Quoted: A few threads going on like this one. Oh well, FWIW, my opinion. Best value for the money: Stag Arms Best Overall: Colt Best Resale:Colt Most Prolific: Armalite Most Popular: Bushmaster and RRA Most underwater bumpfired: Bushmaster Red-Headed stepchild: Olympic Most Multicalibered: Olympic Most overpriced: Wilson and Les Baer Most technologically  innovative: Leitner-wise and P.O.F. and honorable mention to ZM Weapons. Most unobtainable: H&K 416 Most non-existent: Ares Defense Shrike Most Urban Mythologized: Mattel Worst overall: Vulcan Arms

Now that is THE list as far as i'm concerned!!

The best AR15 for the money is a slightly Used AR you will find on the Equipment exchange, Check it out There are plenty for sale; Selection & Features are for your choosing.

Quoted: Hi! I am currently seeking to purchase an AR15 for home defense and also to possibley use on duty. . . . .  We have bushmasters at my police department now. . . .  Any thoughts or suggestions will be greatly appreciated!

Pibb148, If you decide to buy your own to use on-duty, keep in mind that if you shoot someone with it, it will be taken away from you and stored in a property room for the duration of the case (which could take years). While arriving and stored there, it will be handled by anybody and everybody with access to it, and it will more than likely come back to you (eventually) in far worse shape than when it left.
For on-duty use, use your Departments Bushmaster. It's a great rifle and if you break it or shoot someone with it, they'll give you another one right away!
For home use, I would buy either a complete Colt 6920/6921 or. . . build your own with a stripped Bushmaster lower, Colt SP1 internals (NOS), and complete the rest of the rifle with current Colt 6920/6921 complete upper and stock of your choice.

RRA, STAG, CMT, these should be the best value but it is all dependent where you live.

Max

Quoted: Quoted: The best value for your money?  An AR you build yourself, usually for $500-$600, far less if you get the parts in deals such as on the EE boards.  Doing that and using left over parts, I built mine for under $300, works like a champ. not much in experience with ARs so forgive me if this questions seems out of wack. Wouldnt that be taking a chance with compatibility??

Uh no not really.

Best value for the money: DPMS (more bang for the buck!)
Best Overall: RRA
Best Resale:Colt (too expensive)
Most Prolific: Armalite (?)
Most Popular: Bushmaster and RRA
Most underwater bumpfired: WHO CARES?
Red-Headed stepchild: Olympic
Most Multicalibered: Olympic and DPMS
Most overpriced: Colt, Wilson, and Les Baer
Most technologically  innovative: Leitner-wise and P.O.F. and honorable mention to ZM Weapons.
Most unobtainable: H&K 416
Most non-existent: Ares Defense Shrike
Most Urban Mythologized: Mattel
Worst overall: Vulcan Arms

I personally invested my hard-earned money into a DPMS Panther Carbine and I love it. I am looking into buying a DPMS Panther AP4 or an RRA Entry Tactical this go-around. For the money, the DPMS is the better buy for what I am going to do. I plan to make several mods to get it to my liking. The $200 difference between the two can afford me to spend more on the mods for the DPMS.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: The best value for your money?  An AR you build yourself, usually for $500-$600, far less if you get the parts in deals such as on the EE boards.  Doing that and using left over parts, I built mine for under $300, works like a champ. not much in experience with ARs so forgive me if this questions seems out of wack. Wouldnt that be taking a chance with compatibility?? Uh no not really.

I agree.  As long as you stick with quality parts, there should be no problems, the AR-15 is very modular and that is one of the strong points about the platform.  Occasionally getting a cheap parts kit a piece (usually minor) may required just a bit of fitting, but normally not.

I can't emphasize how great the feeling is to put your own rifle together and shoot it.  The satisfaction is overwhelming.  I like my own homebuilt better than my M16 much of the time.  It gives me a great sense of pride and satisfaction.

Plus it's cheap!

The only difference is that it won't have much resale value compared to a factory built rifle, but I would stack my homebuilt up against any standard factory rifle out there.

I'm sorry but how are BM more expensive than RRA?  Every Complete RRA I've seen is over $800 (if you add tax) and so are BM.

build one out of a complete upper, and just build the lower receiver with a parts kit, you'll save a little, and you'll learn more about the rifle.

Stag or RRA.

Someone mentioned CMT makes most of RRA's parts. That is true, but the same can be said for many Colt's, Oly bolts, and many other companies. That really has no affect on what you get.

RRA is set up for the builder IMO. None of the other big names have cheaper uppers and lowers, which makes a very good complete for cheap. RRA also offers a limited lifetime warranty and have one of the best reputations for customer service and quality.

RRA is my preference.

I keep seeing alot about price and this and that being cheaper than Bushmaster, you guys are shopping in the wrong place if your paying $950 for a patrolman's carbine. Check out Aim surplus.

Aim Surplus

Colt, Bushmaster, or Rock River Arms