Expensive AR-15 VS Cheap AR-15: Worth The Price? 

Thanks for watching guys! What do you think of this kind of higher production TV-style video? Too much? Or cool change of pace? Let me know! Sign up and deposit for Underdog Fantasy HERE with promo code HERRERA to get up to $1,000 in bonus cash and a free pick: play.underdogfantasy.com/p-brandon-herrera Check out Pepperbox, where the second video is live, we post uncensored videos, exclusive content and more! www.pepperbox.tv/ Thanks to SDI! Again, it’s SDI.edu for more info! T-Shirts/Merch: www.bunkerbranding.com/pages/ak-guy

RIP Paul Harrell

That bug's a fed trying to record evidence.

This reminds me of those old gun shows from the early 2000s on places like the History channel. Would watch this on a Saturday afternoon while falling asleep in my recliner. Just like Dad!

"i don't give a fuck about football...but i know you guys do" - Brandon Herrera 2024, a true man of the people

I DEEPLY appreciate Brandon admitting he doesn't give a hoot about football during the sponsorship 'cause a lot of creators will lie for the bag, but at least he's honest

I bought my Radical for about $375, and it's been AMAZING. The mlok rail and minimalist stock are dope, but I did need to add stipling to the grip because it was super slippery.

You know shit really hit the fan when Brandon is making a video about AR's.

It basically boils down to Arm a bunch of people for a lot of money, or Arm one person for a lot of money.

I just love when these guys come together, no matter if they just talking about random nonsense. Or doing stuff like this!. The fact that they are close friends really shows through, anytime they get together and it’s always hysterical to watch them joke back and forth as much as they always do!! Keep these kinds of videos coming gents!! They always a banger whenever they drop!! 👏🏼🙌🏼💯🤙🏼🤙🏼

Video challenge: The white claw strikes back. Load white claws into a smoothbore canon and fire it at a ballistic dummy. Would also be a great excuse to test other myths from movies where they load utensils and other goodies into cannons to act like grape shot.

It’s a damn good day when we get a brandon upload RIP PAUL

Entomologist here! The beetle was a bumelia borer, Plinthocoelium suaveolens. They are one of the United States most colorful longhorn beetles! September is beetle season in Texas! Anyway I’ve commented about your bugs, Matt’s bugs and even donut operators bugs on instagram and RU-vid. Love it and big fan I’m always talking about bugs btw.

Lets not ignore the elephant in the room 07:05 Demo saying fuck

Brandon is an amazing dude for helping Paul reach 1,000,000 subs before his passing. Rest in peace Paul❤

Random “tism” thought: Matt should have ground cover plants on his berm that absorb LEAD and other heavy metals, like copper. Sunflowers and ragweed are great at ‘phytoremediation’… and/or go Sexy Pink and plant Sea Pink Thrift (or other ones). Some work so well that you can collect/mow (don’t eat!) and smelt the plants down and get the lead back (no BS). There’s your random Botany Autism for your range day.

$1400 spare dollars buys a 1640rd case of M855 ($800), a holosun red dot + magnifier ($500), and 6 Pmags.(6x$15) if you are on a budget, the cheap platform is the way to go, because you can actually have a complete system and ammo to train with.

hearing matt say fuck is hilarious.

Brandon with a AR15, did he lose a bet 😂

I just bought an RF 15 about 3 weeks ago. Swapped the trigger for a LaRue MBT, added a 1-6X LVPO, clamped a GI M951 Surefire on it and a bipod lug. Zeroed it at 50 yards with my 77 grain handloads, checked zero at 200 than started banging steel out to 600 yards. So far it's got about 500 rounds through it with zero failures so far.

600 dollar rifle in 2017. 7-8k rounds later, smooth shooting. 500 yard cold bore shots. Plenty of classes with only trigger upgrade with other small stuff. Have not had to replace the pin or extractor yet. Desert and humid environments. Clean and lube when it gets bad. No complaints. When I need a loot drop this will perform just fine.

What is great about have a common, universal, modular, and standardized gun like the ar15 is that every bit of r&d that goes into it trickles down giving, even the cheapest option, excellent performance

Above $1,000 or so, I believe you get diminishing returns on an AR - at least on one chambered in 5.56/.223 Big jump from $600 to $1,000 Small jump from $1,000 to $2,000 A lot of the time, "good enough" is good enough.

We have always needed a gun hi-low series this is awesome

2:43 😂 " he's the one who died from the first bill drill" that was off the cuff hilarious

I have a Diamondback AR15 and I LOVE it. Never had any issues with the brand, never jammed, always stayed clean.

