Like clockwork, the planning for the 2024 Ballistics’ Best AR-15 – 2024 competition began to roll. This project is one of the most detailed and logistically challenging events I participate in yearly. Ultimately, we would gather ten of the world’s best rifles, pull in every favor possible to secure thousands of rounds of ammo, and find a place to do all the testing and evaluation. When the dust settled, and travel schedules were aligned, we made our way to my trusty range just South of Phoenix. After some setup and prep, we got right to testing. I say we because testing like this requires more than one opinion. We take this responsibility seriously and want to provide the best feedback possible to the readers. The team for the day was all professionals in the industry with almost half a century of combined experience.
Ballistics’ Best AR-15 – 2024
This Ballistics’ Best category looks at AR15 rifles. The testing parameters are provided to us by the Ballistic Magazine staff and are pretty straightforward. Each category covered something that people in the AR market look for. The scale was set at 0-5, with the opening point being 3. That means every gun came in as a three and gained or lost points as the evaluation went on. The only significant score drop was in the category of sights. If a gun arrived without backup sights, it was automatically dropped to a zero in that category. The rest of the categories for Ballistics Best AR15-2024 , including value, are self-explanatory.
I alluded to the magnitude of this project, and there is no way it could have been completed without assistance from companies inside the firearms industry. A quick phone call to several major players in the glass world secured us some excellent optics for the testing—thanks to Primary Arms, Steiner, and Meprolight for your support. Of course, nothing can happen without ammo, and two of the best companies out there went out of their way to get us ammo. Hornady provided their 223 55gr FMJ/BT, and Federal sent us Federal American Eagle .223 55gr. The ball ammo would be used for general testing, but we went to precision ammo for the accuracy testing. To be fair, we ran all the guns with Federal Gold Medal Berger 73gr BT Target Open Tip Match ammo.
Detailed Testing
On the surface, this testing is straightforward. Simply evaluate each gun in detail, shoot it, test it for groups, and then give it a score. Ultimately, the individual scores would be tallied, and a winner would emerge. As the saying goes, however, that looks great on paper but is difficult to apply to the real world. All these guns were great; going into this, we knew we would need to be militant about the fine details and performance of the guns. In fact, only a few points ended up separating the first three places. With that laid out, let’s look at this year’s contenders for Ballistics Best AR15-2024 in alphabetical order.
Cox Arms USA EMR-1
First up is the Cox EMR-1. The EMR-1 is one of the most feature-rich guns I have seen in its price range. The EMR-1 starts with a 7075-T6 Aluminum forged receiver set. Inside the upper, Cox Arms uses an Enhanced Bolt Carrier Group. These BCGs go through both MPI and HPT to ensure quality. The EMR-1 has a mid-length gas system with a 16-inch government profile barrel. Cox Arms USA takes time to ensure the durability of the EMR-1. One example of that is Rocksetting the screws in the gas block. Over the barrel is a 13-inch Lightweight anti-rotation, steel-on-steel retention handguard.
The barrel is finished with Cox Arms USA’s High Performance “Battle Brake” Muzzle Device. The Battle Brake is the gold standard in muzzle devices. Another example of the quality and high-performance design of the gun is the inclusion of an Elftmann Tactical trigger. The Elf-SE trigger has a pull weight of only 3.5 pounds and is set inside an enhanced trigger guard for a sleek, complementary look. The EMR-1 has both an ambidextrous safety and an ambidextrous charging handle to make operation easier. While not a household name, Cox Arms USA is a company to watch.
Visit Cox Arms USA https://coxarmsusa.com/
Colt M5
The second gun in our lineup is the Colt M5. It was a pleasure to have Colt in the mix, and they sent a good rifle. The M5 is a series of new rifles they are offering. The fully redesigned lower and upper receiver features ambidextrous controls, and an enhanced upper receiver rail design ensures extreme rigidity. With maximum performance and ergonomics at the forefront of the design consideration, the Colt M5 Carbine utilizes a proven carbine length gas system with Colt’s new purpose-designed free float rail and upper receiver system. This system maximizes rail space and shooter comfort, reducing weight and bulk while maintaining the same lethality and accuracy expected from Colt.
