BEWILDERED w/ 1st AR Buy - send help

Well I understand your dilemma its a hard choice especially with all the options out there today, However I see your cut off date of November 8th ?
If things go south and you are worried about new laws etc, Then I would go ahead and buy the complete rifle, As it may go south enough you can no longer buy the rest of the components to complete your build unless you already have that taken care of, As far as lowers go if you stay with a known name you probably will be all right, But yes there are many to choose from. Trying to stay politically correct here, but you better get after it, I wouldn't wait till Nov to make a decision , Just buy a plain AR with carry handle and a 20" barrel if this is what you want and build to suit as or if you change your mind, You can also add carry handle and sights to a flat top with out a problem, I have an older Windham bushmaster and that's the way it came, A very accurate rifle, with NO problems after 1000s of rounds, I don't know about todays bushmasters but the old ones are very good.

My advice in these situations is always the same: Palmetto State Armory.

I know you won't be able to tell the difference between their $70 lower and someone else's $450 wiz-bang-do-dad-vunder-lower unless you're pushing the edges of the AR platform's performance. . . and you're not.

For a lower to put in the closet, buy the PSA lower, blem if you can find it. I've bought three and handled more, and never could find the blemish that saved me $20 each.

edit: as greyghost said, a complete rifle is a good idea. In that case, buy the PSA lower shipped to your FFL, and PSA Rifle Kit of your choice shipped to your door. If you can change your own oil, you can assembly your own AR. A little patience is all it takes.

welcome to the forum
By your screen name I assume you've (once had?) plenty of scratch.
If you' still phat, I go Colt.
If you decide to use an optic, the fixed handle can be problematic. Except for a low magnification, heads up quick stuff mode, you'll probably end up needing a cheek riser to get you eye up to the scope, at which point they end up looking kind of silly.

Like you I have no real interest in a AR.

Not because of the gun but because I have no use for the .223 / 5.56. With that said I am sipping the AR Kool-Aid for a variety of reasons. Like Switzerland I am coming of the opinion that all Adult Americans should legally own a .223 Carbine or Rifle, 10 magazines and enough ammunition to load the magazines a couple of times.

Are you looking for a stripped lower?

Anderson makes a good budget stripped lower. It is 7075 Aluminum. In my area they are very hard to find. Last Spring I paid $40.00 for them. The last one I brought was in August for $50.00 and was lucky to find it. I drove 30 miles out of way to get it.

I am using Anderson on my first build.

Anderson Lowers are not hard to find on the Internet. Just remember to add dealer transfer fee and sales tax. Aero lowers have a good reputation with shooters and dealers in my area. They were about the price of Andersons this Spring and like Andersons have disappeared in the last couple of months.

As for a complete upper Palmetto State Armory sounds like a good place for the type of build you want.

I went with JSE Surplus for mine. 1 in 9" free floated Wilson Arms barrel complete with BCG and CH. I brought mine a few months ago when it was on sale for $150.00 off. It will make a nice general purpose gun. My active duty son really likes it (along with my Custom Beretta 92FS. He has good taste in military firearms).

it is your call but I would get all of yours parts to build your AR in the next two weeks. If Hillary wins I expect a buying panic for AR parts and guns to dry up along with high capacity magazines and ammunition. I am just waiting for backordered parts to come in to finish the Lower.

If they don't show up within the next two weeks I am going to order from other venders (unfortunately at a higher price. I am a cheapskate on some parts) and finish putting it together.

Also buy high capacity magazines now. Brownells has 10 pack of Magpul Gen 2 30 round magazines on sale for $105.00.

You are going to get advice from THR members that have all more knowledge and experience than me.

I know how you're feeling about finding a full-sized rifle. As incredibly modular as the AR is, it's surprising how short of options there are for 20" A2s and especially for A1s. I got looking for a 20" pencil barrel the other day just on a whim and found nothing in stock.

It's kind of like that Henry Ford saying. You can have any AR you want, as long as it's a 16" M4.

Anyway, lowers are lowers, they're all pretty much the same and any one will work. PSA had a 20" A2 rifle kit the other day - complete upper, all you'd have to do is assemble the lower - for I think $400. Keep an eye on their website to see if that deal comes back around.

Everybody has their favorite. I like Aero Precision lowers and uppers and DelTon barrels. If you want a lower or 2 to hide away, Brownells is a great option but you have to send it to a dealer to do the transfer. Finding a local FFL holder is your next duty.

kwg

Stripped lowers went up in price and are out of stock. However, if you look at palmetto's complete lowers, and the cost to build out a stripped lower, they price/value their lower at about 50 bucks still, which makes it a pretty good buy.

You can still find stripped lowers. Sportsman's outdoor wharehouse just had Anderson lowers for under $50. Check Joebob outfitters, right to bear, sionics, primary arms, or dsaarms. One of them will have them in stock. Don't forget to look locally. A local shop just had Anderson lowers for $60 out the door. I went with an aero lower fit $90 for my second build. PSA is a good place to find the A1 stocks and such. Just make sure to sign up for stock alerts or check later afternoon. That's when the rep said they usually update their stock

DB! Everyone has been looking for you for years! Welcome to THR.

PSA or Anderson for a decent inexpensive gun. Doesn't matter if you buy chunks, pieces, or complete, you can get a decent version of what you want for a reasonable price. I'm partial to Anderson because I'm a Kentucky boy, but my rifle has a bunch of Anderson parts, and the 2 I'm building now will also have a lot of Anderson parts. I really like my PSA bcg though and will buy more of those.

I do have some higher end parts and honestly can't tell much difference from one to the other. If you decide to build (easier than you think) buy a decent/good barrel and then you can skimp on the other bits. A decent trigger is better than drop in milspec but milspec typically is not bad, especially with some loving from a stone...just don't go very deep or you cut through the hardened shell.

