Best AR-15: Black Rifle Guide

The rifle market in the United States has been completely dominated by AR15 and AR15-type rifles (including the troubled AR pistol) for decades, almost since Gene Stoner – may he sit at the right hand of God – developed it. There is a reason AR owners refer to the AR15 rifle as “America’s Rifle”; and why they’re not joking. As long guns go, it’s virtually ubiquitous. There are literally millions available.

They come in an exhaustive array of configurations for a wide range of purposes.  And they’re built by many very good manufacturers (when not built or assembled at home). So how does one choose the best AR-15? 

You don’t, not the way you’re thinking. Read on. Travis Pike and I will explain.

Why the AR 15?

Why would you consider an AR15 platform for your rifle? There are several answers to that. We could point out their availability at every price point, discuss the potential for individualization, or even the existence of niche versions like bolt action and pump action models.

But the best way to explain it is to examine it in a vacuum. Price and modularity matter, sure, but the rifle itself is outstanding. It’s a simple, lightweight, ergonomic firearm that anyone can use. By and large, they are extremely reliable and accurate enough to hit targets out to 500 yards or more relatively easily – if the shooter does their part.

This isn’t to downplay the desirability of other long guns – the Right Arm of the Free World (FN FAL), lever guns, and US-built AKs all have much to recommend them, too. It’s just that, all things being equal, an AR15 is simply the best overall semi-automatic everyman rifle platform on the market. 

⚠️AR15s, and to a lesser extent AR10s and AR9 PCCs, are also referred to as black rifles, ARs, and Modern Sporting Rifles (MSR). I won’t use the latter term because I think it’s ignorant and short-sighted.

Styles of AR15: Intended Uses

“Like the Swiss Army Knife, the popular AR-15 rifle is a perfect combination of home defense weapon and homeland defense equipment. Good for both home and battle, the AR-15 is the kind of versatile gun that lies at the intersection of the kinds of firearms protected under District of Columbia v. Heller, 554 U.S. 570 (2008) and United States v. Miller, 307 U.S. 174 (1939).” Judge Roger Benitez

Possible uses of the AR15 can be generally categorized as follows.

Home Defense – Here’s an interesting fact. Approximately 100% of home invasions occur in someone’s home. Hearth and home (in the context of the Second Amendment) is the first, best reason for private ownership of an AR. Compared to a shotgun or pistol, I would argue that an AR or PCC are the best home defense weapon options (though many firearms have performed admirably in this capacity.

Duty – Duty means police, military, and security use of an AR, of course, but also hunters working to eradicate feral hogs, even the National Forest Service. These roles often require hard use under nasty conditions.

Competitive Shooting – There aren’t any lives on the line here, but you still want a gun that runs well (and reliably!). Quality matters whether you’re competing recreationally or your livelihood depends on it. Budgets in this category generally go higher than all the others.  

Hunting – It’s surprising to some, but a rifle meant for hunting animals is often configured far differently than one intended for defensive use. A duty, competition, or defensive rifle will certainly drop a deer or a pig, but a weapon built and/or equipped specifically for hunting will be more effective.

So while it’s hard to label any one make or model AR-15 as the best, we’ve done our best to assemble a general list of some representative best black rifles within several price brackets.

BEST AR-15s

Best AR-15

Best premium AR Knight’s SR-15 MOD 2		E3 bolt design URX 4 M-LOK rail 16-inch barrel	Check Price
Best high-end AR Daniel Defense DDM4V7		Cold hammer-forged barrel MFR 15.0 rail Improved flash suppressor	Check price
Alternate high-end KE Arms WWSD Rifle		Awesome backstory Extremely light build Monolithic polymer lower	Check price
Alternate premium JP Enterprises JP5		9mm pistol caliber carbine Roller-delayed  Competition-ready	Check Price
Best mid-range Colt LE6920		Closest to military grade M4 on the market Affordable Proven across the globe	Check Price
Best bridge AR MARS-L		Advanced ambidextrous lower  True monolithic upper receiver Adopted by the NZ Defense Force Excellent bridge between high-end and premium	Check Price
Alternate mid-range Aero Precision M4E1		Advanced lower receivers Comes in various calibers, colors, and sizes Easy to build	Check Price
Best budget-conscious S&W M&P Sport II		Reliable, budget grade option Lacks anything fancy Great warranty	Check Price
Alternate budget-conscious Ruger AR 556		Good baseline ~sub-$1000 AR Solid and reliable Built by a company with proven track record	Check price
Best entry level Radical Firearms RF-15		Hands down best base level rifle Preferred by editor over many mid-range and high-end guns Solid and reliable; great “starter” rifle Built by a company with proven track record	Check price
Best for interstate travel Fightlite SCR		50 State Legal  Unique design Accepts AR anything Mid-range cost	Check Price

