Am I missing something... Why are AR rifles so expensive?

[oneounceload]

I'm constantly amazed by folks that don't understand supply and demand. Simple economic theory. Everything costs exactly what the market will bear. No more, no less. Charge too much, no one will buy or a competitor will undercut you. If you sell out of an item, you didn't charge enough.

This is the correct answer to the original query.........

 

[jsimmons]

Most decent 1911 pistols cost more than an entry-level AR-15. Counting Springfield Custom Shop work, I paid $975 for my 1911, and paid $1100 for my AR (had I been a bit more savvy, I would have built one from scratch myself - for about $300 less).

My current AR is a S&W M&P15 MOE, but I've changed it quite a bit from stock, and I'm not done yet. It's got a different stock, pistol grip, flash hider, front and rear sights, and trigger guard, and I've added a sling adapter, a red dot sight, and a front grip that I'm about to remove (because I don't care for it not that it's installed). I just ordered a stainless miid-length barrel for it, and I'll be using that to build a complete upper. I'm not a fan of the quad-rail appearance, and see no reason to have stuff like a bipod, flashlight, flare launcher, or toilet paper dispencer hanging off the forearm of the rifle. I like my rifles slim and trim.

 

[dshambli]

Yeah, AR's are only as expensive as the market will bear. When Obama was elected, you would've been lucky to find one under 1000. Now, the market is saturated and people are broke, so for 1000 dollars you're either getting a good rifle or you're getting ripped off. If you want to see an inflated price on a rifle, look no further than the ACR. Once these things lose their novelty, I couldn't see paying more than 1300.

 

[Sky]

Military contracts! Remember the $800 toilet seats and the $500 hammers; Mil-spec cost!

 

[ulfrik]

plinker ar15 what makes it cost less . would it be a good self defense rifle?

 

[CarbineKid]

I think ARs are reasonable especially compared to the ACR and SCAR. I seen a SCAR the other day for well over $2200.

 

[crossrhodes]

Greed

It's the American Way.....Greed, the freedom to make a buck and screw they neighbor. You can title it with all the fifty dollar words you want but it comes down to MONEY. I'm not saying it's bad or good it's just the way it is.

 

[Hunterdad]

I built this one for $700:


You can build one for $500 if you're patient and look for deals.

 

[Birddog1911]

Holy dead thread resurection, Batman! It's a zombie thread!

 

[Justin]

I head-shoot zombie threads.