Best budget AR-15 carbine for a novice shooter?

Best budget AR carbine

  • DPMS carbine

    Votes: 3 11.1%

  • S&W M&P sporter II carbine

    Votes: 19 70.4%

  • PSA freedom carbine

    Votes: 9 33.3%

  • Bushmaster Patrolman XM-15 carbine

    Votes: 1 3.7%
  • Total voters
    27
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lionking

lionking

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I have a life long friend of 42 years. He was never into shooting he has been more a motorcycle and ATV and such enthusiast. I remember as a kid at his house his dad had some guns but never taught my friend shooting. So now I am.

I bought him a Beretta 92FS a couple months ago as a gift when they were on sale $429 at a local gun store and legally transferred it to him.

He has shot my mid 2000's Bushmaster M4 carbine ( pre Cerberus, never had a problem) and my Colt AR-15 and he likes them, he actually does well with them for only shooting at the range three times.

So my question is, what is the best budget AR M4 carbine for him to buy?, because he is showing interest in one and is looking to me for guidance. Budget is $500.00 to $575.00 pretty much.

There is the Bushmaster with carry handle for $600 and change (I like the carry handle choice), but he would probably put a budget optic like a Vortex on it.

He'll shoot it sometimes not a every weekend shooter , but isn't a gun collector either, just making a basic couple of guns collection for range shooting.

In that price range I see
S&W M&P sporter
PSA
Bushmaster
DPMS

you may suggest another I didn't think about

your opinion?
 

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The 3 factory guns will be to about the same specs. The PSA depends on which supplier provided the parts at the lowest cost. Not always in spec.
 
Not a lot of difference between any of them. But if he intends to use a red dot, I'd probably get a model without a front sight. IDK. Some people like the view with the front sight post below the dot, some people prefer it to be open and unobstructed like a scope, and I'm one of the latter.
 
I have a PSA and have used the M&P. I’d say the fit and finish is nicer on the M&P. So it’s “better” in that regard. As far as overall quality, the PSA is the best bang for the buck.

So is he someone that tinkers, if so have him get the PSA. If not have him go with the M&P and be done with it.

I also had a DPMS before and it’s ok but the others would be my top choices. I can5 speak to the Bushmaster but they’re never mentioned in these discussions so there must be a reason.

Also keep in mind that he’ll need magazines, ammo, hearing protection, eye protection, a range bag etc if he doesn5 have them. So he needs to budget for them.
 
thanks for the replies so far will continue to ponder more replies as they come. Now that he has his first handgun the Beretta it has fanned the interest to get to the range even more but like I said he is not going to be a tinker type looking to build or learn to build uppers and lowers and such, so a ready to go AR is best.

A 9mm handgun, a .223 rifle, the basic of the basic to have fun range time and least costly ammo other than .22. He really likes my S&W 686 also so maybe eventually his collection might grow but for now a solid handgun and rifle to start.
 
Mosin Bubba said:
Not a lot of difference between any of them. But if he intends to use a red dot, I'd probably get a model without a front sight. IDK. Some people like the view with the front sight post below the dot, some people prefer it to be open and unobstructed like a scope, and I'm one of the latter.
Click to expand...

he probably will put a optic on it but not right away. Plus I am teaching him iron sight shooting also, I just personally believe iron sight needs to be learned also then a choice can be made.
 
I would look closely at Bear Creek and put it on an Aero or Psa lower, I like the feel of the Aero and a friend purchased the Psa magpul enhanced trigger lower that felt nice, he put a 6.5 grendal Bear Creek upper on it and it feels nice.
Building one you can have a nice rifle for less than 400.
 
The Ruger AR556 is also in your price range. I am also an AR novice . I'm am about 900 plus rounds into my Ruger ownership. It had good accuracy with Federal (Lake City) M-855 62 gr. I have had no issues at all. My son has the M&P sport original ..not the sport 2. ( his did not come with a dust cover ) That may be the only difference between the two ?? He has nothing but good things to say. I have fired his rifle on several different range trips, and it has done well. At that price point both of those rifles were money well spent.
I had researched both rifles at the time and decided that either would be suitable for my first AR. The Ruger just happened to be the first available at my LGS. The political climate at the time still had AR's a little scarce, but the prices were beginning to fall. I ultimately paid $40 more for my Ruger than my son paid for his Smith and Wesson three weeks later.

Hope this helps,.....Tentwing
 
I'd lean PSA or Smith & Wesson.

My one AR (I know, rookie numbers) is a PSA Freedom and I've been very happy with it, does everything I need it to do.
 
