Debating selling my AR-15 lower

[particle]

I'm debating selling my (incomplete) AR-15. I purchased a stripped DPMS lower receiver, DPMS lower parts kit, and a Command Arms collapsable stock. It has never had an upper installed. I was trying to save money to complete the rifle, and was planning on buying a lightweight rifle for a bug-out/home defense/plinker rifle. However, I don't see myself having the extra cash anytime soon, and with the possibility of even more strict regulations against "assault rifles" most likely coming our way, do I really want to (or need to) hold onto this build?

I wouldn't be pulling the cash out of the sale - I'd put it back into something. I'm debating buying a home defense shotgun since I only have a 20ga pump bird gun at the moment (that I can't /won't sell - plan to pass it down to my son since it was my first shotgun). Or, I might put it towards a mid-level 1911 for concealed carry (I already own an XD .40 4"). I also already have a precision .308 rifle and a deer rifle in .308.

Would I be stupid to sell the AR-15 platform? I'm not one to draw attention to myself, and I'm afraid the AR platform will potentially be more headache than it's worth in the legality department.

Any thoughts on how much I should try to get for this? Am I stupid to get rid of it?

[Bunkins]

Personally I wouldnt, but thats just me.. Being a incomplete gun, it would be easier for me to get rid of. I'm not the type to get rid of any gun, if it's passed down to me, or I bought it myself doesn't matter.. But like I said, being incomplete, it really just depends on your priorities, thats what I'd base it on.. Right at this point in time, I'd be looking to make a profit. As hot as AR's right now, you'll sell it no doubt.. Seeing how your thinking of buying a new carry weapon, it might be a good thing to do. Right now the AR is totally useless, but a carry weapon has a purpose..

[Liberty]

in most neighborhoods and real selfdefense situations a shotgun would be more effective and safer for the neighbors. Now would be a good time to sell it because there seemsto be a frenzy on getting EBG before Obama takes over.

[G.C.Montgomery]

in most neighborhoods and real selfdefense situations a shotgun would be more effective and safer for the neighbors. Now would be a good time to sell it because there seemsto be a frenzy on getting EBG before Obama takes over.

Actually, if you sell it now, you are taking the risk of selling low. There is indeed a frenzy now and prices jumped because supply dried up almost overnight. Still, prices haven't even come close to what they were during the ban and if the AWB is reinstated, I would expect prices to go even higher. The reason is, Obama has stated he wants the AWB to be permanent. It is possible any such ban would have an effect similar to the legislation that created a fixed supply of automatic firearms back in 1986. Or, we may be seeing the peak of prices now if no such ban ever passes. Personally, I'd keep it. There's no such thing as too many Stoners.

On the issue of a shotgun being "more effective and safer for the neighbors"...That's debatable. There is no denying the psychological effects of hearing a Remington 870 chamber a round. Everyone knows that sound. The flipside is, shotguns have limited ammunition capacity, are slow to reload, and the recovery time between shots is typically longer when compared to an AR15. We also have evidence to suggest that some .223/5.56mm ammunition, even when fired from a 16-inch barrel, actually offers less penetration than many 9mm rounds fired from handguns. In fact, this was the very argument many LE agencies used to support their ongoing movement away from shotguns to patrol carbines.

And finally, in the OPs question about legal issues: Many police agencies now carry AR15's in their patrol cars. We also have a few scattered incidents of people legally defending their homes with AR15's. Some weren't so bright on tactics and at least one sprayed half the neighborhood in the process. Still, none that I know of were prosecuted. So there is evidence to suggest that AR15's are becoming a "commonly used" firearm for self-defense. Given all these factors, it's REALLY hard for me to imagine that platform presenting a legal issue. I think this is especially true given the recent SCOTUS ruling in the Heller case.

[RECIT]

I think you have to prioritize things for yourself. If you don't think you will have the money to complete it, then it is a paper weight to you. If you will have the money but it might take a while, it would be worth it to hold on to b/c you might not be able to get one in the future. If it was an impulse or wish list type buy then let it go and let your money work for you.

