[Review] Andro Corp Industries ACI-15 Bravo 16: Most Affordable AR?

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Finding the best deal is sometimes a quest that can take on mythical undertones. When you realize there are hundreds of manufacturers out there, you begin to understand the scope of the challenge related to finding the best budget AR-15.

And with the scale of that Herculean labor firmly in mind, we tested the Andro Corp ACI-15 Bravo 16. It has a reputation for being a great value in a crowded market.

Everyone loves a good deal, but often budget buys mean you have to sacrifice important things. Will that hold true of the ACI-15?

We took one to the range and tested it thoroughly to find the answer. We’re going to share what we learned, what we liked, and what we didn’t.

So read on!
 

Andro Corp Industries ACI-15 Bravo 16 Specs & Features

Specs

• Caliber: 5.56x45mm
• Capacity: 30+1 (or by magazine)
• Overall Length: 33”-35.5”
• Barrel Length: 16”
• Height: 7”
• Width: 2.25”
• Weight: 6 lbs. 6.7 oz.
• Country of Origin: USA
• Comes with: Cardboard box, 30-round Mission First Tactical magazine, mini owner’s manual, gun lock

Features

• 16” 4150 CMV Melonite barrel
• 15” Free-floated handguard
• Forged upper and lower
  

Andro Corp Industries ACI-15 Bravo 16 Backstory

It never fails to impress me, but like a few other large companies out there, ACI started in a garage with two dudes who had an idea.

Joshua Dewrell and Jason Wilcox thought they could do better and set out to prove it in 2014 by forming Andro Corp Industries.

After establishing a rock-solid reputation, they quickly gained a toehold in the Florida market and began expanding their product line. Now, there are literally hundreds of SKUs in various configurations, including AR-15s, AR-10s, and AR-9s.

ACI manufactures its firearms in Winter Garden, Florida, and offers a limited lifetime warranty.

Shooting the Andro Corp Industries ACI-15 Bravo 16: Accuracy & Reliability Analysis

We subjected the ACI-15 Bravo 16 to our standard testing, which included 500 rounds fired through a number of different magazines.

Accuray testing was conducted using four different brands of ammo in three different weights. In addition, we tested the trigger with a Lyman Digital gauge.

The Bravo 16’s initial impressions were very good. The recoil impulse was slightly heavier than that of other recent AR-15s we’ve tested, like the Zion-15, but still easy to manage.

Notably, the ejection pattern was slightly unpredictable, even with several magazines of the same ammunition. It would range from forward to rear, and all points between, but this did not affect reliability.

On this front, we had zero malfunctions over the course of 500 rounds. The only thing worth noting was the Hexmag we used would not drop free when the mag release was pressed.

The Hexmag locked back the bolt and had perfect function otherwise. It just seemed a bit too thick to drop, even from a perfectly level rifle.

All other magazines inserted, loaded, locked back, ejected, and dropped clear when called upon to do so. We used PMAGs, an old GI magazine, and KCI, too.

For accuracy, I mounted a Vortex Strike Eagle 5-25×56 and fired 5-shot groups from 100 yards. Shooting prone from a CTK Precision P3 Ultimate Gun Rest, we fired two groups of 55gr, one of 69gr, and a third of 77gr.

Starting with 55gr AAC FMJ, the first group of five resulted in a 2.5” group with good common elevation, but a wide spread. The 55gr Gold Dot Speer LE was slightly better at 2”

Switching to heavier weights, we began with the 69gr Federal Gold Medal Sierra Matchking. This group was tighter, coming in at just 1 MOA.

Finally, using the 77gr Nosler, I was able to put a group together that was .96 MOA. Three shots were very close in a string, and two more went through the same hole.

All in, accuracy is very good considering the price point of this rifle. Averaging all four groups resulted in 1.6 MOA, much better than military standard.

Ergonomics: Fit & Feel

Overall fit and finish are good on the Bravo 16. The upper and lower are forged of 7075 aluminum and finished with a Type 3 hard coat anodizing.

The free-floated rail runs a full 15” and features MLOK slots in seven positions around the circumference. Near the magwell, there are QD slots on either side though these are unimproved and do not have anti-rotate hardware.

All down the top the Bravo 16 features Picatinny from stem to stern. Andro Corp thoughtfully included T-markings so you can mark your favorite optic placement.

The 16” barrel is 4150 CMV with a Melonite finish and 1:7 twist, comes with M4 feed ramps, and is capped with an A2 birdcage. Atop this sits a low-profile gas block on the mid-length gas system.

I appreciated the attention to detail shown by Andro Corp Industries, seeing their proper staking of the castle nut, as well as staking on the gas key of the bolt carrier group.

One reality of budget rifles is that manufacturers have to save money somewhere so they can pass those savings on to the consumer. And so, like other budget rifles, we see inexpensive furniture and a Mil-spec trigger.

In the case of the furniture, the ACI-15 Bavo 16 comes equipped with the M4 carbine stock. We’ve literally had some 40 years of improvements since then.

