Wilson Combat AR15 or other maker?

[jdegg79]

I only own handguns so far and want to expand into ar15's / rifles. Any thoughts who represents the best of ar15/rifles in a tactical sense would be great.

Also, are there any feelings about the value of a Wilson Combat AR-15?
Thank you.

[SistemaTodd]

Noveske.

[21/503]

Bcm

[mdguy90]

Noveske makes the best barrels.

I'd go with a Noveske upper
BCM BCG and CH(gunfighter
aimpoint in a larue mount
any in spec lower

if you want rails, I suggest Daniel Defense

WC is ok, but you can get just as much or more for less

of course this changes depending on what you want to do with it.

[twsp4]

I love my Bushmaster M4A3, I know it's not the "top of the line" when it comes to brand name but it does extremely well and have had no failures of any kind out of it. I have put thousands of rounds through this weapon and it performs like a champ. Now having said that, I am highly meticulous about maintaining and cleaning my weapons. They won't sit overnight with gunk in them. I bought my Bushmaster brand new and well below some of the prices for the other manufacturers. It is highly accurate and performs for me when I need it too. The only thing I would change, and I plan too eventually, is to put a gas/piston system into it so that it doesn't foul up so bad. But for now, I am happy and I didn't have to spend $1500 and up for my weapon. My 2 cents...

[DAT85]

With AR's,like any other firearm,you get what you pay for.

Having said that,it doesn't mean you have to spend A LOT on one.You can build a top shelf AR with best parts for about what you would spend on a "so-so" AR from one of the many players in the field of M4orgeries.

I would suggest you mosey on over to M4CARBINE forums and check out what their AR technical discussion section has to say.AR owners tend to be like what other firearm owners are like,we have our favs.

Good luck on your search,take your time and learn as much as you can BEFORE you buy your "poodle shooter".

DAT85

[WhoIsJohnGalt]

The only direct experience I have with Wilson Combat AR's is from about 8-10 years ago (seems that long at least...). A friend of mine had them build one for him. It was a beautifully finished rifle, but it took two trips back to Wilson to get it running right. It was a good shooter after that and it's now owned by a coworker of mine. That said, I'd be hard pressed to justify buying one over a Noveske, BCM, LMT, Daniel Defense, etc.

ETA: A funny story about this rifle. My friend who had it is fairly, well, OCD. He wanted the rifle finished in Armor-Tuff or whatever special finish they offered at the time. He was particularly worried though that the color of the carry handle would not be a perfect match the rest of the rifle. After several calls with Wilson niggling them about the issue, the rep/smith he was on the phone with said "Son, I'm building you a rifle, not a doll house." My buddy turned a bit red on the phone, laughed and said "Yeah, good point." He ended up running an ACOG on it anyway.

[rbabbitt767]

Knights Armament SR-15, easily.

[tdc rangemaster]

Originally Posted by rbabbitt767

knights armament sr-15, easily.

+1

[Whelen97]

I have a Colt and a Noveske. Both have given good service.

Whelen

[SistemaTodd]

"Son, I'm building you a rifle, not a doll house."

Now that there's funny!

[LittleLebowski]

Knight's Armament SR15. Best handling rifle I've ever touched.

Fully ambidextrous. Enhanced bolt lugs, proprietary soft shooting gas system. Comes with a good buttstock and iron sights.

Wonderful weapon. Best of the breed.

[truculent]

Wilson Combat - overpriced. Consistency in production - unknown.

What are you looking for in your rifle? Extreme match accuracy, reliability, accessibility?

I assume all.

Rock River Arms - can't go wrong.
Land Warfare Research Company - deserves a look at, pricey.
Larue Tactical - even better.

[jdegg79]

Thanks for all the great replies. Love the doll house or gun comment!

[21/503]

Originally Posted by LittleLebowski

Knight's Armament SR15. Best handling rifle I've ever touched.

Fully ambidextrous. Enhanced bolt lugs, proprietary soft shooting gas system. Comes with a good buttstock and iron sights.

Wonderful weapon. Best of the breed.

I'm gonna have to buy a KAC SR15 someday, because that seems to be the concensus.

[451-Detonics]

First...don't buy a name...not Wilson's or anyone else's. Second...don't buy things you don't need, I mean how many rails does one gun need?

You said in a "tactical sense" so I am guessing you are not looking for a 20 inch bull barrel but more along the lines of an M-4. There is a huge crop of these currently and the vast majority of them will all function and shoot as well as the next. Decide what features are important to you (not to everyone else) and do some pricing. Brand wise about the only one I would stay away from today is Olympia...they have had some issues. Personally I think you are better off starting with a basic rifle and adding the extras you want. I personally think the Colt AR15 LE 6920 M4A3 is one of the best basic starter guns out there but that is my opinion and worth what everyone's opinion is worth.

Try to handle as many different one as you can and shoot them if possible. Most guys don't mind you trying theirs at the range if asked. See if there is a state gun owners forum, here in Indiana we have INGO and the North West Indiana folks get together once a month at a range for the purpose of trying out each others firearms...last month we had 45 people attend...must of been a dozen AR's of various flavors.

Last...don't rush into a decision...weigh the pro's and cons of each gun. Buy what will make you happy.

[LittleLebowski]

Originally Posted by 21/503

I'm gonna have to buy a KAC SR15 someday, because that seems to be the concensus.

Shoulder one and you'll see. The weight is misleading because it balances so well.

[ccoker]

I have had a lot of nice ARs, my Wilson Combat 6.8 is the best of them

the TTU singlestage trigger is flawless, the fit and finish are perfect on the gun.
I like the Np3 coated bolt a lot

Mine has fed everything I have gave it and can run the hottest loads and consistently shoots sub MOA

[Seth Gecko]

I think the KAC SR-15 is one of the best ARs around.

-Fully ambidextrous lower
-Awesome URX II rail system
-Match trigger
-Excellent LMT SOPMOD buttstock
-Long lasting CHF barrel
-Built in sling mounting points
-Light weight
-Excellent fit and finish
-Mid length gas system

I love mine...

[dcmdon]

I would suggest you look up Rainier Arms.

They can build you an AR using Noveske or BCM or anybody elses stuff. They will ask you the important questions.
1) Budget
2) intended use?

That kind of stuff and recommend a configuration that will meet your needs.

One thing I would recommend against is a railed forarm. They are very trendy now, but are functionally inferior to a free float tube for most people. (let the flaming begin)

Also, consider why you want a telescoping stock if you think you want one. Most people just get them because they are cool looking. (lets be honest here).

If thats somewhat the case with you, as it was with me, I suggest you look at the Vltor rifle modstock. Very comfortable, great cheek weld, and it looks cool.

Here is my 10.5" fun gun with a modstock, and magpul moe handguards.

Don



p.s. here's my AR before I figured out what I liked. I still have a 16" AR with a scope, but now it wears a fixed stock and a ff tube