I'm ashamed to stoop so low as to ask this question.

[Jacob L Freeman]

It's been asked millions of times on hundreds, if not thousands of forums. I do apologize. Seriously. I do.

I have criticized it in the past, I had nearly lost all interest, turned away by how seemingly over-popular it was, and yet..... I have given into fears of possible future events, and thus I am looking for suggestions on what AR-15 to buy.

I am not looking for anything super special. Just a reliable, plain jane, 20 incher with ribbed forearm, in .223, carrying handle, solid stock, made almost entirely if not 100% in USA, with no "tactical" stuff on it. I'm shooting recreationally, I will never storm a house in Kandahar. Perhaps a single rail on top for a scope, but that's it. Hey, accesorizing isn't addictive is it? Ha.

I'll admit right off that I know next to nothing about them, and the immense number of models and configurations from brands everywhere, as well as gas vs. piston overwhelm me. Imagine the little old lady who's never driven before going onto a new car lot. That's me right now. I do want to learn, and some suggestions or points in the right direction would help, in the mean time I'd like to grab one of these in the next 1-3 months.

I suppose I would be a tad partial to a well known brand such as Rock River, DPMS or Colt, but wouldn't shy away from a lesser known manufacturer in Maine, as long as I don't have to make the 2000+ mile drive to get it.

My price range is ideally under $1400, and $1000 is even nicer. Is a decent piece even possible for, say, $600? Hardly needs to be said, but I have noticed all stores locally to me have been cleaned out lately. Is this driving up prices? If I need to pay more to get quality, that's what I'll have to do.

Thank you for any help, and again, I am sorry for beating a horse so dead that it has completely composted into dirt.

 

[nathan]

Rock River National Match with stainless steel barrel . Unfortunately they are all gone. Let us know where you can find out.

 

[Jacob L Freeman]

What is to be gained by a stainless barrel? Is it stronger, dissapates heat better? Dang, if it weren't 9:30 on Sunday I'd be out asking at stores, but they're all closed!

 

[nathan]

More accurate . It looks nicer too and cleans easier. if its available, id snatch it in a heartbeat.

 

[Berg]

It's already too late. I'm sorry to have to break this to you but you will find nothing under $1000 except stuff no one would ever touch for even $550 a week ago.

If you want in now you are going to have to open your wallet wide.

 

[bergmen]

I'm glad you asked these questions because frankly, I was afraid to.

I'm in the same boat but already have my first AR (Ruger SR556E, still in jail). I made the decision on Monday to get one, bought it Tuesday. I was lcuky to pay a discounted price, the swarms of locusts hadn't completely arrived yet.

I've been shooting/hunting for over fifty years and have a crammed gun safe, just no AR's. Not that I didn't want one but I just had my hands full with everything else I am shooting. Recent events trumped that. I did something I NEVER do: Buy first, figure it out later. There was no time for that.

I did also snag a Double Star lower so I can take my time and build a second AR after I study it a bit.

So, I'm all ears.

Dan

 

[cyclopsshooter]

I like the 20" rifles too, up till a week ago they could always be found for under 1000.. you missed the boat for now but it will be back. Be patient and wait it out.

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

Dang, if it weren't 9:30 on Sunday I'd be out asking at stores, but they're all closed!

At this point you'll be lucky to find any AR pattern, let alone the specific one you're asking about.

Frankly, between the timing and what you want, I'd wait and roll the dice. If an AWB doens't pass, you'll be able to get exactly what you want for a lower price at some point down the road. If it does, and is similar to the previous one, it sounds like the rifle you describe will be mostly untouched and a post-ban configuration will be acceptable.

 

[nathan]

More likely this fiscal cliff is gonna happen. It will be a double whammy for 2013 , the fiscal cliff and a looming gun ban. Also Obama got Iran on his gunsights so it will be a full year.

But if the fiscal cliff is gonna happen , expect more ARs being dumped in the private market by April to pay off Uncle Sammy.

 

[hentown]

You've missed the boat. Good luck on finding an AR of any description, for less than twice what they were going to a few weeks ago.

 

[Blondie]

Jacob - you need to wait. Online auctions like gunbroker are suffering from the hysteria and the prices for semi-autos are well in excess of double normal prices (I just looked and there is a Colt 6920 for $2,375 that will end in 5 hours). Locally, I would guess that either (1) the non price gouging dealers are out of stock or (2) the dealers with stock have jacked up prices.

Just wait and be proactive so a new ban is not passed. Call and write your representatives and senators. Join a pro-gun group. Tell your pro-gun friends to call/write the lawmakers. We need to stand strong on this so a new AWB is not passed and then you and others can get your rifle at normal pricing.

Blonde

 

[rondog]

Look for private sellers. That's the best way to find one now, maybe the only way. And don't be too picky, if you can find ANY AR that you can afford, buy it.

 

[The_Armed_Therapist]

Basic AR15s were starting to get down around $600, but I don't think that's possible anymore. LOL... Definitely scour the private market. There's one listed on a local gun classified by Olympic Arms for $925. I have NO idea if Olympic Arms is good or not, but it appears that you can still find some for under $1,000.

 

[mljdeckard]

For your budget, many rifles will serve you well. (If you can find one now.)

 

[Hunterdad]

At this point, you may have to settle for whatever is available.

