My experience with Anderson Manufacturing has been good, but limited to building my own rifles from Anderson parts. Recently, I obtained an Anderson AM-15 rifle and gave it a good workout. I felt that I needed another AR-15 for general use as a truck gun and pest popper. There was a budget, however.
There are always shortages, sometimes due to real situations and more often panic driven. I thought it wise to add another AR-15 to my modest battery. The upper and lower receivers from Anderson have been well suited to economy builds. I looked at what it had to offer in a complete rifle.
As is often the case with aftermarket parts and builds, I sometimes had difficulty meshing parts together but nothing on the order of building a 1911 handgun. The Anderson parts simply worked well, and I ended up with a good rifle. Accuracy often depended on the barrel and trigger I used, more so than the receivers.
Anderson has introduced several desirable rifles and carbines in the past few years, including some in .308, a Precision rifle, and 9mm carbine. They are interesting and affordable. The market for AR-15 rifles is huge and a rifle with good features and an attractive price point will prosper.
The rifle must be useful, however, not simply cheap. The rifle illustrated sells for less than $700 but features an M-Lok forend, a nice addition. I added the Magpul stock based on prior preference and the fact that I had an extra on hand. I also added a Black Rain Ordnance bolt carrier.
I like the fit and finish. For a ‘keeper’ rifle, it was a good choice. Yes, the Anderson ended up fitting the bill nicely. Magazines used during the test and evaluation were Magpul. These are the premier AR-15 magazines available, and they are affordable as well. So, I have a good stock of these.
Anderson AM-15 Specifications and Features
- Operating system: Direct gas impingement semi-auto rifle
- Caliber: .223 Wylde (accepts 5.56 NATO and .223 Remington)
- Barrel length: 16 inches
- Twist rate: 1:8 inches
- Overall weight: 7 pounds
- Overall length: 32.5 inches (collapsed) and 36.125 inches (extended)
- Finish: Matte black
- A2 flash hider
- Forged 7075-T6 aluminum upper/lower receivers
- Flat-top, optics-ready
- Low-profile gas block
- M-Lok free-float, aluminum handguard
- A2 pistol grip
- 6-position M4 collapsible carbine stock
The trigger of an AR-15 rifle is very important. In a rifle for home and area defense not so much. In a precision rifle, the trigger is very important. I would never add an aftermarket trigger to a rifle I have not thoroughly tested. The trigger just may be fine as issued. Then again, it may not.
The trigger action in the Anderson is a stainless-steel trigger that seems well made and durable. Trigger compression was 7.1 pounds. That isn’t a light trigger, but it breaks clean and is controllable in rapid fire. Reset is good.
I did not expect great accuracy from a 16-inch barrel carbine with a seven pound trigger. Just the same, accuracy was decent to good. Fit and finish are good, and the internal parts seem to mesh well.
I looked in the ammunition larder, near the .223/5.56mm stockpile, and looked over several red dot sights. Some are inexpensive, some pricey. A good buy, and the only RDS I own two of, is the SIG Romeo5. This sight isn’t expensive.
SIG ROMEO5 Specifications
- Weight: 5.1 ounces
- Battery life: 40,000 Hours (4.5 Years)
- Illumination settings: 8 daytime & 2 night vision
- Dot size: 2 MOA
- Objective lens: 20mm
- Waterproof: IPX 7
- Footprint: Aimpoint T2
- Battery: CR2032
- Price: $120
If you wish to deploy it on a quick on and off mount or more advanced adjustments this won’t do. However, for most shooting, most of the time, the SIG works out well. I purchased the first one about four years ago. It has ridden on several rifles. I like the easy on and off setting, outstanding battery life, and the very visible adjustable red dot. It wasn’t any trouble to sight the Romeo5 in with a minimum of ammunition expended.
Range Testing
After lubricating the bolt carrier, I loaded the magazines with affordable Federal American Eagle FMJ ammunition. I used 55-grain loads during the initial evaluation. The rifle is fast in handling. I appreciate the M-Lok forend, as the 15-inch aluminum handguard allows good leverage and fast handling.
The rifle turned in good results (as expected) in fast-paced defense drills. I fired at 25 and 50 yards. The rifle exhibited excellent combat accuracy. I fired a solid 80 rounds, two 30-round and one 20-round magazine, with good results. A few of these cartridges were expended in firing at debris on the 100-yard berm.
Firing for accuracy is essential. In this case, the rifle was fitted with a decent quality — but not highly developed — red dot sight, without a rifle scope, so 100-yard testing was a stretch. I set the red dot the smallest dot. It took a few rounds to establish hold under.
