ar's

...or the Ranch Rifle.

I just wouldn't waste your time waiting for us to inform you of the perfect AR for your needs. Buy one, try it out and I guarantee you it will serve you well, regardless if it's Milspec, Tacticool, etc.
Just buy one, and enjoy it.
 
There are lots of brands, some better than others, but as far as individual models go, there aren't that many choices.

You have M4-like models (carbine with 16in barrel, collapsible stock) and you have M16-like models (rifle w/ 20 in barrel, fixed stock).

Yes, there's a boat load of different barrels lengths, gas systems, stocks, doodads, and all other manner of stuff you can throw on your gun, but the majority of people will be well-served by buying one good AR, like a Colt, BCM, LMT, Daniel Defense, S&W etc.
 
What are you going to shoot at, and how far? Plinking and critters are two completely different things at their extremes. One is a 600m precision rifle, scoped with bipod, the other a hunting rifle in an alternate caliber with red dot. Neither fit in well as a tacticool quad railed blinged out CQB M4gery.

So, what the primary target will be, and how far, will determine the caliber, and that determines the barrel, which sets up what gas. An A3 upper will do from there, choose the reticle and magnification needed. The furniture goes back to what and how far? If precision or hunting, a fixed stock does fine, if you plan on wearing armor, you need adjustable, for when you aren't. Then the handguard is set, varmint or precision, a free float tube, hunting and tactical, regular handguards, and a quad rail only if it's issue. Nobody else needs it, and so says the contract supplier, KAC.

About dead last is trigger, unless the barrel, free float, and ammo are high precision, a trigger is just a feel good option. Literally. A high dollar trigger delivers almost zero improvement in accuracy, simply because the barrel has to shoot fractions of a minute to even see the difference. Otherwise, it gets lost in the standard 2MOA "good enough for combat" dispersion.

The target and range is exactly why there are so many different variations on the M16 design, from 24" precision shooter, 20" combat rifle, 16" hunting carbine, to 14.5" M4gery. Narrow down what the target is at the working range, and then drill down the choices by the rule of 85% - go for the better parts that fit the job 85% of the time, and seem to offer 85% of what the best, most expensive choice could be. You get a working rifle that fits almost all of what you plan to do, with great quality, and it won't leave you broke.

Go about it the other way, you get a bunch of uncooperative parts meant for different things that can't work together and do nothing well. Pics of those brag list guns are posted daily. :D
 
16" shoots just as well as 20" for plinking, and there are very few AR-15s that come with barrels longer than 20.

Smith & Wesson M&P-15 is a great gun for the price, and has a 16" barrel.
 
There are currently only two major fondrys for Ar15s in the US. 90% of all parts made come from the Stag Arms Fondry and typically, if you buy a mil spec AR, you will have across the board good luck. It all comes down to the spice that each company adds to their rifle, and the customer service to back it. With the advent of CNC equipment, more companys are starting to make their own small parts.

With that being said, I find that the Mom & Pop AR companies do the best work. The demand lower, and as such the weapons are built with a little more care and attention to detail.

A Few Are:

Spikes Tactical
LMT (lewis machine and tool)
Les Baer
Colt
Spirit Arms
LAR Grizzley
Sabre Defense
Rainer Arms
 
Of those you listed, only really Spikes and maybe Spirit Arms are small time shops.

You could also add LaRue to the list of small shops, but their rifles are quite expensive (but the quality is top notch, and I'd place them above Colt, BCM and others)
 
I was going simply by numbers produced to the civilain market. All the above account for less than 10% of the AR market. BUSHY, STAG, AND DPMS do the most.

My satistics came from the a magazine known as SHOT BUSINESS, that most FFL holders receive every two months or so.
 
I don't know if you're on a budget or not, but spied one of those S&W 'Sport' models last week.

To cut costs, things like the trigger guard, dust cover and forward assist have been omitted. Barrel/chamber isn't chrome lined either.

But for $630, might suit your needs/wants.

 
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