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Budget friendly AR-15? #6240276
05/14/18 09:28 PM
05/14/18 09:28 PM
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 3,162
Green Bay, Wisconsin
tlguy Offline OP
trapper
tlguy  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: May 2013
Posts: 3,162
Green Bay, Wisconsin
I'm looking to get into the AR scene and looking for any and all advice and suggestions from those of you that have them. I have next to nothing for gunsmithing experience, but might consider assembling a gun from parts if it saves money and I wouldn't blow myself up at the range. I'd like something I can hunt coyotes with and possibly take on a big hunt someday, and shoot at the range with my wife, so an adjustable stock would be a nice feature, but not a deal breaker.

Would you suggest starting with something that's ready to shoot out of the box, or keeping an eye out for parts that might be had cheaper and assembling as I get them?

My ideal price range would be under $600 for the gun itself, then I can add peripherals or upgrade parts as time goes on.

I'm open to any advice y'all are willing to share!

Last edited by tlguy; 05/14/18 09:29 PM.
Re: Budget friendly AR-15? [Re: tlguy] #6240286
05/14/18 09:35 PM
05/14/18 09:35 PM
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 256
MN
SwampRat83 Offline
trapper
SwampRat83  Offline
trapper

Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 256
MN
DPMS Oracle is a great choice for a budget AR coming in at only $499.00 at most sporting good stores.

Re: Budget friendly AR-15? [Re: tlguy] #6240293
05/14/18 09:38 PM
05/14/18 09:38 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,751
Central, SD
Law Dog Online content
trapper
Law Dog  Online Content
trapper

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,751
Central, SD
Palmetto State Armory sit back and buy parts when they go on sale look for blem items they can be cheap if you shop and wait.


Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!

Jerry Herbst
Re: Budget friendly AR-15? [Re: tlguy] #6240348
05/14/18 10:43 PM
05/14/18 10:43 PM
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 18,369
Green County Wisconsin
G
GREENCOUNTYPETE Offline
trapper
GREENCOUNTYPETE  Offline
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G

Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 18,369
Green County Wisconsin
the orical is a functional budget gun

but if you build 499 will get you more gun

things that make more accuracy are barrel , free floating barrel with a free float handguard and trigger.

you can have all that in a build for right about 500

here is a video to help you better understand the build process

good build video

Last edited by GREENCOUNTYPETE; 05/14/18 10:44 PM.

America only has one issue, we have a Responsibility crisis and everything else stems from it.
Re: Budget friendly AR-15? [Re: tlguy] #6240385
05/14/18 11:21 PM
05/14/18 11:21 PM
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 16,150
Tennessee
Scuba1 Offline
"color blind Kraut"
Scuba1  Offline
"color blind Kraut"

Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 16,150
Tennessee
Get a lower build kit from PSA then get an upper from a sale at bear creek arsenal. Down the road upgrade the trigger. Should get you a shooter for under 500


Let's go Brandon

"Shall not comply" with morons who don't understand "shall not infringe."
Re: Budget friendly AR-15? [Re: tlguy] #6240395
05/14/18 11:50 PM
05/14/18 11:50 PM
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 25,381
williams,mn
trapper les Offline
trapper
trapper les  Offline
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 25,381
williams,mn


"Those who hammer their guns into plowshares will plow for those who do not."
Re: Budget friendly AR-15? [Re: tlguy] #6240456
05/15/18 04:10 AM
05/15/18 04:10 AM
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,848
Ohio, Old fart to some.
ack Offline
trapper
ack  Offline
trapper

Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,848
Ohio, Old fart to some.
following


_________

I used to have superpowers… but a therapist took them away.

The voices in my head may not be real, but they have some good ideas!
Re: Budget friendly AR-15? [Re: tlguy] #6240466
05/15/18 05:40 AM
05/15/18 05:40 AM
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 6,535
Saginaw, Mi
M
micheal Offline
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micheal  Offline
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 6,535
Saginaw, Mi
good information

Re: Budget friendly AR-15? [Re: tlguy] #6240491
05/15/18 06:56 AM
05/15/18 06:56 AM
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,780
St. Cloud, MN
trapperkeck Offline
trapper
trapperkeck  Offline
trapper

Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,780
St. Cloud, MN
I would have to say building will get you more bang for your buck. The nice part is, you don't need all your parts at once. You can get parts as you can afford them. If yo want a good trigger, that, along with the barrel will be the most expensive parts. You can get a lower parts kit, including a crappy trigger for $60 if you don't want to throw $$$ at a trigger right away. If you want to build one, you only need some channel-loc pliers, vice grips, needle nose pliers, upper vice block, magazine vice block, an armorer's tool and 3 roll pin punches.


"The voice of reason!"
Re: Budget friendly AR-15? [Re: tlguy] #6240497
05/15/18 07:16 AM
05/15/18 07:16 AM
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 3,852
meadowview, Virginia
E
EdP Offline
trapper
EdP  Offline
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E

Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 3,852
meadowview, Virginia
Very little needed to build the lower and you only pay for the parts you want - not a crap trigger that needs to be replaced later. Building the upper takes more tools so you may want to buy that assembled as previously recommended.

