I'm sure this has been covered before but I can't find it!

Who makes the best production AR-15, chambered in 5.56 NATO?

I'd prefer a 16" heavy barrel, adjustable butt stock, and flip up front AND rear sights, as this AR will be a "play toy" for my wife.

Thanks!

Without question - Colt

Some think Colt is not enough better to spend the extra money on and some think that it is. It's up to the user. However, you asked which company makes the best and that is Colt.

I have a Colt A2 preban that I bought new for $440 in late 80's. I have a few stags that might not be as tight as my Colt when new, but function just as well; stag's are good guns and much cheaper than Colts. And consider the 6.8 over .556; so many more applications.

It depends. If accuracy is is high on the list Colt isn't the best. Great fighting guns but accuracy isn't thier strong suit.

I have three AR's: A Colt, Noveske, and DPMS.
Both the Colt & Noveske are high end guns and overall quality and functioning is evident. The DPMS was much cheaper, trigger is poor and not has accurate but functions well.
My Colt has a 20" barrel and Noveske a lighweight 16" barrel both shoot neck and neck in the accuracy deparment. I wouldn't hesitate to purchase either if I was looking for a new AR.

quote:

Originally posted by TC1:
It depends. If accuracy is is high on the list Colt isn't the best. Great fighting guns but accuracy isn't thier strong suit.

The chrome lined bore of the Colt keeps it from being the best as far as Match accuracy. However, I used to compete with issue, off the rack, Colt's and they are far more accurate then most realize. Unless you are a competitor, loss in accuracy of a chromed bore is minimal and insignificant and is far outweighed by the extended barrel life a chromed bore provides. But a chromed bore is only part of what makes the Colt the best choice for a "fighting gun".

If you want a serious match gun then a NM Armalite is a good choice for a production gun. It is used by more national level military match shooters than any other brand. You could put together a a very competitive match rifle or have one custom made but the question was regarding "production" rifles. It is worth noting though, that no non-chromed bore of any match grade AR will stand up to the round count, use, and abuse that a properly chromed rifle bore can take.

I bought my wife a S&W AR Sport. She loves it & I shoot it a lot as it is a great, lightweight accurate little cheap rig. All it takes to make it more of a tack driver is a floated handguard. I'm using it of late as a light weight coyote gun

I did a bunch of netsearch to help decide and can't say that it is best but I am more than pleased with my Daniel Defense, my first AR.

Thanks for all the replies!
Anyone else?

What do you guys think of Del-Tons? They are cheap but maybe you get what you pay for?

quote:

Originally posted by fla3006:
What do you guys think of Del-Tons? They are cheap but maybe you get what you pay for?

If I was looking to save a little cash and still get a good upper the PSA A2 midlength upper would be very high on my list. They use a F.N. barrel on this upper and still keep it at a good price. Add a BCG and charging handle and you're good to go.

Terry

Most are good, it's the nature of the design. Be cautious of of the parts assemblers out there, some of their "builds" don't function reliably. I prefer chrome lined bores in a blaster/general use style AR 15, they last longer. Its not unusual to fire 200-300 rounds a week with these rifles. Just ask my wife.But the best is Colt, period. If its really for your wife, get an M4 or CAR style, she'll appreciate the adjustable stock. A flat top or detachable carrying handle makes a scope or dot easier to use and the rifle more useful.

DPMS Sweet 16, add a good trigger and you have a factory sub MOA rifle that happily digests anything with brass cases from bulk LC Mil Sup to Match grade 223.

Daniels Defense and Bravo Company ... very high reliability and accuracy. Fit and functional feel better than any of the other "production" brands I've shot.

Hopefully in a few weeks when I get home I'll be able to report on my PSA carbine that should be waiting for me. Couldn't pass it up on sale for $700 a couple of weeks ago. We shall see.

My two cents:

Production Rifles

1. http://www.armalite.com/

2. http://www.bushmaster.com/index.asp

I decided on an " Armalite M15 A2 NM " ( owned 15 + years ), & I'm very happy with it !!

Lots of choices today.. But I'll stick with my two.

PAPI

I have in the last 30 years owned most of them, i now own a Colt m4 CTLE6940P, and a LWRC M6A3 and have been very happy the colt was cheaper that the LWRC but I feel the LWRC is better.

As mentioned above, the Armalite or Bushmaster are both very good examples of AR15's. Have a Service Rifle NM from Armalite and have shot it for number of years and is very accurate and dependable. Have owned Bushmasters over the years and good quality as well. I am not overly particular as to the lowers as long as dimensnions are good, but use LRB lower and Compass Lake Engineering upper for the AR15 I prefer over the others I have own/owned. CLE will custom build your upper to suit and last I checked also have lowers. Lots of good AR15's out there these days.