List of the Best AR15s:

1. Knight’s SR-15 MOD 2 
2. Daniel Defense DDM4 v7
3. KE Arms WWSD Rifle
4. JP Enterprises JP5
5. Colt LE6920
6. LMT Defense MARS-L
7. Aero Precision M4E1
8. S&W MP15 Sport II
9. Ruger AR 556
10. Radical Firearms RF15
11. Fightlite SCR

About the AR15: History

History of the AR15

The AR15 is a direct descendent of Gene Stoner’s ArmaLite Rifle AR-10. Stone was the Chief Engineer for ArmaLite, which was then a division of the Fairchild Engine Corporation. The initial AR10 model was completed in the mid-1950s, but for various reasons (some shady) was passed over a couple of years later by the M14 as the Army’s new service rifle.

What Does AR Stand For?

This is the obligatory what does AR stand for in AR-15? part of the article.

Although explaining this gets old, some misinformation never seems to go away. The AR in AR15 stands for ArmaLite Rifle. Colloquially and unofficially, it is referred to as America’s Rifle. It does not now nor has it ever stood for “Assault Rifle” or “Automatic Rifle.”

The need to make that distinction might seem pedantic, and sometimes it is, but a general understanding of the fundamentals and how something works is never a Bad Thing. You don’t need to be a specialty mechanic to know whether you’re driving a 4-, 6-, or 8-cylinder vehicle. Or how much air should generally be in your tires.

Also, guns are divisive, black rifles more than all the others. None of that is likely to change. It’s good for you and all of us who own guns if you are informed and can intelligently discuss your semi-automatic, not automatic, rifle or carbine.

Called to Service

Even as the M14 was taking the field, many in the DoD were agitating for a transition to smaller, faster calibers in the .22 family. As a result of this push, Stoner modified the AR10, switching it from the 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge to 5.56x45mm NATO; this latter round was a close cousin of the .223 REM cartridge. He then put the weapon in front of the US Continental Army Command for evaluation.

That modified weapon was the original AR-15.

Much drama ensued (too much to detail in this article). Ultimately, thanks in no small part to Generals Willard G. Wyman and Curtis LeMay, the DoD adopted the AR15 as the official replacement for the M14.

It was then designated the M16.

The “AR” firearms subsequently used by the DoD weren’t, for the most part, AR15s. They were classified as M16s or M16 variants…but only ~mostly. The actual designation AR15 was reserved by Colt for use with its commercially available semi-automatic rifles.

If that seems confusing, don’t sweat it. There were a number of monikers used during this process.

The M16, M16A1, XM16E1, and other variants are “select-fire” weapons. This means they can fire in bursts of three and/or fully automatic mode. Later versions include the M16A2, M4, and others; these and their cousins are also select fire. AR15-type weapons can only fire one round with each pull of the trigger. There is no fully semi-automatic. That’s like saying a picture is in full color black and white.

Anyway, that was then.

Now, though, the term AR15 has been genericized. Think Taser, Velcro, Kleenex, Coke, and Xerox. ArmaLite sold its rights to the AR15 to Colt in 1951. After the military adopted the weapon and designated it the M16, Colt continued using the AR-15 trademark for the semi-automatic firearms it sold commercially to civilians and law enforcement agencies.

Colt still holds that trademark, which is why, technically, the only actual AR15s are the ones built by Colt. All the others should be referred to as an ” AR15 type” rifle.

