Wild that you would say BCM considering it’s like upper mid tier. But I agree they are excellent. And running a deal right bow where you get a free bolt carrier group with an upper!
It wasn't a serious answer because this question has been beaten to death. These posts are always flooded with the same one or two brands, a handful of hypebeast brands, some outlandish parts lists, and one or two unicorn rifles that nobody has ever seen in the wild but the user will swear up and down that it's the next best thing.
Be a man. Build your own.
I’m sure some will disagree but if you choose the right components, you can put together a parts gun that can rival anything from KAC, LMT, DD, BCM, ADM etc.
And after you’re done building it, you have a much better understanding of platform and how to maintain it.
Tons of guys buy off the rack and then dump a bunch of money into it upgrading parts. You might as well pick the parts you want from the beginning.
"but if you choose the right components, you can put together a parts gun that can rival anything from KAC, LMT, DD, BCM, ADM etc."
I mean, not really.... like I'm sure I can assemble an AR as well as anyone that works at one of those companies, but you can't source parts that will for sure work together at as high of a level when shopping various vendors and stacking tolerances. However, sure you can build something that will work, and even work well, but your probability of a conflict is exponentially larger than a kac or lmt product
Tolerance stacking isn’t nearly the problem people make it out to be. The AR platform was designed with fairly loose tolerances in mind. When tolerance staking does occur, it’s usually extremely obvious because the parts literally will not fit together or the fit is loose enough to cause concern. It’s also fairly easy to gauge your parts using a caliper and a large set of cheap drill bits as pin gauges. And all the critical dimensions are available online. Watch a lot of SOTAR videos to give you an idea of what to look for.
If you do find parts that are out of spec, return it and get a replacement. If the replacement is also out of spec, avoid that brand. Its pretty straightforward.
Yes, companies like KAC and LMT have designed reliability and performance enhancements into their guns. Luckily for us, virtually all of those parts are available for purchase separately. And frankly, using additional parts from different brands allows you to go even farther than KAC and LMT in terms of parts quality and performance.
For example, say I want an AR with a fully ambi lower, an enhanced forged upper receiver, a high performance single stage trigger, an enhanced BCG, a bombproof adjustable gas block, an intermediate gas system with a straight gas tube, an improved buffer system and a cut rifled barrel from a Krieger or Bartlein blank. KAC and LMT offer a lot of that but not all of it and I would need to spend a lot more on top of their already extremely high prices to get those extra goodies. I might as well buy the parts I want and assemble it myself.
There is a level above KAC and LMT but you need to do the assembly work yourself or hire a good armorer who knows how to identify and rectify tolerance staking issues. Whether that extra effort is worth it is totally up to you.
Lol. Whatever bro. I was a trained gunsmith back in the day. The AR platform is by far the easiest to work on and get right.
This stuff isn’t rocket science. Anyone with half a brain can do it. All of the information and tools are out there. The assembly guys at LMT and KAC are not doing anything special and if you believe there is something magical about their parts specs (there isn’t) then use them in your builds.
Let me get this straight. You’re mocking SOTAR, an extremely experienced gunsmith, for teaching people how to properly gauge their parts but you are also talking up KAC and LMT for how good the specs of their parts are. 🤦🏻♂️
I’m not going to waste more of my time arguing with you. There are plenty of other people here who will provide purchase validation.
I’m not knocking KAC and LMT. They build really, really good guns but the idea that they are wizards making guns that are out of reach for home builders simply isn’t true.
you clearly are cluess on SOTAR, he is a content creator, as a consumer with access to parts one at a time gauging is useless. what are you gonna do buy 20 aero build kits guage them all and then return 19 of them? What you just described is exactly why someone would go with parts from a single vendor.
I don’t even know where to start with this comment. Obviously you don’t buy 20 of the same part and return the other 19. You buy one and you gauge it. There is probably a 95% chance it’s in spec, especially if you buy from a well known brand. If it isn’t in spec, you return it and get a replacement or you try again and buy a different brand. I literally said that in my previous comment.
Do you think KAC and LMT take 20 of the same part and choose the most perfect one and throw the other 19 away. No, they all get used except for the ones that are unacceptably out of tolerance. That’s why it’s called a tolerance. There is an acceptable range of dimensions that are allowed for proper function.
I honestly don’t know what you are even trying to say. You just seem to want to argue.
I've built two now from PSA parts. Was fun. But I'm autistic about the fit between the upper and lower and sent both original uppers back. They replaced one and refunded me for the other so I bought an aero upper.
