AR-15 on a shoe-string budget

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Mr.Barty

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Earlier, I made a post for a 9mm carbine and someone made a good point about the 9mm vs the .223 and after some thought, he is right.
So my new question is, what AR-15 is the best for the money. My budget is $750 dollars.
I do not care what brand it is. I'm looking for the best reliability and durability (particulary the stock as I do not want it to break), functionality, versatility, an all around rifle and most importantly, be able to have a rifle sling attached to it.
 
Palmetto state armory. $499 for a full stainless steel Middie kit. The only thing that's missing is the lower which they sell for around 80$.

I'd personally Buy anything except a dpms.
 
Palmetto state armory is a great place to start. If that doesn't do it for you. Spikes would be my next choice up the cost ladder. Them Bravo, DD, etc.

Surplus ammo and arms has a complete lower for $165.
 
well i was gonna say "palmetto state armory!" with critical sarcasm, but looking at them for the first time, i'd have to say they look pretty good if what they say is on the level.

can you guys throw up some links?
 
FlyinBryan said:
well i was gonna say "palmetto state armory!" with critical sarcasm, but looking at them for the first time, i'd have to say they look pretty good if what they say is on the level.

can you guys throw up some links?
Click to expand...

Check their industry forum on ar15.com.
 
Check their industry forum on ar15.com.
Click to expand...

lol, well maybe it was just bad timing, but 3 of the top 4 threads on the first page i just looked at were having problems.

2 of those 3 actually had the word "problem" in the thread title.
 
FlyinBryan said:
lol, well maybe it was just bad timing, but 3 of the top 4 threads on the first page i just looked at were having problems.

2 of those 3 actually had the word "problem" in the thread title.
Click to expand...

A lot of the problems people have are with shipping. They sold quality lowers for 50$ and sold 2000 in a weekend. They said they hired new people to help cope.

On another note, they have the absolute best prices on .223/5.56 on the net with cheap shipping. Often 30-50$ less per case.
 
When I wanted an AR, I built one from parts, bit by bit. I just couldn't part with the money all at once.
Bought a stripped lower, lower parts kit, used buttstock, used upper, other small parts one bit at a time.
When I got done, I had a nice AR, exactly what I wanted, without a lot of cash outlay at any one time.
 
just got a palmetto state upper 2day....my say very very nice.havn't got 2 shoot it yet but i can't find anything 2 complain about so far
 
Two points:
1) DPMS makes a decent rifle. Not the best, but there's nothing wrong with them.
2) If you buy one piece at a time it will cost quite a bit more for the rifle when it's complete.
 
The BEST AR15 for the kind of money you're talking about, is the S&W M&P15 "Sport". You can get one for between $600-$650. Sometimes if on sale, below $600. For the money, it is much better than a DPMS, Olympic, and just about anything else in that price.

The real shame however, is for $150 more, you can jump about 5 levels of quality, and buy a real quality Colt AR15 for $899. http://site.cdnninvestments.com/CDNN2011-3/index.html
 
I will let you know how my build runs tomorrow, finally getting to shoot it. I put it together with parts totaling $648.

If the Sport can be bought for 650 otd, which in many places it can, adding another 150 only brings that up to 800 and the colt at 899 is still 99 short plus any shipping and transfer fees....
 
The offerings from Palmetto look good on paper, TDP wise, although I don't have any hands-on with them.

I've got ~1500 rnds through a Spikes Middy with no failures, it's an easy recommendation.
 
Also have a DPMS that has functioned flawlessly.

main.php
 
Mr Barty, you need to buy Stag Arms, they make one of the best shooting AR's for the money period
 
Finally tried my budget build today.

Mine cost $648 including shipping and transfer fees, worked very well and accurate enough for my needs. No paper targets but I was able to hit targets out to 200 yards.

Here are the components I used:

Surplus Arms lower
DSArms Upper 16" Carbine
2 Pmags
Palmetto State Premium BCG and Charging handle

Only thing I am going to change is a heavier buffer as my ejection pattern was around the 1 o'clock position. So add another 30-40 for my example.
 
I have a DPMS Complete Upper on a Spike's Lower. I bought the upper used, It's been great.

The key is to buy used parts for things that don't matter being used... stocks especially.

Total gun cost as shown $450. (in 2009)

P1010038.jpg
 
Buy an Aero Precision receiver from Surplusammo.com for 60, then order there m4 kit for 479.99. its a dsa upper 1-9 twist non chromelined-you don't need chrome if you take care of it. DSA has great quality and a good customer service reputation. They build quality uppers, right up there with spikes, RRA, and Bushmaster. Slap a A-2 carryhandle on that bad boy and wham-bam.

IMG_20110707_073746.jpg
 
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DPMS will do the job as good as any. So many haters with so little first hand experience.
 
DPMS will do the job as good as any. So many haters with so little first hand experience.
Click to expand...
Plenty of first hand experience with DPMS low grade parts, and low grade assembly. If they'd build them as well as they build their LR-308s, DPMS would have decent AR-15s. It's unfortunate, because I know they know how to do better.
 
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