Author Topic: Whats the best AR? (Read 2199 times)

diggdug · « **on:** May 17, 2008, 02:00:19 PM »

I was wondering what everyone thinks is the best AR in terms of reliability? I have herd that Colt was the best and DPMS the worst followed by Bushmaster. I have only owned a Bushmaster but really haven't put many rounds through it so I don't know from experience. Thanks!

sidekick · « **Reply #1 on:** May 18, 2008, 04:01:21 PM »

I own or have owned all three brands you mention. All reliable. Price wise, Colt is more expensive, with Bushmaster and DPMS close to each other. Stag and Rock River are other popular brands with a good reputation for quality. Or, you can buy a stripped lower receiver for about $100, then order a kit, which comes with every thing except the stripped lower, for $465-$475 or so, plus shipping. You assemble the lower parts in the lower, add the stock, and snap the assembled upper half to the lower, add a sling of your choosing and a few magazines likewise, and you have it, at an even better price than any comparable model of the above. Check out AR15 dot com for more opinions than there are you-know-whats on which AR is most reliable. I believe it mostly comes down to which roll mark you prefer on the lower.

diggdug · « **Reply #2 on:** May 19, 2008, 03:06:54 AM »

Thanks! That's good info.
The reason I ask the question is because I recently took a tactical training course from a tier 1 instructor and asked him the same question and he said to buy a colt 6920, he also said the DPMS was the worst. I did not have time to ask him why? Whats the difference? So I thought maybe someone here would know.

jmayton · « **Reply #3 on:** May 19, 2008, 05:42:16 AM »

Check out M4Carbine.net. Good answers on all things M4 (Colt 6920 and most newer AR variants). I have the Colt and love to hunt pigs with it, but have not put enough rounds through it to comment on reliability. There is a forum, I think it's in the FAQ's that talks about all the small things to look for in terms of quality and reliability (staking and things like that). They also have a chart that shows the various features of the M4 with the Colt being the top followed by LMT and the S&W M&P. Check it out, it's a great site. Also look at Ar-15.com.

targshooter · « **Reply #4 on:** May 19, 2008, 06:23:23 AM »

The Armlaite site has an extremely helpful library. In their library is a very good article on how and which AR platforms conform to military spec requirements. If you want a name brand and are willing to pay for the name, get the Colt. On the other hand, it does seem the DPMS brand has had more than its share of problems if one reads around the internet. I would advise you go to AR15.com and minimally review the Equipment Exchange and Industry forums while also looking at some of the Industry Partner tiles. You can assemble a complete lower to a complete upper receiver yourself and save some decent cash. I did this and assembled a Stag M4 16" barrel carbine for about $150 under complete rifle cost. Also married a Superior Arms lower with an Armalite upper and did this for just over $600 (Armalite throws some real good Thanksgiving and other "special" deals). Both are accurate, utterly dependable and quite decent looking insofar as finish is concerned. Read the AR15.com AR15 discussions and separate the chaff from the wheat and you can see that some brands have more prevalent quality issues than others. Also, customer service is important. The Stag is made by CMT, which has been a primary military contractor without suspension or let-up for 30 years. I certainly can say that my Stag rifle arrived flawless. My composite rifle is also great (it is really my son's), with no problems. I would recommend Stag and Armalite to you based on my knowledge and use of their products. I also recommend Arms Tech Ltd out of Arizona. Their USR is expensive, but it is a true .5 MOA AR platform (at least mine is) with some unique technological advances.

John R. · « **Reply #5 on:** May 19, 2008, 08:36:41 AM »

I have a DPMS AP-4 carbine, and have had zero problems with it. I have about 2500 rounds through it with no malfunctions. I personally think a lot of the DPMS bashing comes from the earlier guns with cast recievers. We have several 3-gun competitors that use them extensively with no problems. I think if you keep it clean all of them will work fine. One of my brothers has a Colt, the other a bushmaster, and me a DPMS. We haven't had any issues with any of them. My AP-4 carbine will shoot 3/4" @ 100 yds. all day long with my handloads. (60 gr. V-Max @ 2900 fps.)

teddy12b · « **Reply #6 on:** May 19, 2008, 09:50:27 AM »

What's the best? That's a tough question because they're all pretty good.

I've owned:

Colt A2 Hbar 223. Standard looking ar15 standard size that I bought to train with before I left for army basic training. Sold it when $$ got tight.

Bushmaster 6.8mm SPC M4 style with collapsible 6 position stock. It shot reliably and as accurate as a stock M4 can be expected. Sold it to get something with a more standard caliber & something setup for longer range.

I currently own:

DPMS LR-308B. Just a 18" heavy barreled rifles with a standard stock in 308. This rifle will out shoot the other two any day of the week. This rifle showed came factory new with a free floated forearm as a standard option. The caliber of this rifle is readily available and is powerful enough to actually do something.

Having owned a colt, bushmaster, and DPMS I would have to say that I am completely happy with what I have now. I don't regret buying the other rifles because they are fine guns, but as my interests changed so did my choice of rifle. I can't say that any of them would be a bad gun. They all shot well.