In practice, though, most people use “AR15”, “AR rifle,” or just “AR” to refer to anything that can be even loosely categorized as an AR platform weapon.

Should I Build My Own? 

(Pike) You can certainly build an extremely nice rifle if you have the requisite skills. Building a functional AR 15 doesn’t take rocket surgery or specialized tools, but building a premium AR 15 certainly requires experience and some nice tools. Ensuring the barrel nut is torqued correctly and the flash hider is on straight isn’t something you can do with a pair of channel locks. 

I’m not saying it can’t be done, but when I spend a good chunk of money on a rifle, I want someone with more experience than me to put it together. I’ve built rifles before and haven’t had a problem, but that doesn’t mean I trust myself to build a rifle to defend myself with. 

Build vs. assemble: These two words are usually used interchangeably. The closest you can come to actually “building” a rifle, in the sense that a manufacturer does, is with an 80% lower receiver.

That topic requires a dedicated article of its own, so read our 80% lower FAQ.

Major Parts of a AR 15 Explained

The AR15 is an uncomplicated, ingenious design. Vast numbers last for years with nothing more than the occasional cleaning and field-strip-level maintenance to sustain them. Individual parts are equally simple and relatively painless to install. Here’s an overview to give you a feel for how the weapon is laid out.

This is not a comprehensive list of all AR rifle parts.

Fifteen parts of the AR15

1 Bolt Carrier Group (BCG) and chamber.

Your rifle’s heart beats in here. The chamber is part of the barrel; it sits roughly to the right of where you see the letter R.

2 Gas block and gas tube.

They are in there with the barrel; handguards (forearm) surround them.

3 The barrel.

The left end of your barrel (in this diagram) is the chamber; the right is where a muzzle device is attached. Sometimes less of it is visible if longer handguards are used.

4 The muzzle device.

This may be a flash hider, compensator, muzzle brake, or suppressor.

5 Your charging handle sits here.

It runs across the top of the interior of the upper receiver and hooks onto the BCG.

6 Front sight post.

This one is “fixed,” meaning permanent, but many are detachable. Some people who use optics do not run “iron sights” (which are often polymer) at all; this and the rear sight are now often referred to as “BUIS” for Back Up Iron Sights. Others who run optics utilize what are called “offset sights.” These cant out to the side of the upper receiver at 45° and are used in lieu of BUIS for close target acquisition if use of an optic is unsuitable or if it goes down.

7 Rear sight.

This one is a fold-down/pop-up version. The rear sight is much more rarely fixed, though if there is a carrying handle the rear sight will be incorporated there.

8 Optic or “glass.”

This could be a red dot sight, reflex sight, scope, LPVO, etc.

9 The trigger.

You can see the part you manipulate here, but more of it is up above roughly between where you see the two letter Rs. The hammer is in here as well, more back in the vicinity of the letter W.

10 Receiver extension, aka “buffer tube.”

Your buffer and buffer spring are in here. Depending on how you have the stock collapsed, and how you shoot, your cheek will probably rest here.

11 Pistol grip.

This is where you hold the rifle, usually with your dominant hand.

12 Rifle stock or pistol brace.

There are just about as many different kinds of stocks as there are AR type rifles. Some are fixed, more are collapsible (or “telescoping”) and some will fold.

13 Magazine well.

Your rifle mags insert and lock in here. The spring at the bottom of the magazine pushes cartridges upward so the BCG can push a new one off the top each time the weapon cycles.

14 Magazine.

There are vast numbers and styles of mags, too, from old military USGI mags to the common polymer versions to single- and twin-drum magazines. Sometimes colloquially (though incorrectly) referred to as a “clip.”

15 Vertical foregrip (VFG).

Not to be confused with pistol grip. Numerous kinds of VFGs are available, some minimalist, some with a flashlight and/or laser aboard. This piece is often used less for a traditional grip and more as a physical guide/mnemonic for support hand placement. It is often from here that lights, visible lasers, and IR lasers are manipulated.

