Sig Sauer

Best AR-15 Manufacturers and Brands [2019]

April 9, 2019 By Josh 6 Comments

I think we can both agree that the AR-15 is an essential firearm for just about any gun enthusiast. I’m a firm believer that every gun owner needs to own at least one of them. They are the perfect weapon for home-defense, regardless of what any snowflake says. And, the AR-15 is also one of the best survival tools you could ever hope to have. After all, everyone has one, they’re easy to fix, and ammo is literally everywhere.

But, there are tons of companies out there making these rifles, and finding out which is the best AR-15 manufacturer isn’t an easy task unless you’ve been around for a bit. What I’ve tried to do in this updated list is add a few manufacturers, and break it down into different categories, like best budget AR-15, and even a category for the best AR-15 lower receiver, if you choose to build your own from the ground up.

Before we get started, let’s take a moment to discuss what “mil-spec” means. You’ll hear that word tossed around a lot, and it’s essential to know what it means before you go out and buy something.

While you may have heard, “just as long as it’s a mil-spec AR-15 you’ll be fine,” that is not always the case. There are some AR-15 makers that are just better than others. Think about it like this …

If your mechanic told you not to worry about your racecar (a 1988 Toyota corolla) because the ONLY modifications it needs to keep up with high-end cars are four tires, would you listen? No? Why not? Because anyone with half a brain can figure out that a 1988 Toyota is not a Lamborghini just because they both require four tires to get around.

As it applies to rifles, just because something is mil-spec, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s high quality. First of all, when a company wins a military contract, it’s usually because the military needs to have the cheapest possible stuff built.

Another thing to remember is that just because a company says something is within spec, doesn’t mean that it actually is. We see this from time to time with some of the lower-grade manufacturers.

Manufacturer or Assembly Line?

Some of the companies on this list are not actually manufacturers, but assembly companies who buy parts from other AR 15 brands. Please note that in most cases, I will not make the distinction here, because there isn’t anything technically wrong with either method, unless you’re using garbage parts–which nobody on this list does.

So, who are the top AR-15 manufacturers of 2018? Here they are broken down in alphabetical order in each category.

Top tier AR-15 manufacturers:

Bravo Company —

I’m a big supporter of just about any veteran owned company out there. When you take a group of veterans who opened up a firearms company, it gets even better because they understand more than anyone the importance of having a rifle that doesn’t fail. That’s BCM’s main goal with their rifles, to the point of using high-quality parts, pressure testing, and magnetic particle testing them. Doesn’t get much better than BCM. They are easily one of the top AR-15 manufacturers right now.

Daniel Defense —

Daniel Defense is one of the best AR-15 manufacturers, and they are one of the few companies who make most of their own parts. Chances are good that you don’t need me to tell you about them, so what I will do is offer up my opinion about the founder, Marty Daniel. He’s actually an inspiration to me because after failing through so many things, he never gave up and is now one of the leading AR-15 manufacturers in the United States.

FN Herstal —

FN is proven in battle, and for plinking. They are also one of those trend setting companies who also tend to make history. While these rifles may not appear on the short list of many “best AR-15 brands” articles out there, they’re on mine, and for good reason. Every time I’ve ever had one, it never malfunctioned on me. That, to me, is most important. Please note that FN also makes some of the best budget AR-15s, as well.

HK —

Heckler & Koch needs no introduction. Coming into play way back in 1949, and most famous for making weapons such as the MP5, MP7, and UMP, many people don’t realize that there are also AR-15s in their product line, as well. They are not cheap, but, then again, they are built like a tank as many of their firearms are.

LaRue —

Texas based LaRue Tactical has a great warranty in place for their high quality firearms and components. It says this: If you ain’t happy, then we ain’t happy. In other words, if your LaRue *anything* breaks, send it back and they’ll take care of it. LaRue isn’t only one of the best AR-15 manufacturers in the country, they are a premier manufacturer who makes most parts in house to make sure the highest quality is achieved. What really sets them apart, is that each rifle has been guaranteed to shoot 1 MOA before it leaves their shop, and you even get the target that shows what the rifle is capable of.

