Bushmaster XM-15 Standard: The AR-15 has long been associated with Bushmaster, and the XM-15 Standard is a prime example of the company’s guns. The rifle is affordable yet well appointed with an M16 bolt carrier, M4 feed ramps and a heavy chrome-lined barrel. On top is a carry handle with an integral rear sight that works well with the A2-style front sight tower. The company includes one 30-round Magpul PMAG to feed the rifle.
Caliber: 5.56mm NATO
Barrel: 16 inches
OA Length: 35 inches
Weight: 7 pounds (empty)
Stock: Collapsible
Sights: A2 front, carry handle rear
Action: Direct impingement semi-auto
Finish: Matte black
Capacity: 30+1 MSRP: $895
Colt Expanse M4: When people talk about the AR-15, many consider Colt as the gold standard. Colt proves, however, that being the standard doesn’t mean unaffordable. For less than $750, you can buy an Expanse M4 rifle. This is a true 5.56mm NATO rifle with a 1-in-7-inch-twist barrel and hardcoat anodized 7075-T6 receivers. The flattop upper allows for the easy installation of an optic. Colt rounds out the gun with an adjustable stock, a single-stage trigger, a forward assist and a dust cover.
Caliber: 5.56mm NATO
Barrel: 16.1 inches
OA Length: 32-35.5 inches
Weight: 6.44 pounds (empty)
Stock: Collapsible
Sights: A2 front
Action: Direct impingement semi-auto
Finish: Matte black
Capacity: 30+1 MSRP: $749
Dark Storm Industries DS-15 MOE Standard: This rifle uses a carbine-length gas system with an M16 bolt carrier group. Matched with Magpul gear, this gun gives you a lot of desirable upgrades in its standard package. This is an optics-ready rifle, and the gas block is railed for the installation of a folding front sight.
Caliber: 5.56mm NATO
Barrel: 16 inches
OA Length: 34.13-37.5 inches
Weight: 6.38 pounds (empty)
Stock: Magpul MOE
Sights: None
Action: Direct impingement semi-auto
Finish: Matte black
Capacity: 30+1 MSRP: $895
DPMS AP4 Carbine: As the best-selling rifle in the company’s catalog, the DPMS AP4 Carbine must be doing something right. This AR-15 rifle has a chrome-lined, government-profile, 16-inch barrel with a 1-in-9-inch twist rate and an A2-style muzzle device. The carry handle is removable should you opt for a scope instead of the iron sights. Keeping your support hand cool is the Glacier Guard handguard. An adjustable stock rounds out this carbine.
Caliber: 5.56mm NATO
Barrel: 16 inches
OA Length: 32.5-36.5 inches
Weight: 7.15 pounds (empty)
Stock: Collapsible
Sights: A2 front, carry handle rear
Action: Direct impingement semi-auto
Finish: Matte black
Capacity: 30+1 MSRP: $959
Mossberg MMR Carbine: Mossberg is well known for building defensive shotguns, so it only makes sense that it would also build a high-quality AR-15 suitable for protecting your home. Mossberg’s MMR Carbine has a free-floating, 16.25-inch barrel with a 1-in-8-inch twist rate for good accuracy with a range of bullet weights. The slim handguard has M-LOK attachment points, and Mossberg equips the MMR with the Magpul MOE pistol grip. The sights are adjustable and set far apart to help increase your precision at longer ranges.
Caliber: 5.56mm NATO
Barrel: 16.25 inches
OA Length: 35.75 inches
Weight: 6.75 pounds (empty)
Stock: Collapsible Sights: Adjustable
Action: Direct impingement semi-auto
Finish: Matte black
Capacity: 30+1 MSRP: $938
Ruger AR-556: With the AR-556, Ruger proves that price and quality do not always increase proportionally. This is a top-quality rifle that has several great features, including a milled gas block, a Rapid Deploy folding rear sight, a crisp single-stage trigger and a cold-hammer-forged barrel. Ruger also designed a barrel nut and delta ring to ease handguard removal yet retain compatibility with most carbine-length handguards. Ruger’s pistol grip feels great in the hand and offers good control over the gun. The gun comes with a 30-round PMAG.
