Buyer's Guide: 20 Top Shot AR Black Guns For 2016

AR 2016 BARRETT MODEL 82A1 CALIBER — BARRETT MODEL 82A1 — CALIBER: .416 Barrett, .50 BMG • BARREL: 20 or 29 inches WEIGHT: 31.45-32.72 pounds • STOCK: Synthetic SIGHTS: Front post, adjustable rear • ACTION: Semi-auto FINISH: Several options available • CAPACITY: 10+1 • MSRP: $9,119-$9,323

AR 2016 BRAVO COMPANY EAG TACTICAL — BRAVO COMPANY EAG TACTICAL — CALIBER: 5.56mm NATO BARREL: 14.5 inches (16 w/A2 flash suppressor) WEIGHT: 7.5 pounds • STOCK: Collapsible SIGHTS: A2 front, Troy/Bravo folding rear • ACTION: Semi-auto FINISH: Matte black • CAPACITY: 30+1 • MSRP: $2,263

AR 2016 BUSHMASTER ACR — BUSHMASTER ACR — CALIBER: 5.56mm, 6.8 SPC • BARREL: 16.5 inches WEIGHT: 8.2 pounds • STOCK: Folding, composite SIGHTS: Magpul MBUS • ACTION: Semi-auto FINISH: Black, coyote brown CAPACITY: 30+1 MSRP: $2,149-$2,249

AR 2016 COLT M.A.R.C. 901 — COLT M.A.R.C. 901 — CALIBER: .308 (convertible to 5.56mm) • BARREL: 16.1 inches WEIGHT: 8.25-8.5 pounds • STOCK: Collapsible SIGHTS: None, flip-up • ACTION: Semi-auto FINISH: Matte black • CAPACITY: 20+1 • MSRP: $1,399-$1,999

AR 2016 DANIEL DEFENSE DDM4V11SLW — DANIEL DEFENSE DDM4V11SLW — CALIBER: 5.56mm NATO • BARREL: 14.5 inches WEIGHT: 6.09 pounds • STOCK: Collapsible • SIGHTS: None ACTION: Semi-auto• FINISH: Matte black CAPACITY: 30+1 • MSRP: $1,669

AR 2016 DARK STORM DS-15 LIGHTNING — DARK STORM DS-15 LIGHTNING — CALIBER: 5.56mm NATO • BARREL: 16 inches WEIGHT: 7.4 pounds • STOCKS: Magpul CTR, Magpul MOE SIGHTS: None • ACTION: Semi-auto FINISH: Matte black • CAPACITY: 30+1 • MSRP: $1,195

AR 2016 DEL-TON SIERRA 316 — DEL-TON SIERRA 316 — CALIBER: 5.56mm NATO • BARREL: 16 inches WEIGHT: 7.01-7.4 pounds• STOCKS: A2, collapsible, Magpul MOE SIGHTS: A2 front • ACTION: Semi-auto FINISH: Matte black • CAPACITY: 30+1 • MSRP: $858

AR 2016 DPMS GII COMPACT HUNTER — DPMS GII COMPACT HUNTER — CALIBER: Over 10 calibers from .22LR to 7.62mm BARREL: 16, 18, 20 or 24 inches • WEIGHT: 6.1-16 pounds STOCKS: A2, AP4, Pardus, Magpul, LMT • SIGHTS: Military A1, A2 and A3/A4 ACTION: Semi-auto • FINISH: Many options available CAPACITY: 4+1, 10+1, 19+1, 20+1, 25+1, 30+1 • MSRP: $700-$2,500

AR 2016 DRD TACTICAL CDR-15 — DRD TACTICAL CDR-15 — CALIBER: 5.56mm, 300 BLK BARREL: 16 inches OA LENGTH: 32-36 inches • WEIGHT: 6.9 pounds (empty) STOCK: Magpul MOE • SIGHTS: None • ACTION: Semi-auto FINISH: Matte black • CAPACITY: 30+1 • MSRP: $2,091-$2,200

AR 2016 IWI GALIL ACE — IWI GALIL ACE — CALIBER: 7.62x39mm • BARREL: 16 inches • WEIGHT: 7.5 pounds STOCK: Polymer • SIGHTS: Adjustable with tritium • ACTION: Semi-auto FINISH: Matte black • CAPACITY: 30+1 • MSRP:$1,899-$2,099

AR 2016 LWRC IC-A5 — LWRC IC-A5 — CALIBER: 5.56mm NATO • BARREL: 10.5, 14.7 or 16.1 inches WEIGHT: 6.5-7.3 pounds • STOCKS: LWRC Compact, Magpul MOE SIGHTS: LWRC Skirmish • ACTION: Semi-auto FINISH: Matte black, FDE, OD green, Patriot Brown CAPACITY: 10+1, 30+1 • MSRP: $2,599-$2,749

AR 2016 MOSSBERG MMR — MOSSBERG MMR — CALIBER: 5.56mm NATO •BARREL: 16.25 (Tactical) or 20 (Hunter) inches WEIGHT: 7-7.5 pounds • STOCKS: Fixed, collapsible SIGHTS: Adjustable front and rear (Tactical) • ACTION: Semi-auto FINISH: Matte black or camo • CAPACITY: 10+1, 30+1 • MSRP: $987-$1,127

