Any brands to specifically avoid?

[Rhino0427]

A buddy of mine who is buying his first AR asked my this question and I realized I'd never really thought of it that way. I'd always judged varying degrees of quality and went after what I wanted instead of trying to figure out what to avoid. With that said, I told him the brands that I respected (Colt, BCM, Fulton, Springfield, etc), but didn't have a concrete example of any brands that were "bad".

I realize this may be subjective, but can I get some feedback for him on which manufacturers are to be avoided based on your experience?

Thanks (and please be nice to each other-this isn't intended to rile up the partisans)

[DSB OUTDOORS]

Right now with the buying, any brand is a good one. For the right price. Colt. DPMS, Bushmaster, Armalite, Alexander Arms, Stag Arms, etc. Great fire arms! All great fire arms!!

[MarkCO]

In general, I tell people to avoid billet receivers. More expensive, more weight, no more perfromance. I'd also avoid all of the polymer lowers. Cav Arms made good ones and they are good for a 3rd or 4th AR, but I'd still steer clear on the first. Also on a first, I would avoid anything proprietary or unique that can not be swapped out and changed or put on another AR.

Part of the "scare" may be related to customer service, parts availability etc, so the more basic and mil-spec that first AR is, the better the chance of keeping it running for 30 years. For that reason, you may want to steer him towards companies whose plants are not in the blue states. If some NY gun CO decides to move, that will put a severe crimp in their customer service for a while. Other than the BCG, barrel, barrel nut and receivers, you can find everything else at the local Fastenal or even ACE, but most are going to be better served getting factory service if something breaks. Because I shoot 3Gun and they support 3Gun matches, I would look at Bushmaster, S&W, Stag, Colt. If your buddy wants to get serious, look at a JP, Noveske or Firebird complete rifle.

I have recomended to several folks buy either lower receivers or complete lowers and then wait until the panic dies down to pick up uppers and or LPKs when people try to dump them and or the inventory catches back up. Realize that SHOT is going on now and form what I am hearing, the buying is stil pretty crazy by the dealers. The dealers who made a ton of money and are after even more...some will overbuy and if patient (with lower in hand) one may be able to avoid getting caught without while still getting a quality AR in a month or two.

I have had several major suppliers tell me that they expect product to be back in stock in Feb and March. Now, if Obummer sets of a new panic wave tomorrow...it will sell fast.

[Goodburbon]

Olympic

[Dalendenver]

Model 1. A couple of small makers that do quality product are ARPerformance and Bison Armory. If you are looking at 6.8 SPC especially, look at these two and Wilson Combat. They also do excellent 5.56.

[coloradocad]

Aero precision makes awesome stuff. I build and they are great quality uppers and lowers.

[jmg8550]

Stay away from blackthorne.

[timmyp30]

not a big fan of DPMS. May just be my experience.

[MarkCO]

Aero precision makes awesome stuff. I build and they are great quality uppers and lowers.

However, they are not filling standing orders to distributors while selling production off their website at above their normal retail. I consider that unethical so I will not use their parts. I don't care what they charge anyone, but bypassing old orders for new ones at higher prices is not cool.