And I'm not saying the cheesiest Sportsman Guide AR is the best out there either. I'm just asking how a rifle with a pony on it is automatically better than one with a snake or a deer on it.
But more importantly, the best rifle in the world will do you no good unless you know how to use it properly i.e. hit what you aim at.
Agree.
The most expensive AR ( or any other gun) is not going to make anyone a better shooter, some good instructions, practice time on the range and lots of ammo will.
Men fought wars with guns that were put together using the most rudimentary tools and sometimes very inferior materials, under the poorest conditions, none of which apply to today's modern ARs.
People usually buy what they can afford and learn to use it. Many don't understand how these rifles function and are unfamiliar with troubleshooting any problem that might arise. Many are quick to condemn an entire company's product line using anecdotal information of a malfunction here or there. The greatest cause of malfunctions in the AR ( including Colts) are ammo, magazine or lubrication related or improperly built guns by inexperienced builders.....it is not faulty or out of spec parts.
I've heard the "gas key staking" issue tossed around and blamed for problems a thousand times by people who don't even know what satisfactory staking looks like, when in reality their issue is caused by other things like ammo( usually reloads) or out of spec magazines, or a gun that is dry as a bone and dirty.
In my forty years of experience with ARs, I've not seen one issue that was gas key related, it was always ammo, mag or lube.