Yep, my PSA works surprisingly well. Thank God for the cheaper ARs, and thank God for PSA's mission goal of arming everyone affordably. Maybe I'd change my tune if I was filthy rich, but ain't no way I'm paying 500% more $ for 5% more performance. Slap a good muzzle break on the cheap one, and it's just as good.

I paid $450 for my Ruger 556 and I built my Palmetto State Armory rifle in parts for under $400 and I have never ever had a problem with either one of them

The "Bill" from the Bill Drill is Bill Wilson of Wilson Combat. He was a competition shooter at the time and used that as a warm-up drill. Over time, it became known as the "Bill Drill".

The crazy part is the gun community thinks 1,800 is a mid level gun

My first rifle was from a company called Anderson Mfg out of Hebron KY. It was used and priced at $275. I was there to buy the S&W Sport II, also used and priced @ $490 that I had seen earlier that week. I just happened to see it and the clerk told me that they just got it in and it was just set out that day. So I got it instead. I still have it, in addition to all the expensive ones I own. It's one of those that I let others shoot so I don't have to worry about them messing it up. It's accurate as I need it to be, reliable and if it get's jacked up, I am not out a ton of money.

I actually own a Radical AR-15 and this video gives me immense vindication in my choice to not waste money on overpriced gucci guns. Spending thousands of dollars on a gun when you can get a similar gun for less than 500 is ridiculous. Instead of spending 1800 on a gun thats maybe like 3% better, I'd rather just buy multiple different guns.

1:56 when the gun is heavier than the trigger pull

I bought the Radical AR last year. I only had two jams, but it was from the same round. I've put about 400 rnds down range with it and it's very accurate, but I was shooting 25 yards but a 100 yrd target. Love the rifle.

Absolutely luv my radical! Got roughly 3-4 thousand rounds with no issues. Other than handguard came loose once. Other than that no ftf or fte's. Rise armorment trigger and decent optic, couldn't be happier with it

I never hear Matt saying that at 7:07

3:44 whatcha got in them pants, Cody?

As Marine Veteran , I built a PSA Ar15 , BUT.. I chose a PSA Premium upper that comes with an FNH CHF 1/7 chrome lined barrel and then I chose a Fail Zero nickel boron BCG. Those were the 2 parts I wanted to make sure I could rely on no matter what.

My $599 A shoots exactly like the same as my $1150 AR. Mostly because they are the exact same make and model but I bought 10 years apart. The crazy part is I bought the $1150 one first. My friends $499 DPMS panther had a tighter MOA than my Smith & Wesson $1150 M&P-15

Hi there! I'm an armorer. My agency pays me to do it. They've been paying me to do it for 23 years. I've been working on guns with my father since I was a kid, so nearly 40 years. I have 5 factory certifications in the Ar15/M16 platform, not including multiple certifications in other platforms. All of that means a bunch of 20-somethings on the internet will not listen. However, a new Ar really needs to be disassembled by an armorer or gunsmith and properly set up. You don't HAVE to, but it is the best way to get the most out of a new rifle. A set up means the gun's lower is torn down and the parts are all cleaned of any manufacturing debris. The rifle is properly lubricated and reassembled. The aluminum receiver has an anodized finish and is a dull gray from the factory. It's a rough finish, meant to absorb oils to help protect the metal. So, part of the set-up is spraying the receiver inside and out with a CLP and then wiping it out to get that absorption started. However, if you're going to coat or paint the gun, don't have that done. When it's new is the best time to coat it. Cera-Kote is the best option for that. The grit in a mil-spec trigger is largely due to machining artifacts and bits of grit that may have been on the persons hands who assembled the rifle, especially a budget gun. Even after set-up, there will still be a gritty, shifting feel in a mil-spec trigger. That's the steel pins rotating in the aluminum receiver. A set of non-rotating pins will cure almost all of that (not anti-drift, that's a waste of money). It's a $30 to $40 trigger job that you can do yourself. Apply some weapons grade grease to the pins before install. Do NOT try to polish or file the mil-spec parts. They are surface hardened and you will risk severely reducing their service life. You may now return to listening to the opinions of people who haven't been alive longer than I've been working on guns.

And spoiler from my own experience: The cheap rifle will be just fine up to 5k rounds. An FN hammer forged barrel will be good for much more. But it's not worth if I can just spend another $150 on another barrel, gas block, bolt, firing pin. Possibly a spring at 5k rounds. And it'll just be that. Not all the extra parts.

