The fact is that while Colt ARs *may* be better (in some indefinable way) than their counterparts from Smith and Ruger, no one who buys them will ever be able to tell the difference. Or care if there is (or more likely, isn't) one.
These days an entry level AR from any of the top manufacturers is a commodity item. When people were willing to pay extra for that pony, they made money. Heck, the pony is enough to let them charge maybe $100 over what their competitors charge, but an extra $400? No way.
When it comes to the civilian marketplace, they were simply too expensive for what they offered. Sure, you got that pony on the side, but in the end there was nothing inherently 'better' with the Colt product than what you would get from other similar vendors.
These days an entry level AR from any of the top manufacturers is a commodity item. When people were willing to pay extra for that pony, they made money. Heck, the pony is enough to let them charge maybe $100 over what their competitors charge, but an extra $400? No way.
When it comes to the civilian marketplace, they were simply too expensive for what they offered. Sure, you got that pony on the side, but in the end there was nothing inherently 'better' with the Colt product than what you would get from other similar vendors.
