[sparkyprep]

Ok guys, I am asking this on here because I have grown to trust your opinions more than most others. I have been in the market for a new AR15 for about a month now. I have done some pretty extensive research on features that are appealing to me. I am looking for some suggestions on what is out there to meet my criteria.

Chambered in 5.56
Flat-top (I will be adding an EO-Tech holographic and a 3X magnifier)
Piston operated
Uber-accuracy is not important, as this will be a battle rifle. I have other rifles for the long shot.
Mil-spec or above, no super cheap POS's
Floating barrel
Quad rail

I have been looking strongly at LMT's MRP CQB rifle, as I like the concept of the Monolithic Rail Platform, but I am afraid that the LMT might be a little too high end, as far as price goes. My LGS is asking $2200 for this rifle, with no furniture.
A friend suggested a Sig, but I don't know anything about these rifles. The M&P seems a little too cheap to me.

My budget is about $2500

I am sure this topic has been discussed about a thousand times on here, and it may seem boring to some, but if you can get past that, some insightful advice would be very appreciated.

 

[sparkyprep]

Oh yea, please don't say "build one". I am not interested in another project to work on, I have enough of that going on now.....

 

[Fuzzee]

The one with the most available parts to be had from different retailers, rifle builders besides the manufacturer using their system is Adams Arms. For example, Smith & Wesson licenses their design and builds the parts themselves for their piston AR's, with only slight modifications of a shorter block and spigot. All of the others parts are useable in an Adams upper, complete rifle or conversion of carbine length. Core and Huldra both use the Adams system besides. Sabre Defense piston uppers were also built using the Adams system, but Sabre is out of business right now. There are surely some of their uppers and rifles still out there to be bought and a person wouldn't have any worry about getting parts for the system should they need it.

Their the best all around system out there in my opinion right now and I've been running them for years. LWRC's is similar, but the designs aren't really that far off and LWRC's rifles and uppers basically have more coating and machining dazzle to make them look pretty. Not that it will make much difference in performance. There not cheap either and LWRC is the only one to get to work on them and find replacement parts. There really aren't any choices for handguards either but their own. LMT is the only one to use their system also, same as SIG, and others with the exceptions of POF and Hogan and Bushmaster who use the same system and CMMG and Stag who also use the same system together. I used POF's for some years and it's OK, but find Adams better.

Adams make complete rifles now using Mega built receivers, complete uppers and still sells conversions. I've had 2 uppers using the Adams system and my current one was built by Talon Arms before Adams starting making uppers themselves. The conversion is good and they offer a lite version also now that doesn't have a top rail on the block. A person can easily convert any DI upper or rifle with one for a much cooler, cleaner running operating system that stays lubricated a lot longer and will run through thick and thin. And a person can always convert it back to DI if the world ended tomorrow, something broke (not likely) and they just couldn't find parts. I honestly haven't found the need to look elsewhere since using their system and don't see that changing. It's tough, simple to maintain, high quality and runs like a top. I suggest you do some research though and read the opinions of far from just me.

Adams Arms

Rainier Arms™ | Manufacturer

Adams Arms

Mine,

 

[bigdogbuc]

The Sig is a good rifle and it's gas piston operated. But it's a Sig and not an "AR" so I think it defeats your Mil-Spec requirement. In other words, you won't be interchanging parts should you happen across an AR. You can buy a gas piston kit and convert an AR, but it's about $400 (Brownells) and unless you know what you're doing, would need to go to someone who does. Probably another few hundred bucks.

I believe most AR's today are Mil-Spec as nobody wants to buy one that doesn't have that interchangeability of parts. The M&P is not "cheap", they're good, reliable rifles, but I don't believe they are piston operated, though I could be wrong. Any number of AR's are good; Bushmaster, Rock River (a really nice one), M&P, Olympic Arms, Palmetto...it seems nowadays that everybody makes one and most come standard with 5.56 chambers. I haven't seen a Mil-Spec chambered solely with .223 as it's not a Mil-Spec round. I forget the name of it, but I saw one where the lower is polymer, but it is Mil-Spec and will take any standard upper.

Your other option is to simply buy a lower (get one with a two stage trigger), which I've done in the past, then shop around online for the upper you want. I have no doubt that you can find one to fit your requirements and get it shipped right to your door. Your build consists of attaching the upper, to the lower. Easy peezy lemon squeezy.

 

[Ripon]

That budget you can get a lot, but I'd opt for something like a Colt 6920/40 and lots of magazines, lots of ammo, lots of extras with a $2500 budget.

 

[Fuzzee]

For that budget, I'd buy this, some PRI buis, a dozen Pmags and spend the rest on ammo. After throwing some rounds down range and getting good with the PRI's, I'd mount an Aimpoint T1 Micro on top as I could afford it and call it a day.