Visit Colt https://www.colt.com/
FN DMR3
The next batter-up was the FN DMR3. This offering from FN is centered around accuracy and speed. This is achieved from the combination of the 18-inch hybrid profile barrel, rifle-length gas system, Geissele two-stage G2S trigger, and SureFire ProComp muzzle brake that greatly reduces both recoil impulse and muzzle rise and allows precise and accurate trigger control. The barrel has FN’s Hybrid profile that provides the stiffness and heat absorption needed for accurate, high-volume shooting. Dammer forging from FN’s proprietary “machine gun barrel” steel and chrome lining achieves a long barrel life.
The rifle also features a fully free-floating Hodge Defense-designed wedge lock handguard, a low-profile gas block pinned to the barrel, and an HP/MPI-tested and certified bolt and M16-style bolt carrier group for complete reliability and performance. It is available in matte black anodize, factory Cerakote flat dark earth (FDE), or tungsten gray with FN’s signature grip, buttstock, and magazine.
Visit FN USA https://fnamerica.com/
POF-P15 Base
Our next contestant was the brand-new POF-P15 Base. This new rifle is a feature-packed carbine at a great price point. This 100% American-made rifle features a POF-USA Mil-spec P-15 receiver set and their E2 16.5″ match-grade 5.56×45 NATO barrel. The Mil-spec BCG features POF’s patented Roller Cam Pin to ensure smooth operation. The Mil-spec anti-tilt 6 6-position buffer tube comes standard with a Mission-First First Tactical Minimalist Retractable Stock. The P-15 receiver set has been hard anodized black in color and features a 15″ M-LOK Handguard. The rail system provides a MIL-STD 1913 rail at the 12 o’clock position. Multiple M-LOK mounting interfaces exist for accessories at the 3, 6, and 9 o’clock positions.
Visit POF-USAhttps://pof-usa.com/
Rock River 20-Inch Operator DMR LAR-15M
I was pleased when Rock River responded and agreed to send a rifle as well. Their entry this year is the Rock River 20-Inch Operator DMR LAR-15M. Rock River is known to make workhorses, and this rifle follows that same line. It has a forged upper and lower receiver set and a chrome-lined barrel. Rock River is serious about accuracy with this gun and includes an RRA two-stage Ultra Match Trigger. It has an RRA 17-inch lightweight free float rail that is M-LOK compatible. At 7.2 pounds, the gun was a good balance of lightweight enough to carry anywhere and still soak up recoil. Designed as a designated marksman rifle, this entry from Rock River proved to be a shooter.
Visit Rock River Arms https://www.rockriverarms.com/
Sig M400 XSeries
What would a Ballistics Best be without an entry from Sig? With fully ambidextrous controls, including a bolt catch and release unique to the M400 SDI lower-receiver, the M400 XSeries delivers advanced performance for both left & right-handed shooters and makes transitional shooting easier than ever. The free-floating handguard utilizes a new steel lockup design that significantly reduces handguard deflection by providing maximum rigidity and allows for accessories to be attached on all four sides with no effect on accuracy. The 2-Stage Matchlite Duo trigger provides an out-of-the-box crisp 4.5 – 6.5lb pull weight with a flat blade design for a precision feel. The M400 XSeries utilizes quality chrome-lined barrels and performance coatings to ensure durability and reliability. It is everything we would expect from Sig.
