I bought a Colt AR-15 and ammo last year. Haven’t fired it yet. I thought it was a pretty good rifle, but I don’t know much about them. Hearing about these jams is worrisome. But mine is pristine, so I should be OK?
AR-15’s need lubricant and proper cleaning. Keep up with those and use good magazines (not cheap ones with crap springs) and it is a fine rifle. You should always cycle firearms magazines to keep the springs healthy, but this is especially true for the AR in my experience.
If you don’t think you can keep up with the AR you should buy a good AK variant. There is nothing wrong with them and you are better admitting that obsessive cleaning is not your thing and getting something that will work for you. What you sacrifice in accuracy you will more than make up for in reliability. They are much easier to maintain and if you forget to lube it for a day, week, or month it will still work.
First thing, guns don't jam, they can have a malfunction - jam goes on toast. Second, learn to properly clean your rifle, keep the bolt and bolt carrier clean. Having said that, I have run over 500 rounds through my AR-15 rifles in competitions without a malfunction. Use good magazines and keep them clean. I have been using Magpul P mags and I think they function great. Use good ammo as well. One of my rifles has had well over 5000 rounds through it, and it still runs great. At least it did until I lost it and all of my other weapons in that tragic boating accident.
I noticed that too.
Just wild speculation here: Im guessing the AR was not shooting Hornady ammo, prob Walmart Tula or another Russian brand. Those are cheap (20 something are not rich) and likely steel. These are known to fail in some ARs.