The relative simplicity of the AR15 design is why so many people choose to accessorize their rifles so extensively. In this section, we’ll delve a little deeper into some of the main parts of the AR-type rifle, beginning with the receivers.

• Upper receiver
• Lower receiver
• Bolt carrier group
• Charging handle

We’ll also cover the following:

• Barrels
• Gas systems
• Calibers

Upper Receivers

In simplest terms, the receivers of an AR-type weapon are the top and bottom foundational halves. The upper receiver connects the barrel, bolt carrier group, and charging handle to the lower receiver. You can purchase complete uppers (fitted with the basic pieces needed to make the gun function) or stripped uppers.

Think of a stripped upper as a skeleton frame with nothing attached yet. People often use stripped uppers when they want to build a completely individualized gun.

Neither kind of lower receiver is serialized. They are not considered firearms. You can buy, sell, or trade at your leisure. If you purchase one online, they can send it straight to your house.

Learn more in the Gun University Upper Receiver Rundown.

Lower Receivers

A lower receiver is the “bottom half” of an AR-style rifle. This is the part of the weapon that is serialized, meaning it is legally classified as a firearm whether there is an upper receiver attached or not. Lower receivers hold the “guts” of a weapon, including the trigger, safety controls, and buffer assembly. This is also where the stock and grip are attached.

Lowers are also available in stripped or complete versions; many lower parts kits are available to flesh out a stripped lower.

Bolt Carrier Group

The bolt carrier group (BCG) is the operational heart of a rifle. It holds the firing pin, extractor, gas key, and the bolt itself.

1. Bolt
2. Ejector and ejector spring
3. Extractor
4. Gas rings
5. Bolt carrier
6. Bolt cam pin
7. Gas key
8. Firing pin

When you pull the trigger on an AR, the hammer swings up to strike the firing pin inside the BCG. That engages the primer on the cartridge, exploding the gunpowder therein. Expanding gas from the burning gunpowder propels the bullet down the barrel, but some is channeled back to the gas key on the BCG. That drives the BCG straight back over toward the hammer and compresses the buffer spring.

As the bolt rotates and moves rearward, a couple of things happen. First, the extractor part of the BCG grabs the case from the round you just fired and ejects it. Next, the BCG (still traveling rearward) recocks the hammer like you would on a revolver with your thumb. Finally, the BCG reaches the limit of its ability to maintain tension against the buffer spring. The buffer spring then decompresses (unsprings? becomes unsprung?) and throws the BCG back forward.

As the bolt drives forward, it strips a round off the top of the magazine and pushes it into the chamber, completing the cycle. The rifle is now ready for the next pull of the trigger to begin the process all over again.

The entire operation takes less than a second.

🚨Replacing the semi-automatic BCG of an AR15 with the auto-capable BCG of an M4 or other select fire weapon will not make your rifle fully automatic. Even if it did, you’d be breaking the law. A number of changes to the weapon’s internals would have to be made to convert it to full auto successfully, and even then, only if the receiver had enough space to accommodate the parts.

Owning and using full-auto BCG is perfectly legal; it will only put you in a jam if you use it in an illegal fashion.

Read more in Upgrading the Bolt Carrier Group.

Charging Handle

The charging handle is what “charges” or “cocks” your rifle by chambering a round. Pulling the charging handle back pulls the bolt carrier to the rear, cocking the hammer and (if a loaded mag is in the mag well) allowing the spring at the bottom of your magazine to push a round up into the chamber.

You might also check out: What are the Best Charging Handles?

AR15 Barrel Guide

(Pike) After quality, the most important thing to consider in an AR15 barrel is length. Determining the optimal barrel length for your gun is not simple. There are some questions to be asked: What’s the gun’s purpose? What’s its caliber? Those are all important to consider. To show a simple example, let’s focus on the 5.56 caliber. It’s the most common AR 15 caliber and has the most barrel options.

20 inch – Barrels classified as “rifle length” come in at 20-inches. The 5.56 was made for a 20-inch barrel, and the round reaches its max velocity from a 20-inch barrel. An AR 15 with a 20-inch barrel will be the smoothest shooting AR experience out of the box. These are perfect for hunting and for competitions involving accuracy. 

