Best Quality AR for under $500?

[W.R.Buchanan]

This always seems to be a popular topic here and the answers always range from nowhere to $3000+.

I have maintained from the start that you don't have to spend a lot of money to get a perfectly serviceable AR that will do everything you can do with one, except drain your bank account. Spend your money on training and ammo and not on a gun that unless you are going to war will never return your investment, and especially so if you can't tell the difference in the first place.

The object is to catch Fish,,, not Fishermen !

Here's an article from American Shooting Journal showing several quality guns for <$500.

https://mailchi.mp/eb293f8b9116/try-two-hands-for-this-one-8655616?e=5e59937e52

See if any of these will fill your bill?

Randy

[Maulerrr]

I went into that expecting another write up about the S&W Sport 2, Ruger AR556, Springfield Saint, and PSA rifle kit. Cool to see some other options there proposed though!

[m16]

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, the only two components that matter are the bolt carrier group and the barrel - the bolt carrier group is where I’ve seen the most failures in high round count guns.

I’ve seen broken cam pins, broken extractors, bolts that break at the cam pin hole, and lugs sheared right off of the bolt face.

Usually this happens with unknown carriers or carriers that were made from materials other than what the TDP calls for.

All you need for a reliable rifle is a quality bolt carrier and barrel, the rest is just filler.

[1911RONIN]

This always seems to be a popular topic here and the answers always range from nowhere to $3000+.

I have maintained from the start that you don't have to spend a lot of money to get a perfectly serviceable AR that will do everything you can do with one, except drain your bank account. Spend your money on training and ammo and not on a gun that unless you are going to war will never return your investment, and especially so if you can't tell the difference in the first place.

The object is to catch Fish,,, not Fishermen !

Here's an article from American Shooting Journal showing several quality guns for <$500.

https://mailchi.mp/eb293f8b9116/try-two-hands-for-this-one-8655616?e=5e59937e52

See if any of these will fill your bill?

Randy

"Serviceable" is a vague criterion. If that means "working", then your argument stands. Frankly, I want more than that.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Dave Hoback]

This is an easy task. Not only will you have a perfectly operating & quite accurate rifle, but all parts can be “Made in USA” for $500. (Not including sights or scope).

All it takes is lots & lots of research.......and then some more research. Followed by a tremendous amount of research still! Oh, and do NOT listen to or heed the voice of “Flip/Floppers” who say things like, “the only two components that matter are the bolt carrier group and the barrel”. People like this Love certain things today, and then change their minds tomorrow! (Kinda like their opinion of Larue tactical) But I digress.

While I do spend more than $500 on my “Very Best” of AR builds(for instance the one I’m currently building), I have gone to great effort in putting together a list of trusted parts suppliers & a parts list of US made, quality items while maintaining a certain budget. I started this many years ago for people who asks me to recommend parts for their build. My first question is always “how much is your budget?” And I give the my recommended parts list from that. Of course many selections on my lists have changed through the years. And I maintain a very active search criteria. You won’t find me “Flip Flopping” on my recommendation. I do my research ahead of time and rely on MY knowledge base & background. Not what the interwebs say.

[LateBraking]

This always seems to be a popular topic here and the answers always range from nowhere to $3000+.

I thought so too, but that thread got derailed fast as ****.

I admire the effort on your part, but I'm also gonna just sit over here and...

[Master_Prestige]

Same dudes that go to Payless for their boots and gym shoes.

[Endless]

Smith and Wesson, Ruger and Windham firearms. I would start there.

I have seen them BNIB as low as $399 for S&W and Ruger. I even have a Labor Day Sale email with them at that price. Windham starts around $500 but on the same level as Colt IMO.

[Dave Hoback]

Same dudes that go to Payless for their boots and gym shoes.

[m16]

Smith and Wesson, Ruger and Windham firearms. I would start there.

I have seen them BNIB as low as $399 for S&W and Ruger. I even have a Labor Day Sale email with them at that price. Windham starts around $500 but on the same level as Colt IMO.

Crazy how cheap complete rifles have gotten in the AR world, yet now an entry level AK is around $800

[Master_Prestige]

Hahahaha coming from the guy talking about a $500 AR

I think my scope rings cost more than your whole rig

[Endless]

Crazy how cheap complete rifles have gotten in the AR world, yet now an entry level AK is around $800

Absolutely agree. Those are Texas prices I quoted btw not California. They are probably 3Xs that much in California.

[ZombieLivesMatter]

Same dudes that go to Payless for their boots and gym shoes.

[Dave Hoback]

Hahahaha coming from the guy talking about a $500 AR

I think my scope rings cost more than your whole rig

[Mr.Caketown]

Quality and "under $500" are a bit of an oxymoron here