AR-15 that's "just as good as".....

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What makes a "just as good as" assault rifle just as good as a leading brand name?

“Good, Better, Best” are all largely subjective, but in general, the metrics for “good” as it pertains to AR-15’s would be:

Reliability
Durability
Accuracy
Feature Upgrades
Finish Quality (can be subjective)

Educating here: civilian market, semiautomatic AR-15’s are not “assault rifles.” AR is an acronym for “Armalite Rifle.” An “assault rifle” is a fully automatic or select fire as a class of which replaced the “battle rifles” used in war-fighting the generation before. AR-15’s might look like M16/M4’s, but the fire control mechanism is very different.
 
"Assault Rifle" sounds more tactical than "Armalite Rifle". :cool:
 

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“Good, Better, Best” are all largely subjective, but in general, the metrics for “good” as it pertains to AR-15’s would be:

Reliability
Durability
Accuracy
Feature Upgrades
Finish Quality (can be subjective)

Educating here: civilian market, semiautomatic AR-15’s are not “assault rifles.” AR is an acronym for “Armalite Rifle.” An “assault rifle” is a fully automatic or select fire as a class of which replaced the “battle rifles” used in war-fighting the generation before. AR-15’s might look like M16/M4’s, but the fire control mechanism is very different.

Thanks Captain Obvious.

h18281C56.jpg
 
I don't understand what you're actually trying to elicit with this question? Trolling?

Why people claim their hobby grade AR is "just as good as" true military grade ARs, when clearly they are not.
 
Why people claim their hobby grade AR is "just as good as" true military grade ARs, when clearly they are not.

I personally own three ARs and have a fourth one that was issued by my employer. My personal ARs do exactly what I want them to do. I don't care if they are "true military grade" are not. Neither do the hogs I've killed with them. :thumbup:
 
Why people claim their hobby grade AR is "just as good as" true military grade ARs, when clearly they are not.

I've never heard of the military having AR's. They have M-4's, and M-16's....

But the military buys their equipment, based on a set of specifications, from the LOWEST bidder that meets those specs. Most gun guys I know pay more than the cheapest "mil spec" option...and then get aftermarket stuff too.
 
A lot of serious shooters wouldn't deign to own a mil-spec AR. There are lots of AR's that offer significant performance improvements over mil-spec.

What's your definition of "serious shooter"?
 
I've never heard of the military having AR's. They have M-4's, and M-16's....

But the military buys their equipment, based on a set of specifications, from the LOWEST bidder that meets those specs. Most gun guys I know pay more than the cheapest "mil spec" option...and then get aftermarket stuff too.

Mil Spec to the military and Mil Spec to a civvie AR shooter are two completely separate things.
 
AR is an acronym for “Armalite Rifle.”
Not really. The AR-17 was a shotgun. I think "AR" is just the first two letters of the name "Armalite." In other words, just an abbreviated brand name.

When Colt bought the rights to produce the rifle, they also presumably bought the "AR-15" brand name. The question is, why didn't Colt defend the exclusivity of the brand name when others started using it generically? Remember, trademarks, unlike patents, last forever as long as they remain in continuous use for the same product. Xerox defends the name "Xerox" when others use it generically for copying.
 
Why people claim their hobby grade AR is "just as good as" true military grade ARs, when clearly they are not.

What do you mean “hobby grade”?

You do know many police officers use M&P AR15s and they’re one of the best values out there.

You do know there are YouTube torture tests of PSA AR15s that show more abuse than those “operators” who were in the “sandbox”. Sorry but some “vet” “expert” whose job it is to get you to spend more isn’t who I’m going to listen to when he doesn’t even know what AR stands for.

Worse you could do a simple search using Google or Bing or your favorite search engine and see that “expert” is wrong.

Based on your replies I’m wanting to say you’re trolling. But I’m going to stop short of that as I don’t know if you’re sincere or not.

So I’d suggest you take some time and do some homework. And if you don’t like what you find listen to your “experts. Personally, I have a friend here who is in law enforcement and is a retired Gunny. Many here know him and trust him and I’m willing to bet if he says it’s right then it’s right.

As for parts quality, some things are easier to figure out. Barrel material and construction add to cost and reliability. But add trade offs. Triggers typically are something you pay more for to get a better product. But even there you can find value.

Stocks are all over the place but cheap ones rattle and are annoying while ones that cost hundreds can look cool and tactical and give no extra value. In between are tons with all sorts of pros and cons.

