Assume I know nothing about AR15s...

heavy grease on the buffer spring helps stop the stupid spring sound......i cant stand it.

personally with the good low cost otc ars available id grab one with the furniture types you want rather than building.

Funny thing, I have never heard the buffer spring.

http://jprifles.com/document_pdfs/SCS Selection Guide_690.pdf

Or you both just ignore the sound and just get to shootin'?

Problem with asking "which AR?" is like asking what the best car is. Depends on the application.

I have three. All are considerably different. Trying to explain the differences to someone not familiar is like trying to describe the perfect knife. One guy likes a 10" Bowie, another a pocket folder.

One of mine is probably what I personally feel is the closest to a "do it all". Has an 18" Wilson air gauged match grade barrel, guaranteed to shoot 1". Short enough to be handy, long enough to whack critters. Free float for end for accuracy. Lower has a Timney trigger. Picatinny rail for quick swap of a red dot or scope.

If you are at interested I can get you the builders name of the upper. Building a lower is a breeze, and I'd suggest a GOOD trigger. If you'd like to be the most budget friendly, PSA had the enhanced trigger (polished and coated stock trigger) for $39, $29 on sale. There are a gazillion triggers and everyone thinks theirs is "best"

Some turn-key options: Ruger, S&W sport. Build yourself- Palmetto State Armory- with them you select the assembled upper and lower, and parts that you want. This is probably the cheapest method, and you will get the exact gun you want. Sometimes you can even get slightly blemished lowers for next to nothing, then get you a lower parts kit. The lower you will need to ship to a FFL. You can either assemble that lower yourself (I'm sure there's plenty you tube vids to splain it) or maybe you have a friend that knows them that can help you. Subscribe to PSA online- you will get emailed daily deals and other sales. Definitely build a nice one cheap this way.

LoonWulf said:

heavy grease on the buffer spring helps stop the stupid spring sound......i cant stand it.

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Maybe that’s why I never heard a “SPROIIIIINNNNNGGGG “. I have always used a bit of grease on the spring.

LoonWulf said:

personally with the good low cost otc ars available id grab one with the furniture types you want rather than building.

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Unless you are building something very specific, that’s probably your best bet.

You can get, for reasonsble money, a spring that is made of braided spring material. These are designed for smoother action and elimination of that noise.

As others have said, lubrication helps. I have some AR rifles that make the noise and others that do not. Some have more expensive buffer tube,springs,and buffers, maybe that is why?

As to build or buy, you can get one complete for less money, but you will miss the opportunity to learn about your gun, how it works and how to repair it.

You must also calculate into the price all of the basic tools you will need if you cant borrow them.

Russellc

I had 0 experience with ARs, so I had ruger build my first one. SR556.

This coyote thought he was safe at 400yds.

I think you would like a Ruger, but ARs are fun and rewarding to build.

Spikes makes a buffer that works like a dead blow hammer to dampen buffer bounce and sound. Seems to work fine on our two carbines.
I have a Magpul fixed stock on a rifle length buffer housing set up. I don't notice the spring sound as I did when using the old M-16A1 or A2. Perhaps the plastic material on the new stocks dampen the noise? The older stocks were harder and might have amplified the sound.

I wouldn't worry about the sprooong sound until you get it and shoot it. I have owned 5 and still have 4 and only my M&P SPORT made the sound. Tried the grease but it didn't work. Swapped out spring from anither rifle and noise went away. Came home and ordered a new one and no sound since.

With a $500 budget I would build a lower and buy a complete upper from Palmetto State Armory. You have to pay close attention to the descriptions as not all the parts used in each product line are described the same. For example some are listed as nitride treatment on barrel and some are not or some may be 4140 steel vs. 4150. I don't know why it's that way or if it's just a poor description. A quick Google search will let you know what the terms mean and which is better.

Another build option is Aero Precision. A little more money and less options but I find that their website is a little easier to navigate a plan a full build on.

Assembling a lower disappointingly easy takes about 20 minutes. Another 30 to do the upper but you will need a few tools. Like an armorers wrench, vise block, and a headspace gauge.

Good luck! AR's are really fun and can be addictive.

Mine don't go "sproing". No idea what ya'll are talking about. Maybe cause mine isn't ever dry?

Springfield Saint looks interdasting. I don't keep up with budget KISS AR's. Just get a complete lower at your local guns store ($150-220). Get the upper style you want and a Colt or BCM bolt carrier group online. Snap together, done.

