Is it worth spending the money on Colt rifles, and parts, or are there other companies that make parts that are the “same” as Colt?
There are only two tier 1 manufacturers (Colt and FN). Everyone else is tier 2 or 3.
With that said, LMT and BCM are very close to a tier 1 manufacturer IMHO. They are also considerably less coin than a Colt.
C4
If you are buying a complete gun, Colt provides a lifetime warranty. That’s worth a few dollars more. Buy from another Colt dealer for less and send it to Ken Elmore for the reliability mods. That gets you his expertise on a continuing basis as a client.
After attending Dean Caputo’s Operator’s Diagnostic Course (See November 2006 SWAT, p. 58) before one of Pat Roger’s carbine classes, I came away glad I had been buying, selling, building and shooting Colts over the last twentysomething years. I have no more complete factory guns but lots lots made of Colt parts and they run. From what I have read here and heard from folks whom I trust, I would probably spend money with Paul at BCM. Colt doesn’t do mid-length barrels; Paul does. YMMV.
Idea: Borrow a carbine, take Dean’s class piggy-backed with Pat’s class and then make an informed decision.
Who is Ken Elmore and what mods does he do?
Take a look here: www.specializedarmament.com
I made the choice to switch all my rifles to Colts. I owned in the past LMT, Bushmaster, Rock River Arms, Cav Arms, and DPMS. I built myself two test-bed carbines to find out what add-ons I liked with Bushmaster/LMT, and RRA/J&T, as the base guns and then sold them off and bought two Colt 6520s. I left one stock and put the add-ons from the test guns that I liked the most on the other.
I am very happy with my Colts, but in fairness I never had any issues with any of the other guns that I bought/built either.
Colt is not the company that it use to be. My last LE6920 I purchased was not anywhere the same as the last Colts that I have owned in the past. Function is perfect but as far as cosmetics they have really slipped. I bought my LE6920 from Ken Elmore with no problems and would recommend them if you want a new Colt. I am very partial to LMT right now, they seem to be making top notch rifles and parts. I have recently purchased a LMT upper and I am extremely happy with it.
I have seen some funky anodized Colt’s that were way off. I think every company puts out a lemon from time to time and Colt is no different. I have also seen some LMT’s that looked like they drop tested it in gravel before they sent it to me.
C4
okay but do Colt’s still run the same as they used to? that should be the important question…sounds to me you’re more concerned w/ the looks than the function. if you’re not then cool but when i hear someone knocking a company over looks i’m thinkin…then don’t buy it…and save it for me to pick up b/c if it’s something that is reliable and works almost 100% of the time…i’d take that any day over a “pretty” product that i’m continually having to work on. just my opinion though.
My strong feeling is that guns are tools, and as Jeff Cahill once stated, can be looked at like power drills on the pegboard. As long as they turn 'round when you press the trigger, that is all i care about.
I don’t own any pretty guns, though i do have some that are collectible.
I abhor the term “fit and finish” and believe that almost all on the errornet use it because they have nothing viable to say- therefore, insert fluff.
If the finish is rough, scratched, dinged, purple or whatever, so what? It will likely receive some Krylon anyway, but even if not- does it adversely affect reliability?
Back to the original question.
There is a difference, and that difference can be major. All the makers are capable of turning out both good and bad.
Colt has been making M16 types for a long time. They still make more in a month than anyone else makes in a year.
And they make to a standard.
I’d give LMT and Noveske a real close second (though they make different class of gun) and BCM makes a terrific upper.
Any of the mass market builders are probably OK for most non fighting applications, but their is a difference between shooting and fighting, and i don’t want to accept “just as good as” in a gunfight
Ya know… My Wife picked me out based on my “Fit and Finish”…
Where AR’s are concerned… I can’t even tell ya if I ever looked at any of my uppers and lowers to see if the finished matched… (I did look to see if they have bolts in them…)
I now currently run a BCM upper and a LMT lower that after I run about 1-2K thru it, I will know if it’s reliable or not…
Everyone is gonna tell ya THERE gun runs great… but statistically speaking… there Bucketheads and there one or two samples means Jack…
I want and will pay for that added reliability… some don’t… you have to decide what’s important to you and what you do with it. Once you figure that out… the choice becomes a lot easier…
Fit and Finish… I thought those were two gay guys from Sweden…
Well I don’t know how this thread turned into a knightsar bashing contest but here goes. I have owned Colt AR 15’s for over 20 years and reserve the right to reject one if I don’t like the looks of it. I stated the fact that my LE6920 I got from SAW, that it didn’t look as good as the others. It runs fine but I expected that when I bought it. My LMT and My KAC run just as good as it. I also have a AK that dosn’t look good but I bought it knowing that it goes bang every time. Funny how you all accused me as a safe queen buyer, that is a laugh.
Harv- unsure of your fit, but your finish is a little rough around the edges…
Looking fwd to the WI class!
IMHO, you get what you pay for. Colt is a premium product at a premium price and I feel that they are the best of the best. I never have any problems with any of my Colts. (and one is 42 yrs. old).
I Have This Gun This Is Best I Ever Have
But the real question is, “Are you a tool”? 
well I am a big Colt fan and all my ARs have been colts except two custom jobs. If you can find a solid custom builder like Tromix you will find the quality is better than Colt but you are going to pay for it. I dont think Tromix even makes ARs anymore because he was priced out of the market by all of the “Stags” and “Bushmaster” types. Not to knock Bushmaster, I think they run a pretty good product as well.
DPMS has some slick tack hammer setups as well.
I just got me a 6920 and I’ve been eyeing the BCM midlength barrel that’s sitting in my closet.
I think I’ll slap the two together and have the best of both worlds.
I wish Paul would sell his barrels separately so I wouldn’t have to buy an upper and all those small parts as well.
BCM DOES sell barrels alone (when he has them).
C4
With or without the FSB? I don’t have the scratch for his jig.