AR 2016 PATRIOT ORDNANCE SKIRMISH HEAVY — PATRIOT ORDNANCE SKIRMISH HEAVY — CALIBER: 7.62mm (Skirmish Light 5.56mm also available) BARREL: 16.5 inches • WEIGHT: 8.4 pounds STOCK: Fixed Magpul MOE • SIGHTS: None • ACTION: Semi-auto FINISH: NP3 • CAPACITY: 20+1 • MSRP: $2,860

AR 2016 REMINGTON CENTERFIRE — REMINGTON CENTERFIRE — CALIBER: 5.56mm NATO, 7.62 NATO BARREL: 18, 18.5, 20, 22 or 24 inches • WEIGHT: 6.75-8.75 pounds STOCKS: Synthetic A2, Remington Hunter • SIGHTS: None, iron (750) ACTION: Semi-auto • FINISH: Many options available CAPACITY: 4+1, 5+1 • MSRP: $815-$1,697

AR 2016 ROCK RIVER ARMS X-SERIES — ROCK RIVER ARMS X-SERIES — CALIBER: 5.56mm, 6.8 SPC, 300 BLK, 7.62mm NATO, 7.62x39mm .458 SOCOM BARREL: 18 inches • WEIGHT: 7.7-8.7 pounds STOCKS: RRA Operator CAR, A2 • SIGHTS: None ACTION: Semi-auto • FINISH: Matte black, Flat Dark Earth CAPACITY: 10+1, 20+1, 30+1 • MSRP: $1,495-$1,895

AR 2016 RUGER SR-762 — RUGER SR-762 — CALIBER: 7.62mm NATO • BARREL: 16.12 inches WEIGHT: 8.6 pounds • STOCK: Collapsible SIGHTS: Folding • ACTION: Semi-auto FINISH: Matte black • CAPACITY: 20+1 • MSRP: $2,269

AR 2016 SIG SAUER 716 — SIG SAUER 716 — CALIBER: 7.62mm (516 in 5.56mm also available) BARREL: 12.5, 16 or 18 inches • WEIGHT: 9-10.2 pounds STOCKS: SOPMOD, Magpul PRS or ACS • SIGHTS: Folding ACTION: Semi-auto • FINISH: Matte black or Flat Dark Earth CAPACITY: 20+1 • MSRP: $2,186-$2,799

AR 2016 WILSON COMBAT SUPER SNIPER — WILSON COMBAT SUPER SNIPER — CALIBER: 7.62mm NATO • BARREL: 14.7, 16, 18 or 20 inches WEIGHT: 7.7-9.45 pounds • STOCK: Rogers Super-Stoc SIGHTS: None • ACTION: Semi-auto • FINISH: Armor-Tuff CAPACITY: 10+1, 20+1 • MSRP: N/A

AR 2016 WINDHAM WEAPONRY CDI — WINDHAM WEAPONRY CDI — CALIBER: .223/5.56mm NATO • BARREL: 16 inches WEIGHT: 7 pounds • STOCK: Magpul MOE SIGHTS: Diamondhead flip-up • ACTION: Semi-auto FINISH: Matte black • CAPACITY: 30+1 • MSRP: $1,680

AR 2016 YHM MODEL 57 XL — YHM MODEL 57 XL — CALIBER: 5.56mm, 6.8 SPC, 300 BLK • BARREL: 16 inches WEIGHT: 7.2 pounds • STOCK: Magpul CTR SIGHTS: YHM QDS ACTION: Semi-auto • FINISH: Matte black CAPACITY: 30+1MSRP: $2,295-$2,365

Rifle racks bristling with black flash suppressors and polymer pistol grips can induce boredom. Still, even riflemen weaned on hand-checkered French are impressed by Eugene Stoner’s space gun of the 1960s. The Armalite in 5.56mm NATO became the AR-15 autoloader and M16 selective-fire rifle.

RELATED STORY: 8 Law Enforcement-Ready AR-15 Rifles Under $1,000

I’ll not burn page space detailing differences between the 5.56mm cartridge and chamber, and those of its sporting version, the .223 Remington. Most civilian shooters with AR-15s load up with .223 ammo. It’s good ammo largely because, like the .30-06 and .308 preceding it, the .223 owns a military heritage, was cleverly designed and is widely chambered in bolt rifles, as well as so-called “black guns.” Over the years, the .223 has benefited from some aggressive development.

Initially, the M16 couldn’t match the reach or accuracy of the M14 or M1 Garand in service-rifle competitions. After many refinements, the AR-15 shoots about as well as tuned bolt-action rifles.

The .223 Remington now comes in myriad forms, with bullets of 35 to 77 grains, and velocities up to 4,000 fps. You can pick full-jacketed, hollow-point, polymer-tipped or traditional soft-nose bullets.

As versatile as the .223 Remington has become, it’s still a .22. Bright prospects for the AR platform in police and military units, and a growing fan base among civilian shooters, have yielded new powerhouse chamberings.

RELATED STORY: AR Rifleman’s Buyer’s Guide: Today’s Top Sporting Rifles

Scroll through the gallery above to get a look at some of today’s best new multi-purpose rifles, in all manner of chamberings, from the top makers in the industry.

There are another 46 rifles in the AR Rifleman 2016 Buyer’s Guide. To see the rest of the list, pick up a physical copy on Tactical-Life.com.

For more information on the rifles listed above, please visit the following websites: