 2001 at 10:26 AM.

October 17, 2001, 01:07 AM	#7
Melvin-Purvis Member Join Date: October 17, 2001 Location: In front of my monitor Posts: 28	"Woohoo", my first post...lol I used to buy only Colt, but switched to Quality Parts (Bushmaster) a few years back....especially BM uppers on Colt lowers...no complaints so far, and more options to boot. Stumbled across an Oly pre-ban CAR with the 11.5/5.5 LW option...it's butt ugly as all get out, but a serious tack driver out to 200+...did I just get lucky with the Oly? I've been posting a bit at KFC/BFC/TFC for the last year...it's nice to finally get back to my "gun guy" roots... __________________ "Buy Quality and Only Cry Once"

October 17, 2001, 09:34 AM	#11
Coronach Senior Member Join Date: March 25, 1999 Posts: 3,147	The Big Three producers that generally produce good ARs are Bushmaster, Armalite and Colt (in no particular order). To that short list I have heard many people add Rock River Arms, stating that their stuff is milspec, and is just as good, and their price is way less. The only AR I own is Rock River, and its nice. Mike __________________ The axe bites into the door, ripping a hole in one panel. The maniac puts his face into the hole, cackling gleefully, "Here's Johnny...erk." "And here's Smith and Wesson," murmurs Coronach, Mozambiquing six rounds of .357 into the critter at a range of three feet. -Lawdog "True pacifism is the finest form of manliness. But if a man comes up to you and cuts your hand off, you don't just offer him the other one. Not if you want to go on playing the piano, you don't." -Sam Peckinpah "A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects." -Robert Heinlein

October 16, 2001, 11:16 PM	#3
HCKJMN Member Join Date: October 2, 2000 Posts: 87	Go with the Bushmaster, Excellent product and excellent customer service in the event that you need it. Jay

October 16, 2001, 11:16 PM	#4
jto Member Join Date: July 29, 2000 Location: terlingua,tx Posts: 21	GO BUSHMASTER

October 16, 2001, 11:34 PM	#5
Mo_Zam_Beek Senior Member Join Date: August 20, 2001 Posts: 308	Bushy

October 17, 2001, 04:12 AM	#8
Tom B Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 1999 Location: GA Posts: 1,836	Ruger !

October 17, 2001, 04:36 AM	#9
outrigger Member Join Date: June 14, 2001 Location: vermont Posts: 62	another vote for bushmaster. i love my xm15-e2s.

October 17, 2001, 06:22 AM	#10
mini14jac Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2001 Location: The Volunteer State. Posts: 691	I get emotional when I talk about my Bushmaster. (Or a good steak.) I have a chart somewhere, I think it came from the Bushmaster page, showing that they sell way more guns than all of the competition. JP ><>

October 17, 2001, 11:07 AM	#12
Jeff Thomas Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 1998 Location: Texas Posts: 4,753	They used to say that "nobody gets fired for buying IBM", meaning to say it was the safe, solid choice. There seem to be a few firearms that have a similar, legendary status. Bushmaster seems to have that as the AR-15 choice. There are certainly other, good AR's, but Bushmaster seems to get very few raps on its reputation. Remington 870's seems to have a similar blessing, and perhaps Glocks too, but it gets a little fuzzy with handguns ... You'll enjoy your rifle. Buy quality mag's. Regards from AZ __________________ I refuse to live in a state which fails to recognize my family's fundamental right of self defense. I refuse to give that state my labor, my taxes, or any other support for such an uncivilized and barbaric policy. In other words ... Texas, Yes ... California, No.

October 17, 2001, 12:43 PM	#13
uglygun Senior Member Join Date: March 27, 2001 Location: Cowpie Ca Posts: 552	Bushmaster more than anything is just a rock solid value, you pay a fair amount of money for the gun but what you get is quite seriously what the darned thing is worth, it's also the closest you're going to find to mil-spec in a civilian AR15. Colts in my opinion are no longer worth what a person would pay for them and owning the thing for the name is just silly in my opinion. The only other AR15 manufacturer out there that gets me all tickled pink is Armalite, you pay a bit more but you get a lifetime warranty with those Armalites while also getting some pretty decent customer service(in my experience atleast). Rock River Arms is also said to be a pretty decent value but I don't have any experience with them. Companies to stay away from? Traditionally there are two to avoid like the plague, American Spirit Arms(ASA) and Hesse. Bad customer service(sometimes horrific in the case of ASA) and poor quality control are the main issues that both companies have seem to have been fighting for some time now. And as for the list showing the sales of AR15s for the year 1999,

October 17, 2001, 04:37 PM	#14
Clayton Senior Member Join Date: July 27, 2001 Location: Bentonville, Arkansas Posts: 268	Which specific AR15-type carbine do you guys recommend?

October 17, 2001, 06:26 PM	#15
Steve Smith Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 1999 Posts: 4,131	I and several HP friends use Rock River...they work very well. __________________ Favor the X. Steve Smith NRA Life Member

October 17, 2001, 08:22 PM	#16
halfcocked Senior Member Join Date: June 26, 2001 Location: NE PA Posts: 140	I love my Armalite M15 carbine. The fit and finish is great. I like the Armalite carbine because it has a longer forearm which gives it greater site distance and doesnt have that long length of barrel in front of the site. Oh yeah, it shoots great too.