Classic Firearms just did this with the Radical Firearms, too. They used it vs. a $4,000 AR. In my very humble opinion, anything over $1,000 is too much for an AR.

Love you guys all! You three (I am unfamiliar with one of the guys in the video) are top tier youtube IMO. That being said, i will never pay for an additional service just to see these additional/unedited and uncensored videos. I am not saying that to senselessly spue hate and I completely understand the rational behind why you are developing Pepperbox. RU-vid's policies are getting more and more anti-gun and anti guntuber for which you have made your living. It's just in this day and age you can not turn around without getting hit with 5 new subscription offerings. From your favorite youtubers hiding extra content behind channel memberships/paytreon to a million different streaming services offering 13 different tiers, I am simply experiencing a fatigue with the whole concept. Again no trolling intent here, just the sole opinion of one of your average everyday fans.

My late wife bought me a DPMS for Christmas several years ago. I haven’t been able to shoot it much, but, I’ve run many different types of ammo. Never had a jam or soft strike. Not quite MOA. Still not shot in. Even with super high quality barrels, there is still a difference between new and shot in. I prefer irons over scoped, because of its intended purpose. Recent events not withstanding, the AR was never intended to be a sniper rifle. It’s a battle rifle. Others will disagree, of course.

I have had a RF-15 since mid 2020. After 100 rounds of break in it is an excellent rifle. With the only upgrade i have done to it being a AT3 3-port muzzle brake. Reducing the climb substantially for hunting purposes. I'm not a range guy so i can't compare it to other AR-15's. But for Pig/Coyote/Fox hunting it will do the trick.

I love vids like this when the guy/guys doing the testing are truthful. Alot of the ar15s made are using the same few forges for the uppers and lowers. They use the same mil spec triggers usually from one of a few places. The only real difference youll find is in the barrels and the build quality. Anyone who wont admit that a psa rifle with some modifications can be equal to a DD for way less money is either lying to themselves to justify what they spent or they simply know absolutely nothing about the ar15 platform. If you buy a mil spec ar from one of manu companies your mostly getting the same rifle. Alot of the extra money spent on "high end" rifles is just paying for the name stamped into the lower

“OMG look at the fucgin bug, woha” gets me 😂 Matt saying cuss words feels goooood

That f*cking synchronized turn at 7:08 has got me dying.

I have a radical and my dad has the m&p 15. We both like the radical way more. I've had absolutely zero problems with it honestly. I would highly recommend for a beginner

This video seems like what the history channel was like around 2006, great job Brandon!

I think the TV style content works better for something like Pepperbox, but i still want me my Darwin Awards and Gun Meme Review style content.

My Radical is chambered in 7.62x39. You can force pull the mill spec trigger 30-40 times and smooth it out for free. You can also use a small black rubber band around the front take down post to make the gun feel tight. Grand Thumb did a $300 budget upper test with full auto with no issues till about 4800rds.

RIP Paul

We have Linus Tech Tips Scrap Yard Wars We have Donut Media Hi vs Low Car Series Now we have cheap vs expensive AR's LETS GO

It's really weird to see you guys in such a professional manner and higher production videos. I love it!

I've always said the big "brand name" AR's really don't give you much over the "cheaper" AR's. Which is why I just roll my own now. Under 800 bucks gives me a 16" Wylde that tosses lead down range just as well as the 2000 dollar AR. Its getting to be like the Gibson versus Chinese/Indonesian/Korean guitar folks.

inb4 watching the video, the inflection point of diminishing returns curve is at about $750-800

Taping the adhesive targets is big brain.

Matt dropped an F bomb?!?!? Didn't know he was capable lmao. Thanks for the video! Good stuff! RIP Paul.

IS THAT A MORITA ON THE GUN WALL 5:00

Who are we kidding... with all that SDI money brandon is rich

If you watch the sales on complete uppers and lowers you can put a palmetto together for about $350

I have that radical, and honestly, Thousands of rounds of steel TULA ammo and never cleaning it, and it still functions properly and hits every time. 🤷

The guy owns a prototype shoulder mounted 50 cal , but can’t get a china lake

2:16 bros been watching cleetus mcfarland

My Gen-1 Smith and Wesson MP-15 is an absolute tank. It's no sniper rifle, but it's still 3MOA at 300 yards despite having over 50,000 round count. And I've tortured the absolute piss out of it. Sand test: passed Mud test: passed Overheating test: passed Barrel Warp test: passed and Extreme carbon fouling test: passed All for a 16-inch, $800 M4-pattern rifle. I won't trust my life to anything else.

