BARRETT MODEL 82A1 -- CALIBER: .416 Barrett, .50 BMG • BARREL: 20 or 29 inches WEIGHT: 31.45-32.72 pounds • STOCK: Synthetic SIGHTS: Front post, adjustable rear • ACTION: Semi-auto FINISH: Several options available • CAPACITY: 10+1 • MSRP: $9,119-$9,323
BRAVO COMPANY EAG TACTICAL -- CALIBER: 5.56mm NATO BARREL: 14.5 inches (16 w/A2 flash suppressor) WEIGHT: 7.5 pounds • STOCK: Collapsible SIGHTS: A2 front, Troy/Bravo folding rear • ACTION: Semi-auto FINISH: Matte black • CAPACITY: 30+1 • MSRP: $2,263
BUSHMASTER ACR -- CALIBER: 5.56mm, 6.8 SPC • BARREL: 16.5 inches WEIGHT: 8.2 pounds • STOCK: Folding, composite SIGHTS: Magpul MBUS • ACTION: Semi-auto FINISH: Black, coyote brown CAPACITY: 30+1 MSRP: $2,149-$2,249
COLT M.A.R.C. 901 -- CALIBER: .308 (convertible to 5.56mm) • BARREL: 16.1 inches WEIGHT: 8.25-8.5 pounds • STOCK: Collapsible
SIGHTS: None, flip-up • ACTION: Semi-auto
FINISH: Matte black • CAPACITY: 20+1 • MSRP: $1,399-$1,999
DANIEL DEFENSE DDM4V11SLW -- CALIBER: 5.56mm NATO • BARREL: 14.5 inches
WEIGHT: 6.09 pounds • STOCK: Collapsible • SIGHTS: None ACTION: Semi-auto• FINISH: Matte black
CAPACITY: 30+1 • MSRP: $1,669
DARK STORM DS-15 LIGHTNING -- CALIBER: 5.56mm NATO • BARREL: 16 inches WEIGHT: 7.4 pounds • STOCKS: Magpul CTR, Magpul MOE SIGHTS: None • ACTION: Semi-auto FINISH: Matte black • CAPACITY: 30+1 • MSRP: $1,195
DEL-TON SIERRA 316 -- CALIBER: 5.56mm NATO • BARREL: 16 inches WEIGHT: 7.01-7.4 pounds• STOCKS: A2, collapsible, Magpul MOE SIGHTS: A2 front • ACTION: Semi-auto FINISH: Matte black • CAPACITY: 30+1 • MSRP: $858
DPMS GII COMPACT HUNTER -- CALIBER: Over 10 calibers from .22LR to 7.62mm BARREL: 16, 18, 20 or 24 inches • WEIGHT: 6.1-16 pounds STOCKS: A2, AP4, Pardus, Magpul, LMT • SIGHTS: Military A1, A2 and A3/A4 ACTION: Semi-auto • FINISH: Many options available CAPACITY: 4+1, 10+1, 19+1, 20+1, 25+1, 30+1 • MSRP: $700-$2,500
DRD TACTICAL CDR-15 -- CALIBER: 5.56mm, 300 BLK BARREL: 16 inches OA LENGTH: 32-36 inches • WEIGHT: 6.9 pounds (empty) STOCK: Magpul MOE • SIGHTS: None • ACTION: Semi-auto FINISH: Matte black • CAPACITY: 30+1 • MSRP: $2,091-$2,200
IWI GALIL ACE -- CALIBER: 7.62x39mm • BARREL: 16 inches • WEIGHT: 7.5 pounds STOCK: Polymer • SIGHTS: Adjustable with tritium • ACTION: Semi-auto FINISH: Matte black • CAPACITY: 30+1 • MSRP:$1,899-$2,099
LWRC IC-A5 -- CALIBER: 5.56mm NATO • BARREL: 10.5, 14.7 or 16.1 inches WEIGHT: 6.5-7.3 pounds • STOCKS: LWRC Compact, Magpul MOE SIGHTS: LWRC Skirmish • ACTION: Semi-auto FINISH: Matte black, FDE, OD green, Patriot Brown CAPACITY: 10+1, 30+1 • MSRP: $2,599-$2,749
MOSSBERG MMR -- CALIBER: 5.56mm NATO •BARREL: 16.25 (Tactical) or 20 (Hunter) inches WEIGHT: 7-7.5 pounds • STOCKS: Fixed, collapsible SIGHTS: Adjustable front and rear (Tactical) • ACTION: Semi-auto FINISH: Matte black or camo • CAPACITY: 10+1, 30+1 • MSRP: $987-$1,127
PATRIOT ORDNANCE SKIRMISH HEAVY -- CALIBER: 7.62mm (Skirmish Light 5.56mm also available) BARREL: 16.5 inches • WEIGHT: 8.4 pounds STOCK: Fixed Magpul MOE • SIGHTS: None • ACTION: Semi-auto FINISH: NP3 • CAPACITY: 20+1 • MSRP: $2,860
REMINGTON CENTERFIRE -- CALIBER: 5.56mm NATO, 7.62 NATO BARREL: 18, 18.5, 20, 22 or 24 inches • WEIGHT: 6.75-8.75 pounds STOCKS: Synthetic A2, Remington Hunter • SIGHTS: None, iron (750) ACTION: Semi-auto • FINISH: Many options available CAPACITY: 4+1, 5+1 • MSRP: $815-$1,697
ROCK RIVER ARMS X-SERIES -- CALIBER: 5.56mm, 6.8 SPC, 300 BLK, 7.62mm NATO, 7.62x39mm .458 SOCOM BARREL: 18 inches • WEIGHT: 7.7-8.7 pounds STOCKS: RRA Operator CAR, A2 • SIGHTS: None ACTION: Semi-auto • FINISH: Matte black, Flat Dark Earth CAPACITY: 10+1, 20+1, 30+1 • MSRP: $1,495-$1,895