My 25-yard combat/home defense zero had the rifle firing about six inches high at 100 yards. I will establish a ‘compromise’ zero later. I took my time and controlled the trigger off the bench. A heavy trigger is more noticeable in benchrest fire, but it didn’t have any grit in the trigger action that I could detect. I fired five loads for accuracy at 100 yards, firing three-shot groups, and these were the results.
| Load | Group Size (inches) |
| Federal American Eagle 55-grain | 2.15 |
| Federal Green Tip 62-grain | 1.9 |
| Federal 55-grain JSP | 2.4 |
| Tula Steel Case 55-grain | 4.0 |
| Fiocchi 40-grain VMAX | 2.35 |
That is a narrow spread in accuracy and probably a reflection more on the trigger and optics than the rifle. The Anderson AM-15 is reliable and performs well for its modest price. Like all AR-15 rifles it is easily upgraded. The stock, handguard, and internals are fine. The AM-15 is a step above most rifles in the price range.
Postscript
I liked the rifle more on the second outing. With the red dot already zeroed, I did not cram so much into a single range session. The rifle is pure AR with rapid magazine changes and easy hits. I realized, considering the optics fitted, the 100-yard results obtained earlier were actually very good. This is a keeper rifle for me.
What features would you look for in a mid-level AR-15? How do you rate SIG’s Romeo5? Share your answers in the Comment section.
At 50 yards, center punching the target was no great challenge. 
The author tried five shots, off-hand, at 100 yards. Not bad, but not great in the grand scheme of things. However, it was certainly ok for standing on two legs and firing. 
At 25 yards rapid fire, allowing the trigger to reset and finding the red dot, firing with both eyes open, results were excellent. This is the rifle tested as issued. Mounting optics is simple with the Anderson rail. 
Fit and finish of the Black Rain bolt carrier are good, and the carrier keys are properly staked. The Black Rain Ordnance bolt carrier is a well finished carrier. 
During most of the test fire, the author used Federal American Eagle 55-grain FMJ ammunition. 
Firing off-hand in rapid fire, the Anderson Manufacturing AM-15 proved to be a formidable defense rifle. 
The rifle sports a decent muzzle brake. 
The Magpul stock is a good addition. 
The upper and lower receivers seem well fitted. 
The Anderson AM-15 provided good results during the test fire. 
This is an enjoyable rifle to fire off-hand.
David A
Thanks for reading!
Bob
A quality freedom rifle for less than $700? TAKE MUH MONAY!
Be weary of even the newest Anderson builds. I’ve used the lowers in builds and aftermarket parts but high quality like CMMG guts (springs etc.) were difficult to match up perfectly.
The lowers and uppers seem to be slightly off from mating as well.
But, match a solid aluminum upper, but quality parts, a thicker barrel, quality bolt and drop in trigger and it’ll be a better experience.
My advice is if your must go cheap then there are much better budget friendly AR platforms on the market.
The Del-ton echo series has pretty high quality control standards in house but again polymer uppers or lowers or both make for a short lifespan of a gun.
Gas systems / Blocks are key as well. I prefer mid length gas systems but an 18” barrel instead of the 16” pinned and welded brake. Many AR’s come with much shorter barrels spite stating 16” inches.
The muzzle break pinned and welded give you the correct length to stick to NFA guidelines. But, no suppressors can be added for most folks.
Make sure the barrel without any break is 16 inches and threaded.
Anderson AR’s I’ve seen personally from new, last roughly 5-8 years of moderate use. That’s with a robust am barrel and good bcg.
That said I’d advise an SW Sport 3, Ruger MPR, IWI AR, Sig M400 tread.
All for under $1000 bucks.
i enjoyed your read and look forward to more in the future thank you
Years ago Anderson offered a coating they claimed the rifle could be cleaned with just dishwashing soap and water, and not still not rust. They had a video of a very beautiful young lady firing her Anderson AR. Then she stopped, and she said something like: “I just love my new Anderson AR, and when I am done, I can clean it with just soap and water. In fact, I just put mine in the dishwasher.” LOL. True video, and may still be on U-tube. I have often wondered how many women, looking for an AR, watched that video, and bought the Anderson? Or men for that matter.
Hey Bob, you want to have some fun, try putting that Romeo5 way out there closer to the front sight, and see if your groups don’t tighten up a lot. At 50 yards, and 50-100 rounds, aiming at the very same point, its not surprising to be able to cover the single hole with a quarter. Zero it like that at 50 yards, and it will be good all the way out to 200 yards.
FYI: Mount that Romeo5 to a quick release A.R.M.S. brand mount, and once zeroed, take it off, put it back on, in the same location on the pic-rail, pushing down and forward when locking in, as many times as you like, and it WILL maintain zero. Not cheap, but for any serious rifle, definitely worth the extra money.
I have to go empty the dishwasher now before the wife gets home. 🙂
You talked about the red dot at 100 yds. In the military we had to qualify at 100yds with iron sights. Wish we could’ve used red dots. They weren’t a thing back in the 80’s. In fact we had the old M-16’s they weren’t that accurate either. But a lot of us still qualified expert anyway. I now have a bunch of AR’s now, I’ve “built” them (changed parts around) but they are so much more accurate than the old M-16’s were, and a lot less stress to qualify!
I’ve built a couple of dozen Anderson based ARs and not had any issues. I don’t understand the hate and Poverty Pony comments I’ve seen some posters make.