Most reliable type of AR?

C

checkmyswag

New member
I don't mean brand, but style.

I don't know all the different types.

My experience is with the M16A2 and M4, so I started off considering getting on of these.

I have been searching for a relatively compact, lightweight high capacity rifle.

I have looked at the
Mini 14/30- like the price of used ones, don't like the fit/feel/accuracy
AK series- like the reliability, don't care for the fit/finish or accuracy

So that brings me back to the AR! The AR price is ok, not great. The accuracy is great and I am very familiar with the weapon. Reliability I have always found pretty good unless they are very dirty.

So which AR model type is the most reliable? The long barreled? I've read about piston vs gas driven (not familiar with this difference honestly).

What configuration is best in terms of sights/stocks/barrel?

Specific AR suggestions?
 
Much of it depends on what you are going to do with it... your sights/stock/barrel choices will be driven largely by your purpose. :D
 
I agree with Charlie. There are so many options out there. Trust me I just built my first. At least I consider it finished for now. Knowing what it's primary purpose will be is really the first step. Then that helps you make choices about uppers, lowers, in betweens etc. And helps us give our opinions on what works and what doesn't.
 
I have been searching for a relatively compact, lightweight high capacity rifle.
Click to expand...

I had sort of the same requirement for my last AR... to that end I got a stripped lower and built that the way I wanted it, and then ordered a completed upper from RRA exactly the way I wanted. There is no way I could have found this exact rifle on a shelf anywhere, and I didn't want to compromise and get almost what I wanted.

For your needs... 'compact and lightweight'... that says 16" barrel. My one little nugget of advise would be get at least a mid-length gas system (or even a full length 'dissapator' system) over the short M-4 gas system.

I can't comment on the piston systems... they are intriguing but I believe they are all proprietary to each maker... you better get some extra parts while you are at it, just in case! The piston systems are a bit heavier, from what I understand, so that gets away from your 'lightweight.'
 
The answer is a mid length gas system, not sure if they come in a 16 or 18 inch barrel.

I use a 16 inch carbine system and have no problems as far as reliability, just don't use junk ammo.

Jim
 
Most reliable? Full length gas systems. I too cut my teeth on the M16A2 and then transitioned to the M4. The full length rifle gas system is the most reliable in my experience. I know SF was having problems with their short barreled 11 inchers on the dedicated CQB rifles.

Now, is it enough to matter? Not really, just maintain a carbine length rifle and it will be fine.

Jimro
 
The answer is a mid length gas system, not sure if they come in a 16 or 18 inch barrel.
Click to expand...
Yes, mid length gas systems come in 16" and 18" barrels. My 16" chrome lined RRA middy has been great and when I had Adco reprofile the HBAR barrel to lightweight, I also had Steve shorten the barrel to 14.7" and pin on an A2 FH to keep it legal. Cut 1.5 lbs off of the barrel weight.

Barrel / rifle before:

16HBAR.jpg


100_1762.jpg


Barrel / rifle after:

100_1783.jpg


DSCN2790.jpg


All told, my middy now weighs over 2.5 lbs less than before, runs like a clock, and is much more compact and manageable.
 
The black one with the barrel shroud thingy. :D

If you buy a decent quality AR from a dcent quality manufacture you will be fine. Or if you build an AR from decent quality parts you will be fine. Not many civilian shooters are going to put an AR what we put them through in the military. I have had M-16 so hot that the hand-guards were starting to smoke
 
hmmm...

Steve,

Shortening the barrel on your middy will actually decrease the gas pressure returned through the tube to the carrier resulting in a greater chance of giving you cycling issues. If you were going to shorten it you would have been better off having a carbine length gas system.

Someone recently posted a chart on here comparing the pressure returned through the gas tube to the carrier in a direct impingement system. I can't seem to find it right now but as they say pictures are worth a thousand words. Essentially, the distance between the gas block and the muzzle has the greatest effect on the amount of pressure that makes it back down the tube.

BTW - I like the look of MOE forearm on you RRA.
 
Since we are throwing pictures out there...

My AR with the RRA 16" middy upper...

LRB011.jpg


No one feeding issue in about 500 rounds.
 
I don't know all the proper terms for the different types of AR s. I like the 16" barrel w collapsible stock. Additionally I like the option of having sights or a scope. I want to spend no more than $800.

Suggestions?
 
Do you want the right answer? If you can get through 1000 rounds with any brand, then it should finally start being reliable. My experience has been that it doesn't really matter what brand you are shooting. What seems to matter the most is how a well made rifle is broken in. Even some of the high dollar guns need to be broken in before they will be reliable.
 
I don't know all the proper terms for the different types of AR s. I like the 16" barrel w collapsible stock. Additionally I like the option of having sights or a scope. I want to spend no more than $800.

Suggestions?
 
a lot of guys who've never shot them will tell you that you need a 24" bull barrel, freefloat handguard, 3 pound $3000 scope, fixed stock with adjustable cheek pads and a match grade trigger to be anywhere near accurate.
my DPMS sportical with is considered by many to be the lowest of the low gets subMOA groups at 200 yards with a cheap Nikon scope slapped on top.

So which AR model type is the most reliable? I would have to say that they are all equally reliable, different twist rates in the barrel are going to make or break accuracy with different bullet weights
The long barreled? longer barrels will add some accuracy but unless you are using iron sites it's going to be a minimal difference since the actual difference in accuracy is the distance between the front and rear sights, if you're using a red dot or scope it's going to be probably a 1/8 MOA(if that) difference.


What configuration is best in terms of sight? as stated above if you're using iron sights I would say that the 20" configuration would probably give the best in terms of sights since I believe that the 24 inch barrels still use the rifle length gas blocks/front sights.


stocks? I personally use a m4 style 6 slot telescoping stock and it's plenty stable for plinking and hunting, I'm too poor of shot to venture beyond 300 yards and I dont know what kind of shooting you are looking for so as far as long rage application I cant comment


barrel? as stated barrel twist will be a bigger factor than barrel length as far as accuracy and you only need a chrome lined barrel if you are shoot large amounts of ammo in short amounts of time or if you are shooting corrosive ammo.
as for piston systems you need to adjust for different ammo pressures so unless you dial them in for a certain round and then never use a different kind or unless you keep a pressure journal it's a pain in the rear as far as reliability goes and the only reason for needing a piston system is if you are shooting thousands of rounds in a single sitting.

my exact setup is a DPMS sportical, 16" barrel, M4 stock, badger ordnance free float hand guard(design currently being revamped) and for optics I have a nikon prostaff 3x9x40 BDC scope. it is a fine weapon and despite all of his whining while helping me build it, my brother steals it every year for deer season.
 
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