Shopping for first AR15

[Blindref757]

I saw a complete Del-Ton NIB for $699 last week. I figured that I would need to put another 300 in Magpul furniture...so I bought a $1000 gun complete. But you can buy a steel AR that will go bang for $700.

[RPB]

I saw a complete Del-Ton NIB for $699 last week. I figured that I would need to put another 300 in Magpul furniture...so I bought a $1000 gun complete. But you can buy a steel AR that will go bang for $700.

I know nothing about these, I used to be an SKS/Mini-30 guy and all these from $699 to $1,250 all look alike to me; I *know a guy* with UNFIRED 1980s Remington 870 in a folder and UNFIRED SKS rifles in folders and detachable 52 round mags who likes to own stuff to "collect" and "just in case" but will probably never fire them; A Toyota that runs well " just in case" is as valuable to "him" as an accessorized Cadillac for "just in case" as long as it runs right; the main thing is I ( I mean *he*) wouldn't want to spend $2,000.00 for a $700.00 rifle.
http://www.del-ton.com/carbine_rifles_s ... 100&page=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I like the looks of the loopy handle top dealiebobber combined with the Police-lookin' shoulder thingy and that tall triangle job on the barrel but I see more expensive ones don't have that handle-top thingy so .... maybe there's a benefit to not having the handle thingy like adding a scope there ...
ECHO 216 http://www.del-ton.com/DTI_16_DT_4_Rifle_p/ra2m16-0.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Where have I heard "You have to pass it to know what's in it"
AR rifles are kinda like:
You have to buy it to know what you want and learn it and what all the accessories do
(Understandable; Fishing Kayaks are the same way, start with a $400 kayak, later you get a $3,000 one and spend another $2,000 accessorizing it)

It would be good to study about ARs on sites and forums that specialize in them but ...
Seriously, I'll probably just get (at least) one *popularly used* gun "that will go bang" of each main popularly used caliber ... so no matter what (fuel) ammo is available I'll have the vehicle for it during times of another *fuel/spare parts" shortage.

[hpcatx]

Check out CMMG. It's not in that price point, but when I was shopping I found just what I wanted out the box, sans optics: Mid-length 16 in gov't profile, Gas piston, M4 feed ramps, 4150 chrome lined, cold hammer forged, 1:7 twist, chambered for 5.56 NATO. I wanted to spend a little more so that I would be kicking myself a few months down the road. Different folks have differing opinions on CMMG equipment, but my friends swear by them. (...And mine's too new to honestly tell you, but no FTF or FTE so far. Still breaking it in.)

[gigag04]

Cheapest I'd go is Palmetto State Armory or CMMG for the mid $700s.

[Sputz]

Cheapest I'd go is Palmetto State Armory or CMMG for the mid $700s.

+1 both good rifles. Honestly you could probably build your own at that price point and get exact features what you want. I built my two rifles out of spikes lowers/uppers and put them both together without any issues. One is a carbine and the other is a midlength both with adams arms pistons and malonited barrels. If you lived in the valley I would even let you use my tools which is just a vice, armorers wrench, roll pin starters, blocks and punches. There was a guy that sold machined blocks on arfcom for 30 bucks that were hard enough for me to drive the piston bushing into my spikes uppers without messing up the blocks.

Sputz

[gigag04]

Cheapest I'd go is Palmetto State Armory or CMMG for the mid $700s.

+1 both good rifles. Honestly you could probably build your own at that price point and get exact features what you want. I built my two rifles out of spikes lowers/uppers and put them both together without any issues. One is a carbine and the other is a midlength both with adams arms pistons and malonited barrels. If you lived in the valley I would even let you use my tools which is just a vice, armorers wrench, roll pin starters, blocks and punches. There was a guy that sold machined blocks on arfcom for 30 bucks that were hard enough for me to drive the piston bushing into my spikes uppers without messing up the blocks.

Sputz

Every time I spec out a build it comes in at about $1900....

[RPB]

Cheapest I'd go is Palmetto State Armory or CMMG for the mid $700s.

+1 both good rifles. Honestly you could probably build your own at that price point and get exact features what you want. I built my two rifles out of spikes lowers/uppers and put them both together without any issues. One is a carbine and the other is a midlength both with adams arms pistons and malonited barrels. If you lived in the valley I would even let you use my tools which is just a vice, armorers wrench, roll pin starters, blocks and punches. There was a guy that sold machined blocks on arfcom for 30 bucks that were hard enough for me to drive the piston bushing into my spikes uppers without messing up the blocks.

Sputz

Every time I spec out a build it comes in at about $1900....

OH I understand now, it's like HP.shopping where you pick the cheapest $700 computer with the EIGHT CORE PROCESSOR then click "customize and buy" and after upgrading to the faster processor. more RAM and TV Tuner and larger hard drives so you can use it as a TV and TIVO/DVR, and better upgrade the surround sound card, better speakers, better video card and monitor and ... it is only $2,100
http://www.shopping.hp.com/en_US/home-o ... Desktop-PC" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[SDenton]

Another vote for Palmetto State Armory - one of the best values out there, especially if you shop during their frequent sales. You can save a little by building it yourself (lower + lower parts kit + stock + upper)

[OldCannon]

Man, you guys are "doin it wrong".

New Frontier Armory LW-15 Lower: $109.99 (yeah, I sell them, not like that's a secret )
And this upper from JSE Surplus: http://www.jsesurplus.com/custom16hbarm ... 1-2-2.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (they're out of stock now, but it gets refreshed weekly).

Presto! Complete AR-15 for UNDER $500.

[WA1EMT]

I got my first one from tomball pawn and it was a american high standard. Paid $600 for it and by the time I was done with mods and accessories I was at $1100. Shoots great and its made right here in the USA in Houston.

[cyphur]

To anyone who hasn't built an AR from scratch, with nothing more than a table full of parts, you haven't had any of the real fun yet.

First AR I built was a Mega forged lower, stainless 16" midlength barrel in .223Wylde, LaRue handguards, LMT SOPMOD stock, RRA LPK, Timney trigger, PWS compensator. Then I put Primary Arms red dot and magnifier on it.

I then promptly sold it to a friend six months later because I never had time to shoot it....



Well, my next build will likely be less extravagant, but if you aren't at least building your lowers, you are missing half the fun of it.



What barrel you get is one of the most important qualities in the AR rifle family. If you have a mid-range upper with good rigidity and tight tolerances, putting a matched barrel and bolt into it is the best upgrade you can make. Of course a lot of people get confused by the M4 feed ramp issue, but it's pretty straight forward. If your receiver has them, your barrel needs them. If your receiver does not have them, then it doesn't much matter what the barrel has, but it's recommended to go without.

For anyone in the DFW interested in building an AR, I have the majority of the tools, ideally just need a vise for the handguard installation if you buy a free-float.

[Richardc]

Man, you guys are "doin it wrong".

New Frontier Armory LW-15 Lower: $109.99 (yeah, I sell them, not like that's a secret )
And this upper from JSE Surplus: http://www.jsesurplus.com/custom16hbarm ... 1-2-2.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (they're out of stock now, but it gets refreshed weekly).

Presto! Complete AR-15 for UNDER $500.

I built one of these and the only issue i had was the lower must be fit to the upper. OH and mine was a first gen if you have had one you would know what im talking about. the new ones , or second gen are all fixed. You still have to fit them to the upper by taking a small diamond file and filing down the lower at the points were the upper gets pined into the lower.

my build came out around $700, but i used some high end stuff were it counts. Also hit up the pawn shops I find great deals on all kinds of gun stuff that way, mags, scopes, holsters, you name it.