I'm still looking for an AR .....

[JimP]

..... Actually, I want a couple of them, eventually: a 5.56 carbine length, and a rifle length in 6.8 ...... I can dream for nothin', but guns cost dollars......sometimes lotsa dollars.

I am seeing DPMS and others for around $800, (used for as low as $700 OTD) .....

I have been ogling this:

http://www.impactguns.com/store/COLT-LE6920BF.html

for a long while now, seeing it's asking price drop 400 beans in the last year.

I there something wrong with the bargain brand (Stag, DPMS, CMMG etc.) or is Colt  charging a $400 premium for an image of a horse? 

Every Colt firearm I have ever had performed well.... anyone have a LE6920?

[Hardwood83]

Speaking only for myself- I'm fine buying a less then 'premium' brand AR. I own a Stag, RRA & Doublestar. They all are fine guns and do everything I ask of them. The best bang for the buck is the Doublestar: http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/36_753/products_id/411537958
a Carbine HBAR (the M4 profile is same price) for only $659 shipped! Mine is more accurate then I am and gobbles up cheap ammo with no complaint. I researched it pretty thoroughly before buying about a year ago and couldn't find any complaints.  

There are others here that are more experienced & knowledgeable then me, that can chime in, But in my experience and for my needs a more expensive rifle would add nothing but cost. Read some reviews pick one you like and spend the extra $$ on ammo, IMO.

[bkoenig]

Check out the CMMG bargain bin rifles.  They're supposed to be a great value:

http://cmmginc.secure-mall.com/shop/?cat=161

[FarmerRick]

You can build 2 AR15 rifles for the price of one Colt LE6920.

[SeanN]

..... Actually, I want a couple of them, eventually: a 5.56 carbine length, and a rifle length in 6.8 ...... I can dream for nothin', but guns cost dollars......sometimes lotsa dollars.

I am seeing DPMS and others for around $800, (used for as low as $700 OTD) .....

I have been ogling this:

http://www.impactguns.com/store/COLT-LE6920BF.html

for a long while now, seeing it's asking price drop 400 beans in the last year.

I there something wrong with the bargain brand (Stag, DPMS, CMMG etc.) or is Colt  charging a $400 premium for an image of a horse? 

Every Colt firearm I have ever had performed well.... anyone have a LE6920?

A Colt is one of the best AR's you can buy. Milspec everything. Yes, I know, many people consider it a buzz word. But it honestly isn't. Things like proper staking on the gas key on the bolt carrier, stronger and correct diameter receiver extensions, MPI testing every bolt and carrier for defects, etc. Will a Colt be better than a "bargain" (DPMS, Bushmaster, RRA, etc.) AR? May or may not be. The main difference is that with a Colt things are tested to a higher degree and your chance of getting a bad AR is lower. Still not impossible by any means, but lower.

I own a Bushmaster and it's been great by me. I would recommend a Colt to someone over a Bushmaster, however. I would also be a Colt owner or a BCM owner if I could do it over.

Best brands from what I've read and seen:
-Colt
-Bravo Company (BCM)
-Daniel Defense

The Daniel Defense seems to be the best bang for the buck. You get all mil-spec parts with flip up sights on a flat top for a relatively low price. You also get a cold forged barrel, which is always nice.

http://www.aimsurplus.com/product.aspx?item=F1DDXV

Best deal I've seen.

[SeanN]

You can build 2 AR15 rifles for the price of one Colt LE6920.

This is true, Rick. However, two is not always better than one.

[bkoenig]

Spike's has a good reputation as a high end AR, and they're pretty affordable.  Here's a carbine for $800 that's supposed to be completely mil-spec, for what it's worth:

http://www.spikestactical.com/z/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=113&products_id=387

[Jsabbw]

JimP,
I have a Colt 6940. Been nothing but reliable. I have nothing to compare it to exept the 6920 and a Rock River that I ran through a class. Both the Colt and Rock River performed fine. I have shot the Daniel Defense and for the money it does give you alot. Just my opinions though.

[Famous556]

Not to bring this thread back from the dead, but I think you should look at Bravo Company rifles.  They are considered to be top notch rifles and you can get them on the cheap right now.  Check out www.bravocompanyusa.com .  They are having a huge sale on uppers and also have blem lowers for a huge discount.  You can build a complete rifle from them for under 900$ right now.  Everyone who has bought a blem lower has had to search and search to find the blemish, and once they do it is usually very small and nearly unnoticable.  Check them out, I just bought an upper from them and I haven't got to shoot it yet but the quality is top notch.

ETA:
FWIW, I also own a DPMS carbine and although theres a lot of information out there of people supposedly having problems with them, I can tell you firsthand that mine has been nothing short of perfect.  I bought the BCM because I wanted a flattop but my DPMS has been good to me for over 2000 rounds.

[Rich B]

+1 to the Bravo Co recommendation.  Great stuff at a great price.  Colt/LMT quality, IMO.

Also, CDNN is selling S&W M&P-15s for $600.  I'd take a S&W over DPMS, Oly, Bushmaster, or even Stag (and I own a Stag and my wife's AR wears a Bushmaster upper).