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As the market evolves, I've had a chance to work with some newer company and AR15 products that have impressed me so far.
This is unsolicited, completely organic on my part, so I can pass on what I've seen and compare notes with others who have used these.
* 2A Armament: On Black Rifle Friday, I couldn't pass up some deals on 2A receiver sets with handguards, so I got 2 sets. The machining, design, and overall fit/feel of these are exceptional if you're looking for a low profile, lightweight AR15, without sacrificing strength in critical areas. Their magazine wells are probably the most generously funneled as well, and their Titanium parts are a nice touch to cutting weight while increasing strength when looking at barrel nuts and receiver pins. I'll have pics up once I'm done with them, but one is an all FDE Cerakote option they had.
* Bootleg Adjustable BCGs: I've been very pleased with the Bootleg ABC, to the extent that I think I'll make these my default bolt carrier moving forward, and will probably retrofit some of my other rifles with them, starting with any 18" MLGS Grendels like my Lilja 17.6" Wasp barrel rifle. The ability to adjust the gas through the ejection port with a small flat head driver is just hassle-free, unlike regular gas blocks. Cuts down on spending critical time at the range dialing in a rifle, especially when suppressed. This is a great evolution of the AR15 bolt carrier that doesn't focus on shiny coatings or aesthetic distractions, while addressing a very real problem for excess plug dwell and suppressed rifles when taming the cyclic rate.
* LaRue Tactical: The LaRue Tactical MBT-2S came out of nowhere and is now my go-to trigger. They simply can't be beat for the money, and behave like a Geissele SSA or SSA-E. The Ultimate Upper kits are the AR15 DIY kit deal to beat right now since you get all-billet construction with a solid lock-up handguard-to-receiver fit, with all parts to complete a rifle but the stripped lower, including color options for receiver/handguard/furniture, all for $792. The RAT Stock and APEG grip are top notch products as well, if you were thinking about replacing them like I was before I handled them. I ended up getting another FDE RAT stock for my Lilja 17.6" Grendel.
* Maxim PDW braces: I saw ads for these guys before stopping by their booth at SHOT, and got several of their braces after seeing the quality of the product. The short RET, extra power action spring, and tiny buffer worked better than expected in my 12" pistol build. It cycles like a raped ape, very positive with the feeding cycle going into battery, very well behaved dealing with the rearward stroke of the cycle of operations as well. If you want the most compactness in a PDW pistol or SBR build (they have both), without needing to use a proprietary Bolt Carrier or lower receiver, I think these are the ones to beat.
* SB Tactical: SB Tactical braces have been well-machined as well, with a standard carbine-length RET. I recently got one of the new SBA3 braces that works on a standard carbine RET, in FDE.
* Strike Industries: I like their polymer easy-install ejection port door, their charge handle, magazine release button and catch, and receiver pivot and takedown pins. I ordered all of these in FDE for my latest FDE build. I could see myself making the ejection port door my go-to option. The anodized lightweight pins and buttons are great options for a lightweight build, or one where you want specific colors to match or contrast, while getting well-machined parts from a known source.
I'll update my experiences and invite others to share their feedback as well. I'm especially interested in those with experience with the Strike Industries pins and ejection port doors.
This is unsolicited, completely organic on my part, so I can pass on what I've seen and compare notes with others who have used these.
* 2A Armament: On Black Rifle Friday, I couldn't pass up some deals on 2A receiver sets with handguards, so I got 2 sets. The machining, design, and overall fit/feel of these are exceptional if you're looking for a low profile, lightweight AR15, without sacrificing strength in critical areas. Their magazine wells are probably the most generously funneled as well, and their Titanium parts are a nice touch to cutting weight while increasing strength when looking at barrel nuts and receiver pins. I'll have pics up once I'm done with them, but one is an all FDE Cerakote option they had.
* Bootleg Adjustable BCGs: I've been very pleased with the Bootleg ABC, to the extent that I think I'll make these my default bolt carrier moving forward, and will probably retrofit some of my other rifles with them, starting with any 18" MLGS Grendels like my Lilja 17.6" Wasp barrel rifle. The ability to adjust the gas through the ejection port with a small flat head driver is just hassle-free, unlike regular gas blocks. Cuts down on spending critical time at the range dialing in a rifle, especially when suppressed. This is a great evolution of the AR15 bolt carrier that doesn't focus on shiny coatings or aesthetic distractions, while addressing a very real problem for excess plug dwell and suppressed rifles when taming the cyclic rate.
* LaRue Tactical: The LaRue Tactical MBT-2S came out of nowhere and is now my go-to trigger. They simply can't be beat for the money, and behave like a Geissele SSA or SSA-E. The Ultimate Upper kits are the AR15 DIY kit deal to beat right now since you get all-billet construction with a solid lock-up handguard-to-receiver fit, with all parts to complete a rifle but the stripped lower, including color options for receiver/handguard/furniture, all for $792. The RAT Stock and APEG grip are top notch products as well, if you were thinking about replacing them like I was before I handled them. I ended up getting another FDE RAT stock for my Lilja 17.6" Grendel.
* Maxim PDW braces: I saw ads for these guys before stopping by their booth at SHOT, and got several of their braces after seeing the quality of the product. The short RET, extra power action spring, and tiny buffer worked better than expected in my 12" pistol build. It cycles like a raped ape, very positive with the feeding cycle going into battery, very well behaved dealing with the rearward stroke of the cycle of operations as well. If you want the most compactness in a PDW pistol or SBR build (they have both), without needing to use a proprietary Bolt Carrier or lower receiver, I think these are the ones to beat.
* SB Tactical: SB Tactical braces have been well-machined as well, with a standard carbine-length RET. I recently got one of the new SBA3 braces that works on a standard carbine RET, in FDE.
* Strike Industries: I like their polymer easy-install ejection port door, their charge handle, magazine release button and catch, and receiver pivot and takedown pins. I ordered all of these in FDE for my latest FDE build. I could see myself making the ejection port door my go-to option. The anodized lightweight pins and buttons are great options for a lightweight build, or one where you want specific colors to match or contrast, while getting well-machined parts from a known source.
I'll update my experiences and invite others to share their feedback as well. I'm especially interested in those with experience with the Strike Industries pins and ejection port doors.
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