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Will probably be purchasing my first AR15 in the next few weeks. I do not have much experience with them. I can get a dpms, del-con, or two smith and Wesson models at a relatively similar price. I have shot a dpms before, but never the other two. The smith and Wesson are program guns, m&p15 and M4.

I would take a S&W over Del-Ton and DPMS every day of the week, much less 2 of them.

I dont know what pricing you are getting, but stuff is becoming available again - dont pay inflated pricing.

Good luck!

$960 for the m4, $877 for the m&p15(both could get $100 off) $699 for either the dpms or del-ton

Of those I'd get an M&P 15 in Mag Pul MOE configuration just because that is what I have on my Colt.

Spend a little time doing research, decide what combination barrel length, gas system, and furniture you want, and then build your own. It is easy to do, and you will get a better AR that is more suited to you than you would buying off the rack.

As long as the M&P15 isn't the M&P "Sport" I would go that route. DPMS makes an OK AR but, thier lowers are not as good as most. I don't know anything about Del-Con. I own a M&P 15 MOE and a Frankengun AR with a Frontier Armory lower and a DPMS upper. Both rifles work flawlessly.

My MSR (Modern Sporting Rifle!) is an M&P15. Absolutely love it. We also own a DPMS Oracle, and I have had the pleasure to hold (not fire) a Del-Ton, so not quite sure about that one, but I would choose the S&W over any of the others you listed. But the true test is how does the firearm feel in your hands? To each his own when choosing a firearm.

TBM

I've shot all 3 of those brands, but don't own any of them. I've always had a less than stellar vibe about DPMS quality - but nothing on which to base that, just a feeling based on Internet reputation and a few parts that seem "cheap" in the hands.

Del-Ton is impressively robust from the outside - no idea on internals.

S&W is run of the mill, solid, average, no frills.

Decide configuration you want and pick the brand that has that configuration available.

Buddy of mine who owns the Del Ton chose it over S&W because the Del Ton was available with mid length gas system.

What is your intended use for the rifle? Plinking, Hunting, Defense?
Colt Manufacturing Company makes a variety of rifles that could fit the bill. LE6920s are rugged mil spec carbines that can go anywhere and do just about anything. These rifles, though marketed thru the commercial side, are manufactured on the Colt Defense line right along with the rifles going out to our troops. No short cuts, No lesser quality/commercialized parts or Processes. $1100-1300 depending on who's got one to sell.

Dadtodabone wrote:What is your intended use for the rifle? Plinking, Hunting, Defense?
Colt Manufacturing Company makes a variety of rifles that could fit the bill. LE6920s are rugged mil spec carbines that can go anywhere and do just about anything. These rifles, though marketed thru the commercial side, are manufactured on the Colt Defense line right along with the rifles going out to our troops. No short cuts, No lesser quality/commercialized parts or Processes. $1100-1300 depending on who's got one to sell.

Primary purpose would be defense. However my primary hunting cartridge is .308 so that has crossed my mind. Not sure how .223 would do on whitetail?

There used to be (I don't hunt deer anymore so I don't keep up with such things) a minimum caliber requirement of at least a .30 caliber for deer hunting - a .223 was considered another .22 and as such under powered for deer.

Cjwglock19 wrote:

Dadtodabone wrote:What is your intended use for the rifle? Plinking, Hunting, Defense?
Colt Manufacturing Company makes a variety of rifles that could fit the bill. LE6920s are rugged mil spec carbines that can go anywhere and do just about anything. These rifles, though marketed thru the commercial side, are manufactured on the Colt Defense line right along with the rifles going out to our troops. No short cuts, No lesser quality/commercialized parts or Processes. $1100-1300 depending on who's got one to sell.

Primary purpose would be defense. However my primary hunting cartridge is .308 so that has crossed my mind. Not sure how .223 would do on whitetail?

While you could legally hunt whitetail with the .223/5.56, your stalk and shot placement would be more challenging than that required when using a .308.
For defensive purposes you want something that will go bang every time you pull the trigger, whether you shoot and clean the rifle regularly or leave it in the closet for 6 months. I "know" that my Colts will indeed go bang when needed.
They aren't finicky about ammo, Russian, Greek, Israeli, Czech, Brazilian, Korean, and American all have passed through the barrels without a hiccup. Brass case or Steel case. Big Boolits or little boolits. Clean burning or Dirty. Hot or Cold. Wet or Dry. Sandy/Dusty/Muddy (barring obstructions in the barrel or chamber). 900 rounds in a Carbine class or 100 at the range.
There are commercial manufacturers that offer the same level of reliability, but you'll find that their prices are generally more to much, much more.

Abraham wrote:There used to be (I don't hunt deer anymore so I don't keep up with such things) a minimum caliber requirement of at least a .30 caliber for deer hunting - a .223 was considered another .22 and as such under powered for deer.

The restriction in gun/ammo is Rimfire or Centerfire cartridges. If it's rimfire of any caliber, no. If it's centerfire of any caliber, yes. From little centerfire hornets to a .50 bmg, all good to go. After all the average weight of a South Texas whitetail is around 125 lbs. and they don't wear carriers with chicken plates, even though our Peta friends wish they did and were armed as well.

Save up and buy a Daniel Defense. That way, it is impossible to let yourself down!

Colt LE6920. $1099at WalMart.