Help Buying My First AR?

[whitebear620]

Hey guys, as some of you might know, my rifle has been an M&P 15-22 for awhile now. I have been trying to buy a real AR but the wife has had to have three surgeries and other things kept coming up so the money just wasn't there.
But now! I got my tax refund back, no upcoming surgeries, money in the savings for emergency, it's time!
I was all excited and was gonna go to a local gun store that I know that's run by a good bunch of guys, except that they want $800-$900 for an AR. They said it would be built off of a CMMG lower and whatever furniture I want, but I don't know if I can do that price, it leaves little left for the necessities; ammunition and magazines.
All other local stores don't have any in stock for less than $800.
My preference are: 14.5" pinned with carbine gas system or 16" with midlength gas system, only 5.56, isn't gonna be a piece of crap (obviously a need). Would prefer the fixed front sight post as that eliminates having to buy a front sight to put on it, not picky on the handguard but I'll replace a quad rail with a MOE handguard as I just don't need the rail space.
So here's some of what I see online:
www.radicalfirearms.com/product-p/rfrifle.v2.16fgs-mil556.htm
Radical Firearms, 16" with carbine gas, complete flat top. I've heard good things, but I'd need to buy both front and rear BUIS.
www.midwayusa.com/product/644662/del-ton-mid-length-carbine-kit-ar-15-556x45mm-nato-1-in-7-twist-16-chrome-lined-heavy-contour-barrel
Del-Ton rifle kit, midlength gas, flat top rear and fixed front sight. Pretty much what I want except I'd change the grip and handguard when funds allow, but I'd need to buy a lower and then put it all together and I don't have the tools.
www.impactguns.com/ruger-ar-556-rifle-556-nato-m4-flat-top-16in-barrel-736676085002.aspx
Ruger AR-5.56, Ruger website says carbine gas, flat top rear and fixed front sight. Would change the grip and handguard, have dealt with Ruger customer service before and they were fantastic. But it is sold out right now.
palmettostatearmory.com/16-mid-length-light-weight-chrome-lined-premium-rifle-kit.html
PSA rifle kit, pretty much same comments as Del-ton kit.
palmettostatearmory.com/catalog/product/view/id/14434/ ; palmettostatearmory.com/psa-16-midlength-5-56-nato-1-7-socom-melonite-freedom-upper-no-bcg-or-ch.html
PSA upper with PSA lower, would change the handguard and need a BCG.

This rifle would be a general purpose rifle: home defense, utility, not a long range rifle.

What do you guys think? Have any other suggestions for reasonably priced starter ARs?

[rmplstlskn]

Don't neglect considering USED AR's... Many used AR's have very low round count and have probably been sitting unused for many months at a time. Usually they are being sold because they need the money for one reason or another (motivated seller), or they want to go a different direction weapon-wise. I have found some GREAT deals by looking at gun forums and then searching by State, so I can find an easy FTF (face-to-face) sale in my State, so no need for an FFL.
I have also done ~fair~ on Gunbroker, but bargains are hard and rare to find on there. You have to pay attention and look for auctions that are ENDING to get in at bottom dollar.

For new, BCM has always done me right, and at a fair price if you watch for their sales. But that may exceed the budget you want to keep. I would stay away from Ruger AR's... Palmetto has a good rep and I have gotten ammo from them a few times with good service. Del-ton is decent too...

In many ways, a budget AR will be the same for most vendors... But in used, you may get a better AR for the same price if you are a good shopper and with eagle eyes...

Sometimes local shops have fair deals on consignment or used guns, but I have not had good success in this method, as many local shops tend to be overpriced.

Rmpl

[4track]

Honestly, if this is to be your one and only 5.56x45mm weapon, then I don't think that you are not going to find anything of quality at your local store for $900 or less.

The one exception might be this Colt 6920, but it is a carbine gas systems on a sixteen inch barrel:

www.gandrtactical.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=LE6920MPS-B


However, for only two hundred more dollars, you might be better served by getting something like this mid-length BCM, instead:

www.gandrtactical.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=MID-16-MOD0

[trailrunner909]

I have been eyeing that PSA lightweight kit as a way to put together a spare carbine. However if its is going to be your primary rifle, you may want to spend a little more and get a BCM or Colt. They just seem to work and require minimal headache to keep them working. 


A BCM Lightweight Midlength meets your criteria. Its a good deal with the BCG/CH options. 

or 

For a turnkey option get a Colt 6720. It's 16" carbine length, but probably the best bang for the buck basic carbine. You would be hard pressed to find anyone who had any issues with it.

[Erick]

There are SO many good AR for good prices these days.

deleted as the AR I originally linked busted the budget

[matt]

The Colt 6920 (or 6720) is usually the answer in cases like this but you may have to get it online to get the best prices (well under $900 if you can be patient and shop around). The Aero Precision AC-15 is a lot of carbine for the money too. You might also look at the new S&W M&P 15 II (they added a forward assist and dust cover but kept the price the same).