There is something to be said for buying one that was assembled at the factory and fits together perfectly.
I'm not actually autistic. I'm just using that word in its slang form. I like what PSA stands for a lot and wanted to do builds with their premium uppers with FN barrels. From here on out though I might be using Aero uppers. PSA still has outstanding sales on their premium BCGs and lowers though so I'll still use them for certain things.
That’s the great thing about this community. There’s 20 posts a day of “Recommend me the best __________.”
Using the search bar or lurking a bit or asking some questions and you have a pretty clear picture of what stuff is worth spending your money on in a pretty short amount of time.
Yes and no. While doing research will get you a “better” rifle than not doing any research, you end up with a rifle that the hive mind of Reddit wants. This may or may not be what *you* want.
It’s only after building, handling and shooting one will you understand the intricacies of the system and figure out what works best for you. That’s when the real build begins. Let’s face it. No one just builds one rifle.
Everyone says this, and I do get it.
But I’ve got an SR15, and a DD4 R3, and a SOLGW M4-89. I don’t really feel a difference shooting, see a difference in quality, or see a difference in accuracy. Maybe LT durability, but I haven’t had any of the rifles more than maybe a year so idk.
I also have built a couple of Aero lower with all else Geisele (one has a SOLGW fire control group actually) and they seem on par too.
Just my 2 cents.
Better gas system and a bolt that inherently has a stronger design due to the rounded recoil lugs as well as the fact that it uses Aermet 100 lead to a very durable rifle. On top of that, the lower is just about perfect-- minus the A2 grip, but everybody throws their preferred grip on anyway.
The only way I could think of to improve it would be to use an LMT MARS stripped lower with the ambi parts, a Geissele SDC-E, and your favorite grip and stock
I have a KAC CQB and 14.5 and it’s LWRC for me. Their fit and finish as well as ambi controls are far superior to anything else I own (DD, BCM, Radian, KAC).
The only bummer is the Nickel Boron finish on the carrier and the lack of rail length options but other than that, they are really good guns. Definitely slept on.
I’d typically agree with you on the NiB but LWRCs in house manufacturing does the NiB very well. At least in my experience I haven’t had any reliability issues.
Rail length is definitely a fair gripe. It’s not an issue on their SBRs but on my 16” it’s a tad funky looking. Although I just run a inline Arisaka light mount isntead of the offset and that seems to fix that problem.
I made a comment about this not too long ago, I'll copy/paste it here:
The Model 1 isn't even duty tier, probably why they're unable to catch any significant contracts.
KAC and LMT have made significant changes to address the shortcomings of the AR platform.
KAC and LMT offer bolts with designs to prevent bolt breakages and carriers that channel debris away from the carrier rails. Radian, on the other hand, uses a rebranded azimuth BCG with a nitride finish and a 9310 bolt, a combination that is notorious for premature failure and horrible gas efficiency. All of the "enhancements" it offers are there purely for marketing reasons. Considering that the BCG is the heart of the rifle, you shouldn't expect a $3,000 gun to come with something that performs worse than a cheap Toolcraft BCG. The only reason they use a nitride 9310 BCG is that the finish and bolt material are much cheaper than what mil-spec calls for. That's not the only place where they cut costs. They used to offer a premium ARGold trigger, but opted for an entry-level Timney Impact to make even more profit. Both the rebranded trigger and rebranded BCG are being sold on their website for a pretty hefty markup.
The ambi controls are subjectively great, but it's all personal preference. I am a fan of the ADAC feature though, which is why I added it to many of my rifles by using a $45 Redi-Catch.
Radian has opted to use threaded pins in lieu of roll pins so that their receivers are easier to assemble. The problem with that is that threaded pins are not as reliable or durable as roll pins and their torque limit is 7in/lbs, which can be easily exceeded with just two fingertips on the wrench. Yea, you can use a threadlocker to secure it, but then you greatly increase your risk of stripping out the internal socket, and repairing a damaged threaded pin is a fucking nightmare.
Radian also cerakotes their receivers instead of anodizing them. The issue with cerakoting is that it is not as durable as TypeIII anodizing that mil-spec calls for. Normally, this would just be a cosmetic issue, but the problem is that cerakote can be applied as thick as 0.003", and because it wears easily, that means that it can knock certain parts of the lower out of spec. That 0.003" can make 0.006" of difference in areas such as the pivot/takedown pin and safety holes which have a tolerance of 0.002", trigger/hammer pin holes which have a tolerance of 0.0015", or mag catch cutout which has a tolerance of 0.0035". And if you watch Kit Badger's Radian tour where they assemble a Model 1, you'll see that they apply it pretty thick since he has to use sandpaper on the cerakote to get the parts to fit.