Caliber: 5.56mm NATO
Barrel: 16.1 inches
OA Length: 32.25-35.5 inches
Weight: 6.5 pounds (empty)
Stock: Collapsible
Sights: A2 front, flip-up rear
Action: Direct impingement semi-auto
Finish: Matte black
Capacity: 30+1 MSRP: $799
Savage MSR 15 Patrol: Respected rifle-maker Savage Arms is now fully in the AR game with a range of enhanced carbines like this MSR 15 Patrol model. The gun uses a .223 Wylde chamber that arguably offers improved performance over both the .223 Remington and 5.56mm NATO while still being completely compatible with both. Additionally, the gun has a mid-length gas system, a 5R-rifled barrel with a 1-in-8-inch twist rate and a flip-up rear sight. The gun uses an enhanced mil-spec trigger while the pistol grip and adjustable stock are provided by BlackHawk.
Caliber: .223 Wylde
Barrel: 16.13 inches
OA Length: 32.5-35.75 inches
Weight: 6.5 pounds (empty)
Stock: BlackHawk Axiom
Sights: A2 front, flip-up rear
Action: Direct impingement semi-auto
Finish: Matte black
Capacity: 30+1 MSRP: $868
Smith & Wesson M&P15 Sport II: Smith & Wesson’s M&P15 rifles are very popular with shooters, and it is easy to see why: They offer a lot of gun for the money. The M&P15 Sport II is a direct-impingement gun with a 16-inch barrel that includes all of the typical AR-15 features: an A2-style pistol grip, an adjustable stock and an A2-style front sight. Smith & Wesson then adds a Magpul MOE handguard and rear sight, and backs the gun with a lifetime service policy.
Caliber: 5.56mm NATO
Barrel: 16 inches
OA Length: 35 inches
Weight: 6.45 pounds (empty)
Stock: Collapsible
Sights: A2 front, Magpul MBUS rear
Action: Direct impingement semi-auto
Finish: Matte black
Capacity: 30+1 MSRP: $739
Springfield Armory SAINT: When Springfield Armory unveiled the Saint late last year, the blogosphere blew up. Some asked, “Why do we need another AR?” while others applauded Springfield for bringing a really cool rifle to the market. While it is another AR, it is not just another AR! The SAINT features a 7075-T6 Type III hardcoat anodized aluminum upper and lower; Accu-Tite receiver tensioning system; 16-inch chrome-moly-vanadium steel, Melonited barrel with a 5.56mm NATO chamber and a 1:8, right-hand twist rate; A2-style gas block and front sight; BCM’s PKMR handguard, Gunfighter stock and Mod 3 pistol grip; flip-up rear sight that offers dual apertures and 0.5-MOA windage adjustments; M16 bolt carrier group machined from Carpenter 158 steel; single-stage, nickel-boron-coated trigger group and much more.
Caliber: 5.56mm NATO
Barrel: 16 inches
OA Length: 32.25-35.5 inches
Weight: 6.69 pounds (empty)
Stock: BCM Gunfighter
Sights: A2 front, flip-up rear
Action: Direct impingement semi-auto
Finish: Matte black
Capacity: 30+1
MSRP: $899
Windham Weaponry Carbon-Fiber SRC: If you want a lightweight rifle at a reasonable price, it is tough to beat the Carbon-Fiber SRC from Windham Weaponry. This AR uses a molded carbon-fiber lower receiver that helps keep its weight down to 5.85 pounds while maintaining high strength and durability. The barrel is chrome lined with M4 feed ramps. Like the upper, the low-profile gas block is topped with a Picatinny rail to offer flexibility in choosing iron sights or glass for sighting.
Caliber: 5.56mm NATO
Barrel: 16 inches
OA Length: 32.38-36.13 inches
Weight: 5.85 pounds (empty)
Stock: Collapsible Sights: None
Action: Direct impingement semi-auto
Finish: Matte black
Capacity: 30+1 MSRP: $846
Whether for field use, home defense or just an afternoon of fun, the AR-15 is a fantastic weapon system. There has never been a better selection of quality carbines at affordable prices than right now. For your first AR, or your 10th, the following rifles from Springfield Armory, Bushmaster, Ruger, Smith & Wesson and more all come in under $1,000.