In fact, for PSA, I think this would be a good setup if he plans to add a red dot. Buying it in 2 parts helps keep the price down by avoiding the tax (I think 12%?) on a full firearm. It's not a Freedom upper, it actually has one of the FN Herstal made barrels rather than the in house Freedom ones. You would need to add a BCG and charging handle, but you'd still be within your budget.

Lower:
https://palmettostatearmory.com/complete-psa-ar-15-lower-classic-edition.html

Upper:
https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa...m-lok-upper-without-bcg-or-ch-5165450312.html
 
Tentwing said:
The Ruger AR556 is also in your price range. I am also an AR novice . I'm am about 900 plus rounds into my Ruger ownership. It had good accuracy with Federal (Lake City) M-855 62 gr.
....... Hope this helps,.....Tentwing
Click to expand...

The Ruger AR-556 is a very good choice. I have one too, and while it varies from "mil spec" in some ways, it works well. One very nice attribute, which may come in handy in the future, is the Delta ring unscrews rather than to have to pull back against a possibly tight spring. This makes changing out handguards very easy. This may not be needed at first, and when it is, only once - - - but it is a nice consideration.
 
I vote PSA as well. I’ve tried or researched other brands, bought more expensive brands, and found Palmetto simply rules the budget class imo.

For specifics I’d look at this combo. D3050334-9C16-4955-B69B-4172C9471F93.png


C5F3F6BB-F3A0-4A43-9384-35E4842816F6.png

The upper is currently out of stock but you can request a notification when it arrives. I caught it on sale for $269.99 last month. Rifle length gas is a pleasure to shoot over carbine length systems and you’ll be outfitted with back-up sights from the get-go. Upgraded bolt included (ToolCraft NiB) and a basic charging handle.

The lower is identical to one I ordered last year save the stock which is an upgrade. I don’t care for the standard stock and was lukewarm on the basic MOE stock.

Rear is PSA upper and lower, Front is PSA from above recommendation.
77C1B0CC-2B98-4B37-9B84-3B9CE977FB67.png

L to R: Radical (don’t recommend), PSA, PSA.
F485CC05-401A-48DA-9666-1C07EACE21BC.jpeg

Ive also purchased a pistol brace, RDS, and magazines from PSA and their bundle deals are, while sometimes difficult to find on the website, worth hunting for.
 
lionking said:
I have a life long friend of 42 years....what is the best budget AR M4 carbine for him to buy?, because he is showing interest in one and is looking to me for guidance. Budget is $500.00 to $575.00...

In that price range I see
S&W M&P sporter
PSA
Bushmaster
DPMS
Click to expand...
Not within the budget, but the best AR for first time buyer who just wants to shoot (as opposed to tinkering) is the Colt. Colt has perfected the basic operating system- gas drive, spring rates etc.

Out of the above choices, I say the M&P. It's a complete rifle and is backed by S&W customer support (for what that's worth). If something goes wrong, just send it back & let S&W deal with it.

Based on customer support, I'd look at the AR Springfield sells. Springfield customer service is very good. I don't what price range they fall under.

lionking, if you are confident in your troubleshooting skills, my second recommendation from your list is PSA. Kit or complete, whatever gives your friend the best value. Not because PSA is a POS, it's that the extractor springs they use are barely adequate and cause malfunctions that are commonly misdiagnosed as over-gassing, carrier outrunning the magazine, short stroking and so on. PSA isn't the only offender using weak extractor springs.

Whatever AR your pal gets, you can save him (and yourself if you pitch in with troubleshooting chores) by replacing the extractor spring with an M4 extractor spring from Colt or Sprinco.
 
The Springfield Saint runs around $699 on sale. Good looking rifle in person, but not sure if they produce it or have it shipped from someone else and boxed up in Geneseo.
 
loinking,

It will help greatly to know where does your friend live, where will it be used and stored?

If it is along a coastal area, a area that has high humidity or on a boat then a chrome lined barrel should be considered and maybe a plated BCG and trigger and hammer.

Another important thing is how well does he like Mil-Spec stock, grip and and handguard? I don't care for the military style round handguard and stock. I generally like Magpul line but there are a lot of other choices. However your friend can go with a basic model and easily change things he doesn't like as he gets more experience.

Sales on AR's in my area are pretty common and I think he will be hard pressed to make a bad choice.
 
I’ve bought a bunch from PSA, and I’ve always been happy with what I received. My PSA nitride and stainless barrels are extremely accurate, and their uppers and lowers fit with minimal slop.
 
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