Cheap AR: Need Advice

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kcmarine

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Okay, I guess I need advice on this.

Basically, I want an AR.

Here's what I want in the rifle:

Fixed carry handle
Non- collapsing stock
20" barrel
Rifle length handguard
Mil- Spec
Affordable enough to be bought with the money earned from a summer job

Can you recommend any models?

P.S.
I'm really not interested in a removable carry handle or accessory rails yet. I know the "tacti- cool" works for some, but not for me. Just want a good, basic, M16-A2 style AR.

Thanks for the recommendations.
 
If you're not afraid of tapping a few pins in, could buy a stripped lower locally, and order an upper + parts kit from the internets.

Del-Ton has a 20" rifle kit for $465 (though you might want to add $40 for a chrome barrel): http://www.del-ton.com/Rifle_Kit_p/rkt102.htm. I built a 16" flat-top middy a few months ago with one of their kits, and after adding a rear flip and a couple of mags, it was only around $700. All their barrels are 1:9 HBARs, so not totally milspec, but otherwise I'm happy with my first build.
 
Im currently building my own AR, just waiting for the lower to come in.

Hit AR15.com and go to the Build It Yourself section on the AR15 side. They have step by step instructions, looks easy.

The SIMPLE way is to buy a kit.

www.model1sales.com

Thats where I bought mine. My total was $540 but I bought some tools. I think just the kit was $510 shipped or close to that.

This is EVERYTHING you need except a stripper lower and 45 mins of your time. You have to supply those.

You dont NEED the tools either, you can do the build with a small screwdriver and a hammer. But the punch set and detent tool are handy and only add a few bucks to your order.

I grabbed my stipped lower for $94 shipped of GunBroker - came from a local place here in Iowa called Superior Arms. You dont need to spend big money on a lower receiver - as long as its spec your good.

So.....

$540 for kit and tools
$94 for receiver

total was $634.......not bad.
 
P.S.
I'm really not interested in a removable carry handle or accessory rails yet. I know the "tacti- cool" works for some, but not for me. Just want a good, basic, M16-A2 style AR.
Click to expand...
well that is good i guess but you have to think that alot of that "tacticool" you talk about is practical and could very well be used in a situation to bring you out on top. alot of it is very functional. but any how it is good to see that you are wanting a plian jane ar and do some old fashion shooting!

for about the price of those kits, i have dpms rifles for about the same price at the local gun shows and they have what you are looking for as far as barrel lenght, a2 upper, etc. i would check out dpms.
 
In my experience and opinion, the best thing to do in regards to cheap AR's is to avoid them. Many "cheap" AR's are just that... and they prove it with bad performance.

However, if you spend just $100 or so more than many of the "cheaper" AR's you can get a weapon that is very reliable and works well.

Stag Arms. :)
 
If the question is "cheap AR?" the answer is "Don't."

If the question is how to make a good AR as cheaply as possible, the answer is:

1. Buy parts.
2. Assemble yourself.

Buy inexpensive parts where you can (the lower receiver, for instance...once you get an in-spec lower, which almost all of them are, the only other thinsg to consider are finish and whose rollmark is on the side...and you'll pay for those), but buy quality where it counts (upper receiver, barrel, bolt). Assemble it yourself, as there are VERY few 'gotchas' in the assembly, except, perhaps, mating the barrel and the upper.

Mike
 
If you don't want to build your AR from a kit, the cheapest way to do it is to buy an assembled lower (with buttstock) on GunBroker or another Internet source (@$250) and then mate it with a Model 1 Sales upper with bolt/carrier (@$415). For $50 more, get the chrome-lined "Government Profile" 20-inch upper assembly, which weighs less than and is more "mil-spec" than an HBAR upper. Yes, this will cost you a bit more than building from a kit, but with this route you don't have to buy special tools or worry about messing up the assembly.
 
Seen a 750-ish AR from DPMS at Gander Mountain.

Most builds I've looked at run around that price. Not sure how good the DPMS model is, of course - but the reasonably low price caught my eye.

If you want a main-line-company AR (Colt, Bushmaster, Armalite...) you'll pay more. Bud's Gun Shop, an online place that has pretty darned low retail values, sets Armalite and Bushmaster ARs at a minimum of about $800.

If you buy the parts, you only have to go through an FFL for the lower receiver. All the rest you can buy online.

