Tax return time and I want my first AR15

[Skeptic13]

I would go Ruger AR556 or Smith and Wesson M&P15. Both of these can be had in their basic configuration for around $500. They are both excellent quality from reputable companies. I started out with the Ruger and it is a great entry level rifle. I have not done any modification to it and love to shoot it that way. Later I came back and built my own AR once I knew more about them and what I wanted. If you decide the AR platform is not for you the Ruger and the Smith will hold their values well and you should be able to sell either without problems.

 

[jonnyc]

Return - the form you send in by April 15th.
Refund - the money the govt. sends back to you that you let them use for the year at 0% interest.
Why is everyone so happy about a big refund? I don't get it, but my high school students understand after a 2 minute discussion on the subject.
It's your money, use it how and when you want. Pay your taxes when they're due...not before.
That's my PSA for the week.

 

[Doc7]

Return - the form you send in by April 15th.
Refund - the money the govt. sends back to you that you let them use for the year at 0% interest.
Why is everyone so happy about a big refund? I don't get it, but my high school students understand after a 2 minute discussion on the subject.
It's your money, use it how and when you want. Pay your taxes when they're due...not before.
That's my PSA for the week.

the dude is getting $550 and wants to spend it. He didn’t discuss the pros and cons of why exactly he is getting this money.



don’t buy AR556, proprietary parts.

Find a MP Sport II in your budget, end of story!

I also recommend buying 15-25 PMag 30s and a Primary Arms Advanced Micro Red Dot!

 

[IndianaBoy]

One of the reasons why Palmetto State Armory is such a good deal is that there is a federal excise tax on complete firearms. If I recall correctly it is 11%.

So you can buy a complete upper and a complete lower from PSA. No 'building' involved. Two push pins. The same two push pins that you will utilize when you take the rifle apart to clean it.


While it is not a sub-moa rifle (few are, but everyone on the internet will tell you their rifle is sub moa if it shot one sub inch 3 shot group once upon a time), my experience with Palmetto State Armory has been very positive.

I am blessed to have land on which to shoot and shooting steel out to 500-600 yards is no problem. Two of my PSA uppers also are shot suppressed 90+% of the time and the threads on the barrels were properly concentric to the bore. Which is necessary to using a suppressor without a baffle strike, and indicative that the machine work done on PSA barrels is being done competently.

You can spend a lot more and get a lot less than a PSA rifle. Will you win a 1000 yard high power match with it? No. Can you launch bullets with reasonable accuracy for less money than most other vendors? Yes.



The guts of this rifle (barrel, bolt and carrier, upper receiver) are all from PSA.

 

[Tommygunn]

the dude is getting $550 and wants to spend it. He didn’t discuss the pros and cons of why exactly he is getting this money.



don’t buy AR556, proprietary parts.

Find a MP Sport II in your budget, end of story!

I also recommend buying 15-25 PMag 30s and a Primary Arms Advanced Micro Red Dot!

That is not a reason to avoid the Ruger. The front sight isn't "mil-spec" but so what? It is the correct height for an "f" mark sight.
The bolt is mil spec. Yes the carrier is .... "faceted," rather than cylindrical. But so what? A mil-spec bcg would fit perfectly well if you ever needed a replacement, and the Ruger bcg works well.

I'm not trying to sell the Ruger. The S & W AR is great.
For the record, I own two of each. Both are G.T.G.

 

[MilesR]

I gotta be honest and say this sub forum is definitely different then the autoloader sub forum.

I do pay my taxes thank you very much lol. My limit is at 600ish

You're not likely to get kinder responses anywhere else. Nipprdog looked around for you and found this AMAZING deal: https://www.sportsmansoutdoorsuperstore.com/products2.cfm/ID/193310

If you can't appreciate that, I'm curious how you'll be received "elsewhere".

And I do appreciate the online advice. My question was more specific to a beginner AR that I can without having to assemble one. Try reading my initial post next time. You provided ZERO help.

 

[MilesR]

That is not a reason to avoid the Ruger. The front sight isn't "mil-spec" but so what? It is the correct height for an "f" mark sight.
The bolt is mil spec. Yes the carrier is .... "faceted," rather than cylindrical. But so what? A mil-spec bcg would fit perfectly well if you ever needed a replacement, and the Ruger bcg works well.

I'm not trying to sell the Ruger. The S & W AR is great.
For the record, I own two of each. Both are G.T.G.

My budget has increased to about $650 now. The Sprt 2 is going for around $620 and Ruger 556 around $500. I did look at PSA but obviously I wont be able to actually check it out without buying it first. That's Unfortunately a deal breaker for me.

I dont plan on doing really any modifications unless it's a red dot . I'm really leaning on getting the Ruger for just that reason. Not sure why the Sport 2 is going for so much more TBH. Is it that much better?

 

[ether]

I gotta be honest and say this sub forum is definitely different then the autoloader sub forum.

