Looking to get an AR, on a budget

I've seen Colt 6720s running around for $800 or $850 online. I don't know how much time or trouble it would be to get that extra $150, but it may be worth it in the end to get what you really want.

On the cheap side, I'm not an AR guy, but I've kind of looked at the Del Ton Sport. It seems to fit lot of the criteria you have. Pencil barrel, supposedly weighs under 6 pounds empty, and they can be had as for as little as $500.

Del Ton Sport. It seems to fit lot of the criteria you have. Pencil barrel, supposedly weighs under 6 pounds empty, and they can be had as for as little as $500.

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Grabagun is selling them for 479 right now.

*dont know a single thing about the Deltons, but that is one of the lowest prices I've seen on a complete AR.

My friend just bought a complete kit less stripped lower for about $450 IIRC from Palmetto State. Mil spec bolt/carrier. Complete assembled upper was included. .223-5.56.

I'd be taking a very close look at the S&W M&P15 if I were in the market for a factory built AR in that price range.

^^ This. The new M&P15 Sport II even includes the forward bolt assist and dust cover, features the M&P15 Sport lacked. For some reason(s), enough people missed them for those to be added.

Midway has a rifle kit for $400---all you would need is a stripped lower and a few hand tools.

Unless I knew exactly what I wanted, I would not build one. Most folks build one and upgrade later when they figure out what they really like...then you have a good bit invested in a rifle. M&P Sport II's and Rugers are selling so cheap I may buy one just to put away. That being said, it doesn't take much self justification for me to run out and build a new one

The Colt Expanse is going for less than $700. It's missing the forward assist and bolt cover, but they can be added and probably still be under $700.

Seems like a deal.

rmuzz said:

Yeah used to seeing forward assist/dust covers on the m4, might be weird not having one. Ill look at the m&p and the psa kits... theres a lot choose from out there.

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It isn't so bad. The bolt has that little indention in it as a thumb assist, anyway. I prefer to have a bolt assist, but I don't particularly need one. Same for the door since I'm not trekking through the sandbox for a living. Even the nastiest, rainiest and muddiest range trips aren't that bad. First world problems!



Admittedly...if I could only have one single ar15, it would have a dust cover at least.

Rmuzz, thank you for your service!

The $700 Colt Expanse mentioned above is an interesting choice that you can use as-is for now then upgrade over time. (Which 99% of AR buyers do anyway.) You can start by adding the dust cover and forward assist for $20, at least that's what I did to mine. Or leave them off with little worries.

But the Expanse doesn't have a chrome lined barrel and it's not a lightweight barrel profile though empty it weighs only 6.5 pounds. I put my 16" BCM midlength pencil barrel upper on the Expanse lower and basically have a Colt LE6920 LW midlength. A PSA upper would be cheaper of course and I do recommend a midlength. The Expanse upper could be sold for $300 or so or you could put it on a cheap lower down the road for a cheap 2nd AR. If you buy an Expanse look for the serial no with the LE prefix which is the Colt 6920 lower receiver. These are valued more than the new version with the CE prefix.

But all that is more for the Colt fan, $700 can get you a near milspec (semiauto) M4 at PSA with a chrome lined FN barrel. Carbine or midlength gas length. You just have to be patient and catch quality parts on sale. You don't have to build, you can buy a complete upper and complete lower and pin them together. Or even buy a complete rifle if you find one configured the way you want. Normally it's easier to marry the lower you want with the upper you want than finding the exact complete rifle you want. It just depends on what's on sale and in stock when you're ready to buy.

The DelTon, Ruger AR556, and the M&P Sport/ Sport 2 are very nice for low end ARs. They're significantly nicer than the Bear Creek Arsenal and ATI stuff. Given your parameters, I would probably pick a DelTon for the price and configuration options.

I would not worry about the forward assist that much, especially if you are on a budget. Yes, they are nifty. Yes, that is what comes on a military issued rifle. But they are doing military things with it. In 15 years of shooting AR's under less than optimal conditions I have only ever hit my forward assist once because I actually needed to. That was on a tour in the middle east with a dirty weapon that had been fired, gotten wet and in the middle of a huge sand storm.

Unless you are planning to drudge yourself through the swamps somewhere with your bolt open and a mag in trying to jam up your rifle you should be fine without it.

I would focus on doing some homework into where the parts are actually made. There are actually not many places that actually manufacture uppers and lowers. Most companies manufacture for one another. Kinda like the Noveske MUR is actually manufactured by VLTOR. Fewer and fewer companies actually make their own stuff. Find out where a brand you like comes from and see who else gets theirs made by the same people.. You just might find you can get a $300 lower for $100.

You can get a MUCH nicer build by actually building it than buying a pre-made. This will save you money in the long run as you are not paying for parts you don't want. Flip side to that coin. If you do not know what you are doing it can end poorly if it is not made right and does not work or worse yet blows up.

I would say sit down and look over AR's and make a list of all the features you want. Then make a list of companies you have faith in and like. Then do the homework. Is there a rifle that gives you 99% of those lists that you can afford? If not then research what it would cost you to build it.

If you take your time with a build you can get a GREAT deal and get an amazing rifle for cheaper than a mediocre rifle that was pre-made.

