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What is the best AR?

RugerNinerRugerNiner Member Posts: 12,636 ✭✭✭
edited May 2002 in Ask the Experts
I've looked around and talked to people who wanted to sell me their merchandise but still don't know which AR is best. In your Opinion what are the top three?

1. Olympic Arms
2. Bushmaster
3. Colt
4. Les Baer
5. Stoner
6. Armalite
7. Other

Remember...Terrorist are attacking Civilians; Not the Government. Protect Yourself!
Keep your Powder dry and your Musket well oiled.
NRA Lifetime Benefactor Member.
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Comments

  • NighthawkNighthawk Member Posts: 12,022 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Les Baer is my number one pick, then Colt, and finally Bushmaster.Wilson combat also makes a great gun.

    Good Luck.

    Rugster
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  • erictheredericthered Member Posts: 244 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have personally had great luck with my Rock River.
    Very accurate, dependable, and obviously very well made. Looks the part of a carefully made machine. I hope they keep it up.

    Eric

    thats'me
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  • leeblackmanleeblackman Member Posts: 5,303 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Les Baer has factory matched and fitted upper and lower recievers.

    Its basically simple, you pay more you get more. But more than likely, you wouldn't be able to outshoot even the cheapest one, considering your using the right ammo.

    Just stay with the mainstream brands and you'll be ok.



    I just wish I had a dollar for every gun I wanted, then I'd be a rich man.
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  • kimberkidkimberkid Member Posts: 8,858 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Ditto Lee!
    I was thinking the same thing ... Over the years I've bought new Colts, Bushmasters, Olympic's and Armalite's ... I've also bought stripped lowers and kits from M&A Parts and "built" several myself ... with the right ammo they have all shot sub-MOA groups!

    My current AR is a Bushmaster upper & lower with a JP Enterprise barrel and free float forarm, a standard trigger that I've re-worked down to 2 pounds, a NM hard chrome bolt & carrier, an Ergo grip and I have no idea who made the stock ... but it shoots dime size groups at 100 yds, at 200 they open up to a nickle ... how much better do you want?

    If your going to get serious, you can either load your own, or pay the price of preimum match grade ammo ... no gun will shoot consistantly with inconsistant ammo, which is what surplus and cheap ammo is ... the very reason Federal Gold Match is expensive, is that every bullet is just like the one before it and the one after it ... the cases are the same, the bullets are +/- .2 grains of being the same weight yada yada yada, then they are loaded to a exact specific load that preforms best in what ever barrel such as a 1 in 9 20" or 1 in 7 24".

    Marketing has made the issue cloudy, everybody wants a piece of the pie! Who ever thought pistol companys (such as Wilson Combat) would get in the AR "game"? The thing is, NOW there are so many companys making excellent "drop in" parts or "parts to order" they don't have to make anything themselves ... just inspect and assemble! Companys like Olympic will take an order for 10,000 receivers and put your name & logo on it, or CNC machineing has become so common place you can buy un-finished receivers and finish them yourself ... heck, I bought one for $20 and mil-spec blueprints for another $20!

    It all depends on how deep your pockets are and how well Research & Marketing has done their job! If I went out today and spent $1200 on a new Wilson ... you can bet I'd be saying they are the best ... for the most part, its all a gimmic.

    BTW: Stay away from the Hess & Century


    =================================
    Sometimes the most obvious, is the most elusive!kimberkid@gunbroker.zzn.com
    If you really desire something, you'll find a way ?
    ? otherwise, you'll find an excuse.
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  • 110110 Member Posts: 125 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have a colt H-BAR post ban and I love it. I have also shot a Bushmaster,Olympic, Hesse and others and I have not noticed any difference other than legnths of barrells. In my opinion, the only way you are going to see an improvement is if you get a wilson combat AR, but for the price its not worth it to me.
    The only way there is a difference or one is better than the other is resale value. Plain and simple, or in my opinion. anyway I love them all.
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  • rttcrttc Member Posts: 21 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    This may sound simple but any of the major names, and when it goes bang every trigger pull is the best.
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  • RugerNinerRugerNiner Member Posts: 12,636 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I assume everybody is talking about the .223 and not the .308. I should have put that in my question, but then we would have to determine if it was to be used for defence and the weight of the ammo being carried around. So I guess I should buy one that is easily converted on demand. Being ignorant of the ARs I think I should keep the uppers and lowers of the same manufacturer.

    Remember...Terrorist are attacking Civilians; Not the Government. Protect Yourself!
    Keep your Powder dry and your Musket well oiled.
    NRA Lifetime Benefactor Member.
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  • kimberkidkimberkid Member Posts: 8,858 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I beleive the only ones in your list that made an AR in .308 is Stoner & Armalite.

    As a Stoner owner, I've knocked Armalite a few times about their fit & finish, however their AR10-B is quite nice looking, but I haven't shot one ... in my previous post, the comments about ammo still apply ... not just AR's, but about every firearm ...

    =================================
    I used to know everything, then I grew up!...(kinda)

    kimberkid@gunbroker.zzn.com
    If you really desire something, you'll find a way ?
    ? otherwise, you'll find an excuse.
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  • hdwrenchhdwrench Member Posts: 954 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    i have a bushy ,armalite and a rock river , they are ALL beautiful guns . but the only one that doesn't need an accuwedge is the rock river . the other two have slight upper to lower shake , although it doesn't affect function . i agree with the rest , stay with the top name brands and you'll need lots of ammo . try some reading on ar15.com , there's lots of info on there .
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  • leeblackmanleeblackman Member Posts: 5,303 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Your right kimber kid. CNC machining has made things alot better. You get better closer tolerance fitted precision pieces for less money. And Wilson, though they do sell a good gun, is highly overpriced. They basically just sell their name.

    But I guess if you were just joe smoe who didn't know any better the alternative would be in using a local gunsmith who would probably even charge you more.

    I just wish I had a dollar for every gun I wanted, then I'd be a rich man.
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