LMT —

Lewis Machine & Tool has been making ARs since I was born, which was 1980. They’ve got more than experience on their side, however, because they are also supplying firearms to military units around the globe. In fact, a couple years back they beat out several other AR-15 brands to win a contract to supply the entire New Zealand Army with rifles. If I remember correctly, that was a history making deal that even President Trump would be proud of.

LWRC —

LWRC is one of the best AR 15 manufacturers, and an award winner at that. They use high-quality components, check them for cracks, cold-hammer forge their own barrels that are not like most of the others on this list. Their barrels are NiCorr treated, making them more durable in the long run, than most of the others available today.

Noveske —

Noveske is one of the premier AR-15 manufacturers in the country. Today, even though some gaps have closed up a bit, they are still one of the top AR15 brands in the game. A couple things that set them apart from most today, is the quality of the barrel and the attention to detail during the assembly process. They spend more time on each rifle, than most other companies. This ensures that, if you can afford one and don’t build a rifle yourself, you rest assured knowing that you get the highest quality possible.

POF —

POF is a recent entrant to the best AR-15 manufacturer list, and was suggested to me by multiple people, including a very good friend of mine. So after handling them a bit more, I’ve decided that I agreed and they deserved to be on this list. They offer a wide range of rifles for you to choose from, including both direct impingement, gas piston, and bolt-action AR-style rifles.

Rock River —

Rarely is a rifle made to such tight and consistent tolerances. Rock River started out originally by making 1911s out of a garage, realized that there was a gap to be filled in the AR-15 market, and the rest is history. Today, they work out of a 50,000 SF facility designed to do one thing: bring you the highest quality AR-15s they possibly can.

Sig Sauer —

Sig Sauer is a top quality firearms manufacturer overall, in many categories, in addition to being one of the AR-15 brands I’ve got here. As you likely know, Sig just won the military contract to replace Beretta as the sidearm of choice for the US military. Sig also makes great rifles, and is one of the top AR 15 manufacturers in the country. Their reputation stands for itself and requires no other introduction.

Best Budget AR-15s

Colt —

If you’re in the market for an affordable (but still expensive) rifle that gets you close to owning an M4, then Colt is the right choice for you. Colt has a long history in developing firearms and, well, making firearms history. The company has numerous firsts under their belt, and while many claim that their quality control isn’t what it once was, they are still one of the top AR 15 manufacturers. As a benefit, if you’re looking to get into shooting for cheaper, an LE 6920 or 6940 is readily available at a price below many of the other rifles on this list.

Ruger —

Sometimes you just want a rifle from a manufacturer you know and trust that’s not going to break the bank. Not that any of the other companies on this best AR15 manufacturer list are not trustworthy. If that were the case, they wouldn’t be here. But, as far as affordable rifles go, I wanted to provide another example, and Ruger is a solid company with a great entry level rifle. The barrel is cold hammer forged, parts are properly attached and staked, and, as a bonus, you get Ruger’s fantastic customer service.

Smith & Wesson M&P15 —

Smith & Wesson offers up a great budget AR-15 for those of us looking for a rifle to get into, just testing the waters. Or, for those of us who are stacking rifles and burying them in the ground “just in case.” Either way, the S&W M&P 15 isn’t something you can go wrong with.

Best Left Handed AR-15:

Stag 15L —

Yes, this is a thing and while we were told in the Marines to just learn how to use the other side, there is an option in the civilian market for lefty AR-15 rifles. Joe recently had the chance to take a Stag 15L Tactical for a test run and he was my SSGT while in the Marines. I therefore trust his opinion and he says he liked this rifle so much he had to buy it. That’s good enough for me. You can buy them direct from their website.

Best AR-15 Lower Receivers:

Aero Precision —

For those times when you just want to build your own AR-15, because screw the man, you really cannot go wrong with Aero Precision. I’m getting ready to start collecting parts to build another one, and I’m going to be using an Aero Precision upper and lower. For the price, this is one of the best companies out there. Aero Precision is usually the lowest I’d go, with lower receivers starting in the $90 range, and often times found cheaper than that with sales.

Seekins Precision —

Stepping it up a bit in price from the previous entrant, is Seekins Precision. There isn’t a whole lot that can be said, other than I’m a firm believer in the mantra: you get what you pay for. Seekins ain’t cheap, but if you believe that paying more for something renders a better finished product (that’s also sexy as hell) then you can’t go wrong here. Then again, one of their lowers retails for over $250, and I’ve built entire rifles for $400 before, so there’s also that.

