$1000 AR 15

[ExAgoradzo]

So, years of praying may come true in the coming months and it is possible I move out of the PRKalifornistan. I have paid little attention to ARs for a long time (for ever really by my clock). So I know remarkably little about them. Ask me about hunting calibers and we can talk...

Purpose:
1. I want something to play with at the range. I have some guns that go bang in various volumes and speeds, a 10-22 and an SKS... I have a couple 19th century ARs, AKA lever guns... But no 30round magazines...
2. I want to reliably hit a 9” target at 300 yards.
3. I’d like to be able to make small holes in varmints inside 100.
4. I’d like to spend less than $1000.

So, does my list of reqs include the cost of glass or will that be more?
I have shot small groups with my buddy’s AR, but I know he paid a lot more than $1000.
Id like to purchase my first gun as a unit rather than build one, but I’m sure once I’ve escaped Progressive Paradise I could find a friend who could build one (is it that hard if you have all the pieces!)?
What else do I need to think about?

Thanks,
Greg

 

[mljdeckard]

There are numerous options that will fill your needs for half that. I would get something like a Ruger SR556 and a lot of ammo and accessories.

 

[MachIVshooter]

Wander on over to Palmetto State Armory. You can put together a pretty nice little carbine for $500-$700. And by "put together" I mean order the assembled upper and lower you want and then snap them together, saving yourself the excise tax on complete rifles.

Something like this:

http://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-ar15-magpul-acs-l-ept-lower-black-516444905.html

Plus this:

http://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-...per-with-mbus-sight-set-bcg-ch-516446599.html

And then add magazines and an optic of your choice.

 

[ExAgoradzo]

I’m glad you said that because I’ve seen things like this and wonder, will this be what I am looking for...

Which begs another question: are the above reqs particularly hard? Sound like you guys say, “no”. Then what should I expect from $1000 including glass...

Thanks for newbie help,
Greg

 

[MachIVshooter]

Which begs another question: are the above reqs particularly hard? Sound like you guys say, “no”. Then what should I expect from $1000 including glass...

Well, the above combo is $510 before shipping & transfer. Shipping will be $25-$30, transfer usually $20-$40. So you'll be into it somewhere in the $570 range. Magazines are cheap, PSA regularly has combo deals with ammo that get you Pmags at <$5 ea. If you just want a couple to start, figure $7-$12/ea

The glass is a big question mark, but you can get a pretty decent scope and a one-piece mount for $300-ish, like a Leupold VX-2 3-9x ($230) or Vortex Diamondback 4-12x ($200) and stick either in a Burris PEPR mount ($70)

 

[ExAgoradzo]

Even more excited!!!
Greg

 

[FL-NC]

The PSA and Vortex options described above make the most sense. I recommend you research both companies in detail. If you sign up for PSA'a newsletters, they give daily deals on guns, separate uppers and lowers, and parts. In fact, you will get bombarded with emails on these deals.

 

[Everready73]

Colt Trooper is the best deal going right now for around$700-750 cant be beat. It has all milspec features and doesnt cut any corners and would meet your accuracy requirements. If you wanted something a little more precision oriented look at the LWRCI DI gun right under 1k. Gluted match barrel and full ambi controls. This is a really good value as well.

 

[AlexanderA]

Prices for AR's are at historic lows. Buy now, before the next panic. In fact if you can, buy multiples.

 

[md7]

The Colt 6920-R Trooper is a good deal for around $700 in my opinion. Basically a 6920 with 13" free floated centurion mlok rail. Should be a fantastic "do all" type carbine especially with a low power variable optic in the 1-4 or 1-8 range.

Decent glass can be found around the $300 to $400 mark via swfa, vortex strike eagle, etc.

 

[RevolvingGarbage]

I should be receiving today the 20" 5.56 PSA upper I ordered to attach to the basic PSA-15 lower I got back in April. The rifle without magazine and optics will have cost me $417 at that point (I had a rear sight on hand already). Ill have to update you on how it functions/accuracy but I will be surprised if it does worse than 2 MOA with the right ammo.

I had almost the exact same criteria as you when I began planning which parts to get. I want to make little groups at 100yds, and be able to hit a gong/steel popper target at a few hundred yards and with decent glass, this rifle aught to be able to do it.

 

[MistWolf]

I'll throw in with those who recommended the Colt Trooper. Best AR buy currently available and it's mouse than accurate enough for jackrabbits and coyotes. It'll work with prairie dogs too, if you don't expect to keep up with specialty rigs at longer ranges. Get it as quick as you can. If you know where you're moving to, buy a Trooper online and have it sent to an LGS at your new location and pick it up when you get your new driver's license.

 

[RevolvingGarbage]

Here's the complete PSA rifle next to my M92. I will get a few mags and report back on how it shoots after this weekend, but so far im I'm liking the configuration.

 

[LoonWulf]

Looks like you already got good suggestions for the rifle, my only add on is that might wanna spend some extra on upgrading the trigger. I find pretty much all "mil spec" triggers to be down right nasty, especially on the lower cost guns.
While you CAN (and i do) slick up the stock triggers to a degree, that can bring on other problems. Im comfortable with my polished mil spec trigger, and grip adjuster, but im also very careful with how its adjusted and where its pointed.

 

[bfoosh006]

I am going to throw the Savage MSR Recon into the plié...
Savage knows how to make barrels.

The furniture is not my cup o' tea... but... everything I have read suggests excellent over the counter accuracy.

https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog.../SAVAGE+ARMS+MSR+15+RECON+223+REM+|+5.56+NATO

 

[holl]

Just did a PSA build this week.
-blem enhanced complete lower $250
-16" stainless HBAR $140
-carry handle (I like iron sights)$60
-6 30rd pmags (locally) $60
-shipping (PSA) $14
-transfer fee $25
$549 total, can't beat it. I still have money left over to add a optic if I want and purchase ammo!

 

[redneck2]

Question....are you looking for ultimate accuracy or just decent accuracy? That is, something in the .4's-.5's range or the 1-1/2" range?

 

[Walkalong]

Well, he said:

2. I want to reliably hit a 9” target at 300 yards.
3. I’d like to be able to make small holes in varmints inside 100.

So the accuracy requirements are not great. Most any decent AR barrel will do this.

 

[ExAgoradzo]

Well, and like I said, I just don’t know what’s possible for that kind of money... and, if I’m going to spend $600-700 some day I can go up in accuracy.

I appreciate your notes guys...

Greg

 

[redneck2]

Reason I asked is that I got an upper maybe six months ago. Custom built to spec.

I got a Wilson air gauged match barrel. Free float railed handguard and high end FA BCG. Whole thing was about $480 IIRC. The builder guarantees sub 1" groups with Match ammo.

If you're just gonna do 30 round Mag dumps into dirt banks, most any AR will do. If you wanna shoot best groups, that's a different story. I think most guys underestimate the accuracy available if they'd get a better barrel for maybe $100 more. You see a LOT of "where can I get the cheapest..........." threads. You see very few "where can I get a really good..........." threads.

I built the lower and would have less than $1,000 into the upper, lower, and good (as in Leupold) glass.

The two things I would go for are a match grade barrel and really smooth trigger. There are really good triggers that don't cost $200+

 

[coloradokevin]

So, years of praying may come true in the coming months and it is possible I move out of the PRKalifornistan. I have paid little attention to ARs for a long time (for ever really by my clock). So I know remarkably little about them. Ask me about hunting calibers and we can talk...

Purpose:
1. I want something to play with at the range. I have some guns that go bang in various volumes and speeds, a 10-22 and an SKS... I have a couple 19th century ARs, AKA lever guns... But no 30round magazines...
2. I want to reliably hit a 9” target at 300 yards.
3. I’d like to be able to make small holes in varmints inside 100.
4. I’d like to spend less than $1000.