Visit Sig Sauer https://www.sigsauer.com/
S&W MP15 Sporter III
Another regular in the Ballistics Best challenge is Smith & Wesson. Their rifle this year is the S&W MP15 Sporter III. The Smith & Wesson M&P15 Sport III is a versatile and reliable semi-auto rifle that offers excellent performance and affordability. Designed for recreational shooting and tactical applications, this rifle is chambered in both .223 Rem and 5.56 NATO, providing flexibility in ammunition choice. With a 16″ barrel and an adjustable overall length of 32″ to 35″, it’s engineered for accuracy and adaptability in various scenarios. This rifle continues the legacy of almost bomb-proof rifles at a very affordable price.
Visit Smith & Wesson https://www.smith-wesson.com/
Springfield Armory M-16A2
Our next entry is a bit of a retro classic. When I asked Springfield Armory which gun they would like to include this year, they sent me the SA-16. The SA-16A2 from Springfield Armory is a faithful recreation of the M-16A2, one of history’s most capable and iconic rifles. Featuring a variety of upgrades over its predecessor, the M-16A2 was designed for increased performance and accuracy. With meticulous craftsmanship and iconic features like the fixed stock and carry handle, it resonates with military history enthusiasts. Reflecting heritage through its A2 front sight tower, this rifle embodies Springfield Armory’s dedication to blending tradition and innovation for seasoned marksmen and collectors.
Visit Springfield Armory https://www.springfield-armory.com/
Stag Arms Sporter
Our next batter-up in Ballistics Best AR15-2024 is Stag Arms. They sent us a brand new rifle in their Stag Sporter lineup. Designed to be a lot of rifle at a good piece point, it is a winner. The Stag Sporter line provides robust overall construction and quality at a fantastic value without sacrificing reliability. These rifles are designed to be the perfect introductory rifle configuration that will last a lifetime. They include good-looking Magpul MOE furniture, a Nitride coated bolt carrier group, and a chrome-lined barrel. It is a lightweight shooter that fits the introductory gun category very well.
Visit Stag Arms https://www.stagarms.com/
Wilson Combat Tactical Ultralight
Wrapping it all up is the Wilson Combat Tactical Ultralight. Wilson Combat is synonymous with quality, and this rifle embodies that. This rifle was immediately unique because it was the only one not chambered in 5.56/.223. The Wilson Combat Tactical Ultralight is chambered in 300 HAM’R. Wilson Combat builds these rifles from a forged upper and lower receiver set created to the company’s own specifications and outfits these lightweight tactical rifles with a telescoping Rogers Super Stock, a lightweight 16-inch hunter profile match grade tapering barrel, and an ultra-lightweight M-Lok compatible railed handguard. Wilson Combat also finishes these firearms with its signature Armor-Tuff thermally cured finish that gained attention from its use on their 1911 pistols. Unlike a standard AR-15 pattern firearm, Wilson Combat also includes a low-mass bolt-carrier group to ensure the carbine remains as lightweight as possible.
Visit Wilson Combat https://wilsoncombat.com/
And the Winner is…The FN DMR3
As the last piece of brass hit the ground, storm clouds rolled in, and we reluctantly exited from range. We soon found ourselves reading extensive notes and computing scores. The competition between rifles was very tight, with less than half a point between them in many categories. When the last calculation was complete, the scores showed that this year’s winner was the FN DMR3. This rifle hit the trifecta of performance, price, and value. It was my favorite rifle this year. While it was priced above the others, it is a lesson that good things will cost you, but they are worth the investment.
Thank You
I have a deep respect for all the companies that provided guns for testing. It takes a confident brand to step into the ring like this without knowing what the outcome may be. We would recommend any of these rifles to new and experienced shooters alike and are honored to have had the chance to test them all in the Ballistics Best AR15-2024.
READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS
For our 2024 Ballistic’s Best, our experts evaluated over 90 firearms, firing literally thousands of rounds downrange. They used our scoring system, drilling down on features such as accuracy, reliability, and more. Then the experts picked the very best performer from each and every group.
Our readers, that’s you, get to vote on the very same groups our pros tested out on the range.
Check out our poll and CLICK HERE to cast your vote.