Spikes Tactical —

I like to think of Spikes Tactical as the in between point of the above two, with lower receivers coming in at $125. Their themed ones in the priceless designs like their “snowflake” lower receiver are fantastic, always good for a laugh, and of course great at starting a conversation. Either way, if you’re building a rifle, Spikes Tactical is a good place to start.

Conclusion —

Who do you think the Top AR-15 manufacturer is? Let me know in the comments below. Want to find out what I think are the best 22 cal pistols?

Top 5 Best SIG P365 Holsters For Everyday Carry

March 7, 2019 By Travis Pike Leave a Comment

The P365 from SIG Sauer has become a phenomenon in the concealed carry industry. It squeezes ten rounds into a grip no bigger than a single stack 9mm. Even to this day, the gun can be hard to find in stores. Its popularity has spawned a growing aftermarket with plenty of holsters. I’ve tried out a ton, but I have found my top 5 best SIG P365 Holsters that I keep coming back to, and will show them to you now.

Bravo Concealment Torsion 3.0

The Bravo Concealment Torsion 3.0 is Bravo Concealment’s newest holster. It’s one of the rare IWB holsters that accommodates an adjustable tension device. It’s all polymer and has a rigid and strong design. It can utilize a single or dual clip set up and can be worn in both an IWB and AIWB configuration.

The Torsion is also able to accommodate your P365 if you decide to modify it. This is the best P365 holster if you want to rock a miniature red dot sight and a threaded barrel as it is designed to accommodate both of these add ons.

Not only that but this is a minimalized holster. It’s very thin and very lightweight. It utterly disappears under my clothes and the inward 10-degree cant makes this thing absolutely invisible under nothing more than a T-Shirt. It’s perfect for small frame people as well. It’s currently my EDC holster for the P365 and I adore it.

Clinger No Print Wonder V3

The Clinger No Print Wonder V3 is a very simple and versatile holster that can easily switch between IWB, OWB, and Appendix carry. Swapping it to each configuration takes only a few minutes.

It does easily conceal and is a very affordable holster, especially when you consider the fact it is actually three holsters in one. The No Print Wonder V3 can even swap between left and right-handed shooters for ease of use. In its IWB configuration it’s extremely comfortable and one of those holsters you can just forget about while you wear it.

The Clinger No Print Wonder V3 can also be adjusted for cant and ride height. It’s an odd design admittedly, but it does work and was one of my first P365 holsters. It stays in the rotation in its OWB configuration which I really adore.

Crossbreed Pocket Rocket

The P365 sits at the exact right size for pocket carry. It’s a bit for it, but the gun still fits in most men’s pockets. I can’t speak about the ladies. The Crossbreed Pocket Rocket is a hybrid design that facilitates simple and effective pocket carry. The leather backing is larger than your average pocket and it will stay in the pocket when the gun is drawn.

The leather backing is also soft against the skin and very comfortable for daily carry. It stays put inside the pocket and keeps it from moving around and causing chafing. The portion that carries the gun is a polymer shell like you’d find on a standard hybrid holster.

It protects the gun and makes it easy to unholster and to holster the weapon. It’s one of my favorite pocket P365 holsters and one of the highest quality on the market.

JM4 Relic Appendix

The JM4 Relic Appendix holster is one of the most unique hybrid holsters that I’ve ever seen. Your normal hybrid holster is a leather backing with a polymer shell. This is a polymer shell with leather stitch inside it. What it does is create a super comfortable appendix carry holster.

The holster uses Grade A Hermann Oak Leather and its incredibly comfortable. I doubt it matters to most but the holster does also look really nice. I appreciate the leather with the modern reliability and strength of Boltaron.

The JM4 Relic is one of the more comfortable appendix holsters on the market. It’s certainly one of the most interesting means to build and design a holster. These P365 Holsters come in a single clip and tuckable models.

AlienGear Shapeshift Shell

The 365 in P365 is, of course, a reference to the idea that this gun is the end all be all for concealed carry guns. It’s the perfect size to be carried every day, all year round. I tend to agree and the AlienGear Shapeshift Holster allows you to not only carry it every day but in any configuration you desire.

