

Some of the more subjective aspects - like charging handle feel - aren’t as polished as more high-end guns, but the Anderson is a reliable firearm that may very well win you over in time. Their AM-15 is a fantastic budget AR with a 16-inch 4150 Chrome Molybdenum Vanadium Steel barrel that ends in an A2-style birdcage.ĭespite what many folks would consider a “low expectation” rifle, the AM-15 runs a forged aluminum receiver that has been anodized, and the 1-8 twist barrel is parkerized, making for a gun that will hold up well over time. They manufacture all their components in Hebron, Kentucky, which helps them pass the savings onto you. Still, their complete rifles are also solid performers. Kentucky’s Anderson Manufacturing - lovingly referred to as the “Poverty Pony” in AR circles - is well known for lowers that cost less than a dinner for two. Overall the Rock River LAR-15 gives you a good idea of what a well-built budget AR can look like, perhaps without some of the bells and whistles that come on pricier models. I would have appreciated more of a comb to nail the cheek weld, but c’est la vie. The Rock River stock is also bare-bones, but some guys like it that way.

I don’t love (but are decidedly common on entry-level ARs, let’s be honest) are the drop-in handguards – which don’t have any kind of a rail system and the lack of an iron sight in the package. I like the inclusion of the Hogue pistol grip and the bayonet lug, really keeping the classic M4 feel. The forged A4 style upper receiver pairs nicely with the Rock River lower, and overall the package represents a solid budget AR. The Rock River LAR-15 comes with a 16-inch Chrome Molybdenum Steel barrel capped with a classic A2 style birdcage flash hider. Best First Focal Plane (FFP) Scopes for 2022Ĭolona, Illinois Rock River Arms has been making budget-friendly ARs for years, and their LAR-15 is a sub-$1,000 AR that’s at home hitting steel or taking down prairie dogs.