October 17, 2001, 08:49 PM	#17
JIH Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 1999 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 963	I love my Armalites. Bushmaster makes a very good rifle, as does Rock River. Along with Colt, they make your upper-tier of ARs. (I'm not including specialty shops like Fulton Armory) DPMS and Olympic make nice guns as well, though they are more a second-tier. I do not trust Hesse. As far as price-to-quality considerations are concerned, Bushmaster is the best bang for the buck. Armalite is higher-priced, but you get a lifetime warranty and arguably better QC out of it. I have not seen Rock River carried by local dealers, so I don't know how they price. Colts are sometimes overpriced, sometimes underpriced... sometimes the name sells them, sometimes the name prevents their sale. Kinda depends on how political your local shooters are. I dislike Colts because they are proprietary. While I typically stick to Armalite parts, if I really want to put someone else's upper on it, I want it to fit, and fit right. Wilsons are overpriced. DPMS, at least in my area, is usually priced at the same level as Bushmaster... Get the Bushmaster if this is the case. Olympic prices low. Hesse... I don't care if they give them away, I'm not putting my face near one.

October 18, 2001, 12:33 AM	#18
Melvin-Purvis Member Join Date: October 17, 2001 Location: In front of my monitor Posts: 28	The reason Oly's are so much lower priced is because they paint the damn things... Twice out and it looks like a Somali special... And they're loose, giving "Shake, rattle, and roll" a whole new meaning... But they work. Mine does anyway, and it works quite well. (Kinda like my buddy's Remington-Rand 1911A1...butt ugly, but it rolls out the rounds...7 rounds, <2 seconds...) -S __________________ "Buy Quality and Only Cry Once"

October 18, 2001, 01:06 AM	#19
madmike Senior Member Join Date: October 5, 2000 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 559	My Oly is anodized, tighter than hell, MOA and sweet. The machine work is gorgeous. Seen an (admittedly older) Bushy flash suppressor that was turned 5 degrees off...you could see it wobble as it was threaded on. I hear good things about their new stuff, but they used to make some right crap, and I haven't had the $$ to blow to let them redeem themselves. __________________ FORGED IN BLOOD, (editor), Sept 2017, Baen Books THE TIDE OF BATTLE, July 2018, Baen Books http://www.MichaelZWilliamson.com http://www.SharpPointyThings.com

October 18, 2001, 06:37 AM	#20
mini14jac Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2001 Location: The Volunteer State. Posts: 691	Clayton, If you are asking about configuration, try the Maryland AR shooter's sight; http://communities.msn.com/TheMaryla..._whatsnew.msnw It has a lot of good info for a beginning AR shooter. Basically, depending on what you want to do with it, you'll probably be happy with a 16", light barrel. (Either M4 profile, or fluted.) You will have to decide if you want a removable handle or not. I prefer a real stock to a fake folder, and I like the shortest, lightest barrel possible. (IMO muzzle brakes are too loud, and not needed on a .223) I put an A1 stock on mine, as it is about 1" shorter than the A2 stock. Be safe, have fun! JP ><>

October 18, 2001, 07:07 AM	#21
Bob Locke Senior Member Join Date: December 19, 1999 Location: Greeley, CO Posts: 2,518	I own an Oly Arms PCR-4 (Politically Correct Rifle - gotta love it). The only fit it gave me was the chamber was too tight from the factory. The first couple of rounds I sent down-range left the case in the breech. I sent it back, they reamed it out just a smidge, and the thing has been flawless ever since, but I will agree that it's a bit more "springy" than other AR's I have handled. Bushmaster's go for about $100 more than Oly Arms. I think I would probably pony up the extra money and get one. Colt's aren't worth the extra money IMO. The Armalites are great as well, but you're talking another $100 or more over the Bushmaster. I don't see the added value for the money. Have no experience at all with Rock River, but everything I've heard is good. DPMS has a solid rep among the folks I know as well.

October 18, 2001, 09:24 AM	#22
Stopdropnroll Member Join Date: August 1, 1999 Posts: 78	BUSHMASTER Hard to beat the "Dissipator" in A3 Its 16" barrel but with full 20" barrel's sight radius and longer handguards that protect you from hot barrel. SDnR __________________ SDnR "Armed with Pride"

October 18, 2001, 09:37 AM	#23
KelTeKee Member Join Date: June 23, 2000 Location: SanFrancisco,CA Posts: 93	Bushy 16" post ban will eat all...Put mine together for just over $500. did ALOT of scroungin' but found the good stuff... __________________ Nothing's perfect...so get to work!

October 18, 2001, 10:54 AM	#24
Jeff Thomas Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 1998 Location: Texas Posts: 4,753	Stopdropnroll and others make a good point ... the model matters as well. I've heard a lot of positive comments about the Dissipator model, mainly due to the longer sight radius. Others aren't as happy with them because they have a different balance. I like the A3 sights, because they give you much more flexibility in sighting systems. Check this one out, for example: http://www.bushmaster.com/shopping/w.../pcwa3s16d.asp Good luck. Regards from AZ __________________ I refuse to live in a state which fails to recognize my family's fundamental right of self defense. I refuse to give that state my labor, my taxes, or any other support for such an uncivilized and barbaric policy. In other words ... Texas, Yes ... California, No.

October 18, 2001, 11:07 AM	#25
Clayton Senior Member Join Date: July 27, 2001 Location: Bentonville, Arkansas Posts: 268	Can I put a Vortex flash hider on a new Bushy or Armalite?