What Configuration for No Nonsense HD AR for Under $1,200

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Monkeybear

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Imagine you are going to build from scratch an AR for HD. What would you use and why? $1,200 is your max budget for this rifle but feel free to spend as little as possible. Ammo, mags, training and tools are not included in the budget, just the components of the rifle, optics and lights.

The sole purpose of this rifle is for home defense.

If you do not feel the AR is the proper tool for the job then this thread is not for you.
 
Frankly, I would personally just get a carbine-length AR (Stag, Rock River, Bushmaster, etc) with A2 rear sight.

Yep, that's it. But, I like keeping things simple and no-nonsense. Sure, lots of guys here think all sorts of optics are needed, but I don't. They'll chime in and I won't say they are wrong.

But, being an iron-sight shooter, that is what I would do.

It is what I do with my Mini-14 and it is what I did with my Rock River I owned (but sold because I only needed one .223 and for home defense, the Mini is all I need).

Ash
 
I'd buy a 16" with a mid-length gas system, regular handguards, and a flat-top receiver with a clamp-on rear sight. This allow me to add a red dot or optic later.

mida2407.gif


A simple upgrade to that is to add a LaRue 9.0 rail (or similar) for light mounting.

A100_1705_img.jpg
............... Larger version of above photo.
 
Build it... you can get a stripped lower for $100-120, get an upper kit from M&A parts for about $500, and have a complete rifle for pretty cheap.

I like midlengths myself.
 
I haven't priced ARs lately, so I may be way off your budget; but I would go with a midlength 16" AR, flattop, telestock and a used Aimpoint M2.

At home defense distances, you can use a dead M2 like a big ghost ring and the M2 has sufficient battery life you can leave it on all the time anyway while still being cheap enough to fit your budget.

If you have $41 in your "other" budget, you can throw on an SOtech Universal Light Buckle ($13) and a Surefire G2 ($28) and have a 60 lumen light that mounts to any handguard. Use the savings to either meet the budget for the above rifle or buy more mags/ammo.
 
Complete Lower Receiver: $250
LMT Upper Receiver: $485 (Usually get free M4 handguards from vendors)
LMT Charging handle, and Full-Auto BCG: $145
LaRue BUIS: $89
Surefire G2 LED + Offset Mount + Rail Section for top Handguard: $100
M4 Side Sling Mount: $25
Vickers/Gear Sector 2P/Viking/Boonie Packer 2P-TQA Quick Adjust 2-point Sling: $18-$50

Total: $1112 - $1144

A light and sling are much more important than a optic IMO. The basic large hole on a A2 aperture is more than sufficient for HD use. Identifying a target, and weapon retention offers more advantages than a red dot sight.
 
I didn't build mine, but my Bushmaster has everything I wanted in an HD gun. It has the removable "carrying handle" (My DI's would have beaten us to death if we carried it so), is of carbine length, and most important to me, it has a solid buttstock and the round A2 style handguards. Essentially, what I wanted was a carbine version of the A2 with the ability to mount a red-dot on it if I wanted, and thats what I got. I think my rifle cost me $850.00 or so. Of course, I like and am very used to the iron sights. At 100 yards and in, I can plunk rounds into a target all day long to include firing while moving. I can't imagine why I would need to defend my home at a range greater than that, but if I did, I know I can successfully hit at up to 500 yards, given a good rest and good cover. Anyhoo, my rifle is about as simple as it gets, and thats how I like it.
 
I'd scratch the build idea and get a Next Generation Arms AR-15. Not only do they improve the reliability of the gun and reduce the felt recoil, they also designed it to run dry. Check them out, http://www.nextgenerationarms.com/
They also offer financing on their guns so you don't have to come up with it all at once. I was skeptical at first but after I had a closer look at their product I was very impressed! I'm not normally an AR fan but this gun takes the cake!
 
I think Midlength is the way to go. m-aparts.com kit for $500 shipped, lower for $120, Aimpoint M2L for around $400 if you want optics, $40 blackhawk 3 point sling, flashlight + mount (no idea on what they cost), JP trigger spring kit for $10 to reduce pull to 4.5lbs, and a samurai sword with a bayonet mount.

