I am thinking of buying an ar-15 and was wondering what the best / most reliable brands are. Bushmaster, Colt, Smith & Wesson, etc.?
5.56/.223 cal.
I'm just looking for opinions and suggestions.

 

I have a Bushmaster, .556/.223. Pretty happy with it.

If I could add more goodies to it, I'd be happier. The wife wouldn't be so happy.

 

Colt, Bushmaster, and LMT are among the best, but there are tons of options. Good fun and relatively easy to build your own also. Rock river Arms has tons of configurations.

 

Make sure to get one that is made to Military specs, you can always get parts.......I have built several using various lower receivers and various upper parts........Wilson barrels are the best......American Spirit Arms has one of the better lower receivers and Raptor in Bend Oregon is currently machining a lower receiver that I feel is the best in the industry. Machined from Billet material, not forged or cast. CLE Inc has quality also.....Tass

 

thats the best advice you can get. after that it doesnt matter. if it meets mil spec rating it is good to go. I did billet recievers and all that on my AR but it wasn't necesary. just adds weight for the most part. good luck

 

Completely avoid the old school AR15 direct gas impingement designs. With all the new gas piston designs out there, the original design is way obsolete....

I am liking the new Ruger (aka Magpul Masada): Ruger SR-556™ *Autoloading*Rifles

 

Correction...the Remington ACR if the MagPul Masada: RemingtonMilitary.com

Even better yet...an FN SCAR: SCAR™ Semi-auto

 

Here is the first place I would shop if I was in the market again Lewis Machine & Tool Company :: www.lewismachine.net

 

M4's are fun for sure, but why play around with the mouse gun when you can have a SCAR 17S in .308??? Even the FN AR is a great choice for a civilian, combining the accuracy of a percision rifle with the firepower of an autoloader!

SCAR™ 17S

FNH USA

 

Thanks for the links and advice guys! I probably won't be getting one until early spring, I'm just doing the research now so I'll be ready when the time comes.