RockyMtnTactical
Member
- Joined
- Oct 21, 2006
- Messages
- 3,539
When you consider what you might pay for a SCAR or an ACR or a G3, the AR15 is a bargain.
The intent of the post was to ascertain exactly why the going price for a mid level rifle made of standardized parts was around $700-$900. Deviate from the standard .223 chambering and its more like $1000.
So far the answers seems to be a combination of trends in the publics taste in guns and fear of governmental policy change coupled with high demand. It has nothing to do with the realistic costs of the rifle.
and then there are those who think is sacrilege that someone would question why an entry level gun composed of maybe $250 worth of parts that come disassembled demands a $600 price tag.
There are about 35 companies manufacturing (or just reselling) AR rifles right now. I would think that as demand wanes prices will continue to fall to more realistic entry points of around $400-450 for a basic 16in carbine in 223.
The intent of the post was to ascertain exactly why the going price for a mid level rifle made of standardized parts was around $700-$900. Deviate from the standard .223 chambering and its more like $1000.
How the heck is that realistic? You honestly think that a semi-automatic rifle made from a forged aluminum upper & lower receiver, with a rotating bolt breech lock mechanism should cost LESS than an injection molded polymer frame semi auto service pistol which operates off the MUCH simpler tilt breech locking principle? You think that same rifle should cost less than a comparably simple to manufacture bolt action hunting rifle, with even less metal in the receiver?There are about 35 companies manufacturing (or just reselling) AR rifles right now. I would think that as demand wanes prices will continue to fall to more realistic entry points of around $400-450 for a basic 16in carbine in 223.
Do you have ANY clue how many parts are in an AR-15? Have you thought about how many small precision forged and milled parts go into making one? Most AR-15s will shoot 2 MOA or better out of the box. Add a $70 for a free float hand guard and you can get 1.5 MOA or better. How much will you pay for a bolt action rifle that shoots 1.5 MOA or better?and then there are those who think is sacrilege that someone would question why an entry level gun composed of maybe $250 worth of parts that come disassembled demands a $600 price tag.
Quote:
$600 is pretty big purchase for me anyway to take a chance on some fly by night manufacturer.
Yep, S&W must be a fly by night manufacturer they only been around a hundred years or so.
You're looking at MSRP, not street price. Street price on S&W base models is in the high $600s to low $700s - BEFORE the $100 mail in rebate. Street price on standard Glocks is $475 to $550. Again, do you really think an AR-15 is that expensive any more?Smith & Wesson makes one, but it's for double to triple the amount quoted on this thread. Ruger makes one too now and it's for over 2x the cost of a Mini.
That's because Modern Warfare 2 kids want to buy that SCAR.Actually, the AR15 is priced very well. There are no more patents on it so anyone can make it and that has kept the price down quite a bit. In order for companies to compete with each other, they have to price it where they do.
What is the cost of building one SCAR vs. an AR15? Not much. Yet, there is a substantial price difference.
Again, do you really think an AR-15 is that expensive any more?
Post-1986 civilian AR-15's have sufficient differences in FCG and receiver dimensions from M16's to make them difficult to convert to full auto, yes. That doesn't mean that an AR-15 is any cheaper to built than a full auto (assuming no corners are cut in materials or build quality), any more than a DOHC V8 engine with 100mm bore spacing is any cheaper to manufacture than a DOHC V8 made of the same grade of parts with 95mm bore spacing.PPS - does having the semi-auto police one really prove anything however? I find conflicting info about the civilian one being the same gun as the m16 fully auto on account of ATF not wanting you to easily convert it
I couldn't agree more. You just seemed like a wood & blued (or even parked/anodized) metal kinda guy from your posts. Of course, as in the case of an AR with wood stocks, just because it can be done doesn't mean it should be.PS - wood stock ARs pictured look ugly as sin, and Ruger Mini looks like a beauty queen relatively speaking.