Brand of AR question

Sometimes when I talk to people they just want a "Colt" Why is that? They say they were first and everybody follows, etc. Is this true or has the competition caught up and passed them or equal.

Are they any better or just proven?

If you have a plain Colt, Spikes, BCM what is the difference?

What I've seen is people want Colts because that's what the military used. Some people want as close to milspec as possible and some people like myself don't really care as long as it functions and holds a good group. I've read tons of information on another forum and it seems like as long as a company is a site sponsor or have a cool rollmark they are good to go. The most accurate gun I own other than my .17 hmr is an AR I put together with a chrome lined bushmaster heavy barrel with a spikes lower, rock river upper and lower parts kit. And I'm by no means a professional marksman.

IMO, people need to realize that there are far fewer actual manufacturers than there are brands. That's because the end vendors buy them from the mfgr's in most cases instead of building their own. There are always good brands and bad, but the bad won't be around long with the instant information sharing that's available now.

Very true. But I have also seen some people get ridiculed for going against the popular opinion, even when they have a legitimate gripe. That's why I like it on here, everyone seems to be pretty reasonable.

Who are you calling reasonable?

Both of mine are Spike's Upper/lower, FCG and BCG, 1 barrel and M4 buttstock. The other is a ARP barrel, Troy rail and Magpul ACS stock.

I am also partial to BCM, Daniel Defense, Noveske and LaRue. Colt would come in there also.

I am not a Carbine fan, I like a Mid-Length Gas System.
Freefloat or not don't seem to matter to me.

i just want one that shoot moa or better. if it takes part b,and brand x to do it i dont care of the name.

Just the people who post on here. I don't see people getting their panties in a bunch when people post something they don't like. As for ARs, I think most out there are great. I have spikes, stag and rock river uppers, spikes, yhm, rock river, dpms, and surplus ammo lowers with all kinds of bolts and lower parts kits. I think it's just about personal preference on that stuff. I like to buy parts and put them together and plus it's easier on the pocket book then buying a complete gun.

Colt is a good brand, but not the origin of the AR. They just bought the design so they could manufacture and sell to the military. I don't think just because the military uses Colt rifles means they are the best. Kind of like the beretta 92 is the best pistol, and Leupold is the best scope.

There are way to many players now in the market to just say Colt is the only way to go. Major companys like Rock River, JP, DPMS, LaRue.. I am sure I forgot one or more. Then you have smaller shops that are producing awesome guns..I am really liking the look of Loki Weapon Systems lately. No where near the size of Colt, but they offer what I want.

I happen to shoot a Rock River, mainly because it was what the gunsmith used for the build I wanted. Secondly they are about 20 minutes from my home town which I thought was cool.

Got a gun that I like and does what I need it to. Looking forward to building my next own on my own.
Never have an issue with a guy shooting a different gun than mine, as I am pretty sure its if you shoot not what you shoot.

Because Colt follows the TDP and was the standard for many years. I still refer new shooters to Colt even though I have never owned one. Truth is, a high percentage of AR owners will never be able tell much of a difference between brands simply because they don't shoot enough.

They are in use in the military, thats why alot of people prefer them.

So alot of their civilian components are likely made in the same facility.


LMT is the same way, bunch of them in harms way as well. The ony advantage I see to most people is a higher resell value.

Most people don't shoot enough for it to matter.

Make sure if someone is pushing you to buy brand X, that they actually shoot and aren't an internet expert. Get some first hand reasons why the recommend it.

The internet is full of experts who likely haven't shot their gun in months.

Kinda like people liking Nike its the name brand that a lot of people know. I don't think they are worth the price you pay. Someone wants to give me one free or sell it at the same price I might be willing to pick it up. However for the price I've seen on some its not worth it at all, I'll stick with my Spikes and similar.

I think Colt is a great product although I don't personally own one.The Colt name is easily recocnized as a millspec weapon for many reasons already mentioned.Lots of people can buy them without a lot of knowledge of the platform and still know they are getting a quality firearm.

My most expensive AR has about $2600 in it. My least expensive one has about $600 in it. I love both equally and both have shot everything Ive put through them.

I thought armalite was the real first manufacturer of the ar15. But if i were to go with one it would be a jp enterprise or larue

It's allllll in the name imo