Uppers that are generally considered 'good' retail for around 500-600.
CMMG, Stag Arms, Bushmaster, Armalite, Rock River Arms have their uppers in that price range. From what I've heard, they're considered good ones. All those companies are online, too, so you can search through 'em.
 
i am all about value and try to squezze as much out of everything that i can, but i agree with the above posters, you don't want a cheap ar, get something that is gonna last and serve you well or you will most likly regret it later.
 
Thanks for asking this question kcmarine. I'm looking at picking up a new rifle myself and exactly what you're asking for. I'm leaning towards spending a few extra bucks for the higher quality. I'm thinking I'll do some more searching and see what kind of experience folks have had with Stag.

I'm looking at the right handed Stag-15 Model 4 Pre-Ban:

http://www.stagarms.com/rightrifles.htm

I just need to call and find out if that barrel is chrome lined or not...unless someone here knows.

*ok just got off the phone with Stag. Their 20" barrels are NOT chrome lined, but all their 16" barrels are. You can also buy the rifle upper and lower separate.
 
Its your money; but I am always puzzled when people intentionally decide to limit their future options by going with a fixed carry handle. You can always put a carry handle on a flattop if you think you want that, the great thing is that you can get rid of it when you eventually realize you don't.

I've got an A2 carry handle myself; but the only reason is because I bought it back in 1994 and it is tough to get rid of now because everyone wants flattops.
 
I can't speak for kcmarine, but I suspect he wants a rifle as close to the A2 he/we used in the USMC because he knows what it is and what he can do with it. With a good set of aperture sights and years of government training who needs optics? :neener:
 
I can't speak for kcmarine, but I suspect he wants a rifle as close to the A2 he/we used in the USMC because he knows what it is and what he can do with it.
Click to expand...

I doubt that is the case as kcmarine has indicated he is not old enough to have served in the Marines. I think the name indicates an aspiration rather than an achieved goal.

Anyway, the only difference between a flattop with a carry handle and an A2 is that you can't adjust the flattop for elevation for your 700 and 800m iron sight shooting. I doubt many people will find that a limitation.

With a good set of aperture sights and years of government training who needs optics?
Click to expand...

Apparently, pretty much everyone I've ever timed, including guys who shot on military marksmanship teams. Almsot everyone does better with optics than irons. Even simple optics like a low-power variable. For the really well-trained guys, the difference is minimal; but it is still there.

However, it is a moot point because even if you never use optics the rest of your life, the flattop is still more versatile. Decide you'd rather have a drum aperture H&K rear sight instead of an A2 sight? You can do that with a flattop. Want M1 National Match sights on your AR15? They make them for 1913 rails.

Like I said, it is your money and you certainly don't need to justify your purchases to me. I bought a 11.5" stainless steel match barrel AR with a 5" flash hider for my first one - strictly because I thought it looked cool. :)
 
Ah, I didn't know kcmarine wasn't old enough to be one! But those are pretty much my reasons for wanting a stock looking A2. I have other stuff for 0-100 yards...need the AR for the 50-500 stuff. Anything that needs to be shot further out than that is gonna have to get closer...or wait until I can pick up one of these:

Barrett M107


As for all the rail accessories...I probably won't be in any sanctioned shooting contests or doing any tactical room clearing so I don't need all the extras, but hey if you can afford it and want it...then slap it on there I say.
 
+1 on Superior Firearms... I picked up one of their M4gerys last year and I have to say it has the best factory trigger I have ever experienced....
Customer service is great and their prices are very good...
 
DPMS AR's are the most inexpensive one out there right now that are still of pretty good quality. That would be about the lowest I'd go in both price and quality if I were looking for an AR. I've seen some at shops and at shows for around $675 to $750 if you look around some before hand.
 
Mumwaldee,
I'm looking at the right handed Stag-15 Model 4 Pre-Ban:
I just need to call and find out if that barrel is chrome lined or not...unless someone here knows.
Click to expand...

I just got one and NO the barrell on the 20" is not Chromed.
 
Is there anyplace that could put together a custom upper for me? I think I could get the individual parts, but I've never put anything like an AR together from scratch. :uhoh: Headspacing, timing, etc... it'd be a nightmare.

And when I say "custom," I don't mean anything too fancy--just an A1 style upper (no forward assist, no brass deflector, probably not an ejection port cover), skinny-style 16" barrel, and mid-length gas system and hand guards.

Or if anyone currently offers this setup, I'd be much obliged to learn who(m). :)
 
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