Help! AR for me - and I'm po!

[Pebcac]

I'm looking for a good .223, and I think I've settled on an AR for several reasons, not the least of which is parts availability and ease of repair. Problem is, I'm low budget - and I mean low. No $1000 rifles for me. What would you folks recommend? I'm basically looking for a carbine, but haven't ruled out a full-length rifle. I saw the "plinker" on Olympic's website - is it worth it?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Bravo11]

I'm curious about those plinkers myself.

 

[Tag]

check out Rock River Arms too, I've read good things.

AIM's got some realtivly inexpensive bushmasters.

You could alwase build your own like BryanP just did

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

I've looked over a Plinker in the store---and its rough---I mean REALLY rough.

I'm thinkin you should save up the extra $200 to $300 and get an Eagle or Bushmaster.

 

[goalie]

Build (assemble) the lower by buying a parts kit and a stripped lower receiver. Then buy a complete upper. You save big on the tax.

 

[KW]

I'd stay away from the "plinker". I've seen a few too many where the cast lower reciever was in pieces. If you buy a stripped lower, a parts kit, and an upper you can save a lot of money and wind up with a quality gun. Check out AR15.com, they have tons of info in the forums, and instructions and diagrams for assembling a lower.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

The buying a stripped lower isn't a bad suggestion. It is simple to put an AR lower together and you save yourself 10% off the top on the cost of the rifle.

Don't be daunted by it either, screwing two holes into drywall level is a big challenge for me and I can put together a lower with no problems.

Buy the pre-assembled upper of your choice and you are ready to go.

A little riskier method is to buy parts of the AR15.com Equipment Exchange. Like any online shopping, you take your chances; but since those guys are constantly in the search for the latest and greatest stuff (and are regularly selling pretty good gear to finance the latest purchase), you can put together a pretty quality rifle at a very reasonable price if you are willing to spend the time researching all of your purchases and the sellers.

 

[Rob96]

You want great quality but at an inexpensive price, check out DPMS. I bought a Classic Sixteen for $675 and love it.

 

[000Buck]

You could get a Saiga 223 carbine for $199, but they only have 10 rd factory mags.

 

[shadow 1]

I picked up a very vanilla RRA Entry and am very happy with it. I have saved up some extra $$ and put some toys on it. Which is a nice thing about having an AR, you can always change some of the things on it when you get the extra $$.

Check em out.

 

[Pebcac]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'm leaning toward assembling one from a stripped lower. That way, I can learn something and save a few bucks at the same time.

Now to start saving my pennies.

 

[Redlg155]

Keep checking over at AR15.com. You can often find some pretty good deals over there.

To me the biggest advantage for the stripped lower idea is that you can spread the cost over time. Definitely a plus when on a budget.

Good Shooting
Red

 

[Daniel T]

AIM Surplus is selling the Bushie XM15-E2S 20" A2 for $699. Seems like a good deal to me.

 

[DMK]

I'm leaning toward assembling one from a stripped lower. That way, I can learn something and save a few bucks at the same time.

The nice thing about doing it that way is your initial investment is lower. You pay as you go and buy parts when you can afford them.

I could never have afforded to buy a $1000 FAL, but found it easy to build one, buying a few parts each month.

 

[Gary G23]

Well if you're po you can't afford a rifle that doesn't work out of the box and you can't afford a piece of junk that has no resale value. Get a Bushmaster.

 

[BryanP]

Hey Pebcac, I sympathize. I just finished going through the build one process because I can't/won't spend the $ all at once. I can highly recommend AR15.com, but to go along with them I'd pick up copies of these books-

The AR-15 Complete Assembly Guide — How to build your own AR-15 —by Walt Kuleck with Clint McKee.

The AR-15 Owner's Guide (2000) by Walt Kuleck and Scott A. Duff.

You can find them both over on Fulton Armory's Web Site although I've seen them slightly cheaper at gun shows.

They both make for some interesting reading and will give you a better idea of your options.

 

[Stonewall]

Buy a upper and lower from Rock River Arms. This will save you a BUNCH of money in the excise tax. I love mine

 

[Amish_Bill]

The lowest I've gotten a good AR built for was about $500, and that involved a few lucky deals and leftover parts. $700 +s/h + transfer (what, $750?) doesn't sound like too bad a deal for a factory complete Bushy.

Are there any gun shows in your area? They are often a good place to shop down competitors for a good price.

Another option - look for factory built rifles being sold used. People walking around gunshows are a good start. Your local paper? The For Sale forums on various boards....

 

[Splat Shot]

Rock River stripped lower (about $95 delivered) + $20 FFL transfer - check over at AR15.com in the equipment exchange section.

J&T kit for about $460 delivered. You now have an excellent shooter for $575 total.

Build it yourself from instructions over at AR15.com. I have seen it done in about a 1/2 hour and it is easy. The kits from J&T are outstanding, you will like the finish.