Decided I need/want an AR

The PSA parts are all mil-spec which is all you're getting with a Colt other than the little prancing pony roll mark. If you want the Colt, make sure you sign up for the Mil/LEO discount at DSG Arms. Cheapest and most reliable supplier that I've found and their prices are FANTASTIC with the discount and pretty darn good without it. The Colt 6920 is $965 with the discount. PMags are cheaper there than anywhere else I've found also. I add 5 or so to the order every time just because you can't have too many good mags.

I can order parts and accessories from them and have them to may house in three business days. Shipping is quite cheap from them in addition to being fast.

Well, since no one else has thrown it out there, check out Stag's AR's

There are enough threads on PSA QC that folks can Google up for themselves. It should make one think twice on how an "all mil-spec" company can offer a supposedly equal rifle to other mil-spec manufacturers like Colt, Daniel Defense, Lewis Machine & Tool, or Bravo Company for significantly less. Colt isn't charging a premium over these other makers. It's the market rate. They're all similarly priced. There is nothing wrong with PSA or other brands but they aren't in the same league which is why PSA is always brought up as a great value/alternative, not an equal.

I went with a Spike's Midlength and am very happy with it. Shoots great and I think just as good quality as a Colt or BCM. For around $800 I think hard to beat. This would give you the extra cash too for ammo or mags. Staying economical, my 2nd choice would be PSA.

If you have a $1000 budget, you can't buy a rifle, ammo, and accessories (optics being the most important), and that statement is based on the way your original message was worded.

When you figure decent optics start at $400 (Aimpoint PRO), and ammo is $350/1000 for Lake City/Federal brass, your rifle can only cost you $250 max. If you want to use steel-case ammo, Tula will cost you $110/500, so I would get a rifle that will shoot steel ammo with no issues. I know for a fact that any version of the S&W M&P15 can handle steel ammo just fine.

Ask the SWAT guys what they would buy for personal use.

Ditto........+ 10 Colt 6920

Being in SWAT or military doesn't make you an expert on AR brand selection. Having a solid, trouble-free product with minimal lemons and excellent customer service is important, not what a beancounter decides to purchase for the department and the subsequent guys that get suck with the hardware. There are departments that issue Bushmasters with unstaked bolt carrier groups.

If you want to consider this as a hard-use rifle, then I would suggest doing research on the hard-use AR-centric forums. If its a range toy you don't stake your life on, decide with your wallet and realize you might have to troubleshoot it now and then.

There are departments that issue Bushmasters with unstaked bolt carrier groups

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i sure hear that a lot. they must really be spotty on it cuz here are my 2

Glad to see yours were staked properly. You'll also find threads where they were missing or improper, or such doubts wouldn't have arised to begin with. They weren't always staked, nor staked well. Mine was from the pre-Cerberus days and it wasn't staked properly. Several armorers on the AR-centric forums have seen many Bushmasters come through with reoccuring issues. How are your castle nuts? Are they staking them now? Glad to see Bushmaster is still using Fang Sheng Screw Co., Ltd fasteners from Taiwan.

Glad to see Bushmaster is still using Fang Sheng Screw Co., Ltd fasteners from Taiwan.

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well, i'm half taiwanese, so thank you.

well, i'm half taiwanese, so thank you.

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And I'm 100% Chinese and speak Cantonese, so what? You can dig up complaints with YFS fasteners on gas carrier keys by doing some research.

And I'm 100% Chinese and speak Cantonese, so what? You can dig up complaints with YFS fasteners on gas carrier keys by doing some research.

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thanks, i'll check it out.

deleated

Big D said:

Well, apparently my local gunshop doesn't have any more M&P 15's, and have no idea when they will be getting new ones. Three different dealers told me the same thing. Any idea whats up with that?

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People are buying them faster then the factory can make them. Just a few months ago our LGS had all kinds of AR's in stock, right now the pickings are pretty slim and the new ones coming in are selling fast.

Let us know how she turns out!!

Are you building this for looks or functionality? I'm curious if there was any other reason you're planning on running a fixed stock after spending the time and money to order a rifle with a telescoping buttstock. Consider most people who change go from A2 to adjustable so they can tailor LOP to their body and shooting position unless your physiology gives you a longer than average LOP where a longer fixed buttstock is more comfortable in all shooting positions. Considering you had a budget, you'd have to buy a new A2 buttstock, a different receiver extension, a rifle-length spring, and a castle nut wrench and start putttng unused parts in a box.