Which AR

[jjp016]

Best value AR (.223/5.56) with no fixed front sight post? There are so many brands, and I’m not sure of the reputation for each.

 

[Desk Jockey]

Welcome.

depends a bit on usage And budget.

if you are dinging coyotes off a bipod you may want a 20 inch heavier barrel and a fitted stock. If you are looking for something for antisocial purposes, a shorter, handier gun might suit best.

lots of options out there. almost none can say they have tried them all at this point. Here are some thoughts:

- noveske, H&k and a few others are top of the heap but are $2 or more.
- mid road ARs like Stag, Rock River, S&W, Sig, etc are usually plenty good for most purposes and come in at $750-1000
- cheapo ARs below $700 are a bit mixed IMO. Some are good, some are junk.
- IMO the best balance of quality and value floats just above the $1000 mark. LMT, BCM and some others.

if I had to pick one, I would go BCM with a mid length gas system and a 16 inch barrel. You can bling it up anyway you want. I have one with a dot that is handy for tactical shooting and another with a 3-9x that handles groundhogs up to midsize critters at distances 100-300 yards with no problem.

 

[CHSD]

I have had great luck PSA. Desk Jockey offered some great advice. Personally if I was in your shoes I would get a cheap PSA build kit and watch a couple youtube videos and learn how they operate. You can do that for around $400 bucks. I've got a cheap PSA and I have not had any issues through 5k rounds. I would also look into getting a higher end rifle. BCM makes a good rifle. In my opinion the AR market has really become saturated and there is not a ton of difference between a $500 PSA vs Stag, Rocker River, Ruger, Sig and all others in that price range.

 

[jjp016]

Welcome.

depends a bit on usage And budget.

if you are dinging coyotes off a bipod you may want a 20 inch heavier barrel and a fitted stock. If you are looking for something for antisocial purposes, a shorter, handier gun might suit best.

lots of options out there. almost none can say they have tried them all at this point. Here are some thoughts:

- noveske, H&k and a few others are top of the heap but are $2 or more.
- mid road ARs like Stag, Rock River, S&W, Sig, etc are usually plenty good for most purposes and come in at $750-1000
- cheapo ARs below $700 are a bit mixed IMO. Some are good, some are junk.
- IMO the best balance of quality and value floats just above the $1000 mark. LMT, BCM and some others.

if I had to pick one, I would go BCM with a mid length gas system and a 16 inch barrel. You can bling it up anyway you want. I have one with a dot that is handy for tactical shooting and another with a 3-9x that handles groundhogs up to midsize critters at distances 100-300 yards with no problem.

Great response. Thanks. I have a heavy-barreled “target” AR (that’s what I call it) from White Oak that is exceptionally accurate. I’m looking at more of a typical mil-spec AR except without the fixed front post. Doesn’t have to be 5.56 (I typically load to .223 specs).

 

[jjp016]

I have had great luck PSA. Desk Jockey offered some great advice. Personally if I was in your shoes I would get a cheap PSA build kit and watch a couple youtube videos and learn how they operate. You can do that for around $400 bucks. I've got a cheap PSA and I have not had any issues through 5k rounds. I would also look into getting a higher end rifle. BCM makes a good rifle. In my opinion the AR market has really become saturated and there is not a ton of difference between a $500 PSA vs Stag, Rocker River, Ruger, Sig and all others in that price range.

I have most, if not all the tools required actually from building my heavy-barreled AR (purchased a WOA upper). However, it just seems like the prices are low enough that I could buy a complete rifle for not much more than I could buy the parts, but maybe that’s not true. I was looking at the sub 800 range. I had a S&W before and it ran great, but I sold it. I could also never get used to co-witnessing, so I would slap on a front and rear popup and maybe a nice red dot one day. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Felix40]

You can get a better gun for the money by doing a parts kit. I have three from PSA and all of them are great. One is my duty rifle. It’s been used pretty hard and never had a malfunction. I think I have $600 in just the rifle.

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

Great advice here, and if you go mil-spec on the components, I agree there isn't a heckuva lot of difference in the price range you mentioned. Building is definitely better than buying when it comes to ARs. You can make it anything you want, kinda like legos.

 

[jjp016]

You can get a better gun for the money by doing a parts kit. I have three from PSA and all of them are great. One is my duty rifle. It’s been used pretty hard and never had a malfunction. I think I have $600 in just the rifle.

Thanks, bud.

 

[WCB]

Go to PSA and get a complete upper for under or around $350. Build a lower or go buy a mil spec lower and you are WAY under $800 for a nice gun.

 

[jjp016]

The receiver has to be FFL, though, right?

 

[deadwolf]

Best value AR (.223/5.56) with no fixed front sight post? There are so many brands, and I’m not sure of the reputation for each.

IWI Zion 15

16" Zion-15 Rifle - 5.56 NATO | IWI US

Based off the M4 this the Zion-15's barrel length is 16" & includes a 15″ Free Float Handguard, a B5 Systems Stock & Grip & a 30 round Magpul PMAG magazine.

iwi.us

I’m editing my post to add, if you look past this rifle and what you get for less than $800 I think you‘re missing out. I’ll go look for the article where it won rifle of the year and post it if I find it.

Found it...

IWI Zion-15 Review - Our Rifle of the Year Award Winner

The IWI Zion-15 review you're looking for. We don't just cover stats, we're talking about the real world and how the Z15 stacks up. More...

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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[CHSD]

The receiver has to be FFL, though, right?

Just the lower.

 

[CHSD]

I have most, if not all the tools required actually from building my heavy-barreled AR (purchased a WOA upper). However, it just seems like the prices are low enough that I could buy a complete rifle for not much more than I could buy the parts, but maybe that’s not true. I was looking at the sub 800 range. I had a S&W before and it ran great, but I sold it. I could also never get used to co-witnessing, so I would slap on a front and rear popup and maybe a nice red dot one day. Thanks for the advice.

For sub $800 I would pick up a psa chf upper and get a complete lower to go with it. Can get a blem chf upper for $500 with bcg and a complete lower for $150. $650 and change for a rifle that in my opinion is better than the S&W, Ruger, Sig category.

I had been so good to not go to their website and now I'm wanting to build another AR. Thanks for that lol.

 

[jjp016]

For sub $800 I would pick up a psa chf upper and get a complete lower to go with it. Can get a blem chf upper for $500 with bcg and a complete lower for $150. $650 and change for a rifle that in my opinion is better than the S&W, Ruger, Sig category.

I had been so good to not go to their website and now I'm wanting to build another AR. Thanks for that lol.

Glad I could stoke the fire.

 

[Lee_R]

A bit more than $800, but I've had great luck with my Rock River (specifically the Advanced Tactical Hunter). They've got a 0.75 MOA guarantee and mine will do 0.5 all day long with hand loaded 40 gr Vmax.

 

[Longleaf]

Best bang for buck would be Aero, I wouldn’t go any lower PSA. BCM is a step up from Aero, they are combat ready.

If I was going for precision on a budget I’d look at Wilson Combat, you can pair one of their uppers with an Aero or PSA lower.

The Trigger is going to have a huge impact on accuracy in an AR. Wilson, Timney, Geissele are all good options

 

[IBen]

Aero complete lower, BCM complete upper. Larue Trigger