Top Tier ARs - How Do You Rank Them

[DoglegArms]

I hate the terms "top tier" and "top shelf" but I couldn't think of a better word. How would rank AR-15 manufacturers?

Add or rearrange.

Top:
LaRue
LMT
DD

Mid:
Colt
S&W
Stag
RRA

Low:
PSA
Del-ton
DPMS

 

[DarthVader]

The list is so long...

Top:
Knights Armament
Bravo Company
Daniel Defense
Sionics
Colt

 

[DarthVader]

I hate the terms "top tier" and "top shelf" but I couldn't think of a better word. How would rank AR-15 manufacturers?

Add or rearrange.

Top:
LaRue
LMT
DD

Mid:
Colt
S&W
Stag
RRA

Low:
PSA
Del-ton
DPMS

If I had to rearrange...

Screw Larue
LMT is at the low end of the upper tier

RRA doesn't deserve to be considered Mid. They're on the same level as dpms, et al.

PSA Premium and HF guns are probably the top end of the middle. Certainly better than RRA and on par with the better S&W guns, but still not a Colt. PTAC is bottom.

 

[DoglegArms]

If I had to rearrange...

Screw Larue
LMT is at the low end of the upper tier

RRA doesn't deserve to be considered Mid. They're on the same level as dpms, et al.

PSA Premium and HF guns are probably the top end of the middle. Certainly better than RRA and on par with the better S&W guns, but still not a Colt. PTAC is bottom.

Never shot a LaRue.

 

[Jake]

RRA doesn't deserve to be considered Mid. They're on the same level as dpms, et al

Older RRA's are a lot better than the newer ones. After Sandy Hook their QC went down the drain. I have an older RRA that has never given me even the slightest problem. I shoot mostly steel out of it too, and rarely clean or lube it.

 

[Righter13]

If I had to rearrange...

Screw Larue
LMT is at the low end of the upper tier

RRA doesn't deserve to be considered Mid. They're on the same level as dpms, et al.

PSA Premium and HF guns are probably the top end of the middle. Certainly better than RRA and on par with the better S&W guns, but still not a Colt. PTAC is bottom.

PTAC may not be as high of quality but it damn sure fired every round the wife put through it this past weekend.

 

[DarthVader]

PTAC may not be as high of quality but it damn sure fired every round the wife put through it this past weekend.

Understood. And I'm not surprised. But strictly from a component standpoint, the PTAC line is sub par, compared to others. I'm not saying they are the worst ever produced, at all. Just that, if you're going to split them into "tiers", component quality, assembly, QC, etc, all come into play.

 

[DarthVader]

Older RRA's are a lot better than the newer ones. After Sandy Hook their QC went down the drain. I have an older RRA that has never given me even the slightest problem. I shoot mostly steel out of it too, and rarely clean or lube it.

Meh. Older RRAs had plenty of issues too. They've always been overpriced for what they are.

 

[rOmiLaYu]

Meh. Older RRAs had plenty of issues too. They've always been overpriced for what they are.

But that star button safety, though.

 

[NWS]

Meh. Older RRAs had plenty of issues too. They've always been overpriced for what they are.

My first AR was built from parts using a little unknown manufacturers lower called Rock River Arms. At the time they were the cheapest thing going. Funny what one government contract does for a company.

 

[DarthVader]

My first AR was built from parts using a little unknown manufacturers lower called Rock River Arms. At the time they were the cheapest thing going. Funny what one government contract does for a company.

Yep. And they rode that horse into the ground. Even though the guns proved to be a miserable failure for the Agency that purchased them. There's a reason they lost that contract. Today, they're basically building the same guns they made in 2004. I'm quite frankly surprised that they've survived.

 

[NWS]

Yep. And they rode that horse into the ground. Even though the guns proved to be a miserable failure for the Agency that purchased them. There's a reason they lost that contract. Today, they're basically building the same guns they made in 2004. I'm quite frankly surprised that they've survived.

I still miss that gun though. It was all colt except for the lower. The lower was three digit and was one of the first 1000 they made. It didn't have a logo or anything on it, just the words "Rock River Arms." I sold that gun long ago but have since been on the lookout for one of those old logo free lowers.

 

[sam]

I have colts and bushmasters

prefer the colts due to they will hold their value over the bushmasters

 

[NWS]

I own 5 ARs. All 5 are NFA SBRs. Not one of them is a factory rifle and have all been built with the parts I want.


The lowers are.

Bushmaster
Colt
PSA
DPMS
S&W

To me the lower is just a lower. I care about barrel, bolt, and FCG, but beyond those three parts, the rest is just parts to me. As long as they are in spec, I will use them.

 

[DoglegArms]

PTAC may not be as high of quality but it damn sure fired every round the wife put through it this past weekend.

No doubt.

 

[PewPewPewCo]

In order as listed

1. The ones I build

2. The rest

 

[Laufen]

In order as listed

1. The ones I build

2. The rest

That's the metric most people use. If there's anything that's better, you're just "paying for the name".

 

[Willy Leadwell]

I've never owned a factory AR and the only one that I've ever had a problem with was the first one I built. It would FTF consistently. I learned that gun inside and out trying to figure out what the hell was wrong. That's what got me on the forums. That's essentially why I'm here and that's why I've never had a problem with another AR build. I love that gun because of it.

Unless I just stumble upon a deal too good to pass up, I doubt I'll ever own a factory build.

 

[PewPewPewCo]

That's the metric most people use. If there's anything that's better, you're just "paying for the name".

I just like to pick out all the parts i want. Rarely is it just one company's parts that i feel fill the need of each individual part the best.

 

[1776]

In order as listed

1. The ones I build

2. The rest

Amen!