gotboostvr
Member
I just finished one up for my neighbor last week, total came to just under $1000 minus sights/optic. Just a solid carbine, nothing special.
All the ones I've built for myself have been north of the $2K mark.
Alternatively, I've built "solid carbines" for just under $400.
My most expensive build (FN CL CHF barrel, spikes BCG, Gissele G2S, charging handle, and MK4 rail, Aimpoint Comp M3 with larue mount, Matech rear sight...) came in right about $1k.
You certainly can build out a great hard use rifle for less than they can be bought. Just gotta spend time looking for deals and be patient for them to come along.
It actually came out to $1202, but subtract $200 for the surefire, light mount, and the flash hider/suppressor mount and it meets the $1k mark.
The $1k carbine: