What are "High End" AR brands??

[Mendo223]

So far ive compiled a few companies i consider to be "high end" better quality than your dime a dozen mega or stagg. I know some people will say "well all lowers are the same and all milled in the same machine" yeah i know. its like the expensive euro car vs domestic argument, some people will pay more for a high end branding....but please stick to topic.

Noveske
LWRC
POF
Bravo Company
Larue Tactical
VLTOR
Magpul

Feel free to disagree but please explain, and please add any companies that i dont know about. I would describe "high end" as a company that is known for excellent build quality, run by the best people in the industry, that may or may not cost a little bit extra than your standard AR.


Im asking this mostly because i want to build a new AR15 and i want it to have the absolute best (and rare?) components on the market. I would like to keep the lower/upper the same brand, but barrel, stock, etc can be different. I already have a stag that is mostly magpul gear, so i want to go a different route. Really a fan of Noveske and BCM. Larue intrigues me as well, its such a damn hard decision!

[Merc1138]

Well it's still true that the lower itself means squat. The upper however...

I wouldn't exactly call BCM "high end", and magpul doesn't make AR-15's(nor would any of their parts aside from maybe the PRS and UBR stocks be considered "high end").

The other companies you listed besides magpul and BCM some might consider high end, but it comes down to what you want. You missed JP, WOA/WOP, Compass Lake, and of course the dozens of custom builds that can indeed be better than anything Noveske, LWRC, Larue, etc. will come up with for off the shelf assembled parts. Then of course there's also KAC, Christensen Arms, and on and on.

You need to define what you want better. A high end what? High end 3gun rifle? High end benchrest gun? High end service rifle? High end varmint gun?

[Cali-Shooter]

The only "High End" AR brand I would ever seriously consider would be LWRC.

Keeps it simple for me.

[Mendo223]

Or better way to phrase a question, if you had 3k burning a hole in your pocket for an AR15 build and was not allowed to go below budget and spend the extra, WHAT WOULD YOU BUY? larue OBR? Noveske 20in SPR? no "build a stag for 1200 and spend the extra on a kimber" answers lol...

[HK Dave]

Rainier Arms Ultramatch

GA Precision

Of the ones you listed, Larue and Noveske are the most polished in terms of precision rifles imo.

[Mendo223]

yea i only included magpul because of their elusive lowers so it has a rare aspect to them....im very happy with my stag/magpul build its better equipment than the stock parts that come with ARs...

thanks for the responses though.

what is JP and WOA?

no one considers VLTOR a high end brand?

i mostly gave BCM the shout because i really really like their one handed charging handles and their builds come loaded from factory usually...

[Merc1138]

Or better way to phrase a question, if you had 3k burning a hole in your pocket for an AR15 build and was not allowed to go below budget and spend the extra, WHAT WOULD YOU BUILD? larue OBR? Noveske 20in SPR? no "build a stag for 1200 and spend the extra on a kimber" answers lol...

Ok, so it was just a general "what if" question then..

No $1200 stag and $1800 kimber then.. hmm..

What about a $1200 stag and $1800 optic?

[HK Dave]

If I had $3K burning a hole in my picket, I'd get a Larue and have enough left over for half a Nightforce... well maybe more like $500 left over.

[HK Dave]

Ok, so it was just a general "what if" question then..

No $1200 stag and $1800 kimber then.. hmm..

What about a $1200 stag and $1800 optic?

+1

Optic is probably more important... and a good trigger and a hands on class on precision shooting.

[xoutxkastx]

All the brands you provided are great. For what purpose will you use the next AR. My personal choice is JP Enterprise for one of the top manufacturer's. Most 3 gun competitors run JP Rifles or their parts. I bought my JP Rifle as a precision semi rifle. I love the JP rides and their triggers are the best. I've had RRA 2 stage, Giselle 3G, and tried out a Timney. Out of all them the JP provided the best trigger feel and short reset. Giselle 3G came close but for the money I sold the 3G and installed the JP Trigger on my Addax. I like JP so much that I have a JP LRP 07 (.308 caliber) on order.

Here is my JP CTR-02 on top and an Addax rifle below with JP trigger group and compensator installed.

[HK Dave]

All the brands you provided are great. For what purpose will you use the next AR. My personal choice is JP Enterprise for one of the top manufacturer's. Most 3 gun competitors run JP Rifles or their parts. I bought my JP Rifle as a precision semi rifle. I love the JP rides and their triggers are the best. I've had RRA 2 stage, Giselle 3G, and tried out a Timney. Out of all them the JP provided the best trigger feel and short reset. Giselle 3G came close but for the money I sold the 3G and installed the JP Trigger on my Addax. I like JP so much that I have a JP LRP 07 (.308 caliber) on order.

Here is my JP CTR-02 on top and an Addax rifle below with JP trigger group and compensator installed.

Wow, you like the JP trigger over the Geissele? I need to try me this trigger.

[xoutxkastx]

+1

Optic is probably more important... and a good trigger and a hands on class on precision shooting.

+1 On upgrading the trigger and optics. By far the 2 most important upgrades.

[xoutxkastx]

Wow, you like the JP trigger over the Geissele? I need to try me this trigger.

Turner's stocks JP rifles and would highly recommend testing the trigger out. All their rifles use the JP EZ trigger. Trigger also in stock at turners for $220 ish plus tax. I know it's hard to believe about the comparison on a Giselle vs JP. I also like their comp and have noticed a good reduction of muzzle lift and recoil. My JP rifle has a kicked a little stronger than a 22LR.

[Mendo223]

wow nice rifle outkast! im not really sure what way i want to go with this..i like SPRs but it doesnt seem practical at this point i like carrying smaller rifles around my property. in the future when i get more into precision long range shooting i definately want a ar10 SASS of some kind..

anyways...this VLTOR system really seems to have everything i want in my next AR...i wonder how much a full VLTOR build costs?

[toyturbo]

I would consider Mega Arms in the upper end, their monolithic uppers are great and they tend to be stronger cause they machine their parts with more substantial wall thickness compared to others, plus they have the best anodizing imo in the business.