If you don't like the "sproing" noise, try a flat wire buffer tube spring.

Maybe carbine-length gas systems are to blame? Anyway I consider the "sproing" to be a unique feature that I didn't even have to pay extra for (LOL)--and I seldom even notice.

M

The flat wire spring eliminates the Sproing sound. Grease helps with the regular springs. I just lubed 'em lightly and didn't worry about the noise; just as with recoil, I'm too busy concentrating on what I'm doing to the target to notice the buffer spring.

If the sproing bothers you like it did me I would recommend going a little above your $500 budget and putting a JP silent captured spring in to get rid of that sproing. It is very nice.

Armored farmer said:

I had 0 experience with ARs, so I had ruger build my first one. SR556.
View attachment 758016
This coyote thought he was safe at 400yds.

I think you would like a Ruger, but ARs are fun and rewarding to build.

Click to expand...

What's that scope you have on that rifle ?
kwg

The best way I found to eliminate the sproing is to use a quality RE, a MagPul stock and complete focus on my shot.

You can build or buy an AR for $500, but you'll need to upgrade springs after a few hundred rounds. Best thing to do is choose a basic 16" carbine. Something much like this
View attachment 758062

Then put a few hundred rounds through it before changing anything. All you need is to add an optic for busting coyotes and jackrabbits out in the Arizona desert

The sproing noise is worse in A2 rifle stocks, since the plastic shell lets the sound resonate. Throw on a set of muffs, making direct plastic to plastic contact with the stock, you'll hear it... Never has bothered me, kinda like road noise in the car, just always there after the shot.

A little heavy grease on the spring will stop it. A heavier buffer tends to help as well. The JP silent capture springs are Cadillacs. And dead silent.

For $500, I'm hard pressed to say a guy should build their own. The options for stocks just aren't as wide when you have to pick from low cost options - as an example, the stock and forends for the last 3 AR's I built for myself have totaled over $500 for each rifle. If you're just talking about cheap mil spec carbine gear, or magpul MOE furniture, any $500 carbine on the shelf will be fine, and offer less hassle. I'm not one to count slapping a pre-built upper onto a prebuilt lower as a "build it yourself" AR. You do that much disassembly during normal cleaning... The cheap milspec carbine is the only AR I ever recommend guys buy instead of build. If your taste is satisfied by a milspec carbine, they're virtually all the same. If you have grander designs for application and expectations for performance, then save up about $1,000 and put together a proper custom AR, you'll be quite happy with one at that price point.

With todays market, if your just going to build a stock budget gun with standard M4 furniture, your better off just buying one of the entry leave guns. It's hard to build a budget gun for under $425.
Now if you want fancy furniture, mid length gas system, lightweight barrel with nitride finish and a few other gadgets, $550 to $650 will build you a rifle that would cost you $800 to $1400.
Check out the post I have on the Red & Black build.
Red upper with 15" rail = $150
Mag Tactical lower= $30
MFT buttstock = $40
Strike Industries LW red takedown pins set = $15
Strike Industries Phantom charging handle = $32
Strike Industries dust cover = $14
Odin works red extended mag release = $15

Parts needed or on order.
Red buffer tube = $28 to $35
LPK = $40
Ambi selector switch= $29
Lightweight Nitride 16" 1/8 223 Wylde barrel = $80
Muzzle brake = $25 to $55
Buffer and spring = $12
Black nitride BCG = $80
P Mag = $9
Forward assist = $10
Going with the upper end price of parts that need to be ordered the total will be right at $646.
Now this build has right at $210 worth of upgrades. Some are for looks and others due to my son being left handed.
I could do it in all black with out the fancy stuff for around $425.

kwg020 said:

What's that scope you have on that rifle ?
kwg

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That's the little Nikon p223 bdc carbine scooe

armoredman said:

Zerodefect, I DID state that was 33 years ago - I would assume someone might have improved things a bit. I haven't done budget guns myself in a while, but the budget changed.
Creature, yes, I can ignore the sound by picking up my BREN 805 instead, but I shoot for fun nowadays - combat was a long time ago. Wanna enjoy it. Ain't fun, ain't gonna do it.
Palmetto State Armory looks like a good bet, and I will definitely check it out.
Armored Farmer, I saw Rugers online for $400 - was that the same like you bought? I thought that price was almost insanely low, figured there might be something wrong with it - your is working perfectly?
Thank you for all replies.

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My sr556 is a piston driven system. I don't know what model sells for $400, but I doubt that it's a piston system.