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What defines a quality AR-15? One can speculate price and brand name, but there is more beneath the surface of this question. To answer this question simply, yes AND no regarding price, brand name, and countless other possible discussion points. This is a question that could spawn a 15-page editorial and hours of conversation. So ARs? What should one go with? How does he or she decide what barrel length? Gas System? Trigger Group? Think about it in chunks, and the most important chunk is briefly defining the AR itself.
AR Overview
Eugene Stoner, James Sullivan, and Bob Fremont began the development of the Armalite Rifle in the 1950’s. To be clear, AR stands for Armalite Rifle. Contrary to what politicians and the media regurgitate, AR does not stand for “Assault Rifle”. Since it’s adoption by the US Military in the 1960s as the M16, the AR platform has become the most popular rifle platform in the United States. With dozens of companies making hundreds of different components and parts, decision making can become overwhelming. Look no further faithful reader, that’s what Gold Spur Outfitters is here for!
Purpose
When picking out parts for an AR build, knowing its purpose ahead of time is important. How does this relate to how quality an AR is? When thinking about what a particular AR’s job is, it could be very good for that job, while it could be horrible in other situations. For example: a long-range precision AR-10 in 6.5 Creedmoor could be great at its job: plinking steel at 800+ yards, but that shooter wouldn’t use it as a self-defense rifle in his or her house. On the flip side, a 10.5” SBR is arguably one of the best home-defense weapons that someone can get their hands on, but it would land a shooter last place at a long-range event. Getting a purpose-driven rifle built makes that rifle good for that purpose.
Reliability
Going bang and slinging lead down range every single time a trigger is pulled is a great indicator of a great AR. Nothing is more frustrating than malfunctions, especially consistent ones. There are countless things that can cause an AR to malfunction. Diagnosing them can take time, energy, and money. Biting the bullet on good parts will help ensure that the rifle will always go bang, while saving the potential headache (or wallet-ache).
Design
The design of an AR can give insight into its quality. For example, a Daniel Defense Mk 18 is one of the highest rated SBR’s on the market. The handguard that Daniel Defense designed has an incredibly solid lockup to the upper receiver. This helps the Mk 18 withstand use and abuse and holds zero. Nicer ARs will have innovative and well-tested designs like the Mk 18.
Manufacturing Process
Have you ever watched How It’s Made? The process of manufacturing items can be interesting. For example, toilet paper. Knowing what goes into making different things can also show why 3-ply is so expensive. All jokes aside, the steps taken by manufacturers are extremely important for quality control purposes. Criterion barrels are some of the best barrels on the market because they take extra steps in their manufacturing process. Criterion hand laps the rifling in their barrels, which removes practically all burrs and possible imperfections. This takes an MOA rifle and makes it a ½ to a ¼ MOA rifle. By adding extra steps in the manufacturing process, the end result turns into a superior AR.
Assembly
ARs are Legos for adults. But unlike Legos, ARs don’t just click together and work. They often take some kind of fitting. For example, an AR-15 barrel nut has a very specific torque setting that can vary based on the manufacturer’s design. A barrel nut might also need to be shimmed to make sure the gas tube lines up correctly. The point being, building ARs is not simply throwing parts together and hitting the range. Using the proper tools and specifications can easily mean the difference between a well-functioning AR or hours of headache, and possible damage to the rifle, or injury to the shooter.
ARs are incredible tools that fill a wide variety of purposes. The difference between a “good” and a “bad” rifle can be characterized by several different things, each of which can be its own discussion. Long story short, the easiest way to know if an AR is well-made is to bring it to a qualified gunsmith and get an honest opinion. If components need to be upgraded, or the rifle needs to be rebuilt, as stated earlier, that’s what Gold Spur is here for. Mention this newsletter in the shop and we’ll get you 5% off anything pertaining to ARs. Need a new trigger? Couple of mags to fill out your kit? Full build on a GSO-10 or GSO-15? 5% off. Offer good until November 30, 2023.