Rainier Arms™ | Browse | Adams Arms | Rifle: Adams Arms 16" Mid Tactical Evo 5.56

Rainier Arms™ | Browse | Sights - Front | PRI Flip Up Front Sight - Rail Mount

Rainier Arms™ | Browse | Sights - Rear | PRI Flip Up Rear Sight

But that's me.

 

[Seneca]

A Colt LE6920, will get you close (civilian version) to the M4 currently issued to the troops or so I've been lead to believe. Colt goes the extra distance in magna fluxing every part and not just one or two out of a lot. The steel is right and there is no corner cutting. Such as lightening up the carriers, skipping chrome plating critical wear areas and such. Yes there are other manufacturers that can and do rival Colt, but at a higher price point. Save your money buy the colt be happy...

 

[Rigged for Quiet]

A Colt LE6920, will get you close (civilian version) to the M4 currently issued to the troops or so I've been lead to believe. Colt goes the extra distance in magna fluxing every part and not just one or two out of a lot. The steel is right and there is no corner cutting. Such as lightening up the carriers, skipping chrome plating critical wear areas and such. Yes there are other manufacturers that can and do rival Colt, but at a higher price point. Save your money buy the colt be happy...

If I wasn 't so filled with peace and love for my fellow man and could over come my own over inflated self annoited moral objections against these evil black takers of life this is exactly what I would have in my safe.

 

[Smitty901]

Piston Operated ADAMS ARM.
I have 4 of them sold under the Huldra brand name nothing but good to say about them.

 

[Chipper]

I'd say a S&W M&P Vtac 2 with the 5R rifling. Can't recommend anything more expensive than that. I won't waste $2500 on a bullet hose battle rifle just to shoot 556. Maybe I'm just to cheap.

How about a Colt Competition?

Four DPMS Oracles when one wears out move onto the next and save it for parts. Best option IMO.

 

[Scotty12]

I got a AR15 on AR15.com that has that Adams upper. It's a tacticalevo 16" upper with a seekins sp223 billet lower For some reason I can't put in an image.

 

[Scotty12]

You could get 5 of them plastic lowers and build cheapies. When one wears out, toss it in the trash.

 

[Scotty12]

I know they're
heavy, but I still like the socom II

 

[sparkyprep]

Thanks for the advice guys. I will look into Adams Arms for sure

 

[Ripon]

I tried this, and my results are quite wierd. I bought a 5 pack of complete lowers a few years ago. It cost me $649 due to sales taxes and idiotic state fees. I put a Colt Hbar on one, it did great, and put a CMMG 22LR upper on one and it did great. I switched the HBar to a cheap Palmetto and it did really fine two. In fact I still use both of those lowers routinely waiting for the naysayers to be proven right and for them to fail. Meanwhile I sold two in the early hype for $700 and traded the third in a sweet deal that lead to my M1A. So yeah, I can reccommend that course!

You could get 5 of them plastic lowers and build cheapies. When one wears out, toss it in the trash.

 

[sparkyprep]

It seems that Smith and Wesson M&P has a piston operated AR15 with a slightly modified Adams Arms system. I am now looking into the M&P 15psx. Just looking to get the best quality that I can.

 

[Fuzzee]

It seems that Smith and Wesson M&P has a piston operated AR15 with a slightly modified Adams Arms system. I am now looking into the M&P 15psx. Just looking to get the best quality that I can.

I seem to remember saying that.

They modified the block and spigot which would require using theirs for replacement, but both those parts should last longer than you can find rounds for years to come. They modified the bolt, but you can still use any bolt as a replacement though. What they did was very cool to me and I'd like to pick one up. They said to hell with the gas rings as you don't need them anymore with a piston AR anyways and machined a solid ring where they were for smoother function. As far as I know the op rod is the same length (carbine) even though the block/spigot is shorter.

If you don't mind buying a railed handguard separate and doing a transfer.

Smith & Wesson M&P Semi-Automatic 223 Remington/5.56 NATO 30 $1,154.00 SHIPS FREE

 

[jimb1972]

I am surprised no one has mentioned the Ruger yet. SR-556 might be hard to find but should be worth it, they were reasonably priced before the panic and should be again.

 

[PrepConsultant]

Hard to go wrong with Colt. I am a fan of Core 15 also. They are out of Ocala,Fl which was fairly local for me when I was in Florida. I now have several of their AR's in different configurations.Check out CORE Rifle Systems

 

[inceptor]

I don't know if you've bought one yet but here is something to consider. My 1st AR is a Windham. I got it at Cabela's for under $900 including tax. Windham is made in Maine. The guy who owns this company used to own Bushmaster. Bushmaster used to make quality product. The Freedom Group bought Bushmaster, moved it to NY and the quality fell through the floor. After a 5 yr no compete contract the old Bushmaster factory reopened in Windham, MA. Hence the name. The quality of this is great, it should be selling for more money. I doubt if I will ever get rid of this gun.