I understand people are on budgets, so I don't get all snooty if someone wants a S&W or equivalent AR, because they aren't likely to push it really, really hard. The Colts are still the yardstick by which a fighting AR is measured (some people say they are the baseline). The DD stuff is pretty good, and they stand behind it. BCM offerings ditto, but - IMHO - not any better. LMT about the same. I haven't been around a new Noveske or Larue, but Knight's Armament are dandy, but they don't come cheap.
For coyote guns, show-and-tell shooters or paper/pop bottle plinkers, it doesn't matter because if it takes a crap at the wrong time, nobody is likely to die as a consequence.
Mr. niteowl77
Colt is a bit expensive for what you get. Checking the specs they don’t mention cold hammer forged barrels. Other than that though they’re great, and they would hold their value better than other brands.
FN is rumored to be the maker of most AR cold hammer forged barrels on the market. FN makes great barrels. The M16A2 I shot with my state’s National Guard rifle team was a FN and it was a tack driver. My SCAR 17 is crazy accurate also.
I agree that when people ask what AR to buy, I give them advice that they proceed to ignore, and then they buy a $599 AR on sale at the local gunshop.