Considering one of two carbines

[kirkland]

Ok, I'll be that guy.

Is there a reason you aren't buying a Colt 6920 for not much more money?

I think those were the exact first thoughts most of us had while reading the OP. Why do they always want to buy crappy commercial grade guns when the 6920 is the same price?

[kirkland]

Oh look, another M4C thread where OP wants something in the $700 range and all of the responses are pushing towards “spending just a little more” with recommendations that will end up nearly doubling the OP’s price tag. Good job guys.


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It's good advice to recommend a gun that you can bet your life on and won't take a dump. How does it double the guy's price? Are Colts going for $1400? I think not. Wait a couple weeks, save couple more hundred and buy the better made gun is always good advice.

[SteyrAUG]

Oh look, another M4C thread where OP wants something in the $700 range and all of the responses are pushing towards “spending just a little more” with recommendations that will end up nearly doubling the OP’s price tag. Good job guys.


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If prices for a 6920 were DOUBLE what he is talking about spending, then I wouldn't have asked. But we are talking about "maybe" $200 more and you buy a LOT for that extra money.

OP also cited "durability and accuracy" and he won't get that for $700 any more than he will get a dependable carry gun for $100. The 6920 is hardly the best or most expensive AR on the market, but I think it is the minimum standard for anyone who wants a rifle for anything serious.

[SteyrAUG]

Thanks for the posts thus far. Most recommend Colt. It is about $150 more and I thought the FN was every bit as good. Also, there's a lot of Colts out there for sale, which gives me the impression resale value will go down in the future. Also, they may go down further in price from what they are now due to how many Colt seems to be pumping out. The FN Basic Carbine was discontinued and the Patrol Carbine was brought to market, so I doubt they will go further down in price.

The FN carbine they make for the military is excellent, unfortunately the FN carbine made for the civilian market is not the same. The AR market is pretty saturated and if one looks around you can find a Colt 6920 in the $900-1000 range. If you are willing to buy used, a bunch of us just snagged LE trade ins for $699.

[HKGuns]

It's good advice to recommend a gun that you can bet your life on and won't take a dump. How does it double the guy's price? Are Colts going for $1400? I think not. Wait a couple weeks, save couple more hundred and buy the better made gun is always good advice.

Furthermore, it isn't even remotely close to double the cost. Shocking, I know.

Original price: $650 - $825

Colt OEM2: $699
Magpul MOE HG: $38
Basic collapsible stock: $15
Magpul "Iron's": $95 - there are less expensive options

Total: $847

Even if you go bottom basement, for now, you still have a better base rifle for all of $25 more than the FN option.

[shadowspirit]

I think those were the exact first thoughts most of us had while reading the OP. Why do they always want to buy crappy commercial grade guns when the 6920 is the same price?

If prices for a 6920 were DOUBLE what he is talking about spending, then I wouldn't have asked. But we are talking about "maybe" $200 more and you buy a LOT for that extra money.

OP also cited "durability and accuracy" and he won't get that for $700 any more than he will get a dependable carry gun for $100. The 6920 is hardly the best or most expensive AR on the market, but I think it is the minimum standard for anyone who wants a rifle for anything serious.

I heard of S&Ws making it through those high round weekend classes.

If the S&W isn't up to anything serious, would it be after a good lower parts kit was installed?

I like the S&W barrel but don't really like the Colt barrel. If Colt offered an HBAR model, that would be something else.

[grizzman]

I heard of S&Ws making it through those high round weekend classes.

If the S&W isn't up to anything serious, would it be after a good lower parts kit was installed? Replacing springs and detents isn't going to magically make a S&W the same as a Colt.

I like the S&W barrel but don't really like the Colt barrel. If Colt offered an HBAR model, that would be something else Regardless of barrel contour, Colt barrels (and the subcontracted barrels Colt uses) are well known and well regartded.

While reading the initial post, my initial thought was also that the OP should just spend a bit more for a Colt. I own a few Colts, but didn't pay anywhere near $1,000 for them. If you're patient, you could do the same. If someone pays over $1,500 for an LE6920, they screwed up.

[shadowspirit]

While reading the initial post, my initial thought was also that the OP should just spend a bit more for a Colt. I own a few Colts, but didn't pay anywhere near $1,000 for them. If you're patient, you could do the same. If someone pays over $1,500 for an LE6920, they screwed up.

The S&W with the updated lower parts kit wouldn't bring it up to a Colt other than barrel durability?

The S&W barrel is thick, though melonited and 4140 steel. I don't know how much the thickness makes up for it being melonited and not being 4150 steel. It did well in a torture test.

[shadowspirit]

How much does a used Colt with a 16" HBAR barrel go for?

[Krazykarl]

There is nothing wrong with Colt barrels. The ones that I have shot with well made ammunition are surprisingly precise. In fact, most of my paper punching usually ends with the epiphany that a machine gun barrel just out performed many of the other barrels getting sighted in that day.