I do pay my taxes thank you very much lol. My limit is at 600ish



And I do appreciate the online advice. My question was more specific to a beginner AR that I can without having to assemble one. Try reading my initial post next time. You provided ZERO help.

I clearly don't deserve to help you. And the kind folks that actually contribute to this forum certainly don't deserve you. Good luck in your endeavors.

 

[MilesR]

I clearly don't deserve to help you. And the kind folks that actually contribute to this forum certainly don't deserve you. Good luck in your endeavors.

Actually you haven't. But others have. Thanks!

 

[EMT40SW]

I would & did go with this AR. Windham SRC, chrome lined 1050 barrel made at the old Bushmaster plant by old school gunsmiths. It’s worth every penny at $580. A close 2nd is the S&W M&P Sport 2 which use 1040 barrels as does Ruger.
Honorable mention for the following brands if you can get them for sub $700:
Aero Precision, Stag Arms, & Del Ton in this order.

https://www.sportsmansoutdoorsuperstore.com/products2.cfm/ID/108741

Just be aware Windham Weaponry make some ARs on carbon fiber recievers that I have no idea how they are. This one is an aluminum reciever.

 

[mshootnit]

My budget has increased to about $650 now. The Sprt 2 is going for around $620 and Ruger 556 around $500. I did look at PSA but obviously I wont be able to actually check it out without buying it first. That's Unfortunately a deal breaker for me.

I dont plan on doing really any modifications unless it's a red dot . I'm really leaning on getting the Ruger for just that reason. Not sure why the Sport 2 is going for so much more TBH. Is it that much better?

The sport II is a fine rifle, but I recently saw a chrome lined Windham MPC on gunbroker for 600. For the same money, I would go chrome lined, 4150 barrel. But not knocking the Sport II. It is nice.
Because it is a buyers market right now, I found a real M&P 811000 chrome lined AR15 for 645 shipped, NIB. Deals can be found.

 

[MilesR]

I was able to get a sport 2 with an extra pmag and 30mm scope for $499 with my military discount. Definitely feel like i got a decent deal. Thank you for everyone that helped. I have heard great things about windham and I'll definitely consider them when I get a 2nd AR. My wife is jealous and now wants her own..ugh .

 

[Demi-human]

If Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy!

Nice buy! I wish you many empty cases and hole-y paper!

 

[Ignition Override]

MilesR: excellent choice. My M&P "AR" has had a perfect operation with at least 500 rds., and has only used Russian-made ammo.

I know somebody who just paid about $800 for a Ruger AR556 with an 18" barrel and flip up sights, and why this new gun cost that much more than what you saw (whether 16" or 18") is a mystery to me.

 

[Tommygunn]

MilesR: excellent choice. My M&P "AR" has had a perfect operation with at least 500 rds., and has only used Russian-made ammo.

I know somebody who just paid about $800 for a Ruger AR556 with an 18" barrel and flip up sights, and why this new gun cost that much more than what you saw (whether 16" or 18") is a mystery to me.

Probably because the store wants a bigger profit. I have both S & W and Ruger AR-556 and both are fine rifles. The Ruger has some proprietary designs in the front sight post and bolt carrier which don't affect function, but aside from that they seem pretty equal guns.

 

[Ignition Override]

The 556 model’s free floating handguard must have some sort of Specops-type of appeal, helping people to justify the price.

That same buyer had a chance to buy my Maadi AK for just $300. But this rifle is not “Tactical”.....-just 2,000 rds of very rugged, perfect operation.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

There’s a member here on the forum that goes by GunnyUSMC. Avoid anything that he post about AR’s and never look at any of the AR pictures that he post. He is an enabler and will send you into a never ending quest to buy and build more AR’s.
Oops! Did I post this out loud?

 

[CapnMac]

I was able to get a sport 2 with an extra pmag and 30mm scope for $499 with my military discount. Definitely feel like i got a decent deal. Thank you for everyone that helped. I have heard great things about windham and I'll definitely consider them when I get a 2nd AR. My wife is jealous and now wants her own..ugh .

Now you just have to keep an eye out for deals. Bud's can get you Gen3 PMAG 30 round black magazines for about $15 each. Here at the Fort Wrth gunshow, I've been able to get them for $13.50/14 out the door.
Don't overlook the 20 rounders, they have a place (like being much easier to shoot off a bench, for one).

Definitely look at the Holosun HS503G, MSRP is right at $200, and you can get that for about $20-25 cheaper with careful shopping. The ACSS reticule is nice to use. They have a solar-powered version which is nice, but I have no time with it.

As to slings, eithe the Vickers or the Magpul are about even. (They are like holstersm you'll probably buy several until you get the right one.

Magpul has the best rated BUIS out there, you will be the best judge as to whether you want to keep a set on the rifle.

Yes, they are addictive. So you probably need to start planning for yours now that you have bought your wife one []