Help with choice between two specific AR's?

[skeptical_in_Ohio]

Back to the topic, make a decision yet about which AR you're going to end up with?

First, sorry for length. I'm an academic and tend to drone a bit at times.

To the point, because of the confluence of events, the decision for this one was to get one simple and inexpensive and leverage it into an opportunity to learn about the platform by building. I've done some lightweight smithing/parts swapping/etc (and have friends to draw upon for advice) so I feel reasonably comfortable trying to build. Hence, that's the plan.

This plan started when I was chatting with another friend who, when the topic turned to AR's said "you want to buy a stripped lower? I've got a couple and I'll sell one of them to you for what I paid". I said OK, and became the owner of a stripped PSA lower ($30).

Next, I was casting about on Armslist and somebody had picatinny sights (both front and rear) taken off a S&W M&P. He also had a buttstock, a couple of grips, and a few other small parts that I don't know much about yet, but since sights I've seen are about $50 each for F/R, the price I got for the whole box of parts seemed pretty good ($50).

Next I needed a complete upper and all the fiddly bits for the lower. The only thing I was kind of nitty about was something that is optic ready, so the vast majority of the very nice PSA kits fell off the list (and that at the moment only one of their kits is in stock anyway). Somebody on Armslist had a DPMS Oracle Rifle Kit (everything but the stripped lower) for under $400. I won't bore you with details but we are too far to drive to meet FTF so need to work out how to ship and get the payment done. I'm optimistic. If not, AIM has ATI rifle kits - everything save the stripped lower and (curiously) the trigger guard ($400).

Personally, I kind of hope the DPMS deal can be worked out (UPDATE - it did - see below). I was able to find some information about DPMS (mostly reasonably good), but couldn't find out much about the ATI kit. The DPMS is a 1/9, but not less than two sources (TTAG and Stag Arms, neither of them DPMS) suggests that 1/9 might be a good twist rate for the lighter and cheaper end of the ammo spectrum (which is where we'll live for now). I guess I'll see about that. If we wind up with the ATI (1/7) there won't be much crying, though.

As an aside, I'm sure I just accidentally started a sub-thread on optimal twist rate.

Finally, I was at AIM today and got a couple of PMags ($13 each). Palmetto has them cheaper, but with shipping I'm still good (AIM is close).

So...if all goes well we're at a fudge over $500 (plus a little shipping). Not the very best bit of kit out there, but it's not too bad and has all the "standard" AR stuff (and did I mention I get to build it?). The price is pretty good too, especially with front/rear irons that can be swapped for an optic eventually if desired. With this, we're not in too deep and can learn the platform. We aren't thinking SHTF or HD with this one - the point is to learn the platform.

Thanks (again) to everybody. We didn't end up with either of the original choices, and also didn't follow some of the excellent and sincere advice offered. This said, please make no mistake - I'm definitely cataloging the advice I got here for any later adventures with this platform. For this one though, I think we're in pretty decent shape. We'll see.


UPDATE. The DPMS worked out; hopefully should have it as early as Saturday, though work commitments (by which hobbies such as this are subsidized) may mean I won't get to working on it for a week or so.

 

[henschman]

What do you mean most PSAs aren't optics ready? Every upper they sell is a flat top... you can put any optics you want on them. Are you talking about the front sight post? That doesn't get in the way with optics. I actually prefer a factory fixed front sight post because it is the strongest you can get... made from forged steel and pinned on. I would either want a factory fixed front, or a low profile gas block under a free float handguard. A folding front sight mounted on a railed gas block is the least desirable setup IMO. That setup is offered by many low end companies who tout it as "optics ready;" translation: "it is cheaper because we don't have to sell any sights with it."

You have lowered your standards... you were asking about CORE and PSA, now you're looking at DPMS and ATI. I would steer you back the other way. Sure the DPMS would serve as an intro rifle well enough, but it's more about what you get for your money. The little-to-no more that you would spend going to PSA would buy a lot more quality. The mil-spec features, particularly HPT/MPI barrels and bolts, add a lot of peace of mind reliability-wise.

OTOH, you did great getting that unpapered stripped lower for $30. Whoever your buddy is, he did you a solid there. I'd be looking into a PTAC lower parts kit to fill it out, along with a PSA complete upper plus BCG and charging handle. I recently got a PTAC BCG from PSA when they were on sale for $75, and it is HPT/MPI marked and looks great. PSA is just plain the best value going for AR stuff right now.

That said, I went BCM for the upper on the build I just completed this week. I really wanted a pencil barreled middy 16" with a front sight gas block, and PSA hasn't sold anything in that configuration for some time. The BCM ran a little higher price-wise, but no regrets... it looks like great quality. I would be thinking real hard about their blem deals they have going right now. They are pretty much down to PSA prices. Alas, no pencil barrels... but a regular BCM A2 middy would make a superb starter AR!