One thing to keep in mind is that you're going to have a hard time getting two different people to agree on what's the best AR. Don't take any one persons advice as better than anyone elses, go with what the majority of people have to say. I'd also recommend AR15.com especially the AR variant section. Lots of DPMS lovers there.

Bugflipper · « **Reply #7 on:** May 23, 2008, 04:46:43 PM »

I've always heard the mainstay of A-B-C, in that order. Armalite, Bushmaster then Colt. The reason being, a few years back Colt's QC was lacking to many people. In recent years seems they have cleared up this issue. I am the armorer for the agency I work at and was able to get Bushmasters. I will not claim they are better than any other, just that they are a better price and standards meet the requirements for all Federal agencies.
A word of caution, you may want to steer clear of Hesse Arms and the older Colts. I have read many many negative reports in FBI tests conducted in the 80's and 90's.

mas19 · « **Reply #8 on:** May 28, 2008, 09:42:36 AM »

I have 2 Bushmaster's, a DCM-XR A3 and a XMS Predator. Love them both.

SharonAnne · « **Reply #9 on:** May 28, 2008, 11:30:40 AM »

best at what? best for what? what is best in life? way to vague.

demented · « **Reply #10 on:** June 03, 2008, 11:16:22 PM »

Bushmaster, DPMS, Stag, Armalite, Doublestar and half dozen other brands-place 'em in a pile, hide the names,start shooting, I doubt anyone can say one is superior to the other. Not a dimes difference in any, not if they are assembled with a bit of care. The only exception I can think of is Olympic Arms, I won't own one.

jasonprox700 · « **Reply #11 on:** June 10, 2008, 07:28:26 AM »

Demented has a good point. I think they are all about the same, except for Oly Arms.

I have a bushy, never had a problem & extremely accurate. I plan on getting a DPMS in a .308.

phalanx · « **Reply #12 on:** June 10, 2008, 04:46:56 PM »

I have a Bush Master M4 ,and never had an issue with it ,but i also own a Robarms XCR , 5k rounds later i have to say the same for it.
But i also own a Robarms M96 , Very close to the Stoner M63 ,It is the best rifle i have ever had or shot.
But the problem i have ,and others also is the way Alex Robinson one day just stopped building them with thousands of them out there ,and he didn't keep up the parts on them.
It makes you wonder about the XCR , But they are great rifles.

XCR

M96

diggdug · « **Reply #13 on:** June 12, 2008, 03:53:31 AM »

Uh, before you waste $ on a DPMS, you may want to review the chart on this thread.

http://forums.officer.com/showthread.php?t=81462

SharonAnne · « **Reply #14 on:** June 12, 2008, 04:06:48 AM »

VEHHHRY INTERESTING. (and not shhtoopit) with apologies to Arty Johnson. thanks. it will help many of us

diggdug · « **Reply #15 on:** June 12, 2008, 04:40:41 AM »

Thanks, i thought so too. I am leaning toward a S&W M&P-T since they have a 1/9 twist barrel. I really didn't want a 1/7 twist since they may not stabilize a 55 gr. bullet.

teddy12b · « **Reply #16 on:** June 12, 2008, 04:54:48 AM »

That's a nice chart with a lot of good information on it, but what does it all mean. For instance a DPMS doesn't havae a mil-spec ...(whatever part).. That doesn't mean that the gun doesn't shoot straight or reliably.

In the (1) Colt 223, (1) Bushmaster 6.8, & (1) DPMS 308 AR rifles I've owned I've never had to replace a single part from a mechanic failure of any kind. I've never had any issue with any of the three and they all proved to be reliable.

diggdug · « **Reply #17 on:** June 12, 2008, 05:14:39 AM »

If you read the first few pages of the thread on the link that I posted, it pretty much explains it all. Its really a matter of how reliable you need your AR to be. If your a person who just shoots a few dozen rounds at the range or out hunting you can probibly buy just any old cheapy AR and be fine. If however you may find yourself in a life or death situation, or you take a tactical AR class where you fire a thousand rounds in a day without cleaning your weapon, you may want to pay attention to the chart.

jmayton · « **Reply #18 on:** June 12, 2008, 01:20:40 PM »

Quote from: diggdug on June 12, 2008, 04:40:41 AM

Thanks, i thought so too. I am leaning toward a S&W M&P-T since they have a 1/9 twist barrel. I really didn't want a 1/7 twist since they may not stabilize a 55 gr. bullet.

I shoot 55gr bullets in my Colt M4 1/7. Does just fine...plus I can shoot 80grainers if I want to.

diggdug · « **Reply #19 on:** June 13, 2008, 07:01:34 AM »

Quote from: jmayton on June 12, 2008, 01:20:40 PM

Quote from: diggdug on June 12, 2008, 04:40:41 AM
Thanks, i thought so too. I am leaning toward a S&W M&P-T since they have a 1/9 twist barrel. I really didn't want a 1/7 twist since they may not stabilize a 55 gr. bullet.

I shoot 55gr bullets in my Colt M4 1/7. Does just fine...plus I can shoot 80grainers if I want to.

Good to know. I always thought I would lose some accuracy going to a 1/7.

jmayton · « **Reply #20 on:** June 13, 2008, 07:56:01 AM »

It certainly likes the heavier bullets, and I probably wouldn't go any lighter than 55's.