Getting bored with what I currently have and thinking about taking the plunge into AR’s. What budget AR would you recommend for a weekend shooter. Looking for 18” barrel (hopefully more accurate and velocity). I took a look at some of the big brand budget models and really not sure what to look for. The M&P Sport 2 sounds like a pop can with rocks in it. Ruger felt more rugged with the metal forend, springfield and savage felt quality but everything i look at says all these brands are junk and spend $2k for a good one. I’m also intrigued by getting an upper, trigger, and lower and farting around with it.
Best budget AR
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trackskippy
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Ive got a couple of S&W AR's (no Sports though), one in 5.56 and the other in 308. Both have been good shooters and no problems.
Ive put together a number of PSA "kits" and mixed uppers with other lowers together, and all of them have been fine too. Ive been shooting one of those on a weekly basis for a while now, and its got a good number of rounds through it at this point and hasnt been any trouble.
PSA would probably be your best bet if you want to mix and match. They also usually have separate complete lowers and uppers in their daily deals too, if you dont want to "assemble" anything beyond a couple of pins.
Ive put together a number of PSA "kits" and mixed uppers with other lowers together, and all of them have been fine too. Ive been shooting one of those on a weekly basis for a while now, and its got a good number of rounds through it at this point and hasnt been any trouble.
PSA would probably be your best bet if you want to mix and match. They also usually have separate complete lowers and uppers in their daily deals too, if you dont want to "assemble" anything beyond a couple of pins.
The M&P is a decent budget choice, they did a 10,000 round meltdown test on one, mostly the upper as they used a full auto trigger assembly to burn through 10,000 rounds in a very short period. The forstock melted but the rifle kept functioning. The Ruger MPR is a nice budget upgrade, 18" barrel and rifle length gas system and a muzzle brake, it has an upgraded trigger too, though it doesn't compare to a giessele SSA E. I like my MPR for longer distance and I have a sig Romeo 5 on my M&P for plinking fun. Neither has ever had a single malfunction.
Mosin Bubba
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Tell me you went on AR15.com without telling me you went on AR15.com
All the cheap stuff runs well these days. The 16" M4 clones are the most common budget rifles by far, but I think Ruger makes an entry priced 18" rifle.
LimaCharlie
Member.
Ruger AR-15s are great for occasional weekend shooting and leaving it stock.
If you are heavy into shooting an AR-15, I have had good luck with Alexander Arms, Armalite, Colt, Springfield Saint, and Stag Arms. Most have 16.1" barrels.
The most accurate AR-15 I have owned was a Colt CR6724 model target rifle with a 24" stainless bull barrel. The weight limited me to bench-shooting it.
If you are heavy into shooting an AR-15, I have had good luck with Alexander Arms, Armalite, Colt, Springfield Saint, and Stag Arms. Most have 16.1" barrels.
The most accurate AR-15 I have owned was a Colt CR6724 model target rifle with a 24" stainless bull barrel. The weight limited me to bench-shooting it.
C-grunt
Member
On the budget side I would buy a PSA. Just make sure it has either a chrome line barrel or nitride treated.
The S&W Sport II is an okay rifle but I think a comparable priced PSA is better.
The Ruger uses a non standard barrel and gas block. It probably works okay but if anything goes wrong or you want to change the forend, you are kinda stuck with Rugers design.
The S&W Sport II is an okay rifle but I think a comparable priced PSA is better.
The Ruger uses a non standard barrel and gas block. It probably works okay but if anything goes wrong or you want to change the forend, you are kinda stuck with Rugers design.
C-grunt
Member
Here is PSA 223 ARs.
Is also not pretty about a 16 vs 18 inch barrel. The difference in muzzle velocity won't be much.
Is also not pretty about a 16 vs 18 inch barrel. The difference in muzzle velocity won't be much.
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InTheSwamp
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PSA. Buy upper and lower on separate orders, cheaper. It only takes pushing two pins to make it a rifle.
I have no idea. While I have gotten to shoot a few others the only AR I've owned was a PSA kit I bought during the Obama years. It was their premium rifle kit with a forged, chrome lined barrel that came as an assembled upper & lower parts kit. I wound up putting their EPT trigger in it, adding a red dot, rear sight & sling. I like it fine. I haven't really had any difficulty with it beyond fixing an error I made assembling it. One of these days I want to change the dot for a LPVO but I never seem to quite get around to it.
How does a M&P sound like a pop can with rocks? What does farting around mean?
Since i know 0 about this, what could possibly go wrong?
Whats the benefit to the lined barrel?
It rattles like the upper and lower is loose.
Farting around: walking and farting at the same time. Jkjk means just messing around.
Telum Pisces
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PSA complete lower and a Bear Creek Arsenal complete upper. Perfect budget gun that will do anything and everything you'd want it to.
bfoosh006
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Most bargain uppers and lowers don't have a great fit between the two portions.
An Accuwedge helps some.
What is your budget ?
trackskippy
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Ive had a couple of AR's that had some slop in the upper/lower fit. About drove me crazy too. The Accu Wedge's never worked for me. The couple I tried were just not big enough to take up any slack, or at least in the right places. I also tried a couple of different things with no real luck.
What actually worked, and replaced anything in the rear of the gun, was to put an "O" ring on the front lug of the upper. That tightened things right up.
I saw an Accu Wedge in a friends gun that had deteriorated and come apart, and pieces got into the trigger group causing some issues. If you've got one in the gun, may want to keep that in mind and keep an eye on it.
What actually worked, and replaced anything in the rear of the gun, was to put an "O" ring on the front lug of the upper. That tightened things right up.
I saw an Accu Wedge in a friends gun that had deteriorated and come apart, and pieces got into the trigger group causing some issues. If you've got one in the gun, may want to keep that in mind and keep an eye on it.
I usually point people toward Smith & Wesson. They seem to pretty much have their **** together. Yes, PSA is a good deal, if not just for the parts, but it seems that everytime some one comes to me at the range with a problem with an AR, it's usually a PSA. At least some of that is probably due to the fact that there are so many PSAs out there and most problems have been just a bad assembly. A loose screw here, a missing pin there; but I've also seen a few where the chambers weren't cut all the way.
Outlaw75
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The Ruger is not mil spec. Most aftermarket parts are mil spec so you would be limited as to what you could add to/do with the rifle in future. And even though you know 0 about AR's now that may not be the case in the future.
About $700 to 800
C-grunt
Member
Lined barrels are more reliable and corrosion resistant. One of the reasons why the original M16 had issues in early Vietnam was the military decided to remove the chrome lining. There is a lot of debate about chrome lining vs nitride but they are both good options and much better than a non lined barrel.
The Ruger uses some non standard parts for whatever reason on their rifles. Part of the appeal of the AR15 is it's aftermarket options. Every piece can be replaced and there are literally hundreds of options out there to replace them with. It would be like a trigger company making a Remington 700 trigger that doesnt fit any of the existing stocks for the Remington 700 and having no real reason why it was made like that.
The Ruger uses some non standard parts for whatever reason on their rifles. Part of the appeal of the AR15 is it's aftermarket options. Every piece can be replaced and there are literally hundreds of options out there to replace them with. It would be like a trigger company making a Remington 700 trigger that doesnt fit any of the existing stocks for the Remington 700 and having no real reason why it was made like that.
blackd24
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You should spend $600 max on the rifle and get either iron sights & ammo or a red dot/ 1x prism. You can always add an upgraded trigger down the road for $100.
Larry in wyoming
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BC-15 | .223 Wylde Right Side Charging Forged Rifle | 18" Parkerized Heavy Barrel | 1:8 Twist | Mid-Length Gas System | 15" MLOK | No Magazine
We recommend Sierra Ammunition
I'd probably go with this