16-inch – 16-inch barrels are the most common barrels on the commercial market. At 16 inches, you get a good mix of velocity and maneuverability at close ranges. 16-inch barrels are also the shortest you can get without using an AR 15 pistol or SBR. This length of barrel will ensure reliability, and accuracy, and give you a very effective range. 

14.5-inch – 14.5-inch barrels are the military standard for the M4 and, as such, are quite popular among civilian shooters. Like the 16-inch barrel, the weapon remains maneuverable, lightweight, and reliable. To avoid the NFA, you can pin and weld a muzzle device in place to reach the necessary 16 inches. 

11.5 inches – Now we are getting into specialized barrels made explicitly for close-quarter combat, and out to longer ranges, the terminal ballistics will suck. For home defense, it’s great, but it’s super loud, has a lot of muzzle blast, and creates lots of concussions. 11.3 inches is a sweet spot for reliability with shorter barrels. 

10.3 inches – like 11.5, the 10.3-inch barrel is for special purposes, like CQB. In CQB, the 10.3-inch barrel does well, but again you are limited in max range in terms of terminal ballistics. On top of that, you’ll have to deal with the flash, noise, and concussion. They’ve made 10.3 guns work, but the 11.5 guns tend to be more reliable. 

Shorter Barrels – Anything shorter than 10.3 is a bit silly in 5.56. It’s basically a flashbang in the form of a gun. Sure, 7.5 exists, and I even own one (and it’s fun!), but it’s not worth the investment for a premium-grade gun. 

Read more in the Gun University AR15 Barrel Comparison.

AR15 Gas Systems Explained

Two kinds of gas systems exist in an AR-type weapon: Direct Impingement (DI) and Piston. DI guns are far more common than piston guns (in the black rifle world). AK platform weapons, by contrast, are almost exclusively piston.

1. Direct Impingement: expanding gas from a fired round is channeled into a gas tube; the gas pushes the bolt back directly and cycles the gun.
   • DI guns generally weigh slightly less than piston guns (fewer pieces in a DI system).
   • DI guns typically produce less felt recoil than piston guns (no reciprocating mass in a DI gun); this provides a greater potential for accuracy on the shooter’s part.
   • DI guns don’t have direct physical contact between the gas tube and the action; this means the barrel can be “free-floated,” providing greater mechanical potential for accuracy.
   • DI guns blow gas and carbon straight into the chamber and barrel, making them get dirty much faster than piston guns. This affects the reliability of the gun.
2. Piston: expanding gas from a fired round is forced against a metal piston, pushing the bolt back to cycle the gun.
   • There are two piston systems: long-stroke (common on AKs and some ARs) and short-stroke (often found in pistol ARs).
   • Piston guns run significantly more cleanly than DI guns. They can burn through vastly larger round counts before requiring attention.
   • Piston guns usually burn cooler than DI guns.
   • Movement of the piston makes perceived recoil higher than in a DI gun, making it potentially less accurate (from the shooter’s side). It may also cause movement in the barrel between shots, which also decreases accuracy potential.
   • Piston rifles are generally considered to be mechanically superior to and more reliable than DI rifles, but this is relative. No one watching Becky Yackley drive a piston gun would think the extra weight and recoil affect her ability to put rounds exactly where she intends.

Read GU’s article about lower receivers for more info.

What Caliber is an AR 15?

(Pike) AR15s come in a multitude of calibers; in fact they come in so many it would be an entire article just to list them. Instead, let’s talk about the three most common calibers you’ll find in the premium grade AR15s and some of the other categories of AR cartridges out here. 

5.56 – 5.56 comes standard in the AR15 world. This intermediate caliber does well out to 500 yards and even a little more with a good shot. It’s incredibly common and affordable. It provides excellent accuracy and minimal recoil. 

9mm – 9mm is the world’s favorite pistol round and also their favorite pistol caliber carbine round. It’s a fun little cartridge that works well with the blowback systems in PCC AR15s. It also allows the user to use standard pistol magazines that can match their chosen handgun. 

