I worked for years at an automotive garage, and the one thing I learned there about vehicles also holds true for AR-type rifles: There are different accessory packages, grades of trim, and luxury features, but at the core level of chassis and engine, most vehicles are functionally the same. That doesn’t mean, however, that all rifles are created equal. High-end rifles generally feature better triggers, sleeker designs on handguards and lower receivers, flared mag wells, and upgraded pistol grip and buttstocks. Barrels, adjustable gas blocks, and state-of-the-art muzzle devices all contribute to a better shooting experience and improved accuracy.
On the flip side, your average sub-$1,000 rifle typically comes with Mil-Spec parts — trigger, pistol grip, buttstock, handguard, and barrel. These rifles don’t have as clean of lines, so to…