I’ve yet to figure out grips. Basic grips work and are cheap. But free float ones are all over the place in quality and price.

LPKs can be junk or value like PSAs. Again price isn’t always an indicator of what you’re getting.

Now get a Daniel Defense rifle and you can probably say it’s full of good parts. They and other top tier companies cost a lot and use good parts. But it doesn’t mean they’re “operator” or whatever hip and cool term you’re using quality.

So yes I’d rely on my PSA, a M&P or similar rifle to defend my life. I also wouldn’t trust my more expensive 3 gun rifle. The later being more of a “race gun” than a reliable workhorse.

Again I’m not slamming you but showing that there is a lot out there and not everything as it appears (including your LGS “experts”). And I don’t claim to be an expert, but I know enough to assemble a reliable AR and enough to put together a nice competition gun on a budget and have it do it’s job. To me those are things that matter, going bang and hitting the targets.
 
What's your definition of "serious shooter"?

There are a variety of such people. Competitive shooters would be one example. Few, if any, competitive 3gun or PRS gas gun shooters would waste their time with a gun with a mil-spec trigger or barrel. Or a non-free-float forend.

Mil-spec stuff is mostly about being good enough, and generally with an emphasis on reliability/durability in adverse conditions.
 
What do you mean “hobby grade”?

You do know many police officers use M&P AR15s and they’re one of the best values out there.

You do know there are YouTube torture tests of PSA AR15s that show more abuse than those “operators” who were in the “sandbox”. Sorry but some “vet” “expert” whose job it is to get you to spend more isn’t who I’m going to listen to when he doesn’t even know what AR stands for.

Worse you could do a simple search using Google or Bing or your favorite search engine and see that “expert” is wrong.

Based on your replies I’m wanting to say you’re trolling. But I’m going to stop short of that as I don’t know if you’re sincere or not.

So I’d suggest you take some time and do some homework. And if you don’t like what you find listen to your “experts. Personally, I have a friend here who is in law enforcement and is a retired Gunny. Many here know him and trust him and I’m willing to bet if he says it’s right then it’s right.

As for parts quality, some things are easier to figure out. Barrel material and construction add to cost and reliability. But add trade offs. Triggers typically are something you pay more for to get a better product. But even there you can find value.

Stocks are all over the place but cheap ones rattle and are annoying while ones that cost hundreds can look cool and tactical and give no extra value. In between are tons with all sorts of pros and cons.

I’ve yet to figure out grips. Basic grips work and are cheap. But free float ones are all over the place in quality and price.

LPKs can be junk or value like PSAs. Again price isn’t always an indicator of what you’re getting.

Now get a Daniel Defense rifle and you can probably say it’s full of good parts. They and other top tier companies cost a lot and use good parts. But it doesn’t mean they’re “operator” or whatever hip and cool term you’re using quality.

So yes I’d rely on my PSA, a M&P or similar rifle to defend my life. I also wouldn’t trust my more expensive 3 gun rifle. The later being more of a “race gun” than a reliable workhorse.

Again I’m not slamming you but showing that there is a lot out there and not everything as it appears (including your LGS “experts”). And I don’t claim to be an expert, but I know enough to assemble a reliable AR and enough to put together a nice competition gun on a budget and have it do it’s job. To me those are things that matter, going bang and hitting the targets.


Is your castle nut properly staked? What about your gas key? Is your bolt MPI, proof checked and shot peened? Your barrel nut properly torqued? Your barrel chrome lined, MPI and proof checked?
 
Why people claim their hobby grade AR is "just as good as" true military grade ARs, when clearly they are not.

It depends on what you are looking for.

The accuracy of the hobby grade stuff is pretty close to the duty grade stuff, and would easily pass mil spec requirements. Reliability, as in consistent feeding and functioning, isn't an issue with the cheap rifles either. Lucky Gunner got 10,000 jam-free rounds out of a $750 Bushmaster when they fed it Federal ammo, and they are an ammo seller with no dog in the brand-wars fight. Durability is where the differences in mil spec really start to show, as the hobby stuff tends to quickly break down when you run it hard. But if the only places your rifle is ever going to go are your safe, your car, and your shooting range, durability isn't a huge concern either.

As long as you don't use a hobby gun like a duty gun, you'll probably be pretty happy with it.
 
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