Opinions on High End AR's

[Bigtrav6442]

I've been trying to figure out which one to get and just wanting some opinions.  I had it narrowed down to a top 3 of the Daniel Defense MK18 10.3, Sig Spear 11.5 (yes I know it's not a true AR but still), or the Radian Mod 1 10.5...all SBR'd and all in 5.56.  I will only be running the gun suppressed if that changes the opinion.  I'm really leaning toward the Spear however I've never owned a piston driven AR.  Opinions???

[ken_mays]

I’d go with DD because SIG not only uses proprietary parts but they have a tendency to discontinue support for rifles.  DD makes a solid AR and at the end of the day it’s an AR with the parts compatibility.  
if you’re using a suppressor, an adjustable gas system is a great feature to have.   

[Choatecav]

16 hours ago, ken_mays said:

I’d go with DD because SIG not only uses proprietary parts but they have a tendency to discontinue support for rifles.  DD makes a solid AR and at the end of the day it’s an AR with the parts compatibility.  
if you’re using a suppressor, an adjustable gas system is a great feature to have.   

I agree with Ken on this.............

[RED333]

It's just my $0.02, why does that have to be "HIGH END"? When I hear that term high end, all I hear is lots of money.

I have multiple ARs and none of them costs more than seven hundred dollars. To me that's lots of money. Yet I see ARs for sale for thousands of dollars. 

Unless you are going to shoot thousands of rounds in the next few months to a year, I see no need in spending thousands of dollars on a rifle.

Again just my $0.02

[deerslayer]

I'm a lot more interested in building ARs nowadays, but if I were leaning high end and wanted to maximize bang-for-the-buck, I would look at BCM.  

Edited Saturday at 01:14 PM by deerslayer

[ken_mays]

3 hours ago, RED333 said:

It's just my $0.02, why does that have to be "HIGH END"? When I hear that term high end, all I hear is lots of money.

I have multiple ARs and none of them costs more than seven hundred dollars. To me that's lots of money. Yet I see ARs for sale for thousands of dollars. 

Unless you are going to shoot thousands of rounds in the next few months to a year, I see no need in spending thousands of dollars on a rifle.

Again just my $0.02

I think with ARs, you hit the point of diminishing returns pretty quick, say around $1500.  A good quality barrel is the key and as long as the other parts are decent, I don't see much point in spending a premium on them.   There are only a few major manufacturers of most of the parts, so I'm a bit jaundiced when it comes to the boutique AR market, especially when they're like "yeah other people make our parts but we QA them and put our name on them " and then not bother to actually do the QA / testing.

Edited Saturday at 03:53 PM by ken_mays

[leroy]

I think the " High End AR " thing wuz a thing invented by the " high end " builders to harvest more dollars thru either trickery or to lure the " Pride in Ownership " crowd in ta harvest their dollars.  It's the same thing with the high end 1911 builders/sellers.

An AR is an assemblage of parts.  If the parts are good and the assembly is good, the weapon is good --- warfare good... 

I build all my ARs. The heart of em is the barrel n trigger group.  Everything else is fluff n hype other than the bolt carrier n bolt...  

Food for thought.  

leroy.. 

[ken_mays]

I can understand some of the cost on 1911s because there’s a lot of hand fitting often required.  Either you have oversized parts and hand fitting or you’re making every part in house via CNC to your own specifications and tolerances.  
I don’t get buying a bunch of AR parts from diverse manufacturers, snapping them together, and putting a $3000 price tag on the result.  

[leroy]

3 hours ago, ken_mays said:

I can understand some of the cost on 1911s because there’s a lot of hand fitting often required.  ....  
I don’t get buying a bunch of AR parts from diverse manufacturers, snapping them together, and putting a $3000 price tag on the result.  ...

DING... DING.... DING.... We have a winner...

leroy....

[InertOrd13]

Having owned "lower," "middle," and "higher" end ARs I do see some difference when it comes to the different levels but I also see the higher end as having some proprietary component that fills a niche role. The few DD, BCM, and I would say WOA that I have owned have been great but I have kept my LMT and KAC rifles through everything. They have been the most reliable and flatest shooting compared to the others in my experience.

 

The SIG MCX is an awesome system however SIG likes to change generations frequently which often leaves owners unable to upgrade or swap out parts. They got me with the caliber kits with the 556xi before dropping it completely and I got into the MPX too which is now on its third generation with no promised caliber kits.

[btq96r]

I'm pretty happy with my two ARs that I assembled with various parts.  The biggest things I put money into were Geissele triggers (I'm on their flats for life), and decent optics (EO Tech and Vortex).  The rest is common enough, but it's working just fine.

That said, if you buy the DD, it's not a bad purchase at all.  I just never had the time or ammo budget to justify something that top shelf.

[River02]

Well-- I've built 2 ARs and purchased 2 factory fresh from DD. I cannot speak for any other brand since I have zero experience--- (except for Colt ...'cause every Vet likely has some experience w/Colts).

