How to choose AR15

How to Choose an AR-15?

This question troubles many shooters when selecting their first AR-15. The market offers countless brands, calibers, and barrel lengths, not to mention configurations of different handguards, stocks, triggers, and more.

Step-by-Step Selection

In our offer, you will find very affordable products from Anderson Manufacturing. This company is the largest manufacturer of AR-15s in the world. While this doesn't mean it’s the largest gun factory, it is the largest producer of a single type of AR platform.

AR-15 Compatibility

Many people are unaware that most AR-15 brands are manufactured according to MIL-SPEC standards, meaning that various brands, whether Anderson, Daniel Defense, LMT, Ruger, and dozens of others, will be 100% compatible with each other. This means that every spring, trigger, bolt, barrel, muzzle device, receiver, bolt carrier group, or stock and grip can be interchanged between different brands. This unlimited variability is one of the reasons why the AR-15 platform is so popular.

Materials and Construction

All AR-15s have the lower and upper receivers made from 7075 T6 aluminum. An important part is the barrel, which is mostly made from chrome-molybdenum steel marked as 4140 or 4150, differing in material composition. The barrel can have various surface treatments, such as hard chrome or nitriding, to increase its lifespan. Anderson, for instance, uses nitriding for their barrels, while LMT employs hard chrome and cryogenic treatment for the longest lifespan.

Bolt Carriers and Materials

Most brands, like Anderson or Daniel Defense, use 8620 steel for their bolt carriers, which have the exact same weight as prescribed by MIL-SPEC standards. The difference can be found in the bolt itself, which is made from 9310 steel for Anderson and other brands, while some manufacturers use Carpenter 158 steel. The main difference between these materials lies in their composition, properties, and the heat treatment process.

Carpenter 158 Steel vs. 9310 Steel

Carpenter 158 Steel:

• Composition: High-strength alloy steel specifically developed for critical applications in the aerospace and defense industries.
• Properties: Known for its toughness and ability to withstand high pressure and stress.
• Heat Treatment: Reliable heat treatment process ensuring consistent performance.

9310 Steel:

• Composition: Low alloy steel with higher levels of nickel and chromium compared to Carpenter 158.
• Properties: When properly heat-treated, it is about 7-8% stronger than Carpenter 158, offering high tensile strength, toughness, and fatigue resistance.
• Heat Treatment: Requires precise control to achieve the desired increase in strength and durability.

Price and Quality

Technically, all AR-15s are almost identical, but price differences are caused by the brand, marketing, investments in testing, and manufacturing. Anderson is our recommended brand for customers looking for a good price-to-performance ratio.

Choosing Barrel Length and Caliber

The AR-15 platform offers a wide range of calibers, but the basic one is 223 Rem, which is the most comfortable to shoot and is used for both sports shooting and military purposes. Calibers like 7.62x39mm, 300BLK, and 9x19mm are also popular for various specific uses.

Barrel Length

The choice of barrel length depends on the intended use:

• Sport Shooting: The most common length is 18".
• Short Barrels: 10.5" or 11.5" are popular for concealed carry and use with a suppressor.
• Universal Use: 14.5" - 16" is the standard length.

Gas System

The choice of gas system depends on the barrel length:

• Pistol: For short barrels like 7.5".
• Carbine/Mid-length: For 14" and 16" barrels.
• Rifle: For longer barrels 18" and more.

The way the gas system works can be either direct impingement or piston-operated. Direct impingement is the most widespread and commonly used system, offering low recoil and lighter guns compared to piston systems. Piston-operated guns are supposed to be more reliable and cleaner, though this is not always the case. Direct impingement can be highly reliable, as evidenced by its extensive use not only among sports shooters but also in the military. The piston system has the disadvantage of stronger recoil and incompatibility with various accessories like handguards, gas blocks, and receivers.

Handguards

Free-floating handguards, which are attached only to the upper receiver and do not touch the barrel, ensure the accuracy of the barrel. Handguards can have various mounting systems like Weaver/Picatinny, M-LOK, or Keymod, with M-LOK being the most widespread.

Conclusion

Choosing an AR-15 can be challenging, but we hope this article helps beginner shooters to navigate and find the right information. In future articles, we will cover the selection of optics, red dot sights, and other accessories.