S&W AR -$850
Click to expand...
Yeah right, maybe for a used one. More like $1200 for a S&W.
 
taurus, did you miss the part where he said under $1200? or did i miss seeing any gun on NGA's site offered for less than a Colt 6920?

i'm extremely skeptical, given that they have "a test gun" that's gone 6,600 rnds. come on
 
no-nonsense, is that you mean a flatop or one with carry handle?
anyway, i would get a carbine or mid length AR with irons and thats it. if you want to get a little fancy i would get some type of free float forfend such as a quad rail or regular free float tube.
all that aside, for a no-nonsense gun it would have to be a short AR with regular hand grip and irons. it doesnt get more basic and no-nonsense than that.

oh, and it would probably cost about a grand, if you look around.
i know Rock River Arms will be around there.

No frills and basic, but it will get the job done
 
16" with collapsible stock, either home built or purchased used (or "previously enjoyed" as I like to say). You should be able to do this for under $700. If you simply must have a rail system, the UTG for $60 is hard to beat. No vert grips, no optics. A decent flashlight with a pressure switch can be had easily under $70.

I say no optics because in a home invasion scenario I don't want to have to take the time to turn the optics on. I have white walls and a bright flashlight will drown out most tritium sights while my eyes adjust to the light. No fancy irons are needed either. Heck, at distances inside my house I don't really need sights at all.

There's no need to spend anywhere near $1200 for a basic HD gun. It doesn't need free floated stuff or a heavy barrel because it won't be used for precision work. No match trigger for the same reason. You don't need an expensive rail just to hold a flashlight.

My personal choice (once my SBR paperwork comes back) is a suppressed SBR. I really do not relish the thought of firing a .223 indoors without a can. Unfortunately, this is out of your price range by a good bit because of the tax stamps. You might want to save up for a rig like that though - super fun at the range and quite handy to navigate inside of a house.
 
I figure that a $500-600 A2 or A3 16" carbine kit from a good manufacturer built on a decent lower set up with light and laser could be had for around $850 which leaves $350 for a small pile of mags and a case of practice ammo.

I think the laser would make sighting much easier in a HD situation as well as reduce the skill level required to use the rifle effectively as well. That cuts down on the training budget as well since keeping the laser dot steady on a target is easier to practice. I figure that if you stored the rifle with the bolt closed and hammer down but with a full magazine inserted the user only has to know (at bare minimum) how to charge the rifle, use the light and laser, and proper target identification.
 
I wouldn't bother building it.
I bought exactly what I need.:)

$749 for the Bushmaster.
$200 for the Streamlight TLR-2 laser/light
$30 for the BSA Red Dot.

M4withStreamlight.jpg
[/IMG]
 
no-nonsense, is that you mean a flatop or one with carry handle?
Click to expand...

This thread is for discussion only, I have no plans to buy another AR.

Personally I would go with a Stag LPK, a LMT lower, this upper , a LMT bolt/carrier, and I am not sure about the stock. I know that there are different sizes; one for milspec receivers and one for commercial. I would have to look into that and also the buffer type I would use for a midlength gas system. I would get a fixed stock though, I know that.

I would also have to look more into for good iron sights.
 
one for milspec receivers and one for commercial
Click to expand...

The difference is in the receiver extension, not the receiver. Others call it the buffer tube. This only applies to collapsible stocks, not the fixed stock. Fixed stock, A1 and A2 both use the same diameter and length tube.
 
Stripped Double Star lower - $100 + transfer fees.
DS/CMMG/DPMS lower parts kit -$60
Collapsible stock on a milspec extension $85

So complete lower for $245

I agree with many here, midlength gas system 16" barrel will be a good choice on the upper.
CMMG w/BCG and charging handle is $490

So $735 for the complete carbine.

Rear sight 50-120 depending on what you like.

light is very good idea. You can get something like the TLR-1 for 105 and then a 15$ piece of rail that attached to the stock handguards.

2-4 magazines, Brownells or PMags, 14ea.

Not sure you really need a sling for HD. But if it is 5$ gets you a USGI type black sling.

So with the 4 mags that brings us to 900 even plus your FFL transfer fee.
Spend the rest on ammo and range fees.
 
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