Finding parts for retro A1 style ARs is tough. Nodak Spud might have items that appeal but they won't be cheap. If you otherwise don't find ARs that interesting I'd recommend a 6.5 Grendel build. It's a very capable cartridge. Then pick up a cheap PSA 556 upper for common ammo plinking. Even the cheap Anderson lowers are good enough. Surplus Arms and Ammo, Aero Precision, and the New Frontier Armory billet lowers I've seen built up into nice rifles.

Looks like that A2 deal is back in stock.

http://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-16-midlength-5-56-nato-1-7-nitride-a2-rifle-kit-77932587.html

$400 for that kit, maybe $50 or $60 for a lower, get a nice carry handle. I'm betting you can get that all for a smidge over $500. Grab a sling and some mags and you'll be hitting the range for under $600 easy.

joe bob outfitters - go here now!

Joe Bobs has Anderson lowers in stock and for sale at $49.95.

Get'em now before they go. They are nice lowers. I just did a build for my father in law on the multi cal with out the trigger guard.

http://www.joeboboutfitters.com/AR_15_Lower_Receivers_s/3021.htm

I just bought a PSA Freedom Rifle kit for $399 shipped to my house, it has all parts needed except for a stripped lower, my local gun shop sells Anderson lowers so I picked that up from him and also a 30 rd magazine.
Total cost was PSA upper kit $399 no tax free shipping to house, stripped Anderson lower from local FFL $59 plus $5.31 tax and 30 rd magazine $12 plus $1.08 tax.
Complete AR rifle for $476.39.
This is my second PSA/Anderson build and am very happy with results, if you go to www.palmetostatearmory.com you can set up your email to get daily deals, I highly recommend them.

You just need to know where to look when it comes to finding parts.
Fat Boy Tactical has a combo deal, Anderson lower with LPK for $88.95.
http://fatboytactical.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=21&products_id=449
They also have a combo with the upper, charging handle and BCG for $179.95.
http://fatboytactical.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=31&products_id=396

Primary Arms has the Anderson lower with the closed trigger for $49.99
http://www.primaryarms.com/anderson...r-7075t6-multical/p/ar-15-a3-lwfor-um-closed/

They also have the Anderson A2 buttstock set for $74.99
http://www.primaryarms.com/am-24-a2-assy/p/am-24-a2-assy/

And the Anderson BCG for $89.99
http://www.primaryarms.com/am-10-08-m16-nit/p/am-10-08-m16-nit/

JSE Surplus has A2 uppers for $130.
http://www.jsesurplus.com/a2upperreceiver.aspx

There are only 4 to 7 Co. that mill forged lowers. Spike's is not one of them, they buy them and have logos put on them.
A few years ago you could find High Standard complete rifles in stores. Now days High Standard makes more money by selling parts to other companies.
Most people don't know that Mossberg is one of the largest makers of AR barrels.

Don't get stuck on name brand when it comes to forged lowers or standard Mil-Spec parts if your looking just to build a rifle that will function like it should.
When it comes to paying higher prices you are most often paying for the finish, the spit and polish. Anderson lowers have a nice finish, but a Black Rain has a finish that looks like frosted black glass. Ask yourself, Do you need the slicker finish, just to go out and scratch it up.

I have a friend that has always been a Colt man when it comes to ARs. He has three Colts and loves them. I built him a M4 with a PSA PTAC rifle kit, Anderson lower and Davison Defense nitride BCG. He wanted a carbine that he could keep in his vehicle and didn't want to worry about someone stealing one of his Colts. In two trips to the range he put over 500 rounds through the carbine. He said that it ran just as good as his Colts. I told him when you buy a Colt, you pay for the pony.
But if your one of those guys that have to pay a little more just to get something better. You could look around and find Anderson lowers for $80.

I would want it to be a standard rifle (full length stock and barrel) with all standard grips/forearms/sights etc. (Although, those parts seem nearly impossible to find-especially A1 parts.)

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Today, the "standard" is an M4 type carbine with a 16 inch barrel and an adjustable buttstock. What you (and I) prefer is today a museum piece.

My only "AR" experience is in the military, and that was a long time ago in a galaxy far far away. (15 years ago)

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When I was in the Army, President Carter was in office. M-16 style rifles and their parts for the most part just aren't available any more because today the market demands shorter barrels, rifles festooned with picatinny rails and optical sights.

If you get a rifle/upper with a front sight post, you can get a carrying handle with an A2 style iron sight that will attach to the picatinny rail on the top of your receiver. That's what I have on my AR.

Colt is solid, both as a receiver or a complete rifle. I think they offer 20"A4 build with a removable carry handle as a complete rifle.

I am not really big in the AR game but try to keep my ear to the ground and stay on top of the big trends. BCM seems to be pretty highly respected as well.

I'd get on it sooner rather than later if I had the funds. A quality lower, a stack of 30 round Pmags, and a gov profile barrel with bayo lug and muzzle device would all be nice to have before January.

D.B. Cooper said:

Just want to say thanks to all who replied with info, opinions, ideas, and weblinks. It was a great help.

PS: Looks like RRA is the place to get A2 parts. (Fixed carry handle, etc.)

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There are several out there who sell A2 uppers. DPMS, Rock River and Brownelles resell some. If you want an A1 upper your choices are Nodak Spud (Brownelles also resell these) and an original Colt. 20 inch barrels are available as well. If you want the pencil profile that is popular with the retro black rifle crown it is available from several vendors such as AR15sport.com, Green Mountain, Del-Ton, DEZ Arms, Fulton Armory, and Faxon makes a Melonite version. I'd avoid 1:12 twist rifling. There is plenty to read on the forums about rifle twist rate if you want more information about that but the Fulton 1:8 twist is a nice option.