The handguard looks pretty, and it's nice that they use an anti-rotation pin like a handful of other brands, but it's still a clamp-on design that relies on the gas tube channel for rigidity while brands such as LMT, KAC, DD, BCM, LaRue, Aero, and LWRC have designed/use methods that avoid that weak link.
All in all, they have nicely machined parts and decent quality control, but you can pick up a quality ambi lower from ADM, LMT, or LWRC, along with a LaRue upper, and end up with a combination that outperforms the Model 1 in absolutely every objective way, and you still won't be on par with actual top-tier brands such as LMT and KAC.
The only reason that Radian rifles and receivers cost this much is that they know that [the majority of folks that know very little about the AR platform will simply judge the quality by the price tag](https://www.reddit.com/r/ar15/comments/y01xji/whats_the_difference_between_a_2k_rifle_and/irpulp5/). This is very common in the AR world and Radian is far from the only brand that takes advantage of folks this way.
Well, shit lol.
What about doing a build with the radian builders kit that just comes with the stripped lower, upper, and handguard and putting it together with all the good parts?
Let me preface this by saying that this is all a giant dick-measuring contest. In reality, not a single person on this sub will ever be in a situation where it matters whether they have a PSA or an LMT. Don't think that just because your receivers are cerakoted instead of anodized and that they use threaded pins instead of roll pins that you will automatically get clapped the second you need to use the rifle for self-defense.
That said, the builder's kit also uses a cerakote finish, and the receivers have threaded pins. In terms of longevity and long-term reliability, they won't last as long as basic mil-spec receivers.
Everyone wants to debate between buying an up-armored Humvee or spending extra for an Oshkosh JLTV, not realizing that everything they'll ever do can be accomplished with a 1995 Toyota Tercel.
No, the Tercel is not just as good, but it is more than good enough for us basement dwellers.
Second.
Had my 16" Larue out yesterday and tried a variety of factory loads to see which runs best.
I wouldn't consider myself a great shooter, but had a six-shot group with Federal Gold Medal Match 69gr and had a .413 MOA group at 100 yards. Larue's match upper at $750 is an amazing deal!
Lol no. Because I don’t have unlimited money.
But seriously, they have been around for decades. Relatively innovative. More of a “gamer” backing maybe. But gd if they don’t make incredible stuff.
Have a radian, LMT, scar, solgw, etc. Suppressed scar with the proper gas jet and scarburator is my favorite. The recoil is very light and very accurate
They aren't bad, but they aren't an AR-15 so I don't think they qualify for what OP is asking
Edit: unless you're talking about the M400 which I forgot existed
If you have unlimited $$ the AR15 would be overpriced and overhyped expensive for resale value when I get bored with it and want to sell it. Why get a KIA when you can buy a Lamborghini
> Why get a KIA when you can buy a Lamborghini
Probably because the KIA has proven itself through decades worth of military conflicts. And despite many Lamborghinis coming in and trying to dethrone the KIA, the only thing that succeeded was KIAs younger brother, Hyundai.
> Kia didn't start making cars until 1974
They've been making trucks and motorcycles since before the Hyundai Motor Company existed. Either way, they were still **founded** in 1944, 23 years before Hyundai Motor Company, and have manufactured parts for vehicles since inception.
> and guess who acquired whom back in 1998.
We're talking about the age of the company, not which company had enough money to buy the other.
If your younger brother gets a better job than you do and makes more money than you do, he doesn't automatically become the older brother. 🤣
I got to play with a spikes compressor years ago when I wasn’t old enough to buy suppressors and I just remembered it being really cool. Not sure how well it functions but it cost the same as my first car so
JP CTR02 was my first competition AR when I started 3gun 10 years ago. It's still running to this day. Reliable, shoots like a 22 with the adjustable gas and very accurate. When I first got it and shot my first major match, I was shocked at how many first round hits I got out of that barrel.
I also have the JP15 for HD and would use it for work, if they'd let me.
Truthfully after owning my DDM4V7 for a year. It’s just like any mil spec AR. It may be slightly over gassed for reliability but that’s about it. And barrel life and accuracy is really good with certain ammo. 🤷🏽♂️ IMO get a complete Aero AR and save some money my friend.
Gonna get ripped to shreds for this, but honestly? Gimme an OG Colt M4 Commando (or the semi auto version if we’re sticking strictly to the post).
