Which AR-15?
 

I'd like some feedback from folks with actual experience. Should I go with the Smith & Wesson M&P or a Bushmaster Patrolman, and why?

Re: Which AR-15?
 

Price difference? My experience is with Colt, Bushies, Stag Arms, Rock River. I never really ran any of them too hard to make them fail. The Bushmasters have all worked fine for me. I doubt the additional cost will make the Smith run better. The most important parts are the bolt and carrier assembly and they can always be upgraded at any time...

Re: Which AR-15?
 

I can actually get the S&W $150 cheaper....

Re: Which AR-15?
 

New or used? Smiths are quality made ARs as far as I have heard. For $150 less, I would say go for it...

Re: Which AR-15?
 

Yeah it's new...both are. I've been thinking the same thing, but some guy told me Bushies have better inside parts--more steel and less plastic??? I can't seem to confirm that through my own due diligence though....

Re: Which AR-15?
 

S&W current ar's are quality.Either the bushy or S&W has a 1/9 barrel twist most likely.Prefer 1/7.CMMG has impressed me lately.Magnetic particle inspection (MPI).Best m4 cuts in the business.Fair price.

In my op from items ive handled.

Noveske/LMT/Colt
S&W CMMG. Only tied because ive never seen a 1/7 S&W.
Stag Charles Daly
Bushy

Hers a buyers guide.Little outdated as some of manf. have improved there quality.

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

Re: Which AR-15?
 

Love my bushy.
Also very impressed with Rock River but they are tough to acquire.
ABC's is the rule of thumb per popular wisdom.

ArmaLite
Bushy
Colt

ST

Re: Which AR-15?
 

"Which AR-15"

At this point, whichever one you manage to find for sale... :)

Re: Which AR-15?
 

id go with the smith....local pd is ordering like 45 smiths this month

Re: Which AR-15?
 

NRA Magazine write up on the M&P was very favorable, I woulden't hesatate to buy one.

Re: Which AR-15?
 

Not really. The best manufacturers are Noveske and KAC. Colt ar15s are pretty good, but bushmasters are only average, and I dont think armalite even makes ar15s anymore. They do make an ar10 still, but I havent seen a brand new armalite in ages.

Re: Which AR-15?
 

Have to agree, ABCs mean nothing when it comes to an AR.

Bushy has never been seen as above a Colt. And Noveskes and KACs are the top of the line.

Re: Which AR-15?
 

What about this one....

http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/D..._M4_Rifle.html

Re: Which AR-15?
 

Get the Smith. They are closer to a true mil-spec rifle right there behind the Colts. I had an M&P, along with a few DPMS's and a Bushmaster. I regret getting rid of the Smith more than any of them. They make quality rifles.

Re: Which AR-15?
 

Colt, Noveske, LMT :565:

Re: Which AR-15?
 

one of each.

Re: Which AR-15?
 

Found an M&P online right before the election for about $880 shipped. I emailed the link to my gunsmith and asked what he thought. He said he'd buy it in a heartbeat. That was good enough for me.

That said, I've also got Stags and RRAs. I like them all....

If you can get the M&P for a good price, you won't be disappointed.

Re: Which AR-15?
 

I've liked Rocks the best. Talked to a guy who returned disabled from Iraq. He said he used a Bushmaster in Iraq, but when he got home he bought Rock Rivers.

Re: Which AR-15?
 

Have an AL - customized before I got it - very reliable.

Bought the Bushy patrolman - it was all that I could find a year ago.
I have also been very pleased with it.

Shot a friends RR and loved it - but I don't hold any hope for obtaining one in a reasonable time frame.

AK illegal in effing CT - looking at alternatives.

ST

Re: Which AR-15?
 

Get the Smith, and get it chambered in 5.45.

Your ammo will cost 1/3 the price of 5.56, and I like the ballistics better, though they're close enough as to be equal.