Having said that, the DD Mk18 10.3 (one of your 3 considerations) is a solid performer and my personal favorite among the 4 ARs in my inventory. I have probably 4-5 thousand factory rounds through it at this point and I don't recall a single FTF, FTE, un-intentional jam, or misfire (but I am getting older...) suppressed or not. Suppressor is a Dead Air Sandman S (adds 6 inches). The size, weight and length of the Mk18 work well for me.

The RIS III hand guard is everything it's advertised to be-- 'nuff said.

Mods for me on the Mk 18 have been adding a Geiselle SSA-E trigger (DD's stock mil spec triggers are meh), changing the butt stock to a B5 Systems Bravo stock, changing the buffer from H2 to H3 w/Sprinco Hot White buffer spring to mitigate felt recoil. This has made the firearm more comfortable to shoot and maintain/return to target much quicker (especially when suppressed).  I also added a small Magpul angled fore grip. 

DD has a lifetime manufactures warranty and I have found their customer service to be pretty squared away (not that have had to use them for any warranty work at this point).

I have 0 experience w/piston driven rifles. So no help there--- except to say opinions on a SHTF scenario does not favor them for finding replacement parts just lying around...   

My builds are solid shooters too and were fun and informative for me to do. I'd take any of my ARs to combat but my Mk 18 is first among equals let's say...

Not here to sell you on one brand or the other-- just sharing my experience.  I know folks who have built awesome AR SBRs and "generally" spend less than say on a Colt, BCM, DD, Noveskie etc. without sacrificing functionality or reliability. It's all about what you want and what you can justify to yourself (and the family budget) to spend.

Happy hunting and good luck! 

P.S. Do let us know what you decide!

[Choatecav]

1 hour ago, River02 said:

Well-- I've built 2 ARs and purchased 2 factory fresh from DD. I cannot speak for any other brand since I have zero experience--- (except for Colt ...'cause every Vet likely has some experience w/Colts).

Having said that, the DD Mk18 10.3 (one of your 3 considerations) is a solid performer and my personal favorite among the 4 ARs in my inventory. I have probably 4-5 thousand factory rounds through it at this point and I don't recall a single FTF, FTE, un-intentional jam, or misfire (but I am getting older...) suppressed or not. Suppressor is a Dead Air Sandman S (adds 6 inches). The size, weight and length of the Mk18 work well for me.

The RIS III hand guard is everything it's advertised to be-- 'nuff said.

Mods for me on the Mk 18 have been adding a Geiselle SSA-E trigger (DD's stock mil spec triggers are meh), changing the butt stock to a B5 Systems Bravo stock, changing the buffer from H2 to H3 w/Sprinco Hot White buffer spring to mitigate felt recoil. This has made the firearm more comfortable to shoot and maintain/return to target much quicker (especially when suppressed).  I also added a small Magpul angled fore grip. 

DD has a lifetime manufactures warranty and I have found their customer service to be pretty squared away (not that have had to use them for any warranty work at this point).

I have 0 experience w/piston driven rifles. So no help there--- except to say opinions on a SHTF scenario does not favor them for finding replacement parts just lying around...   

My builds are solid shooters too and were fun and informative for me to do. I'd take any of my ARs to combat but my Mk 18 is first among equals let's say...

Not here to sell you on one brand or the other-- just sharing my experience.  I know folks who have built awesome AR SBRs and "generally" spend less than say on a Colt, BCM, DD, Noveskie etc. without sacrificing functionality or reliability. It's all about what you want and what you can justify to yourself (and the family budget) to spend.

Happy hunting and good luck! 

P.S. Do let us know what you decide!

While my primary AR is the Daniel Defense DDM4 V7, I have to agree with all that River02 says here.  I too replaced the trigger with the Gieselle SSA-E trigger and also have an ACOG scope installed, but it is just absolutely flawless.  I have not put as many rounds as River has through his, but I have put a lot and never one, single failure.  

I have fed quality ammo through it and I have fed crap, too.  It eats it all.  

Again, this is not to sell a "brand" but these things are just as solid as a rock in their makeup, construction and performance.  

Edited yesterday at 12:02 AM by Choatecav

[deerslayer]

On 4/4/2025 at 2:28 PM, ken_mays said:

  if you’re using a suppressor, an adjustable gas system is a great feature to have.   

THIS, especially with a 10.5, which can get pretty violent gas-wise.  Some folks tune the gun with different buffers and springs, but this does nothing to address excessive gas, which will almost be guaranteed when you add a conventional suppressor.  Overgassing will speed up wear and tear on the gun and maybe choke you in the process.  I don't know how much adjustment the SIG's piston allows, but I would definitely put an adjustable gas block on a gas impingement 10.5 that I planned to suppress, at least for 5.56.  Something a lot weaker like subsonic Blackout is another matter.  

Edited yesterday at 12:01 PM by deerslayer