Entry-level AR, buy or build?

[balmo]

[MilSpecMonkey]

It's usually almost about the same for building/buying for most entry-level/budget ARs. I chose to build my own AR for my first build since I knew I wanted higher end components and performance.

The best time I would suggest you look for a complete AR would be around holidays (Black Friday has the best deals all year round) or you can check out slickguns.com or ar15news.com

Buying an completed AR would be good for a n3wb or first timer since they're pretty much good to go out of the box. You wouldn't need to buy some of the tools for assembly. You can also upgrade as you go along as well too. Most budget ARs are carbine length and have USGI type features (folding stock, grip, plastic carbine length handguard, A2 front sight post, plane jane USGI trigger control group). You can always upgrade along the way when you save up more money or feel the need to. (Magpul furniture, QMS trigger or ALG ACT trigger, stock upgrade, etc.)

I would also look into cosmetically blemished models from diff companies. I will prob do something like this for my ballin' on a budget aka build I can throw own with for training.

Suggestions on companies/brands:
Del-Ton
Palmetto State Armory (usually they have good budget uppers)
core15rifles.com
DPMS
Stag Arms

I hope I sorta answered your question, but this article kinda might help do that as well. Pricing might have changed since it was written a little more than a year ago, pre-Sandy Hook.

http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2012/06/foghorn/ask-foghorn-best-budget-ar-15-for-cheap-bastards/

[shinzen]

All depends on what you're looking for. If you want to go cheap but reliable, not competition quality, one of these uppers could do you fine:

http://www.dsarms.com/Lowers%20&%20Uppers/products/59/

I have a Sota upper that I'm happy with, it was around $450, as well as a higher grade Centurion which was more, but there is definitely a big quality difference. Lowers you can do anything from poly (Not personally recommended. I owned one for about 6 months) to a complete mil-spec lower for anywhere from $260 on up.

Personally, I say build. It's not tough, teaches you about your rifle, and you can get better quality for less cash. That being said, you will need a few tools (Readily available off of Amazon) to build it right. Armorers wrench, roll pins, and vice clamp are all must haves. Also highly recommended is a torque wrench.

That all said, you can get a fine performing rifle for what you're looking to spend off the shelf. All the brands mentioned in the post above perform well

[balmo]

Wow! with those prices, I'll definitly build! Since I'm new to AR's I do not really know AR specific sites other that Brownells, Midway, etc. Thanks for the link!

I like working on cars so tools are not a problem. Well except of AR specific tools, those I have to get.

All depends on what you're looking for. If you want to go cheap but reliable, not competition quality, one of these uppers could do you fine:

http://www.dsarms.com/Lowers%20&%20Uppers/products/59/

I have a Sota upper that I'm happy with, it was around $450, as well as a higher grade Centurion which was more, but there is definitely a big quality difference. Lowers you can do anything from poly (Not personally recommended. I owned one for about 6 months) to a complete mil-spec lower for anywhere from $260 on up.

Personally, I say build. It's not tough, teaches you about your rifle, and you can get better quality for less cash. That being said, you will need a few tools (Readily available off of Amazon) to build it right. Armorers wrench, roll pins, and vice clamp are all must haves. Also highly recommended is a torque wrench.

That all said, you can get a fine performing rifle for what you're looking to spend off the shelf. All the brands mentioned in the post above perform well

[shinzen]

Yeah, once you start finding out what you can do a budget build for, it's hard to justify spending the cash on a prebuilt! Then you can put extra cash into optics or a trigger. Just a warning, it is definitely black rifle disease!

[shinzen]

Oh- almost forgot. Obviously make sure you meet all the respective legal hoops! Not sure if that site will ship to Cali, and the lower will need a bullet button installed. Probably ok, but just be aware! You'll also need a charging handle and Bolt Carrier Group- also available from that site, not super spendy.

[nitroxdiver]

I'm a big proponent of purchasing a complete rifle as a first. There are rifles in your price range now that supply is catching up to the panic demand.

Look at the Smith and Wesson MP line of rifles. The sport model sells in the uoper 600 range. If you can bump your budget to the 12-1300$ range you can get a colt 6920 (now rollmarked m4).

Also the basic LMT is out there in the 1200 range. Lots of good ready to go rifles available now. I would act as soon as possible though.

Good luck.


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[G21Shooter]

Currently, I don't think you will save much building. I have built all the ARs I have and trust me, your going to end up spending more building after its all said and done. There is a flood of entry level ARs on the market now, I'd say get one.

I would look for S&W M&P 15 sport or the Del Ton entry offerings. CMMG is also good to go.

Avoid DPMS and Bushmaster.

[sirgrumps]

IF you plan to make no upgrades ever, other than change the grip, get a basic one like the M&P 15 Sport.

If you plan to upgrade, then build it yourself, since you can get a nicer trigger, the stock you want, the rail, etc

[OakTreeGunClub]

Building is fun, and it's usually cheaper. We got Spike's Tactical and Stag lowers for $149 and we have some Addax and Franklin Armory billets as well. We have bolt carrier groups, lower parts kits, buffer/stock assemblies, and uppers -the only thing we don't have are charging handles. We also have a slew of entry AR15s, they're all trickling back. We've got some Smith and Wesson M&Ps, Deltons, Windhams, and some Stags to name a few entry guns. We can always order something for you as well!

[shinzen]

I definitely fall into the building is fun category as well. Never hurts to know your rifle inside and out.

[Yugo]

Its not building, it is called assembling (I used to call it that too).

If you want cool aftermarket parts then assemble. If you want to just have a functioning rifle with no headaches then ..... yes assemble it.

[balmo]

I fall in the same category too. I am very proud when I completed my race/drift car. I'm pretty sure I will feel the same way when I build my 1st AR.

[kkp]

Building is fun, educational in a very good way, and let's you customize your rifle to your exact wants and needs.

But you won't likely save any money. Usually, in fact, you'll end up spending more. BUT you'll have a better rifle for it.

Do it for the learning, and for the better rifle. Don't do it because you want to save money, because it's pretty unlikely that you will save over a new one, in the end.

[Yugo]

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=808887

all you would need is a lower, you can buy it or mill it or print it.