 

[leadcounsel]

I'm astounded at how folks with ANY desire to own guns, especially guns that have been 1) on the chopping block and 2) were insanely affordable as of 3 weeks ago, didn't buy them.

I've bought up a handful of ARs at $500-$800, and a handful of AKs at $300-500 in the last 3 years. I'm not selling them, that's for sure. Cannot fathom why anyone wouldn't have snapped these up.

On Friday of this incident, I ordered 40 Tapco AK47 mags for $5.50 each. They went out of stock. I also ordered a bunch of 20 AR15 Pmags for $11 each, and 10 more Tapco AK74 mags for $13 each. I think these were all filled. I can't find any vendors with reasonable prices anymore.

Yep, it's too late now at any reasonable price. It *may* come down but that's not a chance I'd personally take. IF you want it, and there's a chance these could be banned, open up your wallet. $1200 for a basic AR, $1000 for an AK, and $30 per mag.

Sorry, but there have been PLENTY of warnings. We have an anti-gun President who SAID in the debates he wants an AWB. Gun owners like myself were SHOUTING from mountaintops to vote against him and/or stock up. With all of the over-publicized shootings the media is in the tank and it was only a matter of waiting until after this election for the Dems to pull this crap. And sorry but you cannnot divorce politics from this very gun related issue. It's 90% Dems pushing this garbage.

 

[mljdeckard]

^^ Yep.

 

[Casefull]

2nd yep. Wait a while...nothing of significance will be done. Politicals just pretend they care. Price of gas tells anyone with a brain how bad the economy really is.

 

[MachIVshooter]

My price range is ideally under $1400, and $1000 is even nicer. Is a decent piece even possible for, say, $600?

Sorry to say, but unless you're incredibly lucky (Like lotto winning lucky) you're not going to be able to touch an AR for under $1,000 today, much less $600.

The days of the affordable AR are gone for the time being, whether or not they'll return is anyone's guess. On thing is almost certain, though; they'll never be as cheap as they were 2 months ago.

 

[Pilot]

I agree with the others. Unless you see a "reasonable" deal on something even remotely resembling what you want, I would wait and see what shakes out. Even 5.56/.223 ammo is all sold out so thoughs of us that do have AR, and AK's had better stocked up on ammo, and/or reloading components, until the picture is more clear, and suppliers are able to re-stock.

America is changing. Let's hope it doesn't change so much we don't recognize it at all anymore.

 

[bergmen]

I paid $200.00 below MSRP for the rifle (pre-panic price) even though I bought it last Monday (12-17). I also have 800 rounds on the way at pre-panic prices.

So I bought after the event and was not considering one prior. Don't lambast us for that, please. Would it have been better for those of us who did this to just sit around and do nothing?

Many tens of thousands of shooters now have ARs that didn't just a week ago and the gun manufacturers and ammo makers are benefitting as well. It's a win-win-win as far as I'm concerned.

It is up to the buyer as to whether to pay the prices being asked. It is not uncommon for markets to swing wildly like this (housing, gas comes to mind).

I don't trust politicians right now. San Francisco mayor Lee is pushing for legislation to ban the possession of "military grade" ammunition and require reporting to the SF Police when anyone buys 500 rounds of ammo or more:

http://www.ktvu.com/news/news/local-...ethal-l/nTcLz/

This is going to be introduced on 1-15-13.

I have been buying and stocking up for years. It is just the AR arena that has not garnered my attention.

Until now.

Dan

 

[ShadowsEye]

The rifle you are asking about was/is this one here by DPMS http://dpmsinc.com/A2-CLASSIC_ep_104-1.html

I was considering it as well before the SHTF, but I ended up buying a carbine locally for normal retail pricing, 12 hours before the local gun shops were completely sold out.

My recommendation, find a large and reputable gun dealer, ask them to back order a rifle for you and put down a deposit if they'll take it. Nothing is illegal, supply is just stretched, be patient and get in line with your order.

 

[Coal Dragger]

I'll give you the advice that I give any new AR buyer. Buy a Colt LE series 6920. They are uniformly well made of proper materials, with the proper metallurgy and tests performed on critical parts. The gas keys are staked on right, the barrels are MG rated steel with hard chromed bore and chamber. Bolts are magnetic particle inspected and so are barrels. Bolt carriers are chrome lined inside to a more thorough degree than some other makes.

You won't get a 20" bbl, and you won't get a fixed stock. Not to worry though because you can build or buy another upper to suit your needs! Same for a stock. Or a pistol grip. The beauty of the AR is modularity. The only part of a Colt that will be rubbish will be the trigger. Plan on dropping $200 or so one one that doesn't suck. This shouldn't be considered a demerit since every other brand stock GI trigger will suck just as much.

 

[jason41987]

anything you could possibly buy through a dealer will be in a federal database as you owning that firearm, this is why they want to force FFL intervention at gun shows and private sales, so they can keep tabs on ALL guns... i dont trust this at all, maybe you should get an 80% receiver instead?

 

[MachIVshooter]

anything you could possibly buy through a dealer will be in a federal database as you owning that firearm,

Wrong, wrong, WRONG!

Not only is there no way they'd have that info (NICS only gets info for "Handgun", "Rifle" or "Other firearm"; No make, model, caliber or S/N), it is against the law to establish a national database of firearms owners.