You also have to think that if you hold on to it an sell it when there is an AWB then it would be illegal to sell or transfer it to another person. Thus bringing a higher price but not legally I guess.

[CHLSteve]

Let me know how much you want for it. If you do decide to sell it, at least sell it to a fellow CHL'er!

[The Annoyed Man]

I'd keep it and complete the build, but that's just me. Post AWB, it may be that it is easier to sell as a complete rifle if you decide not to keep it, than it would be as parts which cannot be legally assembled into a new rifle. Even in gun-grab happy California, you can still legally own, buy, sell, and trade AR15s, although there are some restrictions as to how the rifle can be configured (the worst being the requirement that the magazines are pinned in place, turning it strictly into a top-loading weapon). And by the way, in this election cycle, Californians rejected further strengthening of their assault weapons laws, which would have pretty much completely eliminated them from the scene. Even in Obama's home state of Illinois, a number of anti-gun legislative proposals were rejected by Illinois voters in this cycle. There is some room for hope in all of this.

There are a lot of Blue Dog democrats, some of whom are supported by the NRA, who are not going to vote for any kind of drastic AWB that will render your rifle illegal because they know they would lose any future re-election bids if they did so. Democrats won't have a filibuster proof majority on this issue. So while there may pass some kind of restrictions, which Obama will certainly sign into law, they won't be total. If you assemble your rifle before such a law is implemented, it is likely that you will be allowed to keep it - and as a "pre-ban" gun, its value will likely increase tremendously if you decide you want to sell it down the road.

My son and I recently each bought a 16" barreled upper assembly to mate to our already owned varmint rifle lowers. Mine has an ER Shaw M4 barrel with mil-spec front sight and flash hider, and it cost $364, minus the bolt/carrier assembly, and was purchased online from Galati International. My son bought a DPMS 16" bull barreled upper with bolt/carrier assembly included and a gas block with rail purchased online from Midway for $409. (As it happens, we ran across some stripped lowers and part kits last Friday for pretty close to pre-panic pricing at our local gun store, so we bought them, and we now have two more complete rifles.)

Either of those barreled upper options costs less than most handguns, and not much more than a decent shotgun. The current wording on the AWB under consideration before Congress right now would enact the ban this coming June, so even in a worst case scenario, you've got 7 months to put away the monies for a barreled upper, if that is your decision. And even if you decide then to sell the complete rifle, at future prices you'll be able to buy a whole lot more pistol or shotgun from the revenue on the sale of your AR, than if you sell the incomplete lower kit now, and buy a pistol or shotgun now.

But that's just how I would figure it. Nobody would blame you if you did differently. It's a tough time to have to try and make that kind of call.

[cwood3]

I'd buy it from ya. Anybody know of any place in Houston where a feller can go and buy a lower?? Or just mail order and get from your local FFL-er ????

[WarHawk-AVG]

EBR lowers are worth their weight in gold right now...ever notice GUNS DON'T DEPRECIATE!!!

Especially EBR and such...if you buy one and hang on to it...the price usually increases alot!

Hang on to that lower...in a few months..you might be able to sell it for 3x what you paid for it today!!

[Rex B]

All you really need to do is keep a bare lower.
So sell your complete lower for current market price, which is what - $300?

And buy one bare lower in the 1919A4 group buy for $78.
Then stash it in the back of the safe.

Put the balance toward your shotgun

[particle]

Thanks everyone for the excellent replies. Man, as I look at the photo of my lower, it sure does make me want to keep it. I suppose I'll just hold onto it for now, and perhaps I can finish it up after the first of the year. It would be a great rifle for my wife to shoot when she's ready to hit the range with me.

[atxgun]

On the issue of a shotgun being "more effective and safer for the neighbors"...That's debatable. There is no denying the psychological effects of hearing a Remington 870 chamber a round. Everyone knows that sound. The flipside is, shotguns have limited ammunition capacity, are slow to reload, and the recovery time between shots is typically longer when compared to an AR15. We also have evidence to suggest that some .223/5.56mm ammunition, even when fired from a 16-inch barrel, actually offers less penetration than many 9mm rounds fired from handguns. In fact, this was the very argument many LE agencies used to support their ongoing movement away from shotguns to patrol carbines.

