quote:

Why do you not recommend these for HD?

Don’t get me wrong, I have absolutely nothing against any of them. I like my PSA rifle a great deal and when it was the best I could afford I happily placed my trust in it. Likewise, the Ruger and S&W are nice rifles and if they had been around when I needed an affordable choice I would have gone with either of them. Also, I didn’t say anything about home defense. Instead, when I said "pear shaped" I meant societal unrest, zombie apocalypse, coronal mass ejection, aliens have landed with a book titled How To Serve Man, etc etc.

If I wake up tomorrow and find that Clinton has assumed the throne it won’t be the PSA that I have in mind.

Likewise, if I ever find myself watching as a horde of zombies stumble towards me and the guy next to me has a Ruger I promise I won’t so much as raise an eyebrow

quote:

Originally posted by Bob RI:

quote:

Originally posted by 2Adefender:

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
Take a look at Aero Precision

I’ll second that recommendation. Brownell’s has them on sale every so often.

I’ll third that...mine has been excellent overall.

I'll fourth this. I put together an AR for a friend and used an Aero upper. Excellent build quality and accuracy.

quote:

Originally posted by Sig209:
Would not hesitate to buy a Windham.

---------------------------

I'll second that.

Windham

If you're wondering what's inside of the PSA AR (LPK)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfS8PFNR1PY

Aero Precision...LPK

https://aeroprecisionusa.com/ar15-standard-lpk.html

quote:

Originally posted by David W:
If a rifle is going to be HD why not spend a little more on a KAC, Colt, Daniel Defence, LMT, or BCM?

Higher cost doesn't guarantee better reliability/durability.

Smith & Wesson, lifetime warranty. Good customer service.

Colt LE6920 will always be the standard for AR15, it may not be the prettiest or follow the latest trends, but has quality where it counts for function and reliability. It also holds the most value when AR prices go down and increases the most in value when prices are up. You can probably find them now for about $750 if you look hard enough. Waiting around for holiday sales could knock another $50 off. If I could swing it, the Colt would be my first choice.

My second budget choice would be Aero Precision AC-15 Mid-length from Brownells for $630. Wait for the 10% coupon codes that come out every other week or so with free shipping for a price under $560.

My third choice would be Smith & Wesson M&P 15 Sport II for $469.

quote:

Originally posted by pessimist:

quote:

Originally posted by Sig209:
Would not hesitate to buy a Windham.

---------------------------

I'll second that.

... +3.

Given that I was learning the AR platform, the WW SRC did all asked of it, at the range.

I do share a similar view of other manufacturers for HD reliance.

A KAC or Colt would be next for me.

I think BCM has lost their cachet.For what they charge for a upper AND A BOLT CARRIER, YOU CAN NOW BUY A DECENT RIFLE

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
Take a look at Aero Precision

+1

Very solid for the money, good nitrided barrels, and lots of nice free-float handguard options too.

I would start here if I started over...

quote:

Originally posted by blasto:
I think BCM has lost their cachet.For what they charge for a upper AND A BOLT CARRIER, YOU CAN NOW BUY A DECENT RIFLE

Yeah, they aren't cheap but market forces have yet to push their prices lower or go back to giving free BCGs with uppers.

So someone appears to be buying them.

quote:

Originally posted by cjevans:

quote:

Originally posted by pessimist:

quote:

Originally posted by Sig209:
Would not hesitate to buy a Windham.

---------------------------

I'll second that.

... +3.

Given that I was learning the AR platform, the WW SRC did all asked of it, at the range.

I do share a similar view of other manufacturers for HD reliance.

A KAC or Colt would be next for me.

+4 for the Windham. I have also had a good experience with the S&W Sport II and the Sig M400. For a little extra, the Colt 6920 is hard to beat.

I've been very pleased with both my S&W M&P-15 and my Ruger AR-556.

Hickok45 did a nice test of both on his Youtube channel.

As for PSA, I've built three with friends and neighbors and have found they're decent if you get the PSA (not PTAC).

Bud's has the Ruger and the S&W M&P Sport II on sale for about $499, and the PSA build (assuming you do a daily deal) would be about $299-$350 and a PSA lower is about $40 for a total of $400.

We had some Windhams at work and they were also quite good, but I don't own one and it's been several years since I looked at them. Glad to hear they're still good.

I've got a rifle built around a PSA bolt, bolt carrier, and barrel that I would not hesitate to pick up for a sticky situation.

If I had to settle for $500 it would be a smith. I'd hold out for a colt around $800 if possible though.

We have Windham Weaponry MPCs at work and they have held up very well.

On the budget side I'd recommend looking at the S&W Sport model. The late Pat Rogers of EAG Tactical (a know gun breaker) often remarked in his writings that the S&W Sports did very well in class and did not exhibit the issues that other mid to budget range guns did.

As alternates to the Sport, I'd look at another STAG or a STAG plus or possibly Aero Precision (I've used Aero lowers and a BA barrel and liked them).

Or if you can save up the money I'd look at the Colt Trooper, 6920 or 6720. While Colt's stock has fallen in some circles and they've hade a few mistakes as of late, they still make a decent rifle and their prices have fallen to the reasonable range on some models.

Around here, the best deals going have been on the Smith & Wesson, M&P Sport II from $499 up to about $550.

I've shot one; the gun is really nice, but the trigger needs some work. An ALG ACT trigger at one of their sales is only around $60, and that will clean up the pull nicely.

DPMS Panther Oracle $389. I have a few friends with one and they are very happy with them.

https://grabagun.com/dpms-pant...mpaign=Daily%20Email

You cannot go wrong with PSA, and their Daily Deal emails are dangerous. Dangerous, I say!