cheapest route on ar15's

Okay, buying the upper and lower separate saves you the federal excise tax.

If you are just looking for a range blaster...have you considered an AK of some type? I recommend an AK to those on a budget looking for a range gun/SHTF gun/etc.

Don't go Vulcan/Hesse/Blackthorne if you go AR. That way lies extreme disappointment. Anything else is pretty much a go if you are primarily concerned about price. Running an AR is not cheap. The ammunition is not the cheapest. The overall purchase price is higher.

Now that ARs are becoming more abundant, I'd check all local pawn shops regularly. And check the gun over very carefully before buying. You should be able to get a good one for $650-750.

CMMG usually has bargain bin guns for around $700. they say scratch and dent but most people can't seem to find any marks on them. i'm building one right now and when done , it will be around $900. i live in connecticut so i can't have an ak, and for an ar i have to make sure i'm ban-compliant. but if you can own one, ak's are great guns.

This deal would be hard to beat:
http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/DEL-TON_DTI-4_.223_5.56_Rifle.html

It's out of stock at the moment but will probably come back at the same price.

You can also find a DPMS Sportical for $650-700. I'd go with the Del Ton first, but the DPMS would be fairly comparable.

Used may be an option. Check gun board classifieds.

Piecing together an upper and lower is historically cheaper, but with deals like the one above, I'm not certain it is right now.

AR15 and cheap don't go together. New AR15 clones start around $800.
"...buying the upper and lowers separately is cheap..." Nope. Building a rifle costs more than buying a whole rifle.
"...recommend an AK to those on a budget..." SKS.
"...trying to get out of only using .22lr..." Understandable. Just remember that any centre fire will cost you considerably more to shoot. The days of cheap milsurp ammo are over.
If it doesn't have to be a semi-auto, look into a used .223 bolt action.

I wouldn't worry about buying the lower and upper separate it won't save you a whole lot, AR's are cheap right now so just buy a complete rifle.

You can buy a complete AR for around $650-$900 and if your are looking for the cheapest AR but still want to maintain a decent level of quality I would go with DPMS, Stag, Bushmaster, Del Ton or Charles Daly. All can be found in that price range and all are quality rifles. IMO you won't find a quailty AR for less than $650. However between $650-$900 there are a plethora of possibilities.

cmmg bargain bins are $600+shipping, ffl and an optic. figure 650 to your door + some type of sight. $25-$500

Another recommendation for CMMG. CDNN sells them and this would be the first place I would go to check them out.


Kris

"...buying the upper and lowers separately is cheap..." Nope. Building a rifle costs more than buying a whole rifle.

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Not true, at least in the US, if you know where to shop and will work at it a bit. But not the huge savings it used to be. I don't currently recommend this route for a first purchase.

built a flat top for 690. But with DD full auto BCG. Stag has complete upper minus bcg and CH for 300 for thxgiving special i think and DSArms has the same deal for 275.

The cheapest I have ever built one is this one... $540 before the upgrades.
AS seen with RAS and MOE stock $700 The deals are out there, you just gotta be on the spot, when they come up.

$150 PWA lower complete with A-2 stock.
$80 Colt BCG low miles
$275 barreled upper DSA new Knob Creek
$35 A-3 carry handle almost new online

I'm not including the last two because these were bought, or traded as upgrades. The DSA upper came with M-4 type hand guards, and the stock was a trade out for some parts I have had for years.
$120 RAS
$ about $40 MP MOE Mil-spec complete
The AR components are coming down in price all over the place. The last big gun show here in Indiana had Colt 6920's were priced $999. Even at that price I didn't see anyone buying them.

Here you go. I personnely do not have any experiance with double star but i am thinking of picking one up as well. Cant beat the price!

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=411537958

right now, dpms has the best deal going on a new ar, and I don't even like ar's, and am thinking of getting one!
Called the sportical, it has a 16 inch bbl, it is a pencil bbl, flat top receiver, and adjustable buttstock. All for 650 plus tax. Very nice; if you have not handled a pencil bbl ar before, they are super handy!!!

the oracle, and sportical models are both 6.3 lbs empty.

http://www.dpmsinc.com/firearms/category.aspx?id=4

What type of rep does Olympic Arms have? They seem to be reasonably priced.

While Oly seems to have a few defenders, they are in reality the 2nd worse AR manufacturer on the market today.

If you really must get one cheap check out the CMMG bargain Bin Rifles.

Azizza said:

While Oly seems to have a few defenders, they are in reality the 2nd worse AR manufacturer on the market today...

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Who's "first" worse?

Double Star is affiliated with J&T, I believe, and is decent. Probably comparable to Del-Ton.

Olympic is probably OK but would be near my last choice. Historically their reputation is not great, and I don't see anything they've done to improve it much.

"First worst" would probably be Hesse/Vulcan etc. depending who you ask.

The CMMG bargain bin rifles are supposed to be a great deal if you're willing to accept a parts-bin rifle (which many of us pay just as much to build ourselves, FWIW).

Hands down the best AR for the money. If you think otherwise, you're wrong.

http://www.gandrtactical.com/cgi-bi...lates/FullNav/SearchResult.html&category=BCOM

worst is anything Blackthorne, which Oly gets most it's parts from...

Guess my olympic is crap and I should'nt ever try to fire it again.
J/K I paid $700 for it out the door a year or so ago.I don't shoot it much but has been flawless so far.
They seem to have become more affordable recently.I see really nice used ones with accessories going for $800 around here.

Like poster above sez, guess my Oly is just not making it in the popularity contests. But bought it new for $600 before the election price run up, she is fine for my eyes and with my Ciener .22LR adapter, is a heck of a lot of fun, cheap. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!

Hands down the best AR for the money. If you think otherwise, you're wrong.

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I tend to agree the BCM is probably one of the best and is for sure the best deal out right now.

As for the first worse it would be Hesse/blackthorne/Vulcan/whatever they have changed their name to this week.