And finally, in the OPs question about legal issues: Many police agencies now carry AR15's in their patrol cars. We also have a few scattered incidents of people legally defending their homes with AR15's. Some weren't so bright on tactics and at least one sprayed half the neighborhood in the process. Still, none that I know of were prosecuted. So there is evidence to suggest that AR15's are becoming a "commonly used" firearm for self-defense. Given all these factors, it's REALLY hard for me to imagine that platform presenting a legal issue. I think this is especially true given the recent SCOTUS ruling in the Heller case.

If you could cite the evidence on the .223's penetrating less than 9mmm along with the evidence of non prosecuted ar-15 home defense, I'd love to read it. Don't get me wrong, I'm a proud owner but I find the former claim hard to swallow, considering factory rounds are used in both cases. I could believe the latter and frankly would just like to read about it.

I imagine you won't disagree that most real world self/home defense gun fights last a matter of seconds with less than half a dozen rounds being exchanged from both sides combined. Given that I don't think the need to quickly reload is much of a factor if you're planning for that type of situation. My Mossberg 590 holds 8+1 and that's what I keep under my bed while my AR sits unloaded in the closet. Living in an apt, I feel the shotgun is the best option for optimal defense with minimal probability of undesired consequences.

[WarHawk-AVG]

On the issue of a shotgun being "more effective and safer for the neighbors"...That's debatable. There is no denying the psychological effects of hearing a Remington 870 chamber a round. Everyone knows that sound. The flipside is, shotguns have limited ammunition capacity, are slow to reload, and the recovery time between shots is typically longer when compared to an AR15. We also have evidence to suggest that some .223/5.56mm ammunition, even when fired from a 16-inch barrel, actually offers less penetration than many 9mm rounds fired from handguns. In fact, this was the very argument many LE agencies used to support their ongoing movement away from shotguns to patrol carbines.

And finally, in the OPs question about legal issues: Many police agencies now carry AR15's in their patrol cars. We also have a few scattered incidents of people legally defending their homes with AR15's. Some weren't so bright on tactics and at least one sprayed half the neighborhood in the process. Still, none that I know of were prosecuted. So there is evidence to suggest that AR15's are becoming a "commonly used" firearm for self-defense. Given all these factors, it's REALLY hard for me to imagine that platform presenting a legal issue. I think this is especially true given the recent SCOTUS ruling in the Heller case.

If you could cite the evidence on the .223's penetrating less than 9mmm along with the evidence of non prosecuted ar-15 home defense, I'd love to read it. Don't get me wrong, I'm a proud owner but I find the former claim hard to swallow, considering factory rounds are used in both cases. I could believe the latter and frankly would just like to read about it.

I imagine you won't disagree that most real world self/home defense gun fights last a matter of seconds with less than half a dozen rounds being exchanged from both sides combined. Given that I don't think the need to quickly reload is much of a factor if you're planning for that type of situation. My Mossberg 590 holds 8+1 and that's what I keep under my bed while my AR sits unloaded in the closet. Living in an apt, I feel the shotgun is the best option for optimal defense with minimal probability of undesired consequences.

Quite the contrary!

I know this guys stuff isn't "Scientific" but its real world application and seeing the results 1st hand (thru pics) is quite good enough to make me a believer or at least give me an idea of what guns/bullets are capable of penetrating

http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot1.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Even the .22 is capable of penetrating 3 layers of walls...thats 2 rooms over, most pistol and rifle bullets went thru 12 sheets of sheetrock (aka 6 walls) and kept on going

Even 00 buck 2 3/4" penetrated 3 walls!
http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot3.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.theboxotruth.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; to see what real world ammo can do...you can even see penetration test on cars (fyi a car is NOT cover!!)

http://www.theboxotruth.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[stevie_d_64]

Keep it...The rainy day is coming soon...

[rm9792]

DPMS lowers were selling for 149 at the GRB show and parts kits were 85. Stocks are 49-300.