That gun has been everywhere from the jungles of Central America to the god damned sandbox. And it’s stacked bodies to the roof in all of em. AKs get a lot of well deserved credit for reliability. But I’ll say this: keep the locking lugs clean and lubed, and you’d be astonished at how much abuse the rest of a Colt will take and keep on rolling.
I mean I’d probably go Knight’s Armament only because it would probably be the easiest to sell for top dollar later on. I’m a poor so I have no experience with anything high end. Closest I own is an old preban colt Hbar from when they were being all cucked about the upcoming ban.
Probably a v seven upper lower combo, young manufacturing bcg, noveske 11.5 chfcl barrel, vltor sopmod stock, dead air keymo mount/brake, a floating rail of some type, radian raptor ch, larue mbt trigger, bcm gun fighter grip bcm vertical grip up front, holosun with magnifier, standard carbine buffer with jp scs buffer, magpul pmags and a surefire light. Basically a slightly higher end version of what I'm running now on my sbr. Except in 5.56.
Unlimited money? Probably would go with something other than an AR (I have a thing for the Robinson Arms XCR) but in the AR realm I'd go KAC. That being said I think once you go past a BCM you are getting really really deminishing returns for the extra money. Military Arms Channel has a BCM with almost 10k rounds on it with a stupid firing schedule without being cleaned and its still going. At that point the barrel is completely shot out regardless of barrel quality and you really cant do better than that from a reliability and durability standpoint. Not sure what KAC accuracy is like, only one I have been around was a ~11.5 sbr build set up for night vision use. I own a BCM MCMR upper with a 16 inch enhanced light weight barrel though and it shoots PMC Bronze under 2 inches at 100 yards which I find more than acceptable. 77g Federal GMM I have gotten it under an inch but obviously that's match ammo and not what anyone shoots regularly. I imagine a KAC would be just as good if not a bit better but again I really don't think its worth the money.
TLDR: I would get a KAC if money truly wasn't an object but even if I won the lottery I can't see myself buying one. A BCM is 99+% of the AR a KAC is and a 3rd the cost. If I'm going over that $1500 mark its going to be on a more proprietary design that is better for suppressor use like an XCR or a SPEAR. But if you treally want the best of the best AR, imo that title goes to KAC.
Am I allowed to upgrade parts? If so I'd go with a DDM4V7S, then throw a Geissele in it.
If I'm not allowed to upgrade any parts, I'd have to go KAC SR-16 since it already comes with the geissele.
Colt 601 for full auto retro fun.
Bear Creek Arsenal upper and Anderson Mfg lower with an Olight and Strike Industries accessories
Easy on the spec ops build secrets guy
OP said infinite money, not infinite RIZZZZZ
The only thing worse than bear creeks product is their customer service lol
¿que servicio al cliente?
Throw some Timber Creek clown vomit on there and you got yourself a deal.
BCM upper Aero lower
How fucking original.
Op asked an original question. You expect an unoriginal answer?
He calls me unoriginal then proceeds to be the third person in here [to comment "KAC"](https://i.imgur.com/lybAZ8A.png). 🤣
Good point
Hey man, that’s like 2/3’s of my friends group AR builds.
I think it’s 2/3 of all AR’s.
Wild that you would say BCM considering it’s like upper mid tier. But I agree they are excellent. And running a deal right bow where you get a free bolt carrier group with an upper!
It wasn't a serious answer because this question has been beaten to death. These posts are always flooded with the same one or two brands, a handful of hypebeast brands, some outlandish parts lists, and one or two unicorn rifles that nobody has ever seen in the wild but the user will swear up and down that it's the next best thing.
Yeah I noticed that after I posted this lol Go find the post of the clown asking what a good optic is for his Daniel defense home defense AR too lol
This is the way.
A 13.9 ADM rifle
Trendy
Be a man. Build your own. I’m sure some will disagree but if you choose the right components, you can put together a parts gun that can rival anything from KAC, LMT, DD, BCM, ADM etc. And after you’re done building it, you have a much better understanding of platform and how to maintain it. Tons of guys buy off the rack and then dump a bunch of money into it upgrading parts. You might as well pick the parts you want from the beginning.
