I dipped my toe off into the thermal world and now I'm wanting to jump all in!

My question is, just how big of a difference is there in the performance of the $600 and $1200 ARs?

I currently have my thermal on a .223 AR, but I'd like to put something together in either a 6.8 SPC or 6.5 Grendel to mount the thermal on for shooting hogs mainly.

My experience with Budget ARs is limited to Aero Precision and one now defunct Olympic Arms, both functioned fine and had acceptable accuracy. I think for most budget ARs you will not notice a performance difference right away assuming they are within the correct specs.

Now QC is not usually great from budget brands, so improperly staked gas keys/extension nuts, and other issues may be present on the budget guns, and you will usually sacrifice things like chrome lining in barrels, lightweight handguards, ambidextrous features, triggers, and barrel twist rates are usually 1 in 9 etc.

Now aesthetically it was obviously different than a BCM->Daniel Defense->KAC. meaning those had obivously better fit and finish, and barrels being rated for many thousand more rounds at prescribed shooting schedules (ie read as contracted by agencies so must be proven empirically). If you look up BCM Filthy 14 that will give you an idea on what at least a BCM can potentially handle, I would not have expected that level of performance from abuse out of either the Aero or Oly Arms I had.

ETA: For your use case of hunting primarily, I would would say you would still be well served by Aero or PSA. Calibers your looking to use is not likely to be you SHTF choice I would assume.

If you are shooting hogs, a PSA AR or something similar is fine.

However, if shooting a thermal, I'd probably get something higher end. Or, get a lower end one, and upgrade components as you go.

I just picked up a 6.5 Grendel upper from PSA and already shot a pig with it. Seems to be just fine for met shooting pigs at 150 yards or less

I've finished a match with a PSA when my LaRue broke down (assembly error on my part).

I have a PSA and a Bushmaster that have both had 1000+ rounds through them with very few, if any, issues that I remember.

That said, my DD and LaRue seem to have a little better fit and finish, feel "smoother" to shoot, and I am confident would group better at range. I've shot them both to 800, but haven't taken the cheaper ARs past 1-200.

A budget gun will be fine for 90% of people. I'd suggest spending more if you intend to use it heavily, at longer distances, or want to know you have the best if used for defense.

Very helpful info. Thank you all

96ags said:

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Very helpful info. Thank you all

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Honestly, you start with the lower end, and then you end up getting the higher end anyhow, so you might as well go ahead and get a higher end one IMHO.

BCM, DD, Larue, etc all good.

You're partially paying for better quality parts, partially for more quality control, and sometimes just for name/hype.

The higher round count you put on the gun, the more quality parts, assembly, etc will start to matter.

If you like tinkering feel free to start budget and upgrade things as you learn/break stuff/decide to.

If you're a buy once and forget about it kind of guy grab a colt, bcm, solgw, DD, geissele, etc and be done with it.

Also consider future upgrades.

If you want to suppress it, an agb may be a useful feature. If you ever want to mount an ir laser the rail needs to be capable of retaining zero, etc.

IMO, the number one item on "budget" AR's will be to change the dismal milspec trigger. The quality of the barrel might be suspect, but often shooters try and verify accuracy with the crummiest of FMJ's, a lousy test.

And as mentioned, there might be some QC issues, that could require minimal effort or parts to correct or upgrade. The tacticool operators often like to state "the rifle has not been really tested until (fill in the blank..500/1000/ or more) rounds have been shot throught it"....as if the typical hog, varmint, or casual shooter will ever reach those numbers.
And chrome lined bores are a throwback to the military connection, for use under (extremely) adverse conditions. In all of my days in NRA Highpower competition, quality barrels were seldom (never?) chrome lined.

PSA

Had PSA, Bear Creek, and Aero guns that work perfect and still use the BCA side charger. Can also say I have seen some with errors from factory due to bad quality control like posters above have said. I think it's luck of the draw maybe? I probably wouldn't suggest buying a full gun from PSA or Bear Creek when you can buy piece by piece of better equipment online and build yourself either, but I like the Lego aspect of the platform.

Have three psa ar15's (two stainless uppers, one chf chrome lined upper). One ar10 in.308. Never had an issue with any. Have well over 1.5k rounds through one of the stainless.

The rifle that I shoot the most is a budget AR. I would wholly recommend it. I built the lower and bought the upper from Eyeguy at Texian.

With any rifle you buy, even the more premium names you should put some rounds through it and make sure all is well. And then expect for something to need adjusting/fixing if you shoot it enough.

Back to my Texian rifle. Bought it pre pandemic, put maybe a little more than 500 rounds through it. The gas block did come loose and Eyeguy was on top of it with excellent customer service. Called me and walked me through tightening it back up and offered for me to bring it in and check everything out as well. Incredible customer service. Since then I have kept track of the round count and have a little more than 1500 rounds through it. No issues at all. Here are two quick vids from the WTF biathlon using it in October.





You cant see much in the second video but was shooting 300, 400 and 500 yards. As long as you have a decent barrel the gun will be more accurate than you. Unless you are Billy Dixon.

Also for context I have a bcm for "serious" use however I shoot the Texian way more and trust it equally. Just my humble opinion.