As many of our readers have read by now, there will soon be legislation in place that prohibits your rights to AR15 rifles. We don’t know if it will pass (I’m betting no), but if it does, you need to make sure you have the means to protect your family and yourself. There are some real badasses out there that could take on multiple gunmen with AKs and win with a Glock 43. The problem is that 99% of us are not that guy because we don’t have that level of training or mental acuity it takes to be that tuned in. The fact is, you increase your effectiveness and lethality with an AR15 over a pistol and no one is going to argue that. If I knew that millions of Americans had a gun that I don’t have, I’d buy one before it’s too late.

Ruger AR 556

The Ruger AR 556 is an affordable, durable, and reliable semi-automatic rifle that can be used in home defense and sporting applications (competitions, plinking, etc…). The Ruger AR 556 is built from aerospace-grade aluminum to be able to withstand any torture test you can run it through. The barrel is very well made with a medium contour barrel that is cold-hammer forged from chrome-moly steel for easy maintenance and significantly improved longevity. The handguards are heat-resistant to ensure that you can spend all day on the range and not melt your handguards or have to wear gloves while you shoot. However, if you wanted to wear gloves, the enlarged trigger guard will accommodate thicker gloves without reducing the weapon’s capabilities. 

This may be a more expensive AR15, but you really get what you pay for in technology, materials used, and the trust of a legit name in the industry. This rifle is only 6.5 lbs. and has the standard 16" barrel. Your effective range for a point target with this rifle should be around 400 yards with the right optic or stable platform to shoot from. A lower twist rate of 1:8" will allow you to chamber heavier 5.56 NATO loads for extended reach or to give yourself more stopping power. Either way, this rifle is a hell of a buy, even if it’s a little overpriced at the moment. The unfortunate thing is that if you want an AR15, you’re going to have to act fast and pay the prices of high demand and low supply. 

Radical Firearms AR15

The Radical Firearms AR15 is one that I’ve actually never heard of. I’ve done about 2 hours of research and it seems like a great gun made with top-of-the-line metals, such as 4140 Chrome Moly Vanadium in the barrel to improve durability and reliability. Chrome Moly Vanadium also makes cleaning your barrel easier because the carbon from the gun’s operation won’t stick inside the barrel. A simple cloth with some CLP will get it all in a couple of swoops through the barrel. The barrel is threaded to accept a silencer and comes with M4 feed ramps for smoother feeding of your rounds. 

Radical Firearms uses some nice touches to set this rifle apart like the Mission First Tactical (MFT) grips and the MFT minimalist stock. The MFT grips are water-resistant and come with a hidden compartment to fit batteries, an extra pistol mag, or another piece of gear that you can fit. It’s built with a muzzle flash hider to reduce the chance of giving away your position if you fire from greater distances. If you’ve never heard of Radical Firearms, you should give them a chance to impress you with their high-quality AR15s. 

Sig Sauer M400 AR15

Regardless of the gun-style or model, you know you’re getting a great gun with a Sig Sauer. The Sig M400 AR15 is no different with incredible features that will be sure to impress even the most veteran gun owners. If you haven’t heard of the Sig M400 TREAD model, it starts with a free-floating barrel and M-LOK handguard that has been cut to reduce overall weight and improve balance. The only knock I’d have on this rifle is the overall capacity is only 10 rounds, but you can search for aftermarket mags that hold more rounds. The Sig M400 features a 3 chamber compensator for improved control and reduced recoil. 

The reason I think this gun is a great buy is that it already comes with a very capable and affordable optic, known as the Romeo5 Red Dot Sight. Getting this optic already installed professionally will save you a lot of time and money. It has a 2 MOA red dot for a larger reticle that makes it easier and faster to acquire your target with both eyes open. This will increase your situational awareness, reduce blind spots, and make you more effective in your mission.

Great Lakes AR-15

Growing up around Lake Michigan was one of my fondest childhood memories and ones that I’ll never forget. Life is a little different around the Great Lakes because they dominate the environment and give so much to the people around them. The Great Lakes AR-15 is a solid AR15 rifle that is classified as a “budget" rifle, but functions just as great as some of the more popular AR15s on the market. You can buy this rifle for less than $800 and add a nice optic or scope to it to make it more effective. You’re not going to confuse this rifle with a Daniel Defense, but it’s more than capable as a first AR15 or to use as a spare rifle in your emergency stockpile. 

The GLFA muzzle brake helps mitigate felt recoil and improves your overall accuracy, especially firing rapidly. I don’t want anyone thinking that this rifle isn’t good enough because it has everything you need to properly operate for many years. It chambers both 5.56 NATO and .223 Wylde with no tools or extra equipment to allow the different bullets (they’re almost identical). The gas block was designed to be low-profile to allow for an aftermarket handguard, which will increase the cost and worth of the rifle. Overall, I think this is a great rifle for under $800 and one that will give you years of use if you take care of it.