Premium Grade ARs - Your preferred brand?

[phylodog]

The proof is in the pudding so to speak with Noveske barrels. That is how John built his business. I thought it was hogwash until I actually shot head-to-head against other AR barrels that I own(i.e. Spike's, PSA CHF, Stag, Colt, BCM). YMMV

My mileage doesn't vary, I'm pleased as could be with the accuracy I've seen from the Noveske Afghan I installed earlier this week.

 

[sig1473]

My mileage doesn't vary, I'm pleased as could be with the accuracy I've seen from the Noveske Afghan I installed earlier this week.

I shot my Afghan again this week side-by-side against my other 2 Noveske N4 CHF barrels. The Afghan once again outshot them easily. I was using AimPoints on the N4s(T1,M4) while the Afghan was wearing an AimPoint Pro. Ammo was plain 'ole 55GR factory. I'm going to stretch it out some later this week(150M) to see the results. I have yet to run 69/77GR which I think is doing a disservice to it.

 

[phylodog]

I just started shooting/testing the Afghan yesterday and once I had a good zero and figured out which load it seemed to like I dropped back to 150 & 200 yards to determine what my adjustment would be. The coyotes are in trouble. I've only got 70 rounds through the barrel, I expect it'll get better once I have a couple hundred through it. These were with the 77gr BTHP made by CBC out of Brazil. For the money it shoots very well.

 

[sig1473]

I just started shooting/testing the Afghan yesterday and once I had a good zero and figured out which load it seemed to like I dropped back to 150 & 200 yards to determine what my adjustment would be. The coyotes are in trouble. I've only got 70 rounds through the barrel, I expect it'll get better once I have a couple hundred through it. These were with the 77gr BTHP made by CBC out of Brazil. For the money it shoots very well.

That's some good shooting of course. I'm thinking about ditching the AimPoint and putting a 1-4x Vortex on it to get better accuracy. I think it deserves a better setup to take advantage of it's accuracy. What kind of optic you running?

 

[phylodog]

Vortex 2.5-10 FFP

 

[mammynun]

How's the reliability of the low mass JP guns? By reliability I mean their ability to operate when dirty, with any ammo, etc. My intuition tells me they're more "sensitive" since their benefits seemed to be gained by running on the ragged edge... but I may be completely wrong. Correctly or not, I see JP's as a race gun; the F1/Indy car of rifles... very, very good at what they do, but not the best choice as an EDD (Every Day Driver ).... Kinda like an F Class rifle could certainly hit an elk from a greater distance than an average Tikka/Savage/Remington, but might not be the best choice to take on a hunt. My impression is that full on JP's are (as any platform can be) so laser focused that they are limited to a specific application (gun games). Am I FOS?

 

[rvb]

How's the reliability of the low mass JP guns? By reliability I mean their ability to operate when dirty, with any ammo, etc. My intuition tells me they're more "sensitive" since their benefits seemed to be gained by running on the ragged edge... but I may be completely wrong. Correctly or not, I see JP's as a race gun; the F1/Indy car of rifles... very, very good at what they do, but not the best choice as an EDD (Every Day Driver ).... Kinda like an F Class rifle could certainly hit an elk from a greater distance than an average Tikka/Savage/Remington, but might not be the best choice to take on a hunt. My impression is that full on JP's are (as any platform can be) so laser focused that they are limited to a specific application (gun games). Am I FOS?

Largely depends on how you tune it, just like any gun w/ adjustable gas. If you run it on the ragged edge, you have to accept that it's more likely to choke, especially when you go changing ammo. If you tune it for reliability (test the gas w/ a variety of ammo vs one load, give the gas another 1/4-1/2 turn past the point it works w/ your weakest ammo, etc) it'll work as long as any AR. I have an AR w/ JP LMOS parts, and I've got the gas on the 1st setting (syrac block) that allows it to lock back w/ a loose grip (not tucked in tight into the shoulder, and I've got well over 1k on it w/ that setup w/o cleaning and it's still running fine. Ideal for IRAQi sandstorm, maybe not. Reliable enough most folks will never be able to tell the difference, absolutely. IMO the full weight carrier/buffer only buys you a small amount of margin in feeding reliability... if the gun's so full of gunk it won't feed w/ light-weight parts, it most likely wouldn't have fed w/ mil-spec weight parts.

