AR Brands To Avoid

[Shotgun693]

I'm still looking for an AR and long with the fact that prices run from high to very high, there's a bunch of different makers. Are there some that MUST be avoided?

[Achilles11B]

Bravo Company USA...because I'm sick of all their parts being out of stock. Just give me a chance and let me pick up a 20" barrel! :D

[stmcelroy]

Olympic Arms
Blackthorne

[10-96]

I've had great service out of my Oly Arms, and there have been a number of others on here who have as well. They got a bad rep 10+ yrs ago with their bargain model(s). I've put mine through some fairly hard service (varmint hunting, truck gun, etc). And it should not be on a list of AR's to stay away from.

In my opinion- about the onliest ones I would stay away from are the carbon/polymer uppered and/or lowered ones. No real reason- I just don't like em. Also, I would not go with a used rack or pawn shop "custom built, modified, accurized, specialized" rifle of any sort. I feel there's no small number of folks out there who watch a youtube video or two, go nuts with a build, discover they've screwed up and dump it on a pawn shop for some unsuspecting new shooter to pick up and have never ending frustrations over.

I don't think anyone is making any true junk or dangerous AR's at this point in the game.

[Mobuck]

stmcelroy on what experience do you base your denigration of Olympic Arms? My experience with Oly is topnotch and the uppers I've shot were more accurate than most shooters. They had some probs with early cast lowers but that is way in the past.
Everyone rags on Blackthorne but how many have actually owned/shot their product? I have one of their uppers bought for me as a gift by my kids and it is 100% functional and shoots better with steel cased junk ammo than some of the higher dollar uppers with top of the line domestic ammo. The fact that Blackthorne is still in business indicates to me that someone must be buying their product. Maybe those folks don't want to be jumped by the keyboard cowboys who "know it all" so they don't stand up.
Right now, you can own a DPMS, Olympic Arms, or DelTon for an acceptable price. If you just want something to burn ammo and play with, the M4(gery) flattops are a good start. If you really intend to varmint hunt, I'd go with a 20" barrel and A2 stocked flattop. A heavier barrel profile like the HBAR or bull configuration will perform better on the prairie dog fields but makes a walking coyote hunt more of a chore. All of my hunting AR's are Hbar profile-even the 16". I find more weight in the barrel makes holding steadier.

[madcratebuilder]

Olympic Arms
Blackthorne

There is nothing wrong with Olympic Arms AR's. Oly made a cheap, cast, entry level AR model back in the 90's that was a piece of ****. The current production is like the rest in the same price range. Oly makes some of the best AR pistols you can buy.

People just keep repeating internet rumors without any first hand knowledge.


Blackthorne/Hesse/Vulcan=horse poop. And even some of them shot OK.

[eldorendo]

Oly arms also got a well-deserved bad rep due to their crappy attitude toward their customers, when there was a major fire @ the Oly factory.