Stag 15 M4 vs. Windham Weaponry MPC

Neither. Both of those guns are way overpriced in this market. ARs are cheap right now, so buy some value. You’d have a hard time reselling either gun for anywhere near that price on the websites you posted.

If you’re not set on those two guns, for that money, you can buy a Colt:

https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog...le6920_law_enforcement_30+1_223rem556nato_161

If under $800, look at PSA

https://palmettostatearmory.com/ar-...rifles.html?manufacturer=8&caliber_multi=2304

Ruger MPR is a great choice too. $500

.40

Buzznrose is right, both are too much $$$ in this market. You could do better at Academy Sports.
The Colt Buzznrose linked to is a good gun at a good price.

forty_caliber said:

Ruger MPR is a great choice too. $500

.40

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$500? where?

nipprdog said:

$500? where?

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My apologies. They have gone up in price since I bought one two months ago. I paid $504 for mine. Now they are running about $700. Still a good value when comparing to other offerings feature to feature.

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Out of those two and only those two to completely answer the question and not be ‘that guy’ I’d pick the Stag. Mostly because they look virtually the same except for the twist rate and I don’t really care for 1/9.

Personally I’d go the slap your own together route and get a BCM 16” upper and then mate it with a slightly upgraded PSA lower. I’ve had good luck going that route.

If having them match was a big deal then I’d get a BCM lower at another time after I recouped from it. Then I could turn the PSA lower into another bare bones build.

In fairness to OP, those MSRPs quoted by the manufacturers are pretty high. Buds has both as about $750 guns.

For that price, I'd be tempted to go for a $900 Colt + $100 for a nice carry handle, but budgets are a thing.

nipprdog said:

$500? where?

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$550 shipped.

https://lockedloaded.com/product/ru...ack-stk-black-hard-coat-anodizedblack-nitride

Some say a nitride treated bore is harder than chrome.

PSA's front page had deals on completed uppers with BCG and CH for $200 and completed lowers for $110.. Throw in a $30 magpul rear sight and you have a complete gun for $340.

Buzznrose said:

Neither. Both of those guns are way overpriced in this market. ARs are cheap right now, so buy some value. You’d have a hard time reselling either gun for anywhere near that price on the websites you posted.

If you’re not set on those two guns, for that money, you can buy a Colt:

https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog...le6920_law_enforcement_30+1_223rem556nato_161

If under $800, look at PSA

https://palmettostatearmory.com/ar-...rifles.html?manufacturer=8&caliber_multi=2304

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Over priced? I bought 4 for under 550. Cant beat that. And windham has a lifetime warranty

mshootnit said:

all good but 4140 barrel steel tho.

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If you manage to shoot through a CHF Nitrided 4140 barrel, you can afford to replace it.

Robbins290 said:

Over priced? I bought 4 for under 550. Cant beat that. And windham has a lifetime warranty

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Link?

My “that guy” response is what I did myself earlier this week though it was for different reasons than the OP has.

I bought a Bushmaster complete upper sans BCG on GB for $210 shipped. Chrome barrel and chamber but that was just boot because what I really wanted was the fixed carry handle.

If I would buy a PSA complete lower and BCG I would be into a chrome lined barrel AR for about $400.

To answer the OPs question straight up though: Windham.

They no longer had the mpc on sale. But here is the src

https://www.sportsmansoutdoorsuperstore.com/products2.cfm/ID/108741

I bought the 762 src for 499, 2 of the src’s in 5.56 for 499 and the other for 529 and the mpc was 500. About a month ago

Robbins290

That makes much more sense. I’m not a “gun snob” or a brand chaser. Level of use impacts my advice a lot. If the buyer is looking for a duty grade weapon and plans to shoot several thousand rounds through it yearly, I suggest brands like Daniel Defense and BCM that have the reputation.

For the folks who shoot 500 rounds per year for enjoyment, go with the best value with the caveat that some companies have less than stellar quality.

Buzz, i shoot thousands of rounds a year thru my ar’s. One is pretty much a dedicated beater. All windham’s. Minus the wifes s&w m&p mil spec. That beater windham has seen many, many rounds. Nothing has ever broke or wore on it. And i bet 5 or 6k of rounds thru it was steel cased ammo. Barrel is still fine. I have no problems getting a 500 dollar rifle and beat 20k rounds out of it with maybe one barrel change. No matter who manufactures the barrel. They all have a cap on round count before being shot out. And if i am at around 15k on a barrel/riflw at $500ish. I will take that math all day long

The Ruger MPR is an excellent rifle, but I've not seen one anywhere near $500 in a long time. And it isn't what the OP is looking for anyway. I paid just under $600 over a year ago. The standard Ruger 5.56 rifle is closer to what he is looking for and is selling for about $500

https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog...s_id/95081/ruger+ar556+223+161+fld+30r+blksyn

My personal experience is with the MPR. The standard rifle should be solid too.

I have an older Stag. It is a solid rifle that was a bargain at the time. Can't comment about todays guns or prices

Ms, been using windhams for years. With colt; you are mostly paying for the name

I guess it depends if OP needs mil spec or doesn't need milspec. For milspec / heavy duty, Colt is about the minimum requirement, and then you have the aforementioned BCM, DD type stuff as well. For plinking / HD, just about anything will do.

Those kind of low-to-mid range ARs (what I'd call "RRA tier") were popular 10 or 15 years ago, when they were a way to avoid the dodgy DPMS or Olympic type guns while costing less than the pony. But the low end manufacturers have stepped up their game considerably since the Banic - I'd wager that a $350 PSA kit gun today is better than a $600 Olympic from the early 2000s - and kind of squeezed those RRA tier guns out of the market.

Realistically, I doubt that OP needs a chrome lined barrel - that's more of a military full auto thing. If he's fine with nitriding as a barrel lining, then this forum could probably throw a dozen PSA guns at him that are a better value than what he listed. If he needs chrome or just milspec in general, then I'd go for the Colt for the resale value as much as anything.

Robbins290 said:

...With colt; you are mostly paying for the name

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along with the documentation of proper build process and inspections for complete traceability and accountability; refinement of design, manufacturing and assembly; small parts that were designed to fit the rifle rather than reverse engineered; six decades of corporate experience: correct spring design; proper gas port diameter; proper buffer weight; correctly fitted parts; proper surface finishes; many years working with suppliers and a long track record of delivering a rifle that's been proven under the harshest conditions in the unforgiving crucible of combat.

Mosin Bubba said:

...Colt is about the minimum requirement...

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That's like saying the General Dynamics F-16 is the minimum requirement for an F-16. The Colt M4 isn't the minimum requirement for an M4. It is the requirement. I don't perform work on an A-10 to the minimum requirement. I perform work on the A-10 to the requirement without deviation. Deviating from the requirement doesn't make the aircraft better.

Regarding barrel- 4140 is an excellent barrel steel. As pointed out earlier, by the time a shooter wears out a nitrided 4140 steel barrel, they can afford to replace the barrel. In the process, many shots will be fired and much learning will occur.