The stock works fine and can switch between different positions to adjust length of pull. It can also support slings via looping (no QD here).

While it does the job, it’s a bare minimum standard that offers few (if any) creature comforts. But it does hook up to the shoulder with its thin butt pad while gobbling beard hairs through the hole on top.

The A2 grip is another relic that comes standard on the Bravo 16. Again, it gets the job done, but some people hate the hump in the middle of the grip because it can cause blisters.

Controls

Another money-saving area is the trigger. It felt Mil-spec in many ways, though on the lighter end (4 lbs. 10.7 oz on a Lyman Digital gauge). I felt three distinct pauses on the way to breaking the trigger, which made the break a little unpredictable.

Ultimately, I worked around this, but the unpredictability affected accuracy. My groups shrank the more I shot, partially because I was getting used to the trigger.

The Bravo 16 comes only with standard controls so lefties will be forced to adapt, as ever. Everything is standard, including the fire controls, bolt lock and release, and magazine release.

Up top, the tiny, Mil-spec charging handle has a left-side latch. Like the aforementioned furniture, it is dated but still works.

Improvements We’d Like To See

AR-15 furniture has evolved quite a bit in terms of utility and features. It isn’t even terribly expensive to replace a grip and stock with some quality components.

I’d recommend swapping these out pretty quickly for something you prefer, but I get why Andro Corp included them on this build. They function and are cheap.

Outside of that, you might want to consider changing out the trigger. While it isn’t bad, some shooters just prefer a different experience when they shoot their rifles.

Who Is the Andro Corp Industries ACI-15 Bravo 16 For?

Do you like saving money? This just might be the rifle for you!

Some AR-15s in the budget category linger just below the $1,000 threshold, but the ACI-15 Bravo 16 is quite a bit less.

This rifle can be configured for a number of different purposes and would serve well as a plinker, home defender, competition shooter, or for hunting.

By the Numbers

Reliability: 5/5

Over 500 rounds, we experienced zero failures, using various magazines and ammo.

Ergonomics: 3/5

The Bravo 16 loses some points for outdated furniture, but it is completely functional.

Accuracy: 4/5

Groups averaged 1.6 MOA, with the best group (77gr Nosler) coming in at .96 MOA.

Customization: 5/5

The AR-15 has much in common with adult Legos, and can be wildly customized to your heart’s content.

Value: 5/5

This rifle hovers around $500, but occasionally drops even lower if you can catch it on sale.

Overall: 4/5

Upgrades & Accessories for Andro Corp Industries ACI-15 Bravo 16

You’ll definitely want an optic for this gun. We suggest the Vortex Strike Eagle.

Without a doubt, you’ll want some ear and eye pro when shooting this rifle. ShellShock has both, and you can wear them all day, comfortably.

We use AAC ammo for the bulk of our testing either rifles or pistols and have found it to be accurate, reliable, and affordable!

A good sling will increase the utility of your rifle, and allow you to stow it when you need your hands for something else. Blue Force Gear makes some of our favorites.

How We Tested

To accurately assess the ACI-15 Bravo 16, we conducted a series of tests at the range, ultimately firing a total of 500 rounds.

We fired 5-shot groups from 100 yards in a prone positions from a CTK Precision P3 Ultimate Gun Rest.

Ammunition used included:

• AAC FMJ 55 grain
• Federal Gold Medal Sierra Matchking 69 grain
• Nosler 77 grain

We also measured the average trigger pull using a Lyman Digital Gauge. Multiple magazines were used to assess function.

Meet the Experts

At the helm of this review was Pew Pew Tactical Content Producer Sean Curtis. Sean has been shooting since childhood but really began to delve into guns more during his law enforcement career. He spent over two decades in law enforcement, where he became a POST-certified handgun instructor and NLEFIA Red Dot Instructor and received CLEFIA Advanced Firearms Instructor Training and AR-15 armorer training. He has since attended a variety of training, including Tactical Performance Center Handgun Mastery & Carbine Mastery, and earned USCCA rifle instructor certification. Aside from training and prior to joining the Pew Pew Tactical team full-time, Sean wrote for several gun publications evaluating and testing guns and gear and has written hundreds of articles.

This review was edited by Editor-in-Chief Jacki Billings, who runs Pew Pew Tactical’s experienced team of reviewers. Jacki is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, ACES: Society for Editing, and the Professional Outdoor Media Association and has her bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications. She has worked as a media professional for close to 20 years, specializing in gun media for almost 10 years, and has worked as an editor for five years. She uses her extensive professional journalism and editing experience to set testing protocols and editorial standards.

Final Verdict: Andro Corp Industries ACI-15 Bravo 16

The Bravo 16 is a rifle I can comfortably recommend to just about anyone. The quality you get, for the price you pay, creates a very high value.

You could purchase this American-made budget rifle and keep it completely as is. Or, you could take the money you save and really make it something special.

How will you proceed, adventurer? The choice is yours!

Will you be picking up an ACI-15 Bravo 16? Let us know in the comments below. For another great budget AR, check out our review of the Zion-15!