I'd still like to hear some opinions on the difference in a $500 AR and a $7-800 AR, and likewise and $4-500 1911 versus a $7-800 one. On either gun is it really worth the extra money? What if any differences are there?
Why are you limiting yourself to locally? In your price range they will all be similarly equipped and feel a lot alike.
CDNN has a whole lot of AR deals going on in your price range.
As for 1911's I wont buy something built on slave labor so that rules out imports from Asia Pac. Ive seen Colts online as low as 700+ so that is what I would go with.
So my pre-edited reply will be that I like to support LGS when I can, and I do mostly.
If you haven't yet delighted yourself in the supreme trigger performance of a quality built 1911, that would be my recommendation.
I'd recommend Colt, Springfield Armory or .Ruger (in that order) for Quality built production guns.
Pure bliss
I would try to get both.
As far as the 1911 goes, I personally would go for a RIA. Their warranty service is stellar, and their pistols are good examples of the 1911. Plan on changing the grips. Here is one for $430:
https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/716006977/Rock+Island+Armory+51501+1911+Standard+GI+8+1+45ACP+5"
I have heard good things about the Tisas 1911s as well. They are about the same rice that RIAs used to go for....$330 for a 5":
https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/716006977/Rock+Island+Armory+51501+1911+Standard+GI+8+1+45ACP+5"
As far as the AR goes, I have not seen significant functional or accuracy advantages to any of the value ARs. The design lends itself well to acceptable accuracy and reliability.
Buy one of these for $260:
http://palmettostatearmory.com/ptac...upper-with-bcg-and-charging-handle-40176.html
and one of these for $140:
http://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-ar-15-complete-blem-lower-classic-edition-no-magazine.html
And you will have a decent rifle. No assembly required that isn't part of normal cleaning.
So $750 to $850 and you don't have to make any of those pesky choices.
The older I get the less enamored I am of the 1911. Once I bought my Sig P220 then 1911s just became sort of a historical artifact.
I see I'm late to the party. I was going to suggest checking Armslist and finding a local seller if you decide on an AR.
Looks like a good starter AR, price is certainly good. I really like a low powered variable scope for a general purpose carbine something 1 or 2X at the bottom. A fixed 3X prism optic would also be a good choice.I bought this today, from this site.
Looks like a good starter AR, price is certainly good. I really like a low powered variable scope for a general purpose carbine something 1 or 2X at the bottom. A fixed 3X prism optic would also be a good choice.
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