Value AR Questions???

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Mike J

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So I have some gun money right now & looking around I have noticed that AR's seem more reasonable than they were a while back. I have been watching PSA's website & looking around. Of course I want to get the most bang possible for my buck. I want to use this to learn the platform & how to use it so basically it will be a plinker that could possibly be pressed into use for home defense if the need arose.

The choices I have found are found are

http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/catalog/product/view/id/2279/category/313/ it is out of stock right now but was selling for $459. I am sure it will be up again if I watch & wait. I realize I would still need sights, a stripped lower & magazines at a minimum.

http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/psa-16-m4-polymerquadrail-5-56nato-carbine.html In case they run out they are $499 at present. I believe all I would need to add would be sights & magazines.

The other option would be a M&P sport like this for $600 http://www.sportsmansoutdoorsuperst...11036/smith-and-wesson-mp-15-sport-5.56-rifle

I am leaning towards one of the PSA options but am not sure what is best as I am new to the whole AR thing. So I am asking which would give me the most bang for my buck & be the most durable & versatile in the long term?
 
I have some PSA parts. Their customer service is kind of meh and their shipping times can require patience; but the parts have been good so far.

I don't think a polymer quad rail is going to be very practical. It seems to me like you'd be better off going with the Magpul MOE furniture with the M-LOK instead of relying on a plastic rail system. Even the aluminium lightweight rails are going to to a negative lock system now rather than 1913 rails.

The M&P Sport is also a great deal. I'd probably be more inclined to go that way if I wanted a complete rifle with no assembly on my part and wanted S&W's warranty and customer service behind it. The melonited Sport barrels are a great combination of accuracy and durability. However, the PSA has a few more nice features (milspec receiver extension, chrome-line hammer forged barrel, lighter barrel profile, etc.)

Just to confuse you more, Delton has a complete kit (minus lower) for a 16" midlength 1:9 lightweight AR15 for $430 right now. There are lots of great deals right now.

The good news is none of those are going to be bad choices either. Even the cheapest one of those options is substantially better than the stock Bushmaster I bought in 1994 prior to the AWB. The barrels are nicer. The parts are higher quality. Reliability and durability are better usually too.

I've literally never seen the AR market this good in terms of quality of parts for the price.
 
Well, if I remember correctly, Georgia residents can buy long guns in SC. If this is the case, I would recommend you drive to a PSA retail store. Prices are not the same as online - sometimes they are better, sometimes they are worse.

Call ahead, they can give you an idea what they have on hand, and will probably know about sales to a contiguous state. If it is legal, they can transfer in-store, no FFL or shipping fees, and same-day ownership. Taxes are still an issue. They have several stores in the State - Fernandina road usually has many ARs in stock of various grades, I am not as familiar with other stores.

Not to mention they have many other parts and goodies. You might also be able to pick up a $50 blemished lower or two for future projects. (Is a lower a "long gun" yet?)
 
Thanks Bartholomew & Maxx. I am going to keep looking around a bit until I make up my mind.
 
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