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Posted: 3/31/2016 7:54:58 PM EDT
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Colt, Wyndham, LMT, RRA, Stag, BCM, Armalite and the list goes on. Is there really that big of a difference? Materials are basically the same, design is the same. What's the big difference? Colts employees are better trained then Wyndham, the QC at BCM is better then Stag? I just don't see a huge difference between major brands.
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Colt is the standard to which all others are measured. The real question is do the companies that charge more than Colt provide any extra benefits for the extra charge (other than their name plastered all over the product) ? The answer is probably not.
People that carry an AR as part of their job description should choose from the manufactures nearer the top of the quality heap. Many of the AR manufactures not at the top of the heap make a decent rifle that will serve your average AR user well. Too many people are too easily impressed by a name, or are stuck in fan-boy mode. Several of my "It's not Mil-Spec, and they don't have the TDP" rifles are very accurate, and have functioned flawlessly. |
| Usually materials are not the same. Things that wouldnt pass muster in the cheaper companies would be rejected by the others (I'm trying my best NOT to use the word tier). Their are other details, the biggest ones individual proof and mag partial tested BCG's and barrels, hammer forged barrels vs. cut rifleing, perkerizing missing in areas, cleaner finishes, forge flash sanded away and upgraded furniture. Then there are things not seen like proper torque on nuts, proper staking...if at all, different or cheaper grades of steel or aluminum. Many times it just comes down to a name or a reputation for quality. Sometimes you just don't see the difference, but if someone told you you were deploying tomorrow...would you take the Knights rifle or the Wyndham....that's where the rubber meets the road. |
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Quoted:
Colt, Wyndham, LMT, RRA, Stag, BCM, Armalite and the list goes on. Is there really that big of a difference? Materials are basically the same, design is the same. What's the big difference? Colts employees are better trained then Wyndham, the QC at BCM is better then Stag? I just don't see a huge difference between major brands. Materials are not the same between any of the TDP guns, and an RRA, for example. QC at BCM is better than Stag. BCM is hell bent on not letting bad parts go into guns. Other companies designed their whole business model on putting the cheapest parts available into their guns. Colt has forgotten more about these things than most of the companies combined. It's easy to deceive a customer if it looks like an AR15 and is black. Once you start shooting them in volume, you quickly see the turds float to the top. |
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Quoted:
Colt, Wyndham, LMT, RRA, Stag, BCM, Armalite and the list goes on. Is there really that big of a difference? Materials are basically the same, design is the same. What's the big difference? Colts employees are better trained then Wyndham, the QC at BCM is better then Stag? I just don't see a huge difference between major brands. There have already been some good comments and I won't repeat them. As you get more into it and have a chance to shoot and handle more guns, you start to see the differences. There used to be huge differences in quality of uppers, lowers, etc with variation in finishing marks and anodizing, but these days the CNC machining has narrowed the range of visible product quality. QC is still a big issue, and I have learned to trust the brands I use because I don't want to send bad parts back. sometimes I hear how great somebody's Customer Service is in relpacing a bad part, but I would just as soon not have an issue in the first place. Take a look at which posts seem to have the most problems posted and that is a place to start. Also, look at little things such as material of the delta ring (plastic or metal), material of forward assist, feel of trigger, presence or absence of quick detach connectors, alignment of lower flat top and foregrip rails. My personal experience has been with Colt, RRA, BCM, Aero Precision, Joe Bob billets, Adams Arms and Daniel Defense barrels but the only off the rack rifle I have bought was a RRA back in the 90s, otherwise I assemble them in order to get what I want. Also, if it doesn't work, I can't blame anybody but myself! 
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