Is there a Solid quality-complete, 20" AR (.223)-for $600?

20" AR rifles are now kind of a niche product. There's a LOT of really nice ARs in that price range, but not with 20" barrels.

https://grabagun.com/ruger-ar-556-black-ar-15-223-5-56mm-16-1-inch-30rd.html

https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-20-classic-a2-rifle.html $520


https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-20-rifle-length-5-56-nato-1-7-melonite-a2-freedom-rifle-kit.html $360 plus buy a lower recvr if hes up for it (2-3 hours build time, might need to borrow tools if not owned)

https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa...lightweight-m-lok-a2-ept-rifle-516446246.html Get on wait list for this one...bet it’s awesome

https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa...e-15-lightweight-mlok-upper-w-bcg-and-ch.html

https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa...agpul-moe-edition-black-no-magazine-7065.html


This is also well under $600. I know you said “complete” but I am sure any person who’s ever used an AR considers buying a complete Lower and upper the same thing as buying a complete rifle, the only difference is it arrives already ready for you to clean the shipping grease out the bore. Literally the same two parts you will have as soon as you take your “complete” rifle out the box. If you’ve ever taken the slide off a Glock 19 to clean the barrel, that is more work than separating and RE-attaching the two AR parts linked above.

I notice that you give your location as the Mid-South which leads me to believe you don’t get much in the way of cold weather. If the seasons do change enough to cause him to wear a coat I would get a AR that has collapsible rear stock so he can adjust the rifle to fit better.

PSA makes it easy to get into AR’s.

I remember Windham makes an A2 style 20" rifle, but looking it up on Bud's, they are $850 each, so well out of your price range.

The only other thing I can think of is that Del-Ton still makes some 20" rifle kits for $500 each. But by the time you're finished (+lower, +carry handle), it's probably going to be a $650 gun, plus some assembly required which you said you don't want to deal with.

I'd say that finished PSA rifle for $520 is your best bet by far.

Mosin Bubba said:

I remember Windham makes an A2 style 20" rifle, but looking it up on Bud's, they are $850 each, so well out of your price range.

The only other thing I can think of is that Del-Ton still makes some 20" rifle kits for $500 each. But by the time you're finished (+lower, +carry handle), it's probably going to be a $650 gun, plus some assembly required which you said you don't want to deal with.

I'd say that finished PSA rifle for $520 is your best bet by far.

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I posted it but I no longer think it’s the best bet by far or even the best bet. The upper and Lower combo purchased separately has a MLOk free float rail on it (a future upgrade for any AR enthusiast) and the Lower has an adjustable stock. For the savings (470 total) I would immediately invest the remaining $130 in a LaRue MBT-2S Trigger ($90) and polymer Magpul Sights. Couple of magazines.

That is enough rifle to blast away for 3 months before deciding if you’re interested in buying a dozen or more magazines and a 1X red dot optic (Primary Arms Advanced Micro) or something like a 1-6X scope. The MBT will be a lifetime trigger for future ARs (two pins to move) unless you really get into it and want a 180 dollar Geiselle SSA-E or similar.



If you get the $520 dollar rifle, again, use the $80 and purchase an MBT-2S or get on the pre-order for the MBT-1S Trigger. If you and him don’t like the trigger I’ll buy the assembly from you for the price you paid for it plus shipping to me.

get a bca upper, you cloud buy 2 for 600 and money left over. there a 1moa guarantee to.

Doc7 said:

I posted it but I no longer think it’s the best bet by far or even the best bet. The upper and Lower combo purchased separately has a MLOk free float rail on it (a future upgrade for any AR enthusiast) and the Lower has an adjustable stock. For the savings (470 total) I would immediately invest the remaining $130 in a LaRue MBT-2S Trigger ($90) and polymer Magpul Sights. Couple of magazines.

That is enough rifle to blast away for 3 months before deciding if you’re interested in buying a dozen or more magazines and a 1X red dot optic (Primary Arms Advanced Micro) or something like a 1-6X scope. The MBT will be a lifetime trigger for future ARs (two pins to move) unless you really get into it and want a 180 dollar Geiselle SSA-E or similar.

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It sounds like OP's main purpose for getting a 20" rifle was to get as nice of iron sights as possible, and I figured that an A2 carry handle build would be the best way to do that. That 20" free float upper for $300 is definitely slick, but the sights on it would just be Magpuls, and for shooting irons I'd rather have the carry handle with 2 peeps + easy elevation control + easy windage rather than the flip ups.

There are a million different ways to build an AR so there's no one right answer, but the best 20" iron sight build to me looks a lot like an A2.

Something I didn't think about, if OP wants to change out the lower for something adjustable, the A2 upper is available on PSA for $300 and then he could have his choice of telescoping stocks. He could even buy the same A2 lower for $150 and then have the same gun for $450 - yay for dodging excise taxes, I guess.

https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa...-with-carry-handle-assembly-w-bcg-and-ch.html
https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-complete-rifle-lower-receiver-a2.html

The PSA 20" CHF kit is on sale for $499. Add a stripped lower and carry handle and you should be right at about $600 and have a really good rifle.

You don't need a 20inch AR to shoot 200yards hoss.

If you want iron sight radius. Just get a 16 inch dissipator

https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa...issipator-without-bcg-or-charging-handle.html

I liked my Palmetto State Armory A4 style 20" rifle. Good shooter, accurate and reliable, sold it for $400 because it wasn't getting used.

This thread just cost me some money.

I have wanted an M16-ish AR for a long time but never got around to it. Don't know that I'm up to building my own retro clone - between my limited mechanical ability, perfectionism, and a house full of kids, I don't see it happening, at least not now. The complete A1 and A2 clones on the market are expensive and/or not correct enough to suit me.

But an A4-ish clone for $450 (thanks to Mosin Bubba for pointing out that it's cheaper to buy the upper and lower separately) - that I can get behind. So, my second AR is on the way...

https://www.bearcreekarsenal.com/bc...nitride-government-barrel-1-7-twist-w-17-mlok

You can get Picatinny carry handle and front sight post, and this is a long handguard for long sight radius. Or you could mount a sight on the barrel way out there too! And it's cheap!

Get a Del-ton I bought a 20 inch rifle as a kit from Midway. 20 inch is considered a rifle , shorter versions are referred to as carbines. The parts all match and look good. It went together really well, all the parts fit and function well. And it is accurate. I also have a PSA, the upper is OK and it shoots very well after some upgrades to the lower and bolt, but all the lower parts were mismatched and fit so poorly that I had to buy a different kit to finish it and replace the bolt assembly. Many claim to have good results with PSA though. I bought the Del-ton expecting to upgrade the barrel but it shoots pretty well as is.

Picked up the lower a few days ago and the upper came today. Shown with my Windham Weaponry MPC.

BSA1 said:

I notice that you give your location as the Mid-South which leads me to believe you don’t get much in the way of cold weather. If the seasons do change enough to cause him to wear a coat I would get a AR that has collapsible rear stock so he can adjust the rifle to fit better.

PSA makes it easy to get into AR’s.

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I used to live in Houston for 25 years, we had winter .. for a day ... once

Now I'm in freezing TN

I have shot $2500.00 ARs and $400.00 home builds and dozens between.
The more you spend the better fit finish and feel. All shot well grouped well at 100yds what I have found with ARs it's the optics, sights and shooters ability to conform to the particular rifle.
It the service I had an m-16 was not a big fan and resisted till about 7 or 8 years ago now have 4 they are my go to range toys.
I really suggest buying a stripped lower and building it the way he wants it. May cost a lil more but if he spreads the build out he will have zackly what he wants. And it's loads o fun..