So, does my list of reqs include the cost of glass or will that be more?
I have shot small groups with my buddy’s AR, but I know he paid a lot more than $1000.
Id like to purchase my first gun as a unit rather than build one, but I’m sure once I’ve escaped Progressive Paradise I could find a friend who could build one (is it that hard if you have all the pieces!)?
What else do I need to think about?

Thanks,
Greg

I like to think of the rifles and the glass separately. After all, a scope can move from one rifle to another pretty easily. Also, you can choose to go with an open sight system on an AR-15, though for most people that will make a 9" target at 300 yards rather tough.

I just finished building an AR-15 with a lightweight DMR style theme. I sourced all of the components individually, and the highlights included a White Oak Armament barrel and a Geissele National Match trigger. All told that build came out to right around $1000 (minus optics). If that rifle can't reliably hit a 9" target at 300 yards I'll be greatly disappointed. It should be good on a 9" target to about twice that distance.

For an AR-15 the heart of the machine is the barrel... get a good one and put it under some type of free floated hand guard. Almost everything else on the AR-15 is ancillary in the accuracy department. After all, even the best triggers simply help you hold the gun more steady as you shoot. The barrel is the heart and soul of accuracy on these rifles.

 

[Skylerbone]

I'm almost shocked at this point that no one has emphasized that 1:7 is the only twist rate that can send a bullet more than 25 yards (and grains). I shoot a 1:9 and I'm beginning to work up loads for bullets heavier than 62gr, and with good results but my local club is limited to 200 yards. Gas length would be another consideration to discuss.

Because you have other calibers for which to make tiny groups with at longer distances (and this is just a suggestion) you might consider spending the better part of your budget on the rifle then adding a red dot (for now) to see if that floats your boat.

I bought my AR without having a need in mind, just a whim I suppose, added a Leupold Mark AR and realized I had plenty of rifles that already suited that role so an mid-priced dot made it both different and fun(ner) to shoot. Absolutely nothing wrong with having another scoped rifle though and with prices on your side you could potentially buy one of each.

To the question of which to buy I could not begin to narrow it down since your list of wants, those not written above that is, probably differ from mine. Maybe shoulder a few ahead of time and decide which style buttstock suits you best.

Crossing my fingers that the boarder police allow a good tax paying Komrade to cross into US territory.

 

[MachIVshooter]

I'm almost shocked at this point that no one has emphasized that 1:7 is the only twist rate that can send a bullet more than 25 yards (and grains). I shoot a 1:9 and I'm beginning to work up loads for bullets heavier than 62gr, and with good results but my local club is limited to 200 yards. Gas length would be another consideration to discuss.

I reckon it's not really necessary, since one would have to try to find a barrel that's not 1:7-1:9, which will really all shoot any bullet that fits into an AR mag just fine.

As for gas system length, tough to advise someone on that if we don't know the barrel length they're considering. Some are, of course, more ideal than others in a given configuration, but we know that 16 inchers with carbine gas run fine, and I've personally used mid length on 13" barrels. At any rate, since the OP doesn't seem to be looking to assemble an upper from parts, he can rest assured that whatever rifle or complete upper he buys will run with the gas system used.

 

[MistWolf]

...For an AR-15 the heart of the machine is the barrel... get a good one and put it under some type of free floated hand guard.

This is a good point. The trifecta for good precision in an AR is a quality barrel, matched bolt and quality ammo.

 

[CapnMac]

OP raises an interesting question. Especially as there are some bargain AR down around $495 (if before TTL). So, a grand is almost two AR in our current market.

So, a grand is more than generous, plenty of room in the budget for a case, mags, random accessories, ammo, even the beginnings of decent glass. (ACOG would still set you back a grand , but an Aimpoint Comp is in your budget)