You might want to take a look at the Ruger SR556. Couple of us got a bunch of different AR's to try, including some very expensive makes and I think the Ruger out performed all the rest. Accurate, cool running and clean.

jp

Over the years have ahad them all---stick with Colts now. Just got my CM901 and LE6940 both shoot 1 moa 1.5 moa respectively and by that I mean a full mag out of both in a minute at 100yds. The 308 Colt was 168 FGM and the 5.56 was FGM with the 69gr. The tubes were hot!!! Got to love CR Bores!!!!!!

The 6940 was just a great deal but the 901 is my pig killer now.

For the money, and that's not saying they're "low-cost," I believe Bravo Company Manufacturing "BCM" are the absolute best rifle for the value available today. They are made in Heartland, WI and are truly up to "battle rifle" specs! There are many different configurations available on their website, although who knows what's available today after all the hysteria! Good luck purchasing what you want.

-John

quote:

are truly up to "battle rifle" specs

That means what that they are loose that they will use just about any part thrown into them and can keep all rounds into 4 inchs at 100 yards.

Battle rifle specs are not that great.

There are many definitions of "battle rifle specs." In my previous post, I am using this term to define as close to mil-spec as possible (the only rifle truly mil-spec would be select fire capable, of course). The above statement of 4 MOA is incorrect for BCM rifles. While they are extremely durable and as close to mil-spec as possible, they are closer to 1.5-2 MOA, which is great accuracy for a chrome-lined barrel. If you're looking for a more precision-fire capable weapon, BCM also has some superb cold hammer forged barreled-uppers available, which in my experience are closer to .5-.75 MOA systems. These are not as durable as chrome-lined but they're still extremely so, and will last several thousand rounds.

While I'm not a "BCM Fanboy," and there are many other great AR platforms out there, I truly believe they are right up there at the top of quality and durability. This is all a moot point however, as none of us, outside of true soldiers/operators will push most of these rifles to the failure point. I'm sure with heavy sustained fire, you could come to that point with some inferior rifles but those made by Colt, Daniel Defense, BCM, Larue, S&W, etc will outlive the owner.

-John

John just a bit.

Having a little fun

M16s are more like under 2 inchs all the A1s I played with were

But the great M1 was a 4 inch spec rifle


You are very right most ARs owners well never even wear a barrel out let alone all the other parts.

p dog shooter,

Sounds like your definition of an A1 and mine.... Just messing with ya!

Duly noted!

-John

I heard colt..In my opinion colt is really proud of their name and your going to pay for it.. I have 2 colt 1911's so I'm not a colt hater. I would not buy a production A-R I would piece one together...I have a bushmaster lower and an M and A upper. and it shoots better than any colt ever will.I dont know where in the world you are..But in my little town our ace hardware has 30 A-R's . If you can handle some different brands,different configurations. You'll find one that..you cant live without. You did'nt say what you wanted the rifle for ? self defence,hunting,paper punching? If you stick with a "name brand" dpms,colt smith and wesson.bushmaster,ect,ect,You'll be happy.because in the long run there is no BEST.

Windham Weaponry had a very good test report in a magazine that is currently on the magazine rack. New company except the owner was the old owner of Bushmaster along with about 50 of his old employees. Comes with a transferable life time warranty. The local price last week was $850 plus tax

quote:

Windham Weaponry had a very good test report in a magazine that is currently on the magazine rack

I don't trust test arictles in any gun magazine.

quote:

colt is really proud of their name and your going to pay for it

Can you say New England union shop?
California and New England are considered the highest cost regions of the country to do business. That is why the manufacturers are leaving those areas like Winchester did.

Nothing against Colt as I own one, but in the early years they were an assembler, they didn't actually manufacture the AR15/M16. Most the rifle was made by CMT..Continental Machine n Tool whose commercial outlet now is known as STAG. CMT is probably the oldest AR15/M16 parts manufacturer in the country.

Colt's new conversion 7.62NATO/5.56NATo rifle that recently just came out is really a pretty decent one loaded with lots of features and it's not really priced that bad. I'll have to hand it to them the initial buy is a 7.62NATO base and you can put any AR15 upper on it, Colt didn't make it proprietary so you had to use their uppers. Other manufacturers would have done that.

quote:

Colt didn't make it proprietary so you had to use their uppers. Other manufacturers would have done that.

Is colt still putting larger pins in there ARs so you can't use other uppers and lowers with out a adapter bushing.

Colt did a lot to kiss the goverments ass over the years.

quote:

Originally posted by p dog shooter:

quote:

Colt didn't make it proprietary so you had to use their uppers. Other manufacturers would have done that.

Is colt still putting larger pins in there ARs so you can't use other uppers and lowers with out a adapter bushing.

Colt did a lot to kiss the goverments ass over the years.

No Colt changed all that.