AR15 Quality vs Cost Curve

[cory]

I agree with LRRPF - anyone who worked in a major industry in the late 80"s when the country underwent a huge push for "quality improvement" following Edwards Deming's Quality Circles, knows there are many ways to measure "quality". And one persons definition of "quality" might be scoffed at by others using different criteria. In firearms, I might postulate that "accuracy" and "reliability" are likely two of the most important measurable factors that would be considered in defining a "quality" gun. And, that's what you probably intended, Cory, and I applaud you for your attempt. I thought that your curve was shifted to the right several hundred dollars too high, but I just got a free e-copy of "Must Have AR-15 Upgrades" from Amazon, and started flipping through it. Wow, it wouldn't take long to match a curve like what you have based on the books "Must have" list. Unfortunately, now I am thinking about a JP Silent Captured Spring for $135 - for a freakin' "buffer spring" - but all the reviews I read had people saying it was worth every penny.

If your chart is meant to include any sort of optics, then I guess it really should be pushed much farther right into even higher average spending territory. Damn, we better not let our wives see that chart.

Thanks. For me, yes reliability and accuracy equals quality. I think this curve will roughly fit whatever your AR15 was built mission specific for. I'm curious to hear how well this fits Variable's light weight build.

No it doesn't include other than iron sights.

I also think this curve would fit optics as well. However, thanks to Vortex the steep incline would need to start earlier.