Meaning of $349 complete ARs for the Second Amendment

[earlthegoat2]

I would like a $350 AR in anything but 223/5.56.

Sadly, I don’t think those exist outside of getting a great deal on the components and rolling your own.

 

[FL-NC]

I'm glad they have become more financially obtainable for lawful use. Be sure to post when the same thing happens with ammo!

 

[CapnMac]

makes me feel silly for spending $1,400 on my first

November of 1992, dropped $628 for an A2. Now, CPI calculator tells me that's $1243 in 2022 dollars. Sigh.
The S&W MP 15-22 I bought last November was only $440. A far cry from the high-price days, for sure.

The phrase "Common use" evoked a memory of James Madison's quote on the "meaning" of the 2nd Amendment he helped draft: "That every man be armed..." A laudable goal, really. And also for evoking Tench Coxe with his "...every terrible implement of a soldier..." being "...the birthright of every American..."

 

[redcon1]

November of 1992, dropped $628 for an A2. Now, CPI calculator tells me that's $1243 in 2022 dollars. Sigh.
The S&W MP 15-22 I bought last November was only $440. A far cry from the high-price days, for sure.

The phrase "Common use" evoked a memory of James Madison's quote on the "meaning" of the 2nd Amendment he helped draft: "That every man be armed..." A laudable goal, really. And also for evoking Tench Coxe with his "...every terrible implement of a soldier..." being "...the birthright of every American..."

My actual first AR15 was a Bushmaster XM15 E2S bought in 1998 during the Clinton era AWB actually. I don't remember how much I paid for it exactly. Seems like it was around $800. It had no flash hider, bayonet or collapsible stock of course. I sold it on Armslist for ~$600 back around 2017 to make room in the safe for upgraded models.

I have always enjoyed the AR15 and I became proficient with it in the military as did you I assume so I remain quite fond of it and have recently determined that for me, the "next level" of proficiency should be armorer level understanding so I'm making investments in that as opposed to just going out and buying another rifle even if the price is ridiculously low. I don't actually need another AR15 and, in fact, I'll need a bigger safe if I add moire than one or two new rifles to the collection and I feel like I just bolted this one to the floor a few years ago. So, the armorer's skill set is much more valuable to me than another cheap AR15 and for $350, I just think of all the tools and components I could purchase. I'm gonna pass on this deal.

 

[General Geoff]

So, the armorer's skill set is much more valuable to me than another cheap AR15 and for $350, I just think of all the tools and components I could purchase. I'm gonna pass on this deal.

Buy one and part it out. Probably can't buy all the components for that cheap, particularly with that MLOK free float handguard.

 

[swg1]

Nitride barrel and side charger upper? Sure! I’ll probably break it for parts for other builds I have in mind. One on the way.

 

[LiveLife]

I would like a $350 AR in anything but 223/5.56.

Sadly, I don’t think those exist outside of getting a great deal on the components and rolling your own.

Buy the $350 AR15 chamered in 5.56 and sell the parts you don't want to finance the caliber/parts you want.

 

[JCooperfan1911]

Our Ukrainian brothers in Christ have now been issued full auto AKs by their own government.

It's a shame we cannot easily be armed with select fire, but semis will do and we are certainly well armed as a nation!

 

[redcon1]

Buy one and part it out. Probably can't buy all the components for that cheap, particularly with that MLOK free float handguard.

Ya had me thinking about it but they're sold out now unsurprisingly. I paid $93.49 for my aero precision free float M LOK handguards which I like because they're round and lightweight. I like round handguards without a lot of sharp rail edges all over them that scratch up any gun that happens to be beside them in the safe. The barrel nut is 7075-T6 aluminum though so there's no torquing it to 40-80 ft/lbs and I didn't care for the fact that they gave a very narrow and very dry torque range of 30-45 ft/lbs and made no mention of aeroshell.

 

[LiveLife]

AR15 and for $350 ... but they're sold out now

Nope. Not one $350 model is sold out and they are all "in stock" - https://www.bearcreekarsenal.com/ar-15/ar-15-rifles.html

 

[General Geoff]

Ya had me thinking about it but they're sold out now unsurprisingly.

this one shows as in stock still

https://www.bearcreekarsenal.com/ca...ength-15-sch-billet-ae-lower-nrail-rifle.html

 

[redcon1]

Nope. Not one $350 model is sold out and they are all "in stock" - https://www.bearcreekarsenal.com/ar-15/ar-15-rifles.html

You're right. I must have clicked on a different link. I'm still passing.