300 Blackout – 300 Blackout is a neat round that excels at the versatility and is often being used in short barrels. It’s designed to reach max velocity in a barrel as short as 9 inches. It’s perfect for use with suppressors as well. In fact, if you want an SBR or short-barreled pistol, I’d go with the 300 Blackout. 

Big Bore – Big bore calibers, including 350 Legend, 450 Bushmaster, and 458 SOCOM, are developed for taking bigger game at closer ranges. These are excellent hunting cartridges within 200 yards or so, but provide a costly source for ammunition. 

Longer(er) Range – The 6mm ARC, 6.5 Grendel, and their cousins provide AR15 with a high ballistic coefficient, allowing you to really reach out there.

Best AR15: General Classification

This is going to be subjective and relative. Maybe borderline arbitrary. But we had to start somewhere, right?

The following examples will be organized into 5 categories.

1. Entry level: ~$700 or less.
2. Budget Conscious: ~$700 to ~$1k.
3. Mid-Range: ~$1k – ~$1.6k
4. High-End: ~$1600 +
5. Premium: ~$2,500 +

There will be those who argue there should be another category at about ~$3.2k or so, and there is some merit to that. But we’re going to leave it at just five. Our categories and choices will create consternation and outrage in the comments and forums, but that’s life on the interwebz.

Best AR-15 Reviews

Now let’s look at our selections and examine some pros and cons of each.

Daniel Defense DDM4v7 Review

(Reeder) Daniel Defense has an excellent reputation for quality rifles. This seems apropos since every DD rifle I’ve ever put hands on has performed very well. Lots of people speak very highly of DD’s blasters, but lots of people speak highly of lots of things. I’m a fan of the company as well, but not to the point of emotional investment, so I wanted to make my own determination.

That was quite a while and a lot of rounds ago. My DDM4 has continued to do what it’s supposed to do, without a hiccup. Built around a Cold Hammer Forged Barrel, it’s got a great design and finish; every part of the rifle goes through extensive quality checks, so you don’t have to worry about its quality. It’s also very smooth and easy to handle with its ambidextrous grips and rubber pads, so much so that I would even recommend it for beginners if it’s within your budget. 

Overall, I think it’s worth the money you’ll put down, though I wish the stock trigger was a little crisper. While I’m not a huge fan of the stock (it always wants to rip my beard out), that’s a pretty minor issue. I just replaced the stock on mine with one of the B5 jobs and everything was good to go. I also really liked its flash suppressors that reduce the flash signature, perfect for reducing your visibility after taking a shot. Some shooters might prefer a muzzle brake to a flash suppressor, but I’m a flash suppressor guy until I get into the bigger calibers, so that wasn’t an issue for me. An actual issue I had was the trigger; it’s a MilSpec one with a 7 lb pull weight and while that’s manageable on the field, it’s not great for when you want to precision shoot. 

Meantime, if you have the budget for it, this is an excellent choice. And honestly, these rifles are good enough that I’d feel safe buying one used from a reputable website.

At Daniel Defense.

DDM4v7 Pros and Cons

Daniel Defense DDM4 v7 Deals

WWSD Rifle Review

(Reeder) What Would Stoner Do? That’s the question answered by Karl Kasarda (InRange TV), Ian McCollum (Gun Jesus/Forgotten Weapons), and Russell Phagan (Sinistral Rifleman) in the form of the KE Arms WWSD rifle.

Many readers will raise hell about this rifle being included in this list. I disagree, obviously, or it wouldn’t be here. If you’re considering one, don’t take my word for it. This has been a contentious firearm since it was released. I would buy one, but I know (and trust) Ian and Russell enough to know they wouldn’t put a subpar rifle in my hands.

The genesis of the WWSD was a series of videos asking, “What would Gene Stoner, the creator of the AR-15, do today if he had access to modern manufacturing and materials?” They started with a monolithic polymer receiver and then built outwards with an array of quality components. It’s an old gun design with some of the best AR parts and AR15 accessories currently available.

