AR-15 Manufacturer Guide

Fayetteville, North Carolina

Premium furniture alternative to Magpul. B5 stocks and grips are used by SOCOM and appear on top-tier complete rifles.

Hartland, Wisconsin

Focused builder of duty-grade AR-15 rifles and components. BCM parts are spec'd to mil-standards and tested beyond them, aimed at serious users.

West Hartford, Connecticut

The original AR-15 licensee. Colt still builds the LE6920 and other duty carbines, though quality has been more consistent in recent years.

Black Creek, Georgia

Vertically integrated AR-15 manufacturer supplying the US military and elite units. Known for cold hammer forged barrels and proprietary rail systems.

Columbia, South Carolina

Belgian-origin military arms maker. FN makes M16 and M4 rifles under US military contracts, and cold hammer forged barrels that appear in many premium ARs.

North Wales, Pennsylvania

Premier trigger manufacturer that expanded into complete uppers, rails, and charging handles. Dominant in the match and duty trigger market.

Titusville, Florida

Home of the SR-15 and SR-25 platforms. One of the original AR innovators, with deep military roots and a premium price tag to match.

Milan, Illinois

Lewis Machine & Tool builds piston and DI ARs for military and law enforcement. Known for the monolithic MRP upper and the quick-change barrel system.

Cambridge, Maryland

Short-stroke gas piston AR builder. LWRC IC and REPR rifles are standard issue for some federal and overseas units.

Rancho Cucamonga, California

Premium BCG OEM with military contracts. Microbest BCGs are the gold standard for mil-spec bolt carrier groups.

Grants Pass, Oregon

Boutique AR builder founded by the late John Noveske. Known for exceptional accuracy, premium barrels, and a cult following among serious shooters.

Redmond, Oregon

Formerly AXTS Weapons Systems. Builds the Model 1 rifle and ships the Raptor charging handle that became an industry standard.

Newington, New Hampshire

Swiss-origin firearms giant. The M400 and MCX platforms compete in the premium space, and Sig won the US Army NGSW rifle contract with the XM7.

Tacoma, Washington

The workhorse of the mid-tier market. Aero makes in-house receivers and handguards and is part of the Aero Precision Group (which also owns Ballistic Advantage).

Tacoma, Washington

Barrel specialist that became part of the Aero Precision Group. Wide range of profiles and chamberings at mid-tier prices.

Fort Worth, Texas

One of the earliest drop-in AR trigger makers. CMC triggers ship in rifles from dozens of OEMs and are a default upgrade for many builders.

Boonville, Missouri

Known for pistol caliber ARs and the Banshee platform. Also makes full-size rifles and a wide range of components.

West Chester, Ohio

Ohio-based barrel and complete firearm maker. Best known for the Gunner barrel profile and a heavy focus on lightweight AR builds.

Oakdale, Minnesota

Unique trigger designs using toggle geometry to reduce pull force. Not a drop-in style, but the feel has a loyal following.

Leander, Texas

Texas firm famous for QD mounts and premium precision rifles. The PredatAR and Siete rifles command long wait lists among enthusiasts.

Austin, Texas (Wyoming ops)

The dominant polymer furniture brand. MOE, CTR, and PRS products ship as standard equipment on rifles across every tier.

Waukesha, Wisconsin

Dominates the mid-tier rail and accessory market. MI handguards and sights ship on countless complete rifles from other brands.

Colona, Illinois

Long-running AR builder with LE and competition heritage. LAR-15 rifles cover a wide range of use cases.

Lewiston, Idaho

Billet receiver specialist that expanded into complete rifles and bolt actions. Clean aesthetics and tight tolerances at a reasonable premium.

San Antonio, Texas

SOLGW builds duty-grade rifles with heavy QC process and documented torque specs. Popular with the training community.

Cheshire, Connecticut

Known for left-handed AR-15 variants. Now produces a full range of mil-spec rifles and components.

Titusville, Florida

The silent giant of BCG manufacturing. Toolcraft BCGs ship under dozens of brand names across every price tier in the industry.

Berryville, Arkansas

Best known for 1911 custom work but builds excellent AR rifles and components. Their Recon and Protector lines are premium complete rifles.

North Wales, Pennsylvania

Geissele's budget line. ALG triggers and handguards offer much of the Geissele QC at a fraction of the price.

Hebron, Kentucky

One of the most prolific OEM receiver producers in the industry. Anderson stripped lowers ship from a Cerro Forge blank into countless budget builds.

Sanford, North Carolina

Vertically integrated budget manufacturer. Makes its own barrels and receivers in house, enabling rock-bottom pricing on complete uppers.

Elizabethtown, North Carolina

Budget-friendly complete rifles and parts kits. A frequent first AR for new builders.

Cocoa, Florida

Florida maker of budget-friendly complete rifles and pistols. Solid shooters for the price with a focus on entry-level buyers.

Columbia, South Carolina

The value king. PSA offers complete AR-15 rifles, uppers, and lowers at industry-low prices while maintaining a solid reputation for the money.

Stafford, Texas

Houston-area budget AR builder. Known for complete uppers and entry-level rifles at competitive pricing.

Southport, Connecticut

One of the largest US firearms manufacturers. The AR-556 line is a solid, no-frills entry point into the AR world.

Springfield, Massachusetts

Major US firearms manufacturer. The M&P15 line covers the value and mid-tier space with a heavy presence at big box retailers.