Biggest problem I've seen in the past is their gas block set screw coming loose. I wouldn't run adjustable gas for years because I saw it happen to others so many times in matches. But now they can be ordered w/ the syrac gas blocks and their own brand block has a lock for the set screw so I wouldn't hesitate to run them.

Competition guys want their guns to work 100%; don't fall for that idea that because it's for competition it won't be reliable.

JP sells a LOT of guns to LEO and professional hunters, incl guns w/ their LMOS stuff. They also have a cage code, so they must sell at least some stuff to military.

-rvb

 

[mammynun]

I'm with you on the Syrac GB, that's what I use on my MaTem MKM with a Lilja barrel.

 

[jimbobcooters]

wrong thread

 

[BDS JIN]

not the brand, the best is what best for you. or maybe simply get a custom one, build by yourself. I used to have a sig516, learned a lot from it, found out what I need and what doesn't. then build my custom ar.

 

[Yup!]

I'm so lost. I want an AR but don't have a clue where to start. I'd like to be in the $1500 range but quality is very important. I read threads like this and I might just as well be on a Muslim Porn Site..... I want to care and maintain my rifle, but I nave no desire to "build it". I want to stay away from all the junk out there but I don't know the names well enough to know what's junk and what's not.

 

[rvb]

Lots of good brands recommended in this thread. Flip a 12-sided coin.
-rvb

 

[Booya]

I'm so lost. I want an AR but don't have a clue where to start. I'd like to be in the $1500 range but quality is very important. I read threads like this and I might just as well be on a Muslim Porn Site..... I want to care and maintain my rifle, but I nave no desire to "build it". I want to stay away from all the junk out there but I don't know the names well enough to know what's junk and what's not.

Lots of good brands recommended in this thread. Flip a 12-sided coin.
-rvb

Exactly what ^^ he said. In that price range you'll be fine! Pick any of the name brands and drop $1500 and you'll get a nice rifle. Can be done for quite a bit less actually.

 

[Yup!]

This is what I'm considering sub 2k.

 

[Yup!]

Exactly what ^^ he said. In that price range you'll be fine! Pick any of the name brands and drop $1500 and you'll get a nice rifle. Can be done for quite a bit less actually.

Thats the issue, I see some for a lot less and I don't know where the good/junk threshold is?

 

[sig1473]

I'm so lost. I want an AR but don't have a clue where to start. I'd like to be in the $1500 range but quality is very important. I read threads like this and I might just as well be on a Muslim Porn Site..... I want to care and maintain my rifle, but I nave no desire to "build it". I want to stay away from all the junk out there but I don't know the names well enough to know what's junk and what's not.

Get a Colt 6920 for under a grand while you can. Put on a nice optic(AimPoint or Eotech), buy some mags, & finally some ammo. That would be a great start.

 

[seedubs1]

If if you aren't wanting to build your own, the deals on the colts right now are tough to beat.

Get a Colt 6920 for under a grand while you can. Put on a nice optic(AimPoint or Eotech), buy some mags, & finally some ammo. That would be a great start.

 

[iChokePeople]

This is what I'm considering sub 2k.

View attachment 32930

You would be very happy with a DD. They make very good rifles.

 

[ryan3030]

I just can't get over DD prices. $335 for a 7" rail? Come on.

 

[tradertator]

I just can't get over DD prices. $335 for a 7" rail? Come on.

They're expensive, no doubt about it. But after owning a couple, I won't hardly buy anything else. They are super heavy duty, yet light & slim. I usually hunt around until I find a deal on one used.