Wow! AR-15s got cheap! Never considered buying one until now (S&W Sport 15)

[jad0110]

The Sport really is a great buy at that price. They are nice rifles that should serve you well.

On your first build, you typically don't save much if anything. You can if you are careful, but there is a small investment in tools up front. The only real issue with assembling an AR is installing the barrel. It takes a torque wrench able to measure around 30 ft lbs, an upper receiver block and a solid bench vice and sturdy bench. I had a gunsmith install the barrel in my upper for a nominal amount because my work bench was a little too flexy, which threw off the reading of the torque wrench. He even verified the headspace with my bolt carrier group, not usually an issue with ARs, but it isn't bad to check it if you assemble the upper yourself.

 

[aka108]

A year or so ago you couldn't find one to buy and if you did it would be 1600 to 2K. Now the stores are bulging with these things and the prices are falling fast. I don't have any interest in the AR's. Don't know why. I do enjoy the AK's and marvel at the simplicity of the machine and it's absolute reliability.

 

[chris in va]

Absolutely no problems with my Sport after four years and over 3000 rounds in the dirt.

If you can get one under $600, by all means jump on it. Mine was $630 when I bought it.

 

[mboylan]

If you can drive a train you can put together an AR. I built more difficult models before I was a teenager.

Lowers are easy to build. Uppers are not.

 

[Arizona_Mike]

Lowers are easy to build. Uppers are not.

I guess I have had a lot of luck (or dexterity) with that little spring clip on the dust cover pin (the hardest part of an upper build), but in my opinion the opposite is true. Uppers are easy (and addictive).

Mike

 

[Strahley]

Uppers and lowers are both easy and don't require $100's in fancy tools to build them

 

[ngnrd]

The Sport for $600 is a pretty good deal. If you want something semi-custom, you can buy a complete upper and then build a lower pretty easily. If you want something set up 'just so', you can build the whole thing from a stack of component parts. It's really not that difficult, if you have a modicum of mechanical aptitude.

As far as price goes, usually the full build will be the most expensive, because you end up buying a bunch of individual (non-discounted) parts. Heck, just adding a good trigger can set you back $150 - $250, depending on what you get. But, when you're done, you (usually) have a much better rifle than any of the budget lines out there.

I tend to go the 'complete upper and built lower' route. It seems to get me the best bang for my bucks. If you're willing to wait and shop around a bit, you can find pretty good deals on 'assemblies' that can save you quite a bit of cash over buying each part individually. (i.e., buying a lower parts kit is usually cheaper than buying each doo-dad and thingamajig that goes into assembling a complete lower.)

But, do bear in mind that complete 'branded' rifles usually hold their resale value better than custom units. People know what an S&W M&P Sport is, how it was made, and what it should be worth at any given time. They don't know what 'some dude' did to make his Super-Special-Custom-Plinker worth more than an off-the-shelf rifle, and that's reflected in the perceived value to prospective buyers.

Whatever way you end up going, now looks like a great time to get yourself an AR. I can't imagine that prices will get much lower than they are right now.

 

[Analogkid]

I am glad I held off getting mine until recently.

I jumped on Classic Arms and say they had a Bear Creek Arsenal AR-15 with Carry Handle, A2 Sights, Hard Case and Extra Magazine for $550. It was still under $600 shipped and transferred.

This was my first 223/556 rifle so I had no ammo but gathered up about 300 rounds of steel cased ammo Ran through 150 rounds or so without a hiccup.


Sure am glad I waited and didn't spend 2k like I was about to a few months ago.

 

[BSA1]

One subject I have never seen discussed on the "Look Mom, I built it myself" is resale value.

As someone who often buys used guns it makes a lot of difference to me on who made the gun and who monkeyed with it.

For some reason 1911's, AR's and AK's are the most common firearms that "home gunsmiths" like to "work" on to "improve" it or "customize". These guns are easy to find at Gunshows.

When you buy a "Look Mom, I built it myself" you are assuming a lot of risk and putting a lot of faith in the competency of the assembler. Who knows what will happen when you pull that trigger for the first time?

With a gun made by the factory such as S&W, Colt, etc., you have a support network of properly trained personnel. With bubba's "Look Mom, I built it myself" it's grab your wallet.

 

[Blade First]

"And having done so, I can say you won't save any money doing it." -- Tirod

Well...no...that's not accurate.

Let let me clarify something in this thread, please:

Building an AR-15 is not accomplished by stuffing parts in a stripped lower and slapping a complete upper on it. Building a complete AR-15 does require a decent mechanical aptitude...but also patience and a fair supply of specialized tools. To wit, just to cite one example:

"The assembly stickies detail it - you can break off the trigger guard ears..."

Yes, you can...but spending $30 for a Magpul trigger guard and an aftermarket screw kit will eliminate that problem forever. Open up the main hole with a 5/32" drill, tap in the threaded brass inserts and install the guard to the ears with the supplied screws. Or, if you're really on a budget, drill the standard flat guard and insert it with a screw kit.

"The fact that you can nearly assemble an AR 15 on the kitchen table should tell you something, tho - a team of engineers figured it out pretty well."

If your kitchen table is equipped with enough vices, blocks, etc. to assemble a complete AR-15 then Thanksgiving dinner must be interesting at your place.

 

[rtz]

One more $500 AR: http://www.classicfirearms.com/long-guns?manufacturer=289