Originally Posted By: BflamanteThis document really puts the manufacturers side by side. Click on the comparison link at the bottom of the page.
Comparison
Stag is much better than Bushmaster. S&W makes a gun slightly better than a Stag. Bang for the buck, Stag is at the very top of the list. I have yet to see anyone be able to wear out their stag.
Appreciate the link to the "chart". Question. In what way is the Stag "much" better than the Bushmaster though? Don't take this wrong. The Stag is a fine rifle, but if one were to go by the inaccurate chart, I would select the Bushy over the Stag for it's M4 feedramps. The chart is so far out of date (many feel obsolete) it doesn't indicate that Bushmaster properly stakes it's carrier keys. I could be wrong but I think Stag stakes their keys now too. (They might even have feedramps now.)
Castle nut staking? I can stake my own in about 2 seconds. Finish under the FSB? Has anyone really had an issue with this? I drag my Bushy around in the rain and mud and never had a problem. A lot of importantance is placed on insignificant differences.
The features that jump the other rifles to "tier 1" status are questionable. Shot peened bolts and barrels, pressure tested bolts and barrels? Many have their doubts whether this is actually being performed on each and every bolt and barrel. The other brands are batch tested. I don't recall hearing of exploding barrels and bolts from the companies that batch test. I guess we needed a chart illustrating Tier 1,2,3 to give some division to the masses. lol!. I guess it is important to many to feel they have the best avaiable. I have mostly BCM rifles now and they are excellent but I wouldn't hesitate to own any of the 3 mentioned. All 3 are excellent rifles. I would lean towards the S&W probably for price and features.
If the chart is a concern to anybody with the lower tier rifles, get a BCM FA BCG and stake your carrier key and castle nut. There...now you are tier 1. lol!
Good hunting