The biggest things to remember in your build or purchase. Be sure it is quality and functions first. Secondly make sure it is what you want!!! Don't let anyone tell you what you do and don't need. That is for you to decide. After all you are footing the bill and you are the one shooting it when it is done.. not them.

Good luck either way. If you want my .02 on any thing feel free to message me and I will answer what I can.

rmuzz said:

Ok, I'm currently serving. Momma gave the ok to get an AR... been on the wish list for a while. Have a budget of roughly 700 bucks.

Looking for:
Lightweight profile 16"
Chrome lined (or melonite like qrc)
Carbine or mid
Flat top or removable carry handle
Perfer collapsible stock, but not dead set

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Buy a PSA Blem or Anderson stripped lower and one of PSA's complete rifle kits.

You'll get it done for around $500 and it'll work great.

Radical Firearms FGS-12. I bought it for $500 from AIM. It's functioned flawlessly and is just an excellent gun. I can't find anythign wrong with it. They should be getting them back in stock again soon.

http://www.aimsurplus.com/product.a...rearms+.223/5.56+M4+FGS-12+Rifle&groupid=5387

Here's the rifle as it came to me:



I got a 1 MOA PK-06 red dot for $200 from Kalinka Optics on it, and a $40 set of flip-up irons from Ultimate Arms Gear. I'm extremely happy with both. I also installed a $40 Miculek compensator.



Grand total for everything you see on the rifle (not including bipod): under $800. It runs flawlessly, and I would trust my life to this gun without hesitation.

So that's my budget build, at least to the extent that you might want to follow it. I also swapped out the stock for a fixed A2 type stock, but you wanted an adjustable stock.

If you want to order now, you can get it directly from the manufacturer for $50 more than AIM. There's a few customization options there, too (note: it is not shiny; their pictures just suck). http://www.radicalfirearms.com/product-p/rfrifle.v2.16fgs-m4556.htm

I concur it's the folks who recommend a Colt.

Contact www.gandrtactical.com. Great vendor with military pricing. He also carries the M&P Sport for a great price.

http://www.gandrtactical.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?search=action&category=LEMI


Take Care,

Buzz

Also, FYI, Radical does NOT skimp on how their parts are put together. The castle nut for the stock was torqued on so tight (not staked) that I had to take it to a gun store so they could put it in a vise to get it off for me. I also contacted their customer service to ask if they used a proprietary barrel nut. They responded quickly and told me that, no, they do all their work with milspec armorer's tools. You won't get any rude surprises with these guns.

When I took it to the range to sight it in, a lady in the next lane had a S&W M&P Sport that was malfunctioning. It had some trigger problems and wasn't firing. Mine just ran, though.

I have an M&P Sport with 2000 rounds down the barrel, no failures. Its an outstanding rifle and I paid $640 out the door for mine. Absolutely no regrets buying this one.

Cabelas has the dpms oracle for $524. I know it's more money, but colt 6920's are well under a grand now. Great time to be in the market for an AR.

The S&W M&P15 Sport II is worth a look.

Several times recently, Sportsmans Outdoor Superstore has had them for $559 with free shipping. Keep checking their site for this price.

http://www.sportsmansoutdoorsuperstore.com/products2.cfm/ID/166590

Another vote for the S&W M&P15 Sport II.

There are perfectly good alternatives closer to the $500 range. They lack the MBUS sights that the S&W has, but considering you'll probably want to add your own optics that advantage might be meaningless to you.

I wouldn't worry about chrome lined barrels unless you were planning to shoot thousands of rounds, and even then it might not be worth the additional cost. That's the conclusion I drew after reading multiple opinions, probably on THR.

If you want to assemble your own you can find Anderson or Tennessee Arms lowers (aluminum and composite, respectively) for about $35, if you shop around.

Look for sales on S&W, DPMS, Del-Ton, and PSA. PSA may be your best bet- they offer separate assembled uppers and lowers so you could just get the 2 halves you like and slap them together and you're ready to go.

Honestly, not coming with backup iron sights is a non-issue. I bought a set of flip-up iron sights for $40 from Ultimate Arms Gear. They work just fine and hold zero. Manufacturers tend to royally scam you on certain products. $40+ for a single plastic sight from Magpul? Please. Unless they have tritium inserts, there's NO reason a set should cost over $50. They're marked up probably 10 times what they cost to actually make.

As for the S&W M&P Sport, all I can tell you is that the one in the next lane wasn't firing reliably when she pulled the trigger. It was having trigger group problems. I don't know if it had an aftermarket trigger in it or not (It looked pretty stock to me, other than the Nikon scope on top), but there was something wrong with it.

If you're looking for a budget build, I can give you a full build that will cost less than $800, including the rifle, and it WILL run reliably.

Radical Firearms FGS-12: $500 from AIM
Ultimate Arms Gear flip-up iron sights: $40 from UAG's website
Miculek compensator (one of the best on the market): $40
PK-06 1 MOA 3-reticle red dot: $200 from Kalinka Optics
Monstrum Tactical 0.5" picatinny riser (for cowitnessing): $10 from Amazon

Total: $790 + a small amount of shipping (the rifle ships free).

Now, this does NOT include a magnifier. But 6x magnifiers can be had for around $100 from Primary Arms. The 1 MOA red dot is better-suited to magnification because even after being blown up it will cover less of your target. That red dot is military-grade and nearly indestructible.