AR-15 budget... Need little guidence

Corbic

Corbic

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I went with a PSA kit and S&W M&P receiver, built my own.


Takes an entire 20 minutes, fun project, cost maybe $400. M4 clone, great tool rifle.

Really comes down to what you want.

Do you want a tac-driver, something with high finish and detail? A cheap beater that you can dump hundreds into taticool-accessories and optics?

Self defense, SHTF? Competition? Full, Carbine or Mid?

It's really like saying "I'm hungry, any suggestions?"


I'd budget in a red-dot / optic, that's your X3 force multiplier, then look at how much you can spend on a rifle.
 
Tifosi2003GT

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Corbic said:
I went with a PSA kit and S&W M&P receiver, built my own.


Takes an entire 20 minutes, fun project, cost maybe $400. M4 clone, great tool rifle.

Really comes down to what you want.

Do you want a tac-driver, something with high finish and detail? A cheap beater that you can dump hundreds into taticool-accessories and optics?

Self defense, SHTF? Competition? Full, Carbine or Mid?

It's really like saying "I'm hungry, any suggestions?"


I'd budget in a red-dot / optic, that's your X3 force multiplier, then look at how much you can spend on a rifle.
Click to expand...


I've never really looking into an Ar-15 but this Governor in RI is a huge anti-gun nut and I want to get this before she puts restrictions on owning an Ar... This has been on my short list for the past year.

This would be mostly a range rifle and look at this gun haters...Haha

Sorry I'm really new, but optics and add on's would come later.. I guess I'm looking for something really nice in that price range in a 223/556
 
Last edited:
Stanley

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Tifosi2003GT said:
$1,000-$1,500 budget.. This is my first Ar-15

I love my Springfield Armory Handguns and have been looking at the Saint line up..

SAINT® Edge AR-15 Rifles - Springfield Armory

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
That's what I got. I'm very happy with it, but it's the only one I've messed with so I don't have a point of comparison. I got it for just under $1000 from www.TombstoneTactical.com

IMG_20191223_201002.jpg
 
Double"O"

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I've considered the saint a few times.
I got a ruger AR556 last year for under 600otd, my armalite was 800ish...modded it's closer to 1200

I put a jp silent capture spring in it, sig romeo5, diamond head aluminum hand guard and a sling on the armalite

Whatever you get I highly suggest the JP silent capture spring, changes the whole rifle for the better and no more " sproing"

I need to get one for my ruger now lol
 
SHOdown220

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As others have said, its really dependent on you and what you want it for. You don't have to spend nearly that much to get a good quality AR, but by all means if you want to then go right ahead. Don't forget to budget an optic in your overall cost though, and good quality optics are not cheap. I like the platform so much because you can really start with a budget entry and then modify as you see fit down the road. Meaning you can get into a nice rifle for 500 bucks, figure out what you like and don't like then upgrade from there.
 
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BigPoppa

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Everyone I've talked to, in person and on here, who has purchased from PSA gave them great reviews. I just ordered a PA-15 from them for $700 and plan on learning using that then building my own using their parts later.

I didn't want to spend more than that on my first AR that I plan on abusing the heck out of.
 
jshen

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Prices and builds are far cheaper now than a decade ago..After the ban sunset prices of ARs were in the $1200-1400 range. Worried the ban would come back I ordered a Bushmaster m4 type with 14.5 in. barrel and tacked on Phantom flash suppressor..Cost was $1200 and it's still in the box. Of course prices came down and I really don't know what happened to Bushmaster after their bankruptcy...but having a good short reliable AR is a must. I followed that with a Tavor bullpup at about 24 inches total length, a KelTech RFB 308, and those too are still in box. Last year I got the Panzer 12 gauge bullpup as my home/car defense and 4 10 round mags...That I shoot all the time.

What ever you buy- make sure you get plenty of ammo in popular caliber, .223, 308, 12 gauge... I am seeing an awful lot of "soldout" "out of stock" on the web.
 
jshen

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Corbic said:
I went with a PSA kit and S&W M&P receiver, built my own.


Takes an entire 20 minutes, fun project, cost maybe $400. M4 clone, great tool rifle.


I'd budget in a red-dot / optic, that's your X3 force multiplier, then look at how much you can spend on a rifle.
Click to expand...

I wish I had your skill set as I am afraid I'd screw something up. I rebuilt a fully auto Mac-11 with forged parts from Lage...but I had worked on those as a cop for years...and they are simple. Now- I don't touch what I don't know..
 
Machdup1

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Tifosi2003GT said:
$1,000-$1,500 budget.. This is my first Ar-15

I love my Springfield Armory Handguns and have been looking at the Saint line up..

SAINT® Edge AR-15 Rifles - Springfield Armory

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
That is a decent firearm, though a bit spendy. Add a Sig Romeo 5 red dot for $150 and call it a day. There are less expensive AR's that will do the same thing, but that one will work.

Your timing is really bad, with all of the panic buying lately. You should walk into local gun stores and see what they have. I would also encourage you to have your money ready, because you might be buying what they have, rather than what you want.
 
nickf2005

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I'm completely happy and satisfied with my $600 Ruger AR556. Never Jammed and it goes bang. Put a $40 Bushnell Red dot from Amazon and that was world's above the hard sights.

I'd like to get a Saint, as I have 2 SA pistols. However, I can justify the cost.

Sent from my SM-G975U using the svtperformance.com mobile app
 
RedVenom48

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Stanley said:
That's what I got. I'm very happy with it, but it's the only one I've messed with so I don't have a point of comparison. I got it for just under $1000 from www.TombstoneTactical.com

View attachment 1631049
Click to expand...
Tombstone is like literally 5 minutes from my house. Nice rifle too! Giggity!

PSA is great but will take FOREVER to get shipped to your FFL, especially with the current siotuation. As of right now, whatever is available is going to be what you have to choose from. If you can find it local, all the more better.

Ruger is a solid brand, as is Smith and Wesson. Personally owned an M&P Sport and really liked it. Currently have a home built Franken AR. 16" barrel with a mid length gas system. Wish I had gone with carbine length. POE 3.5lb trigger makes it..... really eager to send a lot of rounds down range RAPIDLY. I think I have a weak ejector spring as rounds kinda just fall out of the rifle. But its not my main go to for SHTF. That honor belongs to my x39 Vepr AK.
 

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