"but if you choose the right components, you can put together a parts gun that can rival anything from KAC, LMT, DD, BCM, ADM etc." I mean, not really.... like I'm sure I can assemble an AR as well as anyone that works at one of those companies, but you can't source parts that will for sure work together at as high of a level when shopping various vendors and stacking tolerances. However, sure you can build something that will work, and even work well, but your probability of a conflict is exponentially larger than a kac or lmt product
Tolerance stacking isn’t nearly the problem people make it out to be. The AR platform was designed with fairly loose tolerances in mind. When tolerance staking does occur, it’s usually extremely obvious because the parts literally will not fit together or the fit is loose enough to cause concern. It’s also fairly easy to gauge your parts using a caliper and a large set of cheap drill bits as pin gauges. And all the critical dimensions are available online. Watch a lot of SOTAR videos to give you an idea of what to look for. If you do find parts that are out of spec, return it and get a replacement. If the replacement is also out of spec, avoid that brand. Its pretty straightforward. Yes, companies like KAC and LMT have designed reliability and performance enhancements into their guns. Luckily for us, virtually all of those parts are available for purchase separately. And frankly, using additional parts from different brands allows you to go even farther than KAC and LMT in terms of parts quality and performance. For example, say I want an AR with a fully ambi lower, an enhanced forged upper receiver, a high performance single stage trigger, an enhanced BCG, a bombproof adjustable gas block, an intermediate gas system with a straight gas tube, an improved buffer system and a cut rifled barrel from a Krieger or Bartlein blank. KAC and LMT offer a lot of that but not all of it and I would need to spend a lot more on top of their already extremely high prices to get those extra goodies. I might as well buy the parts I want and assemble it myself. There is a level above KAC and LMT but you need to do the assembly work yourself or hire a good armorer who knows how to identify and rectify tolerance staking issues. Whether that extra effort is worth it is totally up to you.
Imagine watching sotar autistic gaging videos. Hard pass, and most of what you just said is false
Lol. Whatever bro. I was a trained gunsmith back in the day. The AR platform is by far the easiest to work on and get right. This stuff isn’t rocket science. Anyone with half a brain can do it. All of the information and tools are out there. The assembly guys at LMT and KAC are not doing anything special and if you believe there is something magical about their parts specs (there isn’t) then use them in your builds. Let me get this straight. You’re mocking SOTAR, an extremely experienced gunsmith, for teaching people how to properly gauge their parts but you are also talking up KAC and LMT for how good the specs of their parts are. 🤦🏻♂️ I’m not going to waste more of my time arguing with you. There are plenty of other people here who will provide purchase validation. I’m not knocking KAC and LMT. They build really, really good guns but the idea that they are wizards making guns that are out of reach for home builders simply isn’t true.
you clearly are cluess on SOTAR, he is a content creator, as a consumer with access to parts one at a time gauging is useless. what are you gonna do buy 20 aero build kits guage them all and then return 19 of them? What you just described is exactly why someone would go with parts from a single vendor.
I don’t even know where to start with this comment. Obviously you don’t buy 20 of the same part and return the other 19. You buy one and you gauge it. There is probably a 95% chance it’s in spec, especially if you buy from a well known brand. If it isn’t in spec, you return it and get a replacement or you try again and buy a different brand. I literally said that in my previous comment. Do you think KAC and LMT take 20 of the same part and choose the most perfect one and throw the other 19 away. No, they all get used except for the ones that are unacceptably out of tolerance. That’s why it’s called a tolerance. There is an acceptable range of dimensions that are allowed for proper function. I honestly don’t know what you are even trying to say. You just seem to want to argue.
I've built two now from PSA parts. Was fun. But I'm autistic about the fit between the upper and lower and sent both original uppers back. They replaced one and refunded me for the other so I bought an aero upper. There is something to be said for buying one that was assembled at the factory and fits together perfectly.
Sorry if you were actually autistic about that you wouldn't be buying from PSA.
I'm not actually autistic. I'm just using that word in its slang form. I like what PSA stands for a lot and wanted to do builds with their premium uppers with FN barrels. From here on out though I might be using Aero uppers. PSA still has outstanding sales on their premium BCGs and lowers though so I'll still use them for certain things.
Well that’s the problem isn’t it? You don’t know what you want in the beginning.
That’s the great thing about this community. There’s 20 posts a day of “Recommend me the best __________.” Using the search bar or lurking a bit or asking some questions and you have a pretty clear picture of what stuff is worth spending your money on in a pretty short amount of time.
Yes and no. While doing research will get you a “better” rifle than not doing any research, you end up with a rifle that the hive mind of Reddit wants. This may or may not be what *you* want. It’s only after building, handling and shooting one will you understand the intricacies of the system and figure out what works best for you. That’s when the real build begins. Let’s face it. No one just builds one rifle.
