# AR15 folks, I need an opinion **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 6, 2003, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ar15-folks-i-need-an-opinion/159395 "2003-03-06T01:55:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lazlo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lazlo/32/9678_2.png) [@Lazlo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lazlo)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2003, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ar15-folks-i-need-an-opinion/159395/1 "2003-03-06T01:55:32Z")
How are [American Spirit Arms?](http://www.gunkits.com) They had a table at a gun show this last weekend and they seem to be really well made. I’ve been thinking of getting a flat top receiver with a floating barrel and I need some opinions on AR15 producers. My current AR is made by Olympic Arms. TIA. ---
**Author:** ![Hermann\_Cheruscan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b782af/32.png) [@Hermann\_Cheruscan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermann_Cheruscan)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2003, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ar15-folks-i-need-an-opinion/159395/2 "2003-03-06T02:09:53Z")
I don’t know anything about American Spirit. I own 3 Bushmasters and they are all high quality. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2003, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ar15-folks-i-need-an-opinion/159395/3 "2003-03-06T03:23:44Z")
I haven’t heard of American Spirit. My AR-15s are a 1979 Colt, an Essential Arms (with a Bushmaster upper), and a Bushmaster. If I were going to get another one (after I move out of the PRK) I’d look for a pre-ban Colt, just because. But my first choice for another builder would be Bushmaster. They have a great reputation. (FTR, I’ve never had any problems with the Essential Arms.) ---
**Author:** ![Lazlo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lazlo/32/9678_2.png) [@Lazlo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lazlo)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2003, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ar15-folks-i-need-an-opinion/159395/4 "2003-03-06T22:04:30Z")
Hmmm… I hadn’t heard of American Spirit either 'til I saw them at the gun show. I know Bushmaster is probably the best value, but American Spirit is in the same price range. The Colts look great and I’ve heard nothing but good about them, but I don’t like not being able to swap uppers with other brands (at least on post ban). ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2003, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ar15-folks-i-need-an-opinion/159395/5 "2003-03-06T22:21:29Z")
Swapping uppers on Colt lowers is problematic with pre-ban as well, because of the larger front pivot. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2003, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ar15-folks-i-need-an-opinion/159395/6 "2003-03-06T23:33:34Z")
Owner of a Bushmaster Shorty AK Carbine here, working on piecing together a “mutt” of an AR-15 for my Pop. Never heard of “American Spirit”. Their prices seem somewhat reasonable, but I would definitely visit a few gun stores and gun shows before I commit. Nothing like market research. . . 😃 Tripler He, who bought his on an impulse buy. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2003, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ar15-folks-i-need-an-opinion/159395/7 "2003-03-07T00:52:11Z")
I’m not an AR fan, so I won’t be of much help. But in addition to this forum I would also try the forums at the following sites: [http://www.ar15.com/](http://www.ar15.com/) [http://www.assaultweb.net/](http://www.assaultweb.net/) [http://www.thefiringline.com/](http://www.thefiringline.com/) (this is closed for new posts) I believe each forum has a search feature. ---
**Author:** ![Kalashnikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/2bfe46/32.png) [@Kalashnikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalashnikov)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2003, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ar15-folks-i-need-an-opinion/159395/8 "2003-03-07T05:43:12Z")
The Firing Line has been replaced by [www.thehighroad.org](http://www.thehighroad.org) ---
**Author:** ![Lazlo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lazlo/32/9678_2.png) [@Lazlo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lazlo)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2003, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ar15-folks-i-need-an-opinion/159395/9 "2003-03-07T10:34:01Z")
Hooo Boy… According to [AR15.com](http://AR15.com), American Spirit Arms makes garbage. Here’s what some members had to say: > [@](#): > > You poor bastard! Sorry to hear that you have an ASA. You can’t give them away here locally. > [@](#): > > Ya, I bought an M4 from ASA, I took it in their shop 4 times, and they have blamed it on everything but the rifle. Thanks for all the input and links! ---
**Author:** ![dadman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@dadman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dadman)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2003, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ar15-folks-i-need-an-opinion/159395/10 "2003-03-07T14:05:22Z")
[ar15.com](http://ar15.com) ‘staff’ did a favorable review of an ASA lower receiver some time ago. I think it’s still on the home page in the reviews section. IMO all the forged lowers are pretty much the same. Had a Bushmaster lower that had crappy finish machining. Sometimes a big name does’t always guarantee quality. Nothing wrong with parts guns, as long as you use good parts. Check out J&T Distributing/DoubleStar from Winchester, KY. Good stuff. Whatever lower or upper combo is used, have a good barrel.