The Shapeshift kit allows you to carry IWB, Appendix, OWB, Ankle carry, shoulder carry, hell even there is even a MOLLE connector. The Shapeshift is really one of the most versatile kits you can have in terms of carrying a gun. As a far as P365 Holsters go it’s hard to beat for every day, and every situation kinda carry.

I can run my normal IWB setup for most days and swap to shoulder carry on road trips, or maybe toss it on my backpack for a hike. There are options for all of those. It’s a very cool system that keeps expanding.

P365 Holsters

The P365 is designed to be the ultimate EDC handgun and it really fills that role very well. The overall design is fantastic and people of any size can carry the P365 with ease. Overall it has become an overnight sensation and for good reason. It’s a small, well made, and easy to handle gun. The above are the best P365 holsters I’ve found, but you should always try them all out for your own.

It should be said that the vast majority of these holsters will fit guns outside the P365 realm. If one interests you but you don’t own a P365 I certainly suggest looking to see if it fits your individual gun. Although keep in mind certain holsters won’t be friendly for oddball versions of a gun like metal frame Walther Q5s, Polymer 80 Glocks, and other oddballs.

What about you folks, do you have any suggestions for P365 Holsters?

Best Sig P938 Holster for Concealed Carry

May 8, 2018 By Josh Leave a Comment

My picks for the best Sig P938 Holster

I’ve owned a Sig Sauer P938 for a few years now, and can say that it’s the ideal concealed carry gun. It’s small, easy to conceal, quite effective at the range and at halting bad guys in their tracks with 9mm Parabellum self-defense cartridges loaded in the magazine.

But, I can talk all day about this little micro pistol and how I love its 1911-esque ergonomics in a small package, but this isn’t a gun review website … this is a holster review website. And, I want to take a minute to talk to you about what I feel is the best Sig Sauer P938 Holster.

Before I get started though, let me first say that I don’t own all of these holsters anymore. After all, I only hold so many before my wife starts to lose her mind because there are holsters everywhere. So, while this is based on experience, I don’t own all of them–but I’ll only list ones that worked well.

I also want to point out that I still have holsters that I’m reviewing for this website and others that I won’t list here because, in my humble opinion, they suck. We’ll cover those some other day, though, and for now let’s talk about the best Sig P938 holster. Well, they’re the best to me, anyway, because this is my opinion.

Best Sig P938 Pocket Holster —

Sticky Holsters:

The P938 is the perfect size to pocket carry, and I can say that I’ve pocket carried it on many occasions, and till do regularly. In fact, as I sit here and type this, I’m pocket carrying my Sig Sauer P938 in my Sticky MD-2 holster.

This is actually one I still own because it’s so small, fits in my sock drawer, and my wife never sees it. I’ve owned this holster as long as I’ve owned the gun and it’s held up through thick and thin, and what’s really great about it, is that if I need an even smaller setup, I pocket carry a small 2 inch snub nose revolver.

This pocket holster is one I’ll never get rid of, and if it gets damaged I’ll likely get another. I pocket carry this gun all the time and my life would have a void without it.

sig 938 holster — Here is my P938 in a JM4 Tactical Relic Holster

Best Sig P938 IWB Holster —

JM4 Tactical RELIC:

This one is relatively new to the market, but I can say that I love it so far and it’s my current go-to for this gun when it’s not in my pocket but prefer to carry IWB. It’s far from cheap, but the quality is unlike anything else I’ve seen out on the market.

They took high quality leather and sewed it to the inside of molded Boltaron polymer. It’s sexy and performs better than anything else on the market. Get used to me talking about this one, because I’ve got a review coming your way in a little bit.

This definitely wins my vote for top P938 IWB holster, and can be worn appendix if that works for your body type, or anywhere inside the waistband.

Check out the RELIC here.

Best Sig P938 Holster for OWB —

LAG Tactical Defender:

Some of you may be scratching your head on this one. I mean, why need a two clip holster on such a small gun? I tend to like the stability of it and the fact that they just don’t move around as much, and, I’m generally not a fan of wide single clip holsters because they don’t always bite my belt as much as I’d like.

More than that, this one can be worn IWB or OWB, and shines in both scenarios. Personally, I think it’s the best Sig p938 holster for OWB that I’ve found, but I don’t usually carry OWB anymore.