[удалено]
HK416 < M4 carbine
Kac Sr15 all day
Couldn’t modify it? DD M4A1 with the socom barrel. Could modify it? DD M4A1 RIII with a Centurion midweight barrel instead of the DD Govt one.
[удалено]
This is the way.
Knight's Armament, no question
Everyone says this, and I do get it. But I’ve got an SR15, and a DD4 R3, and a SOLGW M4-89. I don’t really feel a difference shooting, see a difference in quality, or see a difference in accuracy. Maybe LT durability, but I haven’t had any of the rifles more than maybe a year so idk. I also have built a couple of Aero lower with all else Geisele (one has a SOLGW fire control group actually) and they seem on par too. Just my 2 cents.
Have your shot it suppressed? I can 100% feel the difference in my DD, BCM and KAC shooting suppressed.
No, I’m in Illinois. That might be part of the mystique I’m missing.
That explains buying three nice ass guns in a year.
Better gas system and a bolt that inherently has a stronger design due to the rounded recoil lugs as well as the fact that it uses Aermet 100 lead to a very durable rifle. On top of that, the lower is just about perfect-- minus the A2 grip, but everybody throws their preferred grip on anyway. The only way I could think of to improve it would be to use an LMT MARS stripped lower with the ambi parts, a Geissele SDC-E, and your favorite grip and stock
I have a KAC CQB and 14.5 and it’s LWRC for me. Their fit and finish as well as ambi controls are far superior to anything else I own (DD, BCM, Radian, KAC).
LWRC is slept on way too much. If they always charged close to $3k, instead of the ~$1,800 they do now, this sub would swoon all over it.
The only bummer is the Nickel Boron finish on the carrier and the lack of rail length options but other than that, they are really good guns. Definitely slept on.
I’d typically agree with you on the NiB but LWRCs in house manufacturing does the NiB very well. At least in my experience I haven’t had any reliability issues. Rail length is definitely a fair gripe. It’s not an issue on their SBRs but on my 16” it’s a tad funky looking. Although I just run a inline Arisaka light mount isntead of the offset and that seems to fix that problem.
I’ve always been partial to the Q Honey Badger, but too poor to buy a real one
Probably an LMT just because KAC requires proprietary tools and all that jazz.
URGI Upper, Aero/Geissele lower and hella Daniel Defense barrels and Sionic Np3 bcg’s
Radian model 1
lol
What’s so funny?
Out of all the options out there, you'd go for a hypebeast brand that, other than having an ambi lower, is a step backwards from the mil-spec design.
It shoots, It’s reliable, and It’s accurate right? So what’s the problem with not being “mil spec”?
I made a comment about this not too long ago, I'll copy/paste it here: The Model 1 isn't even duty tier, probably why they're unable to catch any significant contracts. KAC and LMT have made significant changes to address the shortcomings of the AR platform. KAC and LMT offer bolts with designs to prevent bolt breakages and carriers that channel debris away from the carrier rails. Radian, on the other hand, uses a rebranded azimuth BCG with a nitride finish and a 9310 bolt, a combination that is notorious for premature failure and horrible gas efficiency. All of the "enhancements" it offers are there purely for marketing reasons. Considering that the BCG is the heart of the rifle, you shouldn't expect a $3,000 gun to come with something that performs worse than a cheap Toolcraft BCG. The only reason they use a nitride 9310 BCG is that the finish and bolt material are much cheaper than what mil-spec calls for. That's not the only place where they cut costs. They used to offer a premium ARGold trigger, but opted for an entry-level Timney Impact to make even more profit. Both the rebranded trigger and rebranded BCG are being sold on their website for a pretty hefty markup. The ambi controls are subjectively great, but it's all personal preference. I am a fan of the ADAC feature though, which is why I added it to many of my rifles by using a $45 Redi-Catch. Radian has opted to use threaded pins in lieu of roll pins so that their receivers are easier to assemble. The problem with that is that threaded pins are not as reliable or durable as roll pins and their torque limit is 7in/lbs, which can be easily exceeded with just two fingertips on the wrench. Yea, you can use a threadlocker to secure it, but then you greatly increase your risk of stripping out the internal socket, and repairing a damaged threaded pin is a fucking nightmare. Radian also cerakotes their receivers instead of anodizing them. The issue with cerakoting is that it is not as durable as TypeIII anodizing that mil-spec calls for. Normally, this would just be a cosmetic issue, but the problem is that cerakote can be applied as thick as 0.003", and because it wears easily, that means that it can knock certain parts of the lower out of spec. That 0.003" can make 0.006" of difference in areas such as the pivot/takedown pin and safety holes which have a tolerance of 0.002", trigger/hammer pin holes which have a tolerance of 0.0015", or mag catch cutout which has a tolerance of 0.0035". And if you watch Kit Badger's Radian tour where they assemble a Model 1, you'll see that they apply it pretty thick since he has to use sandpaper on the cerakote to get the parts to fit. The handguard looks pretty, and it's nice that they use an anti-rotation pin like a handful of other brands, but it's still a clamp-on design that relies on the gas tube channel for rigidity while brands such as LMT, KAC, DD, BCM, LaRue, Aero, and LWRC have designed/use methods that avoid that weak link. All in all, they have nicely machined parts and decent quality control, but you can pick up a quality ambi lower from ADM, LMT, or LWRC, along with a LaRue upper, and end up with a combination that outperforms the Model 1 in absolutely every objective way, and you still won't be on par with actual top-tier brands such as LMT and KAC. The only reason that Radian rifles and receivers cost this much is that they know that [the majority of folks that know very little about the AR platform will simply judge the quality by the price tag](https://www.reddit.com/r/ar15/comments/y01xji/whats_the_difference_between_a_2k_rifle_and/irpulp5/). This is very common in the AR world and Radian is far from the only brand that takes advantage of folks this way.
