Picking an AR-15 on a budget
Major Pandemic 07.01.13
Pawing through the Liberty safe
As I look back at the brands I mentioned in the intro, I would recommend any of them again and again. There are some stand-out AR-15s from a build-quality perspective, and this includes extras, performance, and percentage of US-made components. It is important to note that of the AR-15s I have tested, only Spikes Tactical, Black Rain Ordnance, Doublestar, Yankee Hill Machine, ASA, JP Rifles, Houlding Precision, and Barnes Precision Machine specify that they only use USA made parts; others do or do not specify at all.
That said, 100% US-made ARs are a little more expensive than the rifles which contain a higher percentage of imported parts. Of that list, only Barnes Precision Machine is making nearly every single part in house, down to the tiny little detents. The only parts that BPM outsources are the springs, trigger, and Magpul furniture, but all these are still US manufactured.
After more thought than I would care to admit and numerous articles tossed into the recycle bin, here is the narrowed down short list of my top US-made AR-15 rifle for various purposes.
Best Basic AR-15
A basic AR-15 without the fancy barrel, handguard, and furniture is very hard to come by. Not many end up on the shelf they tend to be sold before they are even off the UPS truck at your FFL dealer. Personally, I like my Spikes Tactical ST15 Mid-Length AR-15 simply because of the very lightweight barrel. A light basic AR-15 is a good thing. The problem is that Spikes is 12+ months backordered, so an equally good recommendation is to pick up a Doublestar DS-4 Carbine for $950, or a Daniel Defense priced around $1000-$1600.
During the 2013 Shot Show I handled the stunningly light 5.85 Doublestar Constant Carry Carbine. This gun is far from basic, with an Ultralight Ace 7″ entry-length stock (9″ Ace stock option available), Samson handguard, and slim profile barrel. The Doublestar Constant Carry Carbine my top pick for a light, all-around, basic AR-15 that you can actually get shipped within a month or two.
Overall best buy (upgraded) AR-15
Not to diminish the quality and capabilities of any of the custom manufacturers mentioned here, but I am often asked what is the best buy in AR-15s for an upgraded basic off the shelf AR-15. My answer is always the same: Barnes Precision Machine Patrolman’s Carbine. After visiting Barnes Precision Machine, I saw things that changed my mind about other AR-15 manufacturers “basic rifles”.
Best 3-gun AR-15
If you are serious about 3-Gun competition, then you are serious about accuracy. And if you’re serious about accuracy, then you want a match-quality rifle barrel with 1:8 twist and a .223 Wylde chamber. You cannot go wrong with Barnes Precision Machine’s Patrol Rifle, or anything from Black Rain Ordnance, but I will say that my JP Rifle upper is the most accurate barrel I own. It’s also the softest-shooting. With upgraded extras like the JP Compensator, match trigger, ultra-light bolt carrier, and adjustable gas block, it shoots fast while delivering the recoil of a .22LR rimfire. If you look at the top spots on the 3-Gun podium, most are using JP barrels and compensators. Priced around $2000-$3000.
Best custom combat AR-15
There are combat rifles and then there are premium custom combat rifles offering the best of everything in the industry all executed like a finely tailored suit. Houlding Precision is my choice for a custom combat rifle, and if you want precision, they can do that. In my case I had a definite vision of what I wanted in a top-end combat rifle and was willing to see what they created. My Houlding Precision custom “#4” rifle is the single lightest 18″ AR-15 I have ever held. It also has a mile-long list of the best military parts like Troy, Daniel Defense, Noveske, and Magpul, all built around Houlding’s billet-machined and CeraKoted upper and lower receivers. Priced around $1200-$2800, depending on options.
Best fully-custom, off-the-shelf AR-15
If you want both show and the go of a fully custom AR-15 with the accuracy of a precision varminter, Black Rain Ordnance is your best deal. Initially Black Rain grabbed attention with their skull and their crazy aqua-transfer-dipped, custom-billet-machined receivers, but when you look closer it is far more than just flash. No other company is packing more custom parts in an AR-15 than Black Rain.
Nickel boron bolt carier group, match-grade, polygonal-rifled, 1:8-twist, .223 Wylde-chambered stainless barrel, Geissele match trigger, custom extended quad rail fore-end, anti-roll pins, custom compensator, ceramic coated receiver, high end soft case, single-point sling and mount, on and on. The best part is that you can walk into most Scheels, Cabelas, or other gun shops and purchase and go shoot. Priced around $1500-$2200.
Best bench and varmint gun
Any of the 3-Gun recommendations above will work as a varmint gun, but I am fond of the side-charge receiver from American Spirit Arms. The side charge makes operating the bolt, charging, and weapon clearing easy and comfortable from any position that you’ll find yourself in in a hunting environment. The 16″ Stainless Bull Barrel also delivers Sub-MOA accuracy precision for accurate shots on gopher-sized targets out to 300 yards. The stubby 16″ barrel is compact and significantly lighter than standard 20″-22″ varminter bull barrel without sacrificing any accuracy. Priced around $1500.
The winner: Barnes Precision Machine
For less than $1300, the Barnes Precision Machine CQB Patrolman’s Carbine MOE Package delivers a Mil-Spec upper and lower receiver; accurate match-grade, .223 Wylde, 1:8 twist barrel; precision-made carrier; bolt which has a reamed (vs peened) bolt retainer pin hole; tensioning screw on the receiver; captured rear spring detent; excellent flash hider; and a free-float fore-end which can accept simple and inexpensive Magpul rails. All of this goodness is made on-site here in the USA. The gun has more nice touches than most custom AR-15s, all for $1275. The only thing missing to make this rifle stellar is a Geissele SSA-E trigger — add that and you can hang shot-for-shot with high-dollar rifles.
For each rifle you purchase from BPM, they have an agreement with Leupold and Eotech that they will sell you an Eotech or Leupold optic of your choice for BPM’s dealer price. You do not need to order the optic with the rifle — there is a limit of one optic at the special price per BPM rifle purchased. This could pay for a third of the rifle price in the optic savings, and it hands-down makes the BPM AR-15 the best buy winner.
Final thoughts: what about my x brand AR-15 that I love?
You may have a brand you like or love more. At this stage of gun buying frenzy, it may not matter what AR-15 you own, but that you do own something. Support the US economy and go buy an US-made AR-15.
