One thing I’ve been asked quite a few times is “What’s the best AR rifle at X price point?”. And right out the gate I’m going to say this is very subjective, so if you ask someone else you’re likely to get a different list, but these are my favorite ARs at these various price points.
Most people don’t know how to judge the difference between ARs, all they know is they’re black, or brown and this one feels heavier than that one, and this handguard feels smother than that one. However there are several factors to consider, the most important thing to consider is purpose. The main two things you gain with a higher price point is accuracy and durability. Do you need to shoot 1 moa? Do you need a rifle that can fall from a helicopter and not skip a beat? Maybe!
Some Quick Definitions & Things to Look For
Cold Hammer Forged Barrel – Smooth barrel surfaces, accuracy and durability
Chrome Lined Barrel – Corrosion resistance, reduces throat erosion and keeps barrels accurate longer, maybe 20,000 rounds
Gas Length – Carbine-Length vs Mid-Length, all things being equal, I favor the mid-length for 16″ barrels, mostly due to dwell time & lower port pressure
Furniture – The grip, stock & handguard. I lean heavily towards Magpul, B5 & BCM. What I really look for in a grip is vertical positioning (Not the A2 style), a stock that has enough surface area to allow a consistent cheek weld, and a handguard with Mlok at 3, 6 & 9 o’clock.
Twist Rate – 1:7, 1:8 & 1:9 are the most common. The 1:9 are good for lighter projectiles, say 50-55 grain, the 1:8 is quite versatile and kind of do it all but seems to really like 62 grain, and the 1:7 is best suited for heavier grains in the 70’s.
Least expensive w/ no building
One of the easiest ways to get a budget rifle without having to build it from the ground up is to go to either Palmetto State Armory or Bear Creek Arsenal and buy a complete upper & complete lower. Today, as of writing this you can pick up a PSA Complete Lower ($139) & PSA Complete Upper ($299) for under $440 and that’s with Magpul furniture. You can also get a BCA Complete Lower ($169) & BCA Complete Upper ($249) for under $370.
SIDE NOTE: the PSA rifle components are BLEM, which means there’s something visually wrong with them but they are functionally fine. I’m a big fan of BLEM guns, because it encourages me to get out some rattle can paint and have some fun with my rifle. But the most notable difference between the PSA & BCA is that the PSA has a fixed front site and MBUS rear sight and the BCA has a full front rail with no sights. So let that factor into your decision making. Both the rifles I linked to have a mid-length gas system.
Under $700 – Radical Firearms
Radical Firearms makes a great budget rifle! Today you can go on PrimaryArms.com and get a Radical Firearms AR-15 for $549.99. That’s $150 below the $700 price point, and I would still happily run it, over any other $700 AR out there, if I’m being fully honest I’m going to stay with Radical well into the $800’s. One thing I love about Radical is they’re still a relatively small company (kind of), and it seems like they take more care in the products they put out, instead of just trying to put out massive amounts of firearms and then depending on name recognition to sell them. Also, the $550 Radical comes with B5 furniture, which is one of my favorites, I put them right there with Magpul and sometimes I favor the B5. So IMO, you can’t go wrong with this Radical AR.
Side Note: A lot of people want to put the Smith & Wesson M&P Sport II as the lead at the $700 price point but not me. By all means take a look at it and compare it to the Radical for yourself. I’ve had my hands on both, I’ve shot both, I have nothing bad to say about either, except that personally, I’d get the Radical every time.
Under $1,000 – IWI
I’m a fan of IWI. I really like the IWI Zion-15 pistol if you’re looking for an AR pistol. IWI stands for Israel Weapons Industries but this rifle is made in Middletown, Pennsylvania. The IWI Zion-15 can currently be had on the Palmetto State Armory website for $829. Just type “IWI Zion-15 Review” into your favorite search engine to see what the “experts” are saying.
Under $1,500 – Bravo Company
The Bravo Company Recce-16 is one of the more challenging rifles on this list to actually get, and that should tell you something. If you’re lucky, one can be had for $1,299 at Primary Arms. But they are often out of stock. That’s not a bad price considering the quality, durability and reputation that BCM has built up over the years. IMO you can never go wrong with a Bravo Company Rifle.
Under $2,000 – Daniel Defense
The Daniel Defense DDM4V7 is my clear winner in the under or ever $2000 price point. I just don’t see much, or anything really gained in over the $2,000 price point that isn’t just based on rarity or visuals. So the DDM4V7 is my top of the line AR. This rifle is priced at $1,798 and it’s a great value at that price point. DD has different variants including the pro model, and they’re all rather fabulous, so do some reading before you make your purchase. I don’t a DD, but I have shot several DD’s and I have loved them all. If I were to deploy, and had to put my life behind 1 rifle, I would happily put it behind a Daniel Defense.
Honorable Mentions
Prices are reflective of the price when this article was written.