The trigger, for example, has improved sealed housing and full power hammer spring, making the trigger pull feel crisp and lightweight. Plus, now you can put the firearm on safe regardless of the position of the hammer thanks to the tech used in the trigger.

KE Arms has taken off the forward assist from the upper receiver reducing its weight significantly. Also, this move decreases the chances of the operation cycle getting interrupted by the forward assist. It wasn’t there in Stoner’s design of the first AR15 anyway, so I’m honestly not surprised they chose to stick to tradition and remove it from the WWSD. 

Handling has been made easy on this AR15 with a couple pounds of weight reduction and some ambidextrous features: the bolt release and the charging handle. It’s simple and straightforward to handle whichever way you hold it.

So did KE Arms successfully answer the question “What would Stoner do?”? We could argue that around and around, but once I get my dad’s truck completely restored, I will be buying one.

Note: if you like the idea of the WWSD rifle but can’t bring yourself (or just can’t) spend all those ducats, check out their Civil Defense Rifle.

Online at KE Arms.

WWSD Rifle Pros and Cons

KE Arms WWSD Rifle Deals

Ruger AR 556 Review

(Reeder) Ruger is a name that’s been around a while. While I prefer my Rugers to have things like “Mini” or “10/22” in their name, their AR style rifles seem to have a decent reputation within the ~sub – $1,000 price range.

Their list of specs on their website is respectable but nothing more than what I’d expect from any baseline rifle. Think folding sight, M4 gas block at carbine length, six-position collapsible buttstock, that sort of thing. I’m not knocking these features, mind you; just making you aware you’re not going to get any of the fancy, higher-end stuff on this AR…

…and that’s okay. You can do solid work with a basic rifle so long as it’s fundamentally reliable, as many AR15 owners have proven in the past. It’s a basic gun, but pretty solid and durable. It’s also compatible with a good range of ammo brands and case types. The gun has multiple attachment points including a QD socket and bayonet lug–that’s a reasonable amount of accessory mounting options. 

This firearm features the gas block at a carbine-length (M4) position to improve balance when handling. The one I tested–the 8500 model–was a piece of cake to handle because the pistol grip has an ergonomic design with an extended trigger that gave me more control. The trigger is not two-staged, it’s a single trigger but still pretty reliable. 

While the Ruger AR 556 is plenty durable with its hard-coat anodized aluminum forgings and the chrome-plated parts such as the gas key, the barrel coating is not built for heavy use. You should be fine for occasional hunting and competition though. 

Would I invest in a Ruger AR 556? No, but only because I already have a “basic” AR model that I really like. However, I wouldn’t turn my nose up at one, either. Especially if it was a foundation I planned on improving incrementally over time.

Check them out at Ruger.

Ruger AR 556 Pros and Cons

Ruger AR 556 Deals

Best AR 15 Manufacturers

We’ve talked ad nauseum about the subjective nature of “best.” No one will argue that a Springfield Armory Saint or a Faxon Firearms blaster isn’t superior to an Axis Mfg firearm or something from ATI. Then again, no one who would buy a Springfield Armory Saint Victor would do so every year, then pawn it after hunting season and buy another one next year either. 

Pricing ranges can be problematic, too, since some rifles come with accessories and some don’t (even from the same manufacturer). That’s why these categories are necessarily broad.

There are scores of AR manufacturers and AR “assemblers” that “build” rifles using parts made by other AR manufacturers. These are just a few of the better ones out there.

Conclusion

You could say the AR15 –“America’s rifle”– is a superior firearm only taking into account how common it is, because there are millions of AR15s in use and in the market. It can be challenging to find the one that fits you best from hordes of choices, but if you start off with your budget in mind and explore the features you’d like in a day-to-day rifle, chances are you can pin down the best-fit AR15 from a bunch of worthy contenders.   

Additional Resources:

NSSF: the Modern Sporting Rifle

ArmaLite Reunion: Gene Stoner’s 70th Birthday

NRA Family: Tips for building your own AR15

Gun University: What’s the best AR furniture?

Gun University: What are the best AR upgrades?

FAQs