So I'm in the market for a AR rifle, target shooting and predator hunting.

Got a bonus from work so not really on a budget or anything.
Just want a good one, that's dependable and good shooting.
What's something that good?
What do you all like, and don't like?

Thanks for any input

So many more makers now than there was a decade ago. Many will advise you to buy the parts separate and build it. If you dont want to do that, there are numerous good brands out there.
$1000-$1500 Rock River Arms is popular around here for predator hunting
$2000-$2500 Daniel Defense is solid.
Many, many others out there....others will surely have good suggestions
There are much cheaper ones out there, but youll end up buying better triggers for them. If price is not an issue as you stated, buy once, cry once....

Just buy a psa. Buy the completed lower and completed upper separate. Be under 600 and get you all you need for the job your asking it to do.

Reviews on the cheap AR’s are often amazingly good. My thought is unless my life depends on having top tier parts throughout, go with the 6-800 rig and throw another 150’ish at a nice drop in trigger. PSA or Primary Arms have a few choices in that price range.

Find someone that builds em near you and get what you want. Make it a fun project.

I started with a 16" A2 bushmaster. It has the fixed handel on top. Yes it was a long time ago. I didnt know what I liked or wanted at that point. I started swaping out parts. Flat top upper receiver for arm better trigger ect. Eventually all I needed was another barrel and lower receiver to have a 2nd gun.

The point is figure out wabt you want and how you want it before spending money and e ding up with a box of parts. On the flip side I did Eventually figure out what I like and why and friends got a lot of free parts I gave them to get started.

Most I have shot will out shoot cheap bulk ammo ability when loaded with good ammo. Price range is about 400 to above 3k . The top end models use top end parts and will be able to shoot a little better sometimes and ma hold up better under hard use. But being realistic few will be in combat with theirs or need true hard use. And if you wear one out you could buy several replacements for the cheaper models for the price of one top end gun.

If starting over again I would well what I did with my most recent gun. I bought quality parts I wanted for the parts that matter. Trigger larue 2 stage(sp) barrel fn, bolt carier group bcm, charging handle Gisele. Cheap parts milliseconds buffer tube and receivers. Cost more than an entry model at about 1400 at the time but its what I wanted how I wanted it and cheaper than some others.

Its all about what you want and your use. If you want top end name operator used gear get it. There are also several cal options I like better than 5.56 depending on intended use. Its all what you want. You can also have more than one.

Unless you are in a,state like WA where you can't even buy parts, get the parts and make what you want/ need and research to make sure you get good parts to make your accurate rifle

I have built AR's for over 40 yrs. I would buy a stripped lower and put it together how you want. You can get a good drop in trigger for 90.00 on sale to 200.00. There are some many parts and they all interchange. I buy plan Jane upper and find a good barrel. The rifle below are Aero lower and upper. I purchased the stripped uppers on here a few months ago. And lower from Runnings in Moorhead MN. And put them together. The key is good barrels and triggers. These are 6MM ARC and 223

I have a 5.56 palmetto state armory and a 300 blackout from durkin tactical. Bought the kits. Both go bang when trigger is pulled and shoot good. Only 3 boxes of ammo through the 300 so far,, just built it. But many rounds through the 556. No complaints and no reason to want an expensive one.