This site is great, it has the most knowledgeable people I’ve seen. I’ve learned more in the last week about AR’s than in the last 10yrs.
I’ve noticed folks really getting bent out of shape over the Comparison Chart. I myself have a Stag M4clone. It shoots great and always works. When I first bought it I thought I was really buying a top of the line rifle. I was one of those people that said “F**K Colt and their expensive rifle. They’re all the same aren’t they?”
After reading alot of post on this site, I’ve come to appreciate the differences in the rifle MFGs. and their quality. Instead of people worrying about their choice in weapon and trying to tell why it’s AS GOOD as a Colt, LMT, etc. Why not just do a few simple upgrades of the components.
I’ve upgraded my BCG, added a FF M.I. Carbine Hand Guard, staked what needed staking and got an H2 Buffer. The only thing I’m gonna leave alone is the barrel until I’ve shot mine out. These simple upgrades have moved my STAG way to the left on the chart and I’m still under the price of the Big Boys.
Thanks for all the good info everyone puts out on this site.
I wouldnt about buying another barrel to upgrade it as unless you want a different twist rate it will do you fine. Besides you have been injected with the BRD virus for which there is no anti-virus.
Truth be told, the BCG in your Stag was just fine. The gas key just needed to be staked. I also like to change the blue extractor insert for a black one and upgrade the spring. This is of course just personal preference.
What you have done does move your weapon to the left of the chart, but of course does not make it equal to Colt or LMT.
So if I put every single part into my STAG that’s in the COLT or LMT, and kept the STAG receivers, it still wouldn’t be equal? I thought all receivers were pretty much the same?
I’m glad to be getting all this info. I’ll be better prepared for my next purchase or build.
That is correct. The reason is that your stag receiver does not have the M4 cuts in it.
All receivers are not created equal. We have stopped ordering and using CMT/Stag upper receivers as we have found their rail to be canted on a lot of them.
We now buy and use receivers from a USGI contractor.
LMT, Colt & FN have numerous redundant QA/QC processes, as req’d by gov contract. And, expensive physical security req’s as well.
Other vendors my have decent products, but I’d bet (& the gov does) statistically the afore mentioned will put out a stream of relatively good products.
Some things on the list are funny, like the barrel parked underneath the gas block…?? I’ve yanked sights off Colt 14.5 & seen rust, and same for LMT 10.5" CQBR’s and not seen any. All immersed in salt water. I think the “white” barrel underneath a gas block may be a better seal…?? Anecdotal, only a handful looked at, not enough for a valid statistical sample.
The funny thing to me in general as it relates to the chart…
Years ago at some point during the ban, mid 90’s I guess, when you asked about what kind of AR to buy everyone would say “stick to the ABC’s”. ABC meaning Armalite, Bushmaster and Colt. And then there is this new company called Rock River, they are making great AR’s that give Bushmaster and Armalite a run for their money but Colt is still king.
Now people rarely mention Armalite, bad or good for the most part. Bushmaster sucks by many accounts, Colt is still king. RRA can’t seem to make many happy, no MPI bolt, rifle extensions, commercial extension tubes on and on and on…never mind the fact that when Bushmaster was a “buy one of the ABC” rifles they did all that and worse, but were still considered top notch. They all used HBAR’s. Now the tacticool thing to have is these super light weight or GI profiles…
Enter LMT, Saber Defense, CMMG and a boat load of others who are now considered better than everything but a Colt…
I just think it’s funny how things change.
You can add a BCM BCG to a Stag, RRA, or most of the others and move the thing way to the left. Bravo sells CMT/Stag upper receivers with the M4 ramps and you can essentially build a Stag upper moving it further to the left.
I think the good thing is that there are now many good manufacturers or assemblers or whatever you want to call them turning out some very decent AR product. To most people it will never matter if the barrel steel isn’t military grade. Or that the bolts were batch tested instead of individual. I don’t hear as often the jam-o-matic stories you used to hear in the late 80’s when there were only a few mfg(ABC & Oly) and people bought stipped lowers and uppers with no internet to tell them how to build a rifle and they FUBAR’ed the build and had a jam-o-matic. Adding to the legand that AR15/M16 ain’t worth a shit.
Now go wear out that barrel so you have an excuse to upgrade it as well!