Re: Budget friendly AR-15? [Re: tlguy] #6240583
05/15/18 09:36 AM
05/15/18 09:36 AM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,751
Central, SD
Law Dog Online content
trapper
Law Dog  Online Content
trapper

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,751
Central, SD
Some PSA lowers on sale come with the polished (EPT) trigger already in them one more thing you don't need to mess with!


Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!

Jerry Herbst
Re: Budget friendly AR-15? [Re: tlguy] #6240592
05/15/18 09:48 AM
05/15/18 09:48 AM
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 18,369
Green County Wisconsin
G
GREENCOUNTYPETE Offline
trapper
GREENCOUNTYPETE  Offline
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G

Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 18,369
Green County Wisconsin
I have been hearing very good things about these triggers Velocity triggers the owner worked for Timney and has 20 some years making triggers , the cost is very nice 134 dollars and they will add in free anti rotation pins , anti rotation pins get used on drop in triggers because the hammer and trigger springs don't hold the pins in place like a standard trigger group.

they also have a LPK (lower parts kit)for +15 dollars more than the trigger you will still need a hand grip , end plate , castle nut , buffer tube , buffer spring , buffer , and stock. but those things can easily be had separate and then you can get just what you like.

velocity triggers


America only has one issue, we have a Responsibility crisis and everything else stems from it.
Re: Budget friendly AR-15? [Re: tlguy] #6240657
05/15/18 11:38 AM
05/15/18 11:38 AM
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 146
West Central Mn
S
Snare loop Offline
trapper
Snare loop  Offline
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S

Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 146
West Central Mn
3 months ago I bought a PSA Lower with The EPT it is a much better trigger than a Mil spec trigger. The lower is OK for the money. Get the CRT instead of the MOE to get the better stock for a few more bucks . If you can find a deal like I got a NIB RRA Coyote Special and a Predator Pursuit for 600 each then your way ahead of the game. Both shoot like a laser beam. Tons of AR stuff out there.
Look at Gun.Deals. New stuff every day

Re: Budget friendly AR-15? [Re: tlguy] #6240677
05/15/18 12:28 PM
05/15/18 12:28 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,801
Beaman Iowa 55
M
Mike Cope Offline
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Mike Cope  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,801
Beaman Iowa 55
Today PSA has a couple of Kits

419.99 has back up sites sites

and 399.99 optic needed

Add a stripped lower (approx 50.00 and you can find them for less ) and you are shooting

You will need a Magazine aprox 10.00

Last edited by Horn; 05/15/18 12:31 PM.
Re: Budget friendly AR-15? [Re: tlguy] #6240755
05/15/18 02:36 PM
05/15/18 02:36 PM
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 48
Eastern Montana
M
montana17 Offline
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 48
Eastern Montana
http://www.model1sales.com/ Has everything you need. All you have to do is purchase a lower.

Re: Budget friendly AR-15? [Re: tlguy] #6240828
05/15/18 04:40 PM
05/15/18 04:40 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,751
Central, SD
Law Dog Online content
trapper
Law Dog  Online Content
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,751
Central, SD
Magpul MOE furniture and polished trigger also, several things you won't need to buy later on!



Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!

Jerry Herbst
Re: Budget friendly AR-15? [Re: tlguy] #6240866
05/15/18 05:39 PM
05/15/18 05:39 PM
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,042
SE Kansas
K
K52 Offline
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K52  Offline
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K

Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,042
SE Kansas
Something that no one ever mentions is you can save a little money by not buying a complete rifle. A complete rifle will have a federal tax of 11%, by buying upper and lower separate you will not have that tax on a complete rifle, just on the lower as that's the serialized part. The upper is just parts for tax purpose.

Re: Budget friendly AR-15? [Re: tlguy] #6240897
05/15/18 06:20 PM
05/15/18 06:20 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,751
Central, SD
Law Dog Online content
trapper
Law Dog  Online Content
trapper

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,751
Central, SD
The advantage of building one is you get what you want the 1st time you can buy cheap and then change everything and have more into it then you planned on often. Buying cheap then changing out parts you have parts you don't need and added cost to the build for the parts you wanted to begin with.


Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!

Jerry Herbst
Re: Budget friendly AR-15? [Re: tlguy] #6240958
05/15/18 07:23 PM
05/15/18 07:23 PM
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 578
Wisconsin
V
virgil1972 Offline
trapper
virgil1972  Offline
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V

Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 578
Wisconsin
For 400 you can get a Frainklin Armory binary trigger. Its the closest thing to a fun switch you can get without the 200 dollar tax stamp.

Re: Budget friendly AR-15? [Re: tlguy] #6240976
05/15/18 07:42 PM
05/15/18 07:42 PM
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 3,162
Green Bay, Wisconsin
tlguy Offline OP
trapper
tlguy  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: May 2013
Posts: 3,162
Green Bay, Wisconsin
GREENCOUNTYPETE, I watched that video today and after that, I'm more confident I could assemble a gun from a parts kit. I really like the idea of the free float barrel vs a drop in hand guard, so that eliminates a lot of the budget models of complete guns. Although after looking at some of these sites you guys recommended, I'm confident I could still assemble a decent rifle with a free float barrel for under $500 if I keep my eyes open. Keep the advice and suggestions coming.

What does the transfer fee usually run at the FFL for buying online and having them do all the background check and paperwork? $25-30? I have quite a few around me, so I can shop a round if need be, just would like to know what others are paying in general.

Thanks for all the advice and suggestions so far guys!

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