Input on a "budget" AR

[trapper1]

Looking for thoughts on choosing an AR15. I owned a Core a couple years ago, but some of the components in the rifle seemed/were cheap, and it was always mis-feeding. I eventually sold it when I had the chance to wash funds out I had in it. I’m wanting to add an AR back in my collection.
I’ve reviewed many posts here, but some date back a year or two, on X vs Y, so maybe upgrades or improvements have been made. Stag seems good, especially with the lifetime warranty I read about, and possibly a Rock River. Do DPMS and Bushmaster fall into the same category? Others to consider?

Uses are just plinking, coyote hunting. I wouldn’t imagine rounds ran thru-out a year would exceed a 1000 . I just want something solid, that will offer no problems with feeding ammo, and shooting brass or steel casings thru isn’t an issue.

Other criteria
5.56/.223, Chrome lined barrel, adjustable stock, forward assist, dust cover. Will want to add a decent scope at some point. Not interested in a bunch of tactical gadgets, add-ons, nor interested in building, and budget is firm at $800. Am I SOL, or is this within reason?

 

[Tirod]

Nope. Reading your thread, the first thing I thought was "Buy something for $800." Then you said it.

Brand pretty much means nothing at that price tier. (Torches are being lit, eyes scanning the tool shed for the pitchfork.) Get the one you like to point at on the side of the lower. I built mine, which means had it been available for sale, I wouldn't have spend $1,100 on it and likely could have got it closer to $800. Buying parts at retail isn't cheaper. The guns generally are. There is one dodge to the issue, tho - if you buy a complete upper and separate complete lower, even from the same vendor, you avoid the gun tax as it's not a complete firearm. You also don't get a warranty, either, so weigh that possibility.

Best thing to do is hit a couple of stores and handle them. Find out what feels right to you with the stock, grip, and handguard. Me, I absolutely loathe fat handguards and plan on changing up the ones I have, so, off to the stores to see what feels better. It really narrowed down the size I preferred, and it will do the same for you. Then you can spec that in your purchase decision.

In that, jot down the features as you go, see what is available that meets most of them, and then, get used to the idea that you will likely change something down the road to make it more of what you want - not some "suit" trying to hit the mass market dead center. If the AR has become 20% of the gun market to date, it's because it can be optioned a lot like you want. It's not like the Model T, you don't have to like black and live with it.

If anything, your better course of action right now it to be specific to yourself about what you intend to shoot with it, and what ranges you will shoot it. You can then tailor it toward that specific goal and it will then be more user friendly doing it.

 

[Fremmer]

How about a 20" A4 model, armalite or rock river, it should do what you need just fine.

 

[benEzra]

A lot of people say good things about the Smith & Wesson, and those can be had for between $600 and $800 depending on features.

 

[Ks5shooter]

S&W M&P are great for the money

 

[Fremmer]

I wish S&W would make a 20" AR!

 

[Centurian22]

Why the 'need' for a forward assist and dust cover? Just curious as the S&W M&P sport has been called the best gun for the money at between $600-$700 but does not have those features. The dust cover I could see for hunting purposes but in any non-combat situations from what I've read a forward assist is likely to get you IN to more trouble than it will get you out of. If the round isn't chambering there is a reason and jamming it in harder isnt the solution.

I'm also in the same search for an AR but at just a slightly higher price point for some different features. At $800 I would say S&W, Rock River, Windham Weaponry, Stag, and DPMS could all be considered. Think about barrel twist for your bullet weight selection. 1:9 is common at this price point and my not stabilize the heavier bullets in the 69+ grain range. 1:8 (RR has some) or 1:7 will shoot and stabilize anything available in the .223 5.56.

What has made my search harder is wanting the faster barrel twist, a mid length gas system (Possibly more reliable, less wear and tear on parts, less recoil, smoother shooting), and a free floating smooth (maybe top rail) hand guard with the ability to add rail sections when and where needed.

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[MistWolf]

At this price point, I think the S&W is the only one worth considering. You can assemble a PSA for about that or less, but you've got to know which parts to get & which to avoid.

Buying parts does avoid paying the excise tax, but that money is used to keep open public ranges built on BLM land. Just something to keep in mind

 

[BYJO4]

I have a friend who recently bought a Windham at that price range and it's performing very well. Also S&W seems pretty good in that cost range. There are so many ARs available these days that it's hard to keep up with them.

 

[cowtownup]

I got a decent Palmetto State Armory AR for around $700.. I bought the lower and had it shipped to my FFL and then bought the upper and had it shipped to my home...

 

[Arobbins]

Delton is a great ar im on my second they shoot great. They are selling a lot of the riffles no jams reported

 

[ZGunner]

I would have no problem with a M&P Sport.

If you're wanting something different and are willing to put it together yourself Model 1 Sales has some good looking kits. Stripped lowers can be had for cheap if you find the right deal.

Why do you want chrome lined? I was always of the impression that chrome lining was for durability at the cost of a little accuracy.

 

[Lennyjoe]

I will not buy a complete AR again. Did once, built the rest (8) on my own.

If you can't build your own, I've seen some base model DPMS rifles for mid $650's new here in Arizona at gun shows. Shop around at the LGS or gun shows for one.

 

[cheoah]

Smith and Wesson

In a similar situation, sold a Sporter II last year for $2000, with 15 magazines and a bunch of ammo. I just could not resist, and bought my daughter a new transmission and had some left. It was the one I shot as a kid but it just wasn't something I felt like I needed to hold on to.

I bought a Smith M&P15 Sport today. Actually traded several old guns and paid $125 for it. $625 was the retail price. I really wanted to buy Palmetto State Armory components (they're just an hour down the road) and put it together but this deal worked out much better. I got some dead weight out of the safe and adding what sounds like a very nice rifle for the price. Spontaneously thought of it this morning, and carried the trades down there to the shop.

It will be here in a couple of days, pretty excited to try the iron sights. One favorable review after another convinced me to buy the Smith. I may modify it later, but for now, good accuracy and the ability to crank all kinds of ammo through it is what really drew me to this rifle. Good luck finding what you want. I wanted a reliable rifle for nearly nothing, but if I had a budget approaching 900, the Stag is pretty appealing. Plenty of other good stuff out there....

 

[G.barnes]

Bcm upper with magpul hand guard and a complete lower from any reputable company. It might be a little higher than your budget depending on what lower you get, but it'll only be around 100 dollars.

 

[benEzra]

Why the 'need' for a forward assist and dust cover?

Neither is essential. The dust cover is handy for keeping dust/dirt out of the ejection port if the rifle is being carried outdoors in dusty/sandy conditions, or if it ends up on the ground for whatever reason, but isn't vital to the rifle's function. Likewise, the forward assist is convenient on a civilian HD carbine for re-latching the bolt after a press check, but you can also do that without a forward assist by pushing the bolt carrier forward with your thumb where it is exposed in the ejection port (the indentation in the bolt carrier serves that purpose).

My carbine has both features and I like them, but could certainly do without them if I had to.

 

[TIMC]

Build it and get exactly what you want. I was at $650 for my current build of a .300 blackout until I bought the Midwest industries hand guard, now I'm at $825 + glass and will be right at about $1400 once I have it just like I like including optic. They get expensive fast, especially with good glass!

Here she is so far...

 

[Arobbins]

Nice ar way to go

 

[HexHead]

Another vote for the S&W Sport. Absolutely the best value in an AR. Most AR "manufacturers" are just assemblers while S&W makes most of their own parts. Their Melonite lined barrels are more corrosion resistant than chrome lined, and it's not just a coating. Lifetime warranty from a company that's been around for 150 years and likely still will if ARs ever get banned.
I replaced my trigger with an ALG ACT one and it shoots now like a much more expensive rifle. I was sighting in my optic the other day and shot a couple of sub-MOA groups at 100 yards. I'm very happy with it.

Even if I switch out the plastic with Magpul furniture, I'll still be around $1000, including my 1-4x illuminated reticle Bushnell AR scope.

 

[bscott29]

Check out the Stag model 3. I like mine.

 

[LeonCarr]

Another vote for the S&W M&P Sport as the best "already put together" AR for the money right now.

If you are handy at building lowers, PSA.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[goon]

If the M&P Sport really is off the table, I've been looking at the stuff PSA puts out.

They sell a "blemished" lower complete for $149. I'm not that concerned about scuffs on finish or a digit of the serial number being slightly misaligned, so I'd buy one of them. Then maybe snap a BCM upper on it ($459) with a BCM bolt carrier group (about $160) and a Gunfighter charging handle (about $50). That'd put me in pretty good shape around $800.

You could also consider going straight complete PSA upper with a straight PSA complete lower. It's not really a build - just snap the upper on and go to the range. I was pricing it yesterday and think you could be priced about the same as an M&P Sport (less than $700) but still have the forward assist and dust cover.

If the M&P Sport is on the table, I'd consider that. Costs have to be cut somewhere. The M&P Sport cuts those costs where they don't make much difference but where you can see them. Another budget AR has to cut costs somewhere too... except you can't always see them.

 

[trapper1]

Thanks for the input fellas

 

[GC51]

Ouch! I wish I would have joined this site before I bought my AR- the Colt M4 version cost me $1350 and all I got for the extra bucks was a rearing horse on the receiver...of course, being in cattle country, I kind of like the rearing horse!

 

[goon]

Depends on when you bought the Colt. If it was right after the panic when prices were still a little high, that's not too bad. They're going for about $1,100 locally now, and a Colt is definitely a good AR.