The only things you'll give up are that the mags/ammo won't be interchangeable with every JBT out there, and the ammo selection won't be nearly as vast (basically only FMJ and soft point in 5.45).

BTW, like someone said before, get two.

The rule of twos:
Two is one.
One is none.

Probably more like 3=1, 2=0 with the AR platform.:aetsch:

Re: Which AR-15?
 

This thread is worthless without pics.

Re: Which AR-15?
 

That thing is a space hog. Not to mention the uneven weight distribution. These are better IMO. And you get 10 more rounds! :s9:

Re: Which AR-15?
 

Nice weapons and mags above:yippee:.

S&W MP15.1/9 upper had to go in favor of 1/7:adore:.

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p...s/P4220918.jpg

Re: Which AR-15?
 

Have you considered a full length AR? A 20" barrel gives you little more velocity aiding in bullet fragmentation at greater distances.

http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/A41.JPG

:biggrin:

Re: Which AR-15?
 

You know....the more I think about this and research it, the harder I'm finding it to pull the trigger on an AR (pun INTENDED!)....

I actually alread have a DPMS AR with a flattop/bull barrel upper and it's OK...but nothing to get me all to excited about. Another poster's comment here about getting the S&W 5.45 upper got me to thinking, and I'm honestly wondering if I'd be better off getting this instead to use as a CQ MBR...

http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/storeproduct631.aspx

I could actually get ammo for this and cheaper than 5.56 AND it's based on the actually reliable AK platform. No it's not as sexy or hip as the AR, but do I really care if TSHTF??? Also, I haven't fired a 5.45 before, but I'm assuming the recoil would be lighter than a standard AK47 in 7.62X39 and therefore easier for women and children to manage (some feedback on this would be helpful)?

Thanks....

Re: Which AR-15?
 

My next rifle purchase is gonna be an AK-74. Not sure which one yet but that is what I want. Then I want a PSL.

Re: Which AR-15?
 

OK now your getting off topic... but you started the thread so your the boss.
Let's talk AK74s. The Tantal from your link is a great rifle!

I went with the fixed stock version....

http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/Polish1.JPG

For an AK it's about as refined as they get. Ammo is still low cost for now.

:biggrin:

Re: Which AR-15?
 

We need a who owns what thread.

It appears that the folks who actually own (or have used) the weapons we discuss
give a accurate opinion of the weapon systems.

ST

Re: Which AR-15?
 

If you get a Tantal, get the Interarms or a kit build, DO NOT get a CAI (Century) Tantal, they're made with .223 bores, instead of .210, so basically the bullet bounces down the bore and goes who knows where. Century is famous for doing stupid stuff with rifles, but this one takes the cake, IMO.

The AK 74s are great, but accuracy is horrendous. Forget about the MOA stuff the errornet braggers claim, 4-6 is more like it. And the ergonomics are horrible. BTW, I own several.

Recoil for the 5.45 is on par with 5.56, MUCH less than a 7.62x39.

I'm a 308/M14 guy all the way, but I could see an AK 74 and a 5.45 upper fitting into a defensive scenario. It depends on your needs. I don't trust my life to ANY AR running, but then again, if you need range, I don't trust ANY AK to make the shot.

Did I mention that I trust ANY of my M14s...to do BOTH?:wink:

Re: Which AR-15?
 

I have both the Bushmaster and the S&W M&P15 in similar configurations, at least I did BTBA (before tragic boating accident). I am not a "technical" gun guy, I shoot them and clean them and that is about it. Both have (had) ~1200 rounds through them with no problems or malfunctions from either AR. In fact if I was blindfolded and you handed me one I probably couldn't tell you which one I was firing. I think that it ultimately comes down to build quality, and from what I have read on the internets the S&W is a bit more "mil-spec" than the bushmaster. After handling many various manufacturers AR's at gun show over the years, I really can't see and visible difference between them so I suppose you have to research build quality for a determination an which to buy. I sure do miss my AR's :bawling: