Guns and Gear: "The Chart" of AR-15 Brands

For this week's (slightly delayed) installment of Guns and Gear here on GrogNews, I would like to share "the chart" (hosted on Google Docs) of AR-15 brands. This chart, compiled and maintained by Rob Sloyer of tacticalyellowvisor.net, compares the technical features of various brands of AR-15 variants.

"The chart" can be a little intimidating, although Mr. Sloyer provides a fairly good introduction to what each item means at the beginning of the document. In general terms, the features on the chart are the small details that make the difference in reliability, longevity, and, to some extent, compatibility with after-market parts. The good features (for example, black extractor spring inserts on the bolt) are marked with blue backgrounds on the chart.

If you are looking to buy an AR-15-type rifle, I strongly encourage you to check the chart as part of your research. The base price for an AR-15-type rifle runs from about $800 to nearly $1,500, so a little due diligence is certainly in order.

My interpretation is that, right now, Bravo Company Manufacturing is the best manufacturer in the business, delivering a rifle that is as good or better than an original Colt, for about $200 less. I bought a BCM upper receiver a few months ago and am completely happy with it so far. The real test will be running it in a training class or a few 3-gun matches. When I do that, I'll be sure to report back to our audience here at Grog News.

So, what should you do if you bought a rifle that does not fair well on "the chart"?

All is not lost. First of all, what are you really going to do with your rifle? If you bought it to plink around at the range and you're happy with it as it is, that's fine. But if you're serious about using your AR-15 in a life-or-death situation (home defense or SHTF as a civilian, or on-duty use in law enforcement), there are a few simple things that you do to help make sure you have a rifle you can trust with your life:

• Replace the entire bolt carrier group with a BCM full-auto bolt carrier group (see note) for less than $150. This, by itself, will do wonders for your rifle's reliability.
• If you install an after-market stock, like one of the excellent Magpul or VLTOR stocks, spring for a MIL-SPEC lower receiver extension. This ensures compatibility with the broadest range of after-market stocks and related items.
• You can stake the castle nut yourself with some basic tools, as described in this thread at m4carbine.net (which also shows pictures of good, bad, and non-existent) staking. Staking the castle nut helps avoid the embarassment of the stock falling off the rifle as you're shooting it :).
• You can replace the light-weight carbine buffer with an "H" (heavy) buffer. This is especially convenient to do while you are replacing the stock and/or lower receiver extension and will make your rifle more reliable.
• Your barrel, whether it is made from top-of-the-line M249 machine gun steel or bottom-of-the-barrel 4140 steel, will probably out-live you unless you shoot a lot and shoot hard (thousands of rounds in a week-long training class, not a couple of hundred rounds in an afternoon at the range). If you do shoot so much and so hard that you start to see your groups open up or see signs of key-holing in targets, or just have the money and inclination for a major upgrade, replace your barrel (or entire upper receiver group) with one that stands better on "the chart." Again, BCM upper receivers a great choice right now and, no, I'm not getting a kick-back from them. I'm just a very satisfied customer.

Note: To the best of my knowledge, installing a full-auto bolt carrier group in a semi-automatic AR-15 does not make it a Class III weapon or require any special licensing/registration/permits/tax stamps/etc. However, I am not offering legal advice. Do your own research and check with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives to be certain.

Until next time, keep your powder dry!

By: Guardian