May 21, 2014
By Brian McCombie
Firearms manufacturers and retailers refer to the buying frenzy that hit the shooting scene a couple years ago as "The Surge."
During "The Surge," shooters snapped up ammunition , high-capacity magazines and right at the top of the list AR-style rifles . Retailers had yards of empty gun racks, and a shipment of ARs that actually hit the gun counter was often gone by the very next day. Meanwhile, ARs that had been selling for $700 to $800 were suddenly commanding $1,500 or more often, a heck of a lot more if you could even find them.
Fortunately, "The Surge" is more or less over for ARs, and as a result prices have come tumbling down. It seems the current fad is high-end ARs. For a couple grand or better you can get one complete with a match trigger, fluted bull barrel and all the coolest tactical furniture.
But there are still many high quality, extremely functional ARs on the market. Some are no-frill models, while others have a surprising number of higher-end features. Regardless, these rifles will get the job done and do it for $1,000 or less.
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Core 15 M4 Scout CORE15 is converting many in the AR world with their reasonably-priced and sturdy
M4 Scout rifle. It weighs just 6 pounds, 5 ounces, with a six-position stock and CORE15's own Hardcore billet charging handle. Here's a feature you don't see often — optional barrel twist rate available, from 1:7, for those shooting longer, heavier .223/5.56mm bullets, to 1:8 and 1:9 twist rates. The magazine well is beveled for faster reloading, too.
MSRP: $ 800.00
ALPHA 320H by Del-Ton For the last several years — and somewhat under the radar — Del-Ton has been manufacturing quality ARs at prices that won't push you into Chapter 11. Case in point, the
Del-Ton ALPHA 320H in 5.56mm. It sports a 20-inch chrome moly vanadium barrel with a 1x9 twist, a properly staked and sealed gas key (a poorly installed gas key can lead to short-stroking and other malfunctions), and most of the mil-spec accoutrements standard on ARs — all for under $800.
MSRP: $ 788.99
DPMS LR-204 The
DPMS LR-204 is a unique varminter AR built around the .204 Ruger cartridge, but with street prices roughly $100 below MSRP. The LR-204 features a 24-inch, fluted bull barrel made of stainless steel and an A3 style flattop that's hard coat anodized. It also features a shell deflector, forward assist, and right hand ejection. With the longer barrel, this isn't a lightweight AR, though, coming in at 9.75 pounds.
MSRP: $ 1,059
DS Arms ZM4 Carbine in 300 BLK A no-frills, get-the-job-done AR in the popular 300 Blackout, the
ZM4 is an M4-style rifle with an A3 flattop receiver. Forged front sight base with bayonet lug, and an M4 handguard with heat shield are standard on the ZM4. The 16-inch barrel is made of stainless steel. A Hogue pistol grip and a six-position collapsible M4 stock round out the package. All parts are made in the U.S.A.
MSRP: $ 873.00
Mk4LE by CMMG CMMG's basic rifle, the
Mk4LE , is one solid value, in part because, unlike most bargain-priced ARs, this one's available in so many caliber options: 5.56x45mm, 300 AAC BLK, 9mm Luger and 22LR. All variants feature a nitrided 16.1-inch, 4140 CrMo steel barrel. Picatinny rail atop the receiver, a rounded handguard, open sights, and weighs in at just 6.2 pounds.
MSRP: $ 924.95
Smith & Wesson Model M&P 15 Sport The epitome of the lightweight, do-it-all AR, the
M&P 15 Sport is a 5.56mm powerhouse that weighs in at just 6.45 pounds. Optics ready, but also comes standard with an A2 front post and a Magpul Folding MBUS rear sight. Chromed gas key and bolt carrier add to the rifle's reliability. Recreational shooting, hunting, home defense — the M&P 15 Sport is ready.
MSRP: $ 839.00
MasterPiece Arms MPAR 556 AR-15 A short-stroke piston-driven rifle, the
MasterPiece Arms MPAR 556 AR-15 , in .223 Rem/5.56mm, sports a side-folding collapsible butt stock, and a side charging handle. The MPAR 556 is ready for all sorts of add-ons with a full-length top rail, aluminum handguard with front cover, combat muzzle brake and ample rail space beneath barrel. Weighs under eight pounds.
MSRP: $ 950.00
Mossberg MMR Tactical Mossberg jumped into the AR market a couple years ago with the
Mossberg Modern Rifle , or the MMR, chambered in .223 Rem. Carrying on the Mossberg tradition, the MMR is rugged, reliable, and reasonably priced. It features a Stark SE-1 pistol grip, and a six-position tactical stock, plus a Picatinny quad-rail forearm. It weighs only seven pounds, too.
MSRP: $ 987.00
Rock River Arms LAR-15 Standard A4 For under [imo-slideshow gallery=226],000 in stores, the
Rock River Arms LAR-15 Standard AR is a darned accurate rifle, chambered in .223 Wylde, a match chambering for semi-automatic rifles that accommodates both .223 Rem and 5.56 NATO ammunition. Accuracy is enhanced by a 20-inch chrome-moly barrel and RRA's excellent two-stage trigger. Go 'Old School ' for $50 more and get the A2 Upper with carrying handle.
MSRP: $ 1,010.00
Stag Arms Model 3T Designed for tactical situations and shooting competitions, the gas-operated
Stag Arms 3T weighs in at a nifty 7.4 pounds, has a 16-inch, chrome-lined barrel and is chambered in 5.56mm. The 3T features a full-length rail atop, and Stag Arm's unique (and ultra cool-looking) Freefloat Diamondhead VRS-T handguard. Open sights and a lifetime transferable warranty, too. Upper and lower receivers sport Type 3 hard coat anodizing.
MSRP: $ 999.00