The exact results i expected. Negligible difference. A box of captain crunch or a box of crunchy captains Gets the job done either way. The next argument from comments will be. Ohhhhhh but which one will last longer !?!?. And again, most likely Negligible difference.

What a neat looking Morita Mark 1 on the wall rack back there 👀

Well done, guys! I'm the proud owner of many crappy ARs that I plink with, and a very nice Colt with all the bells and whistles that I'm afraid to scratch... Nice to know I'm not wasting my time training on PSAs!

I believe the difference is just time. Lots of lower quality firearms work and many of them work reasonably well especially for the price you pay. But essentially the more you use the rifle , the more you are going to want to spend on that rifle. That’s at least my thought process. This is for quality firearms of course, but quality does not necessarily mean costly anymore. Honest outlaw has a series called “10 guns for xxx$” and you know for a fact these are good firearms.

#akgnotificationsquad It’s sad that Paul Harrel has passed, my first week back at school too, but this will be something nice to treat me.

I have a Radical - I won it. And I have put about 2000 rds through it - only jammed 1x - it is hard to sight in, but overall - I love it!!!! Highly recommend for budget shoppers!!!

AR-15s are a lot like pizza. Cheap? Expensive? Both good.

6:05 is not a state yet you mean

If you're about to buy the cheapest AR you can find then please do yourself a favor and spend an extra hundred bucks to buy a Diamondback DB15. Greatest bang for buck firearm I've ever bought, and a huge step up in quality from bottom of the barrel. Trust me.

Love seeing Eli in his element when it comes to shooting, compared to his usual silly self. As soon as he starts shooting, I'm reminded of the stories he's told on the podcast about his deployment.

I have had a Radical for YEARS. Love it. Works great for the price point. Better than my E3 Arms.

I really almost bought the Radical the other day but ended up going with the Diamond Back DB15 carbon series just because it had the nicer Magpul stock and grip which I liked, and came in FDE Cerakote. I've already ordered a ambi charging handle and hypertap muzzle. Dad handed down a holographic he has never used so I got LUCKY!

Tell donut to get looser pants his guns barrels showing 3:45

I started buying guns when I was 18 like many people. Found a coupon in a newspaper in a fall sale for S&W mp15 for 499. Thing loosens itself up after 200 rounds and came with shit*y accessories. Still haven’t replaced it after 12 years despite knowing what’s out there because I can’t miss with it

Bought my 1st gen Mossberg MMR in 2014 for $600; thousands of rounds later, still going strong; no problems.

RIP Paul. 🙏

Demo dropping an F bomb on camera, editor is getting fired. 😂

i really love the production value of this series an wish to see more of it. thanks Brandon and friends

You don't have to be accurate. You just have to hit your target. I'm with you Matt.

Fantastic content, laid back, not one guy was a tacti-cool hardass or trying to ever be cool. Everybody was just out there having a good time, sharing laughs and such. Good watch, enjoyable video for sure.

5:45 where did this man get a Morita assault rifle?!

Tell us about the silver revolver on your wall.

RIP Paul. We need more data driven videos like this, even if they take a while to make. Everyone appreciates it.

First of RIP Paul, secondly you guys made a hi/low for the 2A community!!! Bravo gentleman, bravo!!!

7:28 that is an Emerald Ash Borer. An invasive species that is expected to destroy almost all of Texas' Ash trees.

This makes me feel way better about my purchase of a radical AR-15….. I teach a lot of defensive AR-15 classes and when I got this rifle I initially left it stock to see how it would hold up. I put thousands of rounds through it in a short period of time. No malfunctions and it is very accurate.

For me it comes down to the base triangle. At each point you have ... 1. Cheap 2. Reliable 3. Accurate Pick two.

5:25 using a crescent hammer to tighten a scope mount fastener...

I have a poverty pony with an AR Stoner upper from Midway. I have never had a cycling issue, and with good ammo I get around 1-1.5 moa. I've been very happy with it.

"Do you like spending a lot of money on guns?" I live in Scotland, it's a bit shit if I do

4:18 RIP Matts hair.. 😮

RU-vid!!!! Give us back what we choose to watch. You're not my nanny, I'm a grown ass man.

The poor team is Mexican, how fitting

So they spring for "TV-style higher production value" and Matt's million dollar range.... and we can't afford targets for each shooter? Come on, tape on old targets? Reusing condoms?