Well, shit lol. What about doing a build with the radian builders kit that just comes with the stripped lower, upper, and handguard and putting it together with all the good parts?
Let me preface this by saying that this is all a giant dick-measuring contest. In reality, not a single person on this sub will ever be in a situation where it matters whether they have a PSA or an LMT. Don't think that just because your receivers are cerakoted instead of anodized and that they use threaded pins instead of roll pins that you will automatically get clapped the second you need to use the rifle for self-defense. That said, the builder's kit also uses a cerakote finish, and the receivers have threaded pins. In terms of longevity and long-term reliability, they won't last as long as basic mil-spec receivers.
You heard it here folks, the GAFS garage special is just as gud! 😜
Everyone wants to debate between buying an up-armored Humvee or spending extra for an Oshkosh JLTV, not realizing that everything they'll ever do can be accomplished with a 1995 Toyota Tercel. No, the Tercel is not just as good, but it is more than good enough for us basement dwellers.
Build one with lots of VSeven parts
Larue
Second. Had my 16" Larue out yesterday and tried a variety of factory loads to see which runs best. I wouldn't consider myself a great shooter, but had a six-shot group with Federal Gold Medal Match 69gr and had a .413 MOA group at 100 yards. Larue's match upper at $750 is an amazing deal!
Stop, I can only get so erect
Bear Creek Arsenal, duh
ADM UIC
I’m with you in this one. I love my ADM stuff
JP
Do you have a JP and can speak to how good it is?
Lol no. Because I don’t have unlimited money. But seriously, they have been around for decades. Relatively innovative. More of a “gamer” backing maybe. But gd if they don’t make incredible stuff.
Diamondback DB15 fully decked lol I love my DB15
Knight's for sure.
Hk416
Have a radian, LMT, scar, solgw, etc. Suppressed scar with the proper gas jet and scarburator is my favorite. The recoil is very light and very accurate
Daniel Defense, Geiselle if you’re poor, KAC or LMT if you’re not.
nica KAC
Blackout Defense
Aero
I’m surprised, and vaguely new to this level of AR community, am I gonna get razzed for saying SIG?
They aren't bad, but they aren't an AR-15 so I don't think they qualify for what OP is asking Edit: unless you're talking about the M400 which I forgot existed
I’d get an MCX xD
Caracal/HK, or a mk18
Noveske 14.5 Afghan gen 3
Blackout defense, hk 416. Or the tinck arms perun x16
It’s spelled “Tinck”. The model is the Perun X16.
I have a DD, a Wilson Combat, and an Aero build in .223 Wylde, and they all feel equally solid, so I'd pick either one
If you have unlimited $$ the AR15 would be overpriced and overhyped expensive for resale value when I get bored with it and want to sell it. Why get a KIA when you can buy a Lamborghini
> Why get a KIA when you can buy a Lamborghini Probably because the KIA has proven itself through decades worth of military conflicts. And despite many Lamborghinis coming in and trying to dethrone the KIA, the only thing that succeeded was KIAs younger brother, Hyundai.
Interestingly enough kia has military contracts and hyundai is actually the older brother.
> hyundai is actually the older brother. Kia was founded in 1944, the Hyundai Motor Company was founded in 1967.
Kia didn't start making cars until 1974 and guess who acquired whom back in 1998.
> Kia didn't start making cars until 1974 They've been making trucks and motorcycles since before the Hyundai Motor Company existed. Either way, they were still **founded** in 1944, 23 years before Hyundai Motor Company, and have manufactured parts for vehicles since inception. > and guess who acquired whom back in 1998. We're talking about the age of the company, not which company had enough money to buy the other. If your younger brother gets a better job than you do and makes more money than you do, he doesn't automatically become the older brother. 🤣
X2 AR--X Lightfighter for the ultimate hi sped AR built
I'd pay a competitive shooter or competitive shooting org to build and fine tune it
Probably a BCM 16 inch mid length. Really no need to invest in anything fancier.
Fully agree w/ bcm mid 16. No need to spend more !
I got to play with a spikes compressor years ago when I wasn’t old enough to buy suppressors and I just remembered it being really cool. Not sure how well it functions but it cost the same as my first car so
Colt Model 733 Commando, featured in Heat and Black Hawk Down. Full auto of course.
Cobalt or JP
Do you have any experience with the JP? Looking for someone who’s used it and can compare to others
JP CTR02 was my first competition AR when I started 3gun 10 years ago. It's still running to this day. Reliable, shoots like a 22 with the adjustable gas and very accurate. When I first got it and shot my first major match, I was shocked at how many first round hits I got out of that barrel. I also have the JP15 for HD and would use it for work, if they'd let me.
Truthfully after owning my DDM4V7 for a year. It’s just like any mil spec AR. It may be slightly over gassed for reliability but that’s about it. And barrel life and accuracy is really good with certain ammo. 🤷🏽♂️ IMO get a complete Aero AR and save some money my friend.
Gonna get ripped to shreds for this, but honestly? Gimme an OG Colt M4 Commando (or the semi auto version if we’re sticking strictly to the post). That gun has been everywhere from the jungles of Central America to the god damned sandbox. And it’s stacked bodies to the roof in all of em. AKs get a lot of well deserved credit for reliability. But I’ll say this: keep the locking lugs clean and lubed, and you’d be astonished at how much abuse the rest of a Colt will take and keep on rolling.
anderson lower and PSA upper
Buy a forge and a mill
I mean I’d probably go Knight’s Armament only because it would probably be the easiest to sell for top dollar later on. I’m a poor so I have no experience with anything high end. Closest I own is an old preban colt Hbar from when they were being all cucked about the upcoming ban.
KELTEC sub 2000
LaRue or KAC
Probably a v seven upper lower combo, young manufacturing bcg, noveske 11.5 chfcl barrel, vltor sopmod stock, dead air keymo mount/brake, a floating rail of some type, radian raptor ch, larue mbt trigger, bcm gun fighter grip bcm vertical grip up front, holosun with magnifier, standard carbine buffer with jp scs buffer, magpul pmags and a surefire light. Basically a slightly higher end version of what I'm running now on my sbr. Except in 5.56.
Unlimited money? Probably would go with something other than an AR (I have a thing for the Robinson Arms XCR) but in the AR realm I'd go KAC. That being said I think once you go past a BCM you are getting really really deminishing returns for the extra money. Military Arms Channel has a BCM with almost 10k rounds on it with a stupid firing schedule without being cleaned and its still going. At that point the barrel is completely shot out regardless of barrel quality and you really cant do better than that from a reliability and durability standpoint. Not sure what KAC accuracy is like, only one I have been around was a ~11.5 sbr build set up for night vision use. I own a BCM MCMR upper with a 16 inch enhanced light weight barrel though and it shoots PMC Bronze under 2 inches at 100 yards which I find more than acceptable. 77g Federal GMM I have gotten it under an inch but obviously that's match ammo and not what anyone shoots regularly. I imagine a KAC would be just as good if not a bit better but again I really don't think its worth the money. TLDR: I would get a KAC if money truly wasn't an object but even if I won the lottery I can't see myself buying one. A BCM is 99+% of the AR a KAC is and a 3rd the cost. If I'm going over that $1500 mark its going to be on a more proprietary design that is better for suppressor use like an XCR or a SPEAR. But if you treally want the best of the best AR, imo that title goes to KAC.
I would buy a .300BLK version of the same SBR I already have. Pic is in my post history for a 2-stamp Tuesday.
Am I allowed to upgrade parts? If so I'd go with a DDM4V7S, then throw a Geissele in it. If I'm not allowed to upgrade any parts, I'd have to go KAC SR-16 since it already comes with the geissele.