AR Budget Build...Is It Possible?

[sarduy]

$79.00

http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/Superior_Arms_S-15_AR15_.223_Receiver.html

delton kit $465.00

http://www.del-ton.com/Rifle_Kit_p/rkt104.htm

total = $565.00 plus trasfer and shipping

 

[RP88]

I think I know exactly how I'm gonna build my AR when I start putting the money down for it...

+1 for this thread.

 

[gidaeon]

Adco has RRA chrome lined, mid-length complete uppers for $440. Good product, fast service great price (yes, just got mine from them and I'm pleased),

just add assembled lower of your choice and save on tools and your done in 5 minutes. Or go the kit route as others suggested and maybe give up a few qualities.

Fireforeffect has some good deal on m4'gery kits with some CMMG parts but they are a slight bit higer that say delton.

 

[rob_s]

The best $600 AR is an AK.

 

[lee n. field]

Talking AR Budget Build...Is It Possible?

THR -- cheapest possible AR build

 

[Bruenor]

I don't own an AR, and don't plan on owning one in the near future, but if it was up to me, I'd have a hard time just spending $500-$600 on an AR. Think about it this way. You're willing to spend several hundred dollars to get a very entry level AR. Are you going to be satisfied with the rifle for a long time to come, or are you going to wish that you spend an additional $400 and got a truly nice piece? I've made the mistake in the past of going with the "bare bones" choice, and have always ended up wishing that I had went with the better, yet more expensive, choice to begin with. If the $500 AR is what you want, then great, but spend your money once and make sure that you get something that you'll be happy with for years to come.

 

[SSN Vet]

nobody who drums up these $600 numbers want to include the following in their talley...

shipping on the upper/kit.....$25
shipping on the lower......$20
FFL transfer on lower.....$20+
mags....$15/ea

 

[Olympus]

Yeah I had been thinking about that shipping part. Ordering a complete lower and upper for about $600 sounds good but then when you tag $20 for shipping for each part plus the mags then it's almost like buying a complete rifle. I think I'm going to keep my eyes open for one at the gun shows but from what I've seen there aren't any good buys on ARs at gun shows. That's where people get the ole broomstick to the behind...

 

[Leif Runenritzer]

Retro surplus for cheap

Sarco sells a kit that includes everything but the lower for $435.50. Everything is old-fashioned A1 but the A2 upper with the newer rear sight:

AR209
http://www.sarcoinc.com/m16.html
http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=4108200&postcount=5

For more money, you could start with an A1 barreled upper and forend from Ohio Ordnance Works for $250, and Nodak Spud sells a lower that might or might not match the gray finish:

013-27
http://www.ohioordnanceworks.com/parts/misc/miscellaneous-parts.html
http://www.nodakspud.com/AR Lowers.htm
http://www.akfiles.com/forums/showpost.php?p=311947&postcount=33

 

[Olympus]

I didn't plan on owning one either, but they have a way of growing on you. And I said I wasn't interested in buying something with awesome accuracy because I have a collection of bolt actions that will easily out shoot an AR and since one them is a .223, I have easily 1000 rounds that will take some time to go through with a bolt action rifle. So I could use the AR to chew up the ammo at the range for some fun shooting. And probably an AR is about the only gun I can think of that I wouldn't have a problem buying "bare bones" because of all the upgrades you can do to them down when the road when I'm not too worried about money. These were just my thoughts on why I want to get one.

 

[longdayjake]

shipping

As far as shipping prices go, ADCO was mentioned earlier for their RRA midlengths. ADCO only charges $4 for shipping. I bought my upper from them and it was at my doorstep in 3 days.

 

[dodge]

I keep hearing of mags for $15 eacch but if you look on wither Bravo Company or 44 Mag sites they have they for anywheres from $9.95 and up. Brand new mags from name brand makers.

 

[benzy2]

Let me make things as easy as they can be. Don't try for a budget build.

I did. I was actually fairly close on budget. For a while. I found an RRA lower at a time they were all out of stock for $140 out the door. I then bought the Del-ton kit which put me just over $600. Not bad but I hated the standard trigger. Then I dropped $100 for an RRA NM trigger. Now Im up to $700. I bought a cheapy mag that never did work right, trash canned it, bought a pmag. Between the two mags Im at $740. I got a flat top and tossed a scope on. With my best handloads it holds 1.5 inches at 100 yards. Not terrible but far from amazing. Resale on a pieced together rifle is going to be nothing. On the other hand I could have spent $770 (local price) on the same RRA rifle, had the sub MOA guarantee, and had a rifle that had resale in the event I wanted to sell it. To me the extra $30 would have been far worth it had I realized what I was doing. To me the problem was the parts rifle with the bad trigger was like a big waste of money. What good is a rifle that you hate to shoot because of the trigger? After I get a good trigger Im right where I would have been if I went with a complete rifle.

Do yourself a favor. Unless you are looking to put together some high end parts that you can't have ordered on a complete rifle just buy a complete. You will get way more in the end to just have bought the plane jane RRA in the length you want.