Possible to build an AR for $500?

[goon]

Hi guys,
I've been looking at trying to pull together some $$ and assemble an AR by buying a complete lower and a complete upper separately.
My budget is going to be about $500 for the rifle (won't be able to afford much ammo or many mags for awhile but I'd like to at least get the rifle).
How likely is it that I could piece together an AR with a 6 position stock and a 16" A2 or A3 upper for that amount? What about a full length upper?
I am planning to probably go with better names - probably Stag, Bushmaster, or RRA and I will be shopping strictly used.
Can this be done or am I living in fantasy land?

 

[dakotasin]

if you can be patient it can happen, but it will be tight.

 

[joab]

Blackthorne sells kits for less than $400 and you should be able to get a stripped lower for around $100

Blackthorne has as many detractors as supporters but most of the detractors seem to be people who feel the kits just don't cost enough

There is an outfit now selling gun show demonstrators for $550 plus shipping and transfer

 

[homeka45]

CMMG has budget m4orgeries w/ chrome moly barrels for $550 + $15.00 shipping on the AR15.com equipment exchange under complete rifles. Built on CMMG, DPMS and Double star lowers.

 

[swingset]

If you buy used, you can do it easily....just takes patience.

I put an M16A1 clone together for $385 buying used, and my SBR only cost $450 before the tax stamp.

 

[buck00]

How likely is it that I could piece together an AR with a 6 position stock and a 16" A2 or A3 upper for that amount? What about a full length upper?
I am planning to probably go with better names - probably Stag, Bushmaster, or RRA and I will be shopping strictly used.
Can this be done or am I living in fantasy land?

I won't break down the math, but I'd say this- there is no cheap short-cut to an AR-15. People that only have $500 for an AR, who aren't willing to simply save and wait, might as well get a cheap AK.

Don't skimp on it.

 

[Kimber1911_06238]

Is it just me or are there never any used AR's kicking around? I almost never see any, and when I do they are some rare colt target model for almost 2K

 

[taliv]

yes, you can do it.

Blackthorne sells kits for less than $400 and you should be able to get a stripped lower for around $100

Blackthorne has as many detractors as supporters but most of the detractors seem to be people who feel the kits just don't cost enough

isn't blackthorne the new name for vulcan/hesse?

 

[Nomad101bc]

Agreed I have been looking for a used Bushmaster for the last two years. I have settled and decided I will just save 1.5k and buy a camp Perry legal Bushmaster.

 

[7six2]

I'm currently working on a retro XM177E2. So far I have spent the following:

CAR Barrel / Handguards/ Gas Tube assembly $180 (AR15.Com)
M16A1 Upper $125. (Gunbroker)
Slip Over Flash Suppressor $20 (Midway)

So I have $325 invested so far. I still need the Charging Handle & Bolt Carrier Group and am hoping to get away with $150 for both. Then about $125 for a stripped lower. $40 for the lower internals and say $50 for a buttstock.

Rough estimate that when all is said and done I will have spent $690. But I will have exactly what I want and I enjoy building the little beast.

 

[taliv]

?? you guys aren't looking hard enough.

have you even tried the buy,sale,trade rifles forum here at THR?
http://thehighroad.org/search.php?searchid=3070741

there are several pages of listings for AR15s there, including used bushamsters and even a used colt offered at $675

there are thousands more at AR15.com and m4carbine.net, although the latter tends to sport mostly higher-end guns, like 6920s, but these aren't collectors items, just high quality

 

[joab]

isn't blackthorne the new name for vulcan/hesse?

Blackthorne says no, but there is evidence that they are the same
However Blackthorne is getting pretty fair revues from those that have actually bought them

 

[akolleth]

I agree that it is definitely possible, you gotta be patient and wait out for deals on used. Check out Ar-15.com's equipment exchange often, as well as here, and any other gun boards you frequent. You never know where you will find some of the parts you need--


I am in the midst of a retro A1 build and am going absolutely cheap ass on it--

I have in (All used parts)

$175 A1 barreled upper (w/ free set of A2 hand guards)
$10 triangle hand guard set
$35 Lower parts kit
$25 A1 stock w/ buffer,spring, A1 P grip

All I still need is a lower (Essential Arms $77) and a Bolt group (probably will get for around $100 used) So around $425 total, or around $410 after I recoup some cash for the A2 hand guards I don't need

 

[goon]

From what I've been seeing, I can get a new complete lower like I want for about $250. So the primary cost is going to be in the upper.
I'd really like to go with a complete upper because I just don't want to have to worry about parts not fitting, headspace issues, getting blown up, reliabilty problems, etc. I just don't have the technical ability right now to build one or deal with the problems that might arise with trying to build my own.
That's one other reason I want to go used on the upper. As I understand it, most of the reliability or lack of it comes from your upper, with the lower basically being mostly a way to make the upper get loud. So I figure if I can find a good used upper with a couple thousand trouble free rounds through it, that would give me one less thing to worry about.
I really do seem to have the worst luck with new guns.
Even the last two new AK's I had didn't work right...

And if buying someone's used upper helps them finance a different upper or some mags or something that they have been wanting, then everyone goes away happy.