I put a budget AR-15 build to the ultimate test at Finnish Brutality, one of the toughest two gun competitions in the world. My setup? A Franken-build AR-15 using an Aero Precision upper and lower, topped with a $289 Primary Arms SLx 1-6×24 LPVO. Can a budget rifle and optic survive the brutal cold, snow, ice, and physical challenges of this grueling match? Watch as I push this setup to its limits and find out whether you really need to spend thousands on a competition-ready rifle—or if a budget-friendly AR-15 can hold its own.
Budget AR-15 setup – Can a cheap build perform?
Primary Arms LPVO durability test – How does this optic handle the abuse?
AR-15 competition stress test – Can this rifle take the heat (or the cold)?
Finnish Brutality 2025 – The toughest rifle match out there?
Would you trust a budget AR-15 in a high-stakes competition? Let me know in the comments!
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James hates competitions, cold weather and cheap ARs and yes, he was bitching the whole time… but unlike some other guntubers he actually turned up, went through the whole competition, did the ice water plunge and scored quite well despite the penalties.
13th place in Open and 54th place Overall (out of 200)
Next year we're planning to move the dates of Lynx Brutality just so James can make it
James on skis looks like the old guy from UP.
USGI "Mil-Spec" Aluminum Mags FTMFW!
So next time a chrome bcg and gas piston is your choice
I love this channel…… I love @Polenartactical as well. Always great gun content
Clint smith yelling at you to clear that jam
2:13
That’s what you get for not bringing your own equipment
JR being a little tough on the PA LPVO. Great optic for a price that won't make your wife pissy, especially if you can't write off high-end stuff as a guntoober.
Having trusted low bidder "cheap" MILSPEC for 27 years of AD, YES.
Take care of your gear and it'll take care of you.
We get wrapped a bit too tight over all the high faluting stuff but the budget stuff works if you will.
Ian "cleaning my bolt carrier group" hehehehe
Just freaking clean it. Harsh conditions equals shorter cleaning intervals.
Orderd lower from aero,had it sent across country to dealer,and all in less than full week.
Love the video. 14:09 – can be said of any class, training, or competition- win or lose: did you have fun? If the answer is yes then that day is a win. Double so if you learned something.
I've always had good experiences with Aero Precision and its associated company Ballistic Advantage
I think that maybe the GLX primary arms. I ran that one through an Arkansas course In dead of summer, it’s doable but sucked. Great video homie!
Breaking: Florida Man Encounters Snow
Maybe you didn't clean them, but probably now you're considering chrome lining them!
In James next competition I think he should take an Sks and a tokarev
You should invite IV8888 next year and do Florida man vs Georgia man
Rough, really enjoyed, thanks
I love these competition videos – I WANT MOOOOAAAR COMPETITION VIDEOS JIMMYYY ESQUIRE
Need to get better friends James someone who would not but a southern boy in that kind of cold did they even explain about shrinkage to you in that cold
'ol booger james shoots in the snow
I mean if you dont clean your shit or take care of your shit its not going to perform to well lmao
Great video. Love that you used a common man’s gun and optic.
Next time rock the AUG.
speaking from experience i strongly suggest not buying directly from Aero. Unless you want to wait forever for your order..
Need a video of you and Ian cleaning each other's bolt carrier groups
oh yea i brought out my BUDGET Daniel Defense and my Poverty Tier PSA Sabre and my Unhoused level Bul Armory 2011
Not surprised aero can’t fill orders, we can’t even buy ARs in Washington anymore, I wonder how they’ll continue to make them here
Ian's recomendation for cleaning at the end of the day and the use of an oil appropriate for the temps was probably more important than the "chrome bolt carrier" that was mentioned 20 times.
Then again what do I know? I live in Clownada and my government only trusts me to own an sks, valmet, Henry Homesteader, vintage wood stocked hunting semis, and an M1 Garand.
So nice to see all of you don't hate us europeans and working with european military stuff. How i wish US would still be training with us in arctic conditions also in the future.
You have the greatest monologues on YouTube. An absolute pleasure and laugh to enjoy.
As an American I’m listening to this story in its entirety of bitching and moaning and all I can think about is, but did you win?
Is KAK budget?? (need to know so i can make fun of the poors)
BCM handguard for sure.
JJ, you don't have to bring your AUG next time, you can borrow my SA80
Then you'll know what "OMG does this thing even have an eyebox?" feels like! 
The PEN-15 would've been the perfect roifle for this competition. Its 16" barrel and bulbous ergonomic grip naturally shrinks in the cold.
Sorry, but Varusteleka is only racist against average Finnish people that did not study high enough of a degree to be welcomed as their customer. As per their radical-leftist founder.
James, as a lawyer, wouldn't you be obligated to contest that the body of water off the coast of Louisiana is in fact, the Gulf of Mexico?
I prefer tests performed with properly or at least averagely maintained guns. Are they not more fair and relevant to real life? Who, worth mentioning, expects their dirty, dry guns to run well? I guess if fun is the point then just let 'em burn but in those cases we can all pretty reliably predict the outcome without needing to try it.
That Toyota is
Me with my 3 anderson budget ar15 rifles and 3 psa classic freedom ar15 budget rifles. Has this guy gotten so big he's forgot what budget is