RUGER SR-762 -- CALIBER: 7.62mm NATO • BARREL: 16.12 inches WEIGHT: 8.6 pounds • STOCK: Collapsible SIGHTS: Folding • ACTION: Semi-auto FINISH: Matte black • CAPACITY: 20+1 • MSRP: $2,269
SIG SAUER 716 -- CALIBER: 7.62mm (516 in 5.56mm also available) BARREL: 12.5, 16 or 18 inches • WEIGHT: 9-10.2 pounds STOCKS: SOPMOD, Magpul PRS or ACS • SIGHTS: Folding
ACTION: Semi-auto • FINISH: Matte black or Flat Dark Earth CAPACITY: 20+1 • MSRP: $2,186-$2,799
WILSON COMBAT SUPER SNIPER -- CALIBER: 7.62mm NATO • BARREL: 14.7, 16, 18 or 20 inches WEIGHT: 7.7-9.45 pounds • STOCK: Rogers Super-Stoc SIGHTS: None • ACTION: Semi-auto • FINISH: Armor-Tuff CAPACITY: 10+1, 20+1 • MSRP: N/A
WINDHAM WEAPONRY CDI -- CALIBER: .223/5.56mm NATO • BARREL: 16 inches WEIGHT: 7 pounds • STOCK: Magpul MOE SIGHTS: Diamondhead flip-up • ACTION: Semi-auto FINISH: Matte black • CAPACITY: 30+1 • MSRP: $1,680
YHM MODEL 57 XL -- CALIBER: 5.56mm, 6.8 SPC, 300 BLK • BARREL: 16 inches WEIGHT: 7.2 pounds • STOCK: Magpul CTR SIGHTS: YHM QDS ACTION: Semi-auto • FINISH: Matte black CAPACITY: 30+1MSRP: $2,295-$2,365
Rifle racks bristling with black flash suppressors and polymer pistol grips can induce boredom. Still, even riflemen weaned on hand-checkered French are impressed by Eugene Stoner’s space gun of the 1960s. The Armalite in 5.56mm NATO became the AR-15 autoloader and M16 selective-fire rifle.
RELATED STORY: 8 Law Enforcement-Ready AR-15 Rifles Under $1,000
I’ll not burn page space detailing differences between the 5.56mm cartridge and chamber, and those of its sporting version, the .223 Remington. Most civilian shooters with AR-15s load up with .223 ammo. It’s good ammo largely because, like the .30-06 and .308 preceding it, the .223 owns a military heritage, was cleverly designed and is widely chambered in bolt rifles, as well as so-called “black guns.” Over the years, the .223 has benefited from some aggressive development.
Initially, the M16 couldn’t match the reach or accuracy of the M14 or M1 Garand in service-rifle competitions. After many refinements, the AR-15 shoots about as well as tuned bolt-action rifles.
The .223 Remington now comes in myriad forms, with bullets of 35 to 77 grains, and velocities up to 4,000 fps. You can pick full-jacketed, hollow-point, polymer-tipped or traditional soft-nose bullets.
As versatile as the .223 Remington has become, it’s still a .22. Bright prospects for the AR platform in police and military units, and a growing fan base among civilian shooters, have yielded new powerhouse chamberings.
RELATED STORY: AR Rifleman’s Buyer’s Guide: Today’s Top Sporting Rifles
Scroll through the gallery above to get a look at some of today’s best new multi-purpose rifles, in all manner of chamberings, from the top makers in the industry.
There are another 46 rifles in the AR Rifleman 2016 Buyer’s Guide. To see the rest of the list, pick up a physical copy on Tactical-Life.com.
For more information on the rifles listed above, please visit the following websites:
Barrett: Barrett.net
Bravo Company Manufacturing: Bravocompanymfg.com
Bushmaster: Bushmaster.com
Colt: Colt.com
Daniel Defense: DanielDefense.com
Dark Storm Industries: Dark-storm.com
Del-Ton: Del-ton.com
DPMS: DPMSinc.com
DRD Tactical: DRDtactical.com
IWI: IWI.us
LWRC International: LWRCI.com
Mossberg: Mossberg.com
Patriot Ordnance Factory: POF-usa.com
Remington: Remington.com
Sig Sauer: SigSauer.com
Wilson Combat: WilsonCombat.com
Windham Weaponry: WindhamWeaponry.com
Yankee Hill Machine: YHM.net
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