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Posted: 10/24/2007 7:13:39 AM EDT
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hey guys, im new to this site and the reason i joined was to find out some good info before i build my new rifle. i currently have a bushmaster varmiter that im selling the upper so i can purchase a new 16" (elite carbine A4). my question is what is the diffrence between all of the major manufactures? i was planning on buying a RRA upper. my buddy who was built a few rifles told me to buy from model 1 sales. he said there is no real diffrence between all of the rifles so why spend the extra $$$ am i wasting my money? or is it worth it? also, what is the diffrence in quad rails? some are farily cheap and other are about the same price as an upper... all info would be great. thanks |
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Welcome to the site! I would offer to say that there are differences between ar15's. Some are considered not as well made or finished. RRA is a high quality company, their parts are excellent. You will find that some companies have a better reputation than others and that some companies use others to make their receivers and parts. I like DELTON for price, quality and customer service. The guys will be along to help you more pretty soon.....just check back often. slasher |
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It’s worth it to buy your parts from a reputable dealer. Some of the cheaper parts companies sell blemished parts which might be considered “seconds” if you will. Like Slasher mentioned, Del-Ton is one reputable dealer here on the sight, and I deal with them often. I’ve also had good experiences in the past dealing directly with a manufacturer and if price worthy, this is always my first option. |
Well I'm sure someone else will chime in and give the Mil-Spec speech. Yes I think parts are different in quality, I understand Bushmaster makes excellent parts, but so do others as well. Rock River, Armalite, Stag, <I've had good luck with DPMS>. Ok nows your que lets hear the Mil-Spec speech someone  .
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I had a bushmaster lower with a mag well so tight it would not accept certain magazines or a ASA 9mm mag block. |
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I've read on here the Del-ton uses mostly CMT parts, not DPMS. DPMS lower parts kits appear to me noticeably lower quality than the Rock River and Stag parts kits I've used, and the price difference is negligible. I like Stag lowers personally, based on those I've examined and built. Rock River was fine as well, though the fit between the upper and lower was very, very tight initially. |
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Basically you have a couple "tiers" of manufacturers. Top Tier: COLT ARMALITE RRA (Debatable) BUSHMASTER LMT CMT/STAG SABRE DEFENCE Second Tier S&W SUN DEVIL DEL TON DPMS ESSENTIAL ARMS SUPERIOR ARMS Model 1 Sales CRAP Tier VULCAN HESSE Cant remember but some more Then you have kind of the specialty/high end tier which includes: Noveske Rifleworks VLTOR LaRue Tactical POF MEGA Machine Shop Young Machining What is the differences you say? Machining Tolerences, Materials, Testing, and Customer Service. Machining Tolerences, everyone has their own spec, but since the Top Tier manufacturers have government contracts (most of them) their specs are usually the best since the parts are manufactured using the same or similar tooling as is used on the Military weapons. Materials, Top Tier/Specialty manufacturers use either 7075-T6 Aluminum or Billet. Both of which are stronger than the 6061 Alloys used by the lower tiers. NOTE: Some lower tiers use the 7075-T6, however, workmanship and finish comes into materials. The fit and finish of top tier and second tier is easy to tell apart. Just ask Mike LaRue, he will tell you about machining :D Testing. The top tier manufacturers MP test their bolts/carriers to check for any weak points etc. Model 1 as you had mentioned does not, they just turn out bolts as fast as they can with limited quality control. This will increase your chances of a break or Fail to Fire. Customer Service...usually you are OK in the top two tiers for customer service. In my experience, VLTOR, Del-Ton, RRA, Sabre Defence, and LMT all have excellent customer service. VLTOR blew my mind but the others were still good :D Colt is a crapshoot, but you shouldnt ever have a problem. The bottom line is, after its all said and done it might cost you $150 extra to get the top tier. That $150 might save you alot of phone time and frustration not to mention your life should you need to protect it. If you are looking to buy a complete lower and a complete upper and pin them together...I would reccomend a complete STAG lower and a Stag upper. This will put you at about $785 for a complete rifle. Both parts can be purchased from Rainier Arms. http://www.rainierarms.com/?page=shop/detail&product_id=184 If your friend is telling you "buy everything from Model 1 Sales, its all the same" then he knows as much about AR's as I know about Beethoven. And let me tell ya..that aint much. |
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whats the diff between the shorter carbine models which have a very short front handle and the longer standard handle models? ive heard that the only read diffrence is the gas tube is longer on the standard models and its a little better. ive also noticed that on the smaller handled carbine models most barrels have a depression where a front sight mount would go? is this correct? |
CMMG i left out because they dont have a govt contract but many regard them highly. RRA is debatable because alot of people debate weather they are one of the top tier manufacturers, at least on this board :D |
anyone????? |
ok, what exactly are you asking--do you have any pics of what you are trying to find out? if i read this correctly, are you asking the diff bt/w a "CAR" (shorter) length system and a "rifle" (longer) length system? if so, read this: ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=66&t=266108 as to the carbine bbl question, if i'm correct again, i believe that the "depression" you are refering to are to M4 contoured/cut bbls--the depession is for the attachment of an M203 grenade launcher (or other similar device) |
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