 

[DustyGmt]

Excellent thread. I for one started off with a lower cost AR and companies like PSA, BCA, BCM, etc, etc I feel do a great service to the country by offering rifles at a sub $500 price point, so as to be pretty much affordable to everyone, everyone interested in owning such a firearm that is.

It really takes away the whole "I'm just going to buy "X" firearm until I have enough saved for an AR15". Basically if you can afford a firearm to begin with, you can afford an AR, and that's the way it should be, or at least I'm glad that's the way it is.....for now anyway.

 

[CraigC]

Economy of scale. Any random manufacturer could contract 100,000 receiver sets with Porky Pig engraved on them and know they'd be able to sell them.

 

[LiveLife]

Economy of scale. Any random manufacturer could contract 100,000 receiver sets with Porky Pig engraved on them and know they'd be able to sell them.

Consider this.

I have a feeling BCA manufactures A LOT of OEM barrels for other brands and also sell direct to customers. How they managed to price complete MLock AR15s for $350 and still make profit is demonstration of "Direct to market" cutting out the middlemen and shear economy of scale.

Good thing is now more than ever, many people who only "dreamed" about owning $500-$1000 AR15 can now do it affordably, which is good for us and 2A.

 

[DoubleMag]

While these are just about the lowest prices I have seen for free-float MLok AR15s in recent decades, what do they indicate?

Something possibly overlooked. There are MANY AR15 parts such as BCGs going out cheap, cheaper, cheaper-er deals.

WHEN the neu regs come into play, there will be more serialization of parts. Upper receiver housing, possibly even the BGC, or more parts, etc. It will be a nightmare enough just in guidance for new production going forward, why hassle with previous production re-vamping?

A currently unsold completed upper will need a serial# AND refinishing. Think massive blem sale. Or does the seller add labor costs, later? Best cut losses now, sell out of old stock.

Again, something possibly overlooked.

 

[danez71]

I'm not much into pisto gripped rifles but at that price, if it holds for a while and spreads, I'll be on board.

 

[treedoc1]

Thanks. 1 on the way.

 

[rdnktrkr]

Primary Arms "had" a complete Anderson lower for $99, you could've matched one with a BCA upper and saved a couple of dollars.
I have a couple of their uppers and have been pleased with the quality and have not had a problem with them, a friend has a few also and is pleased with them, currently I am thinking about a 6.5cm AR10 and was thinking about one of their uppers and a PSA lower for a budget build. I have nothing but good things to say about Bear Creek.

 

[armoredman]

My son with his PSA Freedom rifle that I think I spent $500 putting upper to lower. Most expensive thing on t the SIG Romeo5 - he loves this thing and is wicked accurate.

 

[DukeConnor]

We went to the range on Sunday. 10 people shooting I was the only person not shooting a AR. I would say they are in common use.

 

[Mk-211]

I built this out of a BSA side charging upper, Aero lower and a 7mm Valkyrie barrel/bolt combo and drop in 2lb trigger.

It would shoot 1 ragged hole at 100 yards. So, part it out and build what you want. $350 is a smoking deal, wish we could get AK'S at that price point!



Don't hate on the CA approved mud flap! It's featureless and doesn't have to be registered!

 

[danez71]

Don't hate on the CA approved mud flap! It's featureless and doesn't have to be registered!

You do what you gotta do. Not your 1st choice I'm sure. No hate from me to you because of the rules you're made to play by.

As a former Californian, I feel your pain and empathize.

 

[jmorris]

While these are just about the lowest prices I have seen for free-float MLok AR15s in recent decades, what do they indicate?

They indicate there is not the supply chain issues with them, other products are currently experiencing.

 

[LiveLife]

Don't hate on the CA approved mud flap! It's featureless and doesn't have to be registered!

You and me both ... regardless, we are still able to buy and shoot firearms and that is good for 2A, even in CA.