Budget AR Suggestions

[Maplewood]

I'm looking to build a very budget AR ($700). I know this is a beat to death subject and I have been reading the posts for info and will continue to do so.

What I need is info from folks that know what is decent to buy in my price range. Not looking for info on what NOT to buy, or suggestions to just bite the bullet and get expensive stuff.

I have saved info from one calgunner that recommended a Del-ton rifle kit with a JD Machine lower, and that looks pretty good, I read a Gunblast article on the Del-ton rifles and Jeff gave them a good review.

And I'm looking to build a very simple AR for plinking thats looks just like my old M-16 A3 from my Marine Corps days, fixed stock and carry handle with 20" barrel, and I will collect and build it over the next 6-12 months depending on how much money I can hide from the wife

[Darklyte27]

I looked for the lowest price good-high quality items.
In the end, my Stag carbine came out to about 900$ thats WITHOUT the new stuff. so it would have been a plastic handguard stock 6 pos stock, no EOtech, vertical grip, no ergo pistol grip.

Specs of parts and cost in my sig.

[anhero]

buds gun shop has them under 700 delivered:

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=411537958

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=411537957

[Cal-Irish]

Buds gives grief over shipping anything black rifle to CA in my past experiences. Worth a try but the whole BB situation can be tricky.

Back during the great gun buy I but together a budget build for around that price. M&A parts middy on cmmg lower.Very happy with M&A customer service and back in the buying frenzy they were only selling what they had on hand so no 6month waits.



10 shot group with wolf ammo and irons of bags at 50yd.

[aplinker]

Add $100 and do this:
Daniel Defense XV upper - $499 (you'll have to be patient, lucky and paying attention)
MOE Kit from DSG Arms - $99 (Includes all furniture and stock kit)
Daniel Defense LPK - $65 from DSG Arms (saves another shipping charge, good quality + comes with MOE triggerguard)
Local lower - $150 OTD
= $850 all inclusive for a top-tier rifle, including sights, with some VERY nice upgraded parts

Your "$700" isn't really considering the "extra" - like shipping, DROS, TAX, etc... It's very difficult to do an AR for $600 and still have the $100 to cover those.

[Maplewood]

Here is the Del-Ton kit I was looking at, says it has everything but stripped lower. Anyone suggest a good inexpensive lower, I'm in Torrance (LA Area)

http://www.del-ton.com/AR_15_Rifle_Kits_20_s/58.htm

[Cokebottle]

Here is the Del-Ton kit I was looking at, says it has everything but stripped lower. Anyone suggest a good inexpensive lower, I'm in Torrance (LA Area)

http://www.del-ton.com/AR_15_Rifle_Kits_20_s/58.htm

That $500 kit is not complete.
It is a flat-top upper, but the detachable carry handle (which is your rear sight) is another $75, or you can add $45 to get an A1 upper with a fixed carry handle . Then when you decide to add a scope later on, you're going to have a carry handle that you can't get your hand around and the scope will be so high that it will not be comfortable to look through.

A flip-up rear sight for the flat-top upper will run you around $75-$150 for a quality piece.

BTW: That is a 20" steel barrel... add $45 if you want chrome lined.

Seriously... don't cheap out just because you want a 5.56. A rifle that you don't like shooting will be a rifle that you won't shoot, and you may as well not have bought it.

Take a little more time and spend $200-$300 here and there to collect the parts you'll need and build up a nice rifle. Isn't it worth waiting another 6 months if that allows you to add $500 to that $700 and you end up with a very nice rifle that you've "made yours", rather than just a basic POS that happens to look like a standard-issue 1968 rifle?

[shark92651]

Anyone suggest a good inexpensive lower, I'm in Torrance (LA Area)

We have JD Machine lowers at RifleGear in Costa Mesa for $119.00

http://riflegear.com/p-681-jd-machine-tech-ar15-stripped-lower-receiver.aspx

[Maplewood]

I was going to go for the A-2 upper for $10 more and the chrome lined barrel. Thinking about old school A-1 forearms on it as well.

And as a former Marine, we never carry our rifle by the carrying handle unless we wanted to do a lot of pushups in the dirt

[Maplewood]

How much are the JD's out the door?

[Cokebottle]

How much are the JD's out the door?

Your location is going to determine that.

If you are in Socal local enough to make two trips to Costa Mesa, $119 will be about $155 OTD.
If Riflegear has to ship to your local FFL, then it'll be $130 plus shipping, and your FFL is going to charge you anywhere from $50 to $150 for the transfer.

I was going to go for the A-2 upper for $10 more and the chrome lined barrel. Thinking about old school A-1 forearms on it as well.

And as a former Marine, we never carry our rifle by the carrying handle unless we wanted to do a lot of pushups in the dirt

Gotcha'
Looking for a bit of nostalgia then. Makes sense. You were issued an M4 with a 20" barrel, right?

[shark92651]

How much are the JD's out the door?

With tax and DROS is $154.41. You can pick up a bullet button and mags while here to complete your build. But I have to warn you, once you fondle all the LMT, Daniel Defense, LWRC, Sabre, and other rifles/uppers we have in stock your plans on a "budget build" may start to come into question

[DNA]

Anyone check out the Colt complete parts kits from Century? Says everything needed minus the lower for around $500-550.

Dan

[Cokebottle]

But I have to warn you, once you fondle all the LMT, Daniel Defense, LWRC, Sabre, and other rifles/uppers we have in stock your plans on a "budget build" may start to come into question

No freaking kidding.

In a couple of months we're going to need to talk about maybe assembling a custom upper... only thing I see you have in a 1:9 is Stag.
Can you get LaRue Stealth? I'm even considering one of their 18's.

[aplinker]

With tax and DROS is $154.41. You can pick up a bullet button and mags while here to complete your build. But I have to warn you, once you fondle all the LMT, Daniel Defense, LWRC, Sabre, and other rifles/uppers we have in stock your plans on a "budget build" may start to come into question