Therefore, I don’t currently own an LAG Tactical, SIG P938 Holster, but still rely heavily on one for my Springfield and my 1911s whenever those are on the concealed carry menu for the day. You can read my full review on it, here.

What’s your go-to Sig P938 holster? Let us know in the comments below.

New guns of SHOT Show 2018

February 9, 2018 By Terry Nelson Leave a Comment

Say hello to the Ruger Security 9. Photo by Terry Nelson.

Every year, the National Shooting Sports Foundation hosts the annual Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trades (SHOT) Show. The show allows the gun industry to showcase the newest firearms and related gear. SHOT Show just ended last month in Las Vegas, Nevada, where it’s been held for several years. The following is just a few of the appealing new firearms entering the market in 2018.

Ruger’s PC (pistol caliber) carbine in 9mm, has been around for a number or years. The PC now accepts Glock magazines, in addition to Ruger pistol magazines. What’s so appealing to me about this carbine is its takedown ability. It comes apart just like the Ruger 10/22 takedown.

Another Ruger offering is the “Security 9″ pistol, a low-cost version of the G19. It comes standard with a manual safety lever, which I would recommend leaving in the “off” position anyway. Nice trigger at five pounds with a crisp reset. For a serious carry pistol, it’s not bad, and pricing is very reasonable.

The Glock 19X is essentially a G19 slide on a G17 frame. Some are advocates of this idea, others not so much. Reports are that the trigger has been much improved. Glock will most likely do well with this new offering.

Walther’s well known PPQ pistol now has a smaller version, the “SC.” Short grip and short slide, in 9mm, it’s an 11-shooter. A bit small for some, but many will like it. The PPQ trigger is hard to beat.

Springfield Armory’s hammer-fired XDE is another pistol on its way to gathering a unique following as a hammer fired system. New for 2018 is the 45ACP, but it’s been offered in 9mm last year. It is very flat (single column) and easy to carry. Slide manipulation is reported to be very easy although the double to single action trigger can be challenging.

Springfield Armory’s XD-E9, now in 45 ACP. Terry Nelson photo.

Honor Defense is making a polymer-framed, single-column 9mm (8-shooter) with modular grip components, and comes apart exactly like a SIG 320.

Beretta’s APX pistol is a G17-sized, double-column carry pistol. Reports are that it surpasses all their other models. Many Beretta fans are recommending it.

Also from Beretta is the model 1301 shotgun, at the top of the list of defensive purposes. Folks are saying it has much less recoil than the model 1201. The model 1301 will be a good option for those looking for a 12ga shotgun for serious applications.

Sig Sauer has a new model, P365. It’s a striker-fired, flat, 9mm concealment pistol, designed to compete with the S&W Shield, Kahr PM9, Walther PPS/M2, and G43. The 365 comes from the factory with night-sights, a nice addition. The magazine is basically single stack that makes the 365 an 11 or 12-shooter depending on which magazine you use.

SIG P365 — SIG Sauer’s P365 from their Premier Media Day

Kahr Arms now makes a nice AR selling in the $750.00 range. Kahr pistols are now available in the “C,” “S,” and “P” series, “P” being the nicest-finished and most expensive. All are reported to run well.

DSArms, well known makers of FALs, is making the CTC, a folding stock with magazine-release near the front of the trigger-guard. If you are looking for a serious 308 rifle, take a look at what DSA has to offer.

POF (Patriot Ordinance Factory) is producing the “Revolution” gas-piston AR rifle in 308 caliber. For those who love 308 rifles, this is another great choice in a defensive rifle. It’s about the same weight and size as a typical AR in 5.56×45.

Late breaking … although it did not debut at SHOT Show, Smith and Wesson has come out with the M&P 380 Shield EZ, comparable to their M&P Shield line of pistols. This 380 ACP pistol comes with a grip safety, tactile chamber indicator and adjustable rear sight. The EZ will be available at retailers in February 2018 according to Smith and Wesson.

There is no doubt that the industry is putting much effort into compact and flat pistols of all calibers with the concealed carry market in mind and with good cause … more and more folks are serious about providing for their everyday defense.

For the rest of our SHOT Show 2018 coverage, make sure you check out and subscribe to our YouTube Channel.