With the pricing on Colt 6920s these days, they are a VERY smart choice.

[matt]

Maybe it would be helpful to add what I look for in an entry level rifle...

I am looking for certain hallmarks of quality like correct barrel steel, twist rates (1 in 7 or 1 in 8), correct BCG, etc. The baseline for what makes a workable AR is well established at this point.

Beyond that, I am looking for a rifle that is usable right away and then scales with the shooter as they are able. That means it should have standard parts so that the end user has as many options for rails, optics, etc. later. That is why I rule out the Ruger AC-556 with its non-standard FSB and barrel nut assembly.

As an example, if one were to buy a Colt 6920 and that was close to maxing out their budget, they would still be in good shape because they could add a sling and start shooting. The next step would be to add a light of some kind while continuing to use the iron sights (something like a Magpul MOE SL Handguard or a FSB mounted rail would give excellent light mounting options). Then the shooter could add an Aimpoint or other optic as they are able.

If you buy a quality rifle, that can grow with you, you'll be up and running right away with plenty of room to grow.

[waffenmacht]

Of the rifles you listed, the only quality one is the PSA Premuim kit. ALL the others are not up to spec, and are lacking in one way or another. The PSA Premium kit is chrome lined, has mil-spec carrier, and HP/MP bolt from Carpenter 158.

palmettostatearmory.com/16-mid-length-light-weight-chrome-lined-premium-rifle-kit.html
palmettostatearmory.com/catalog/product/view/id/10445/

The Colt 6720 is also in your budget, and will also be a mil-spec rifle.

www.gandrtactical.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=6720


Forget about accessories for now, they can come later and you will find the finds to upgrade as needed. Start with a QUALITY base rifle, and upgrade from there. Otherwise you will be cat chasing it's tail trying to bring a sub-par rifle up to spec.

[Erick]

Feb 6, 2016 14:49:35 GMT -5 matt said:

I am looking for certain hallmarks of quality like correct barrel steel, twist rates (1 in 7 or 1 in 8), correct BCG, etc. The baseline for what makes a workable AR is well established at this point.

Ok I'll go there... 


I agree with most you wrote but I respectfully, submit that twist is a design choice not a hallmark of quality.
1 in 9 was the original milspec the M16A2 was supposed to get but it was changed at the last minute to 1 in 7 solely because the tracer round were not geeeting stabilized by 1 in 9.

1 in 9 is not only more effective on 55gr ammo but also better (albeit to a lesser degree) for 62gr ammo.
Its just that the longer 62gr tolerates the 1 in 7 better and 1 in 7 will only help if oyu go 70gr or higher (which very few of us ever do)
Also 1 in 9 helps a bit with longevity.

But due to the milspec craze nearly all high end rifles feature 1 in 7 barrels thats why mine are 1 in 7.
I would prefer the 1 in 9 but only a couple of places make CHF in 1 in 9.

[matt]

I hear you Erick. There is really nothing wrong with 1 in 9" twists and you are correct that for some they make more sense than a 1 in 7" twist. They will often even stabilize 75gr OTMs (which surprises some people). I mentioned twist in more of a general sense as in, there really aren't many quality ARs that will use a 1 in 9". They are out there to be sure but harder to find. Ruger's SR-556 barrels are a good example. They are hammer forged, good steel, and very accurate even with 75gr ammo but they use a 1 in 9" twist.

Generalizations can get me in trouble but... in general, better quality ARs will have a faster twist rate than 1 in 9". Like you said, it is more of a reflection of the market than the quality of the twist rate itself.

[whitebear620]

Thank you for all the suggestions guys. I went with the PSA blemished complete lower and the upper, that MOE handguard one sold out before I could snag it so I got the standard handguard option (may or may not change this out as I only plan on putting a light on it). I got the rifle with one magazine shipped for $534.45 (lower shipped to my FFL). I already have a Primary Arms AA red dot that I had on my 15-22 (I'd gotten this red dot because my cheap one crapped out on me and it was intended to go on the 5.56 when I got it), and I have two magazines right now not counting the one coming with it.
And now I just have to wait for it to be delivered....

[Erick]

White:
Sounds like you are as nicely set up as possible on a budget.

[whitebear620]

Heck yeah, I couldn't believe how it worked out on getting the complete rifle for that cost. Yes my lower and BCG will be blemished, but I don't give a damn since I'll scratch them up myself and eventually be putting one of the gunskins on it. Now it's just a matter of getting more ammunition and magazines without driving the wife insane 

[waffenmacht]

Feb 7, 2016 18:44:43 GMT -5 whitebear620 said:

Heck yeah, I couldn't believe how it worked out on getting the complete rifle for that cost. Yes my lower and BCG will be blemished, but I don't give a damn since I'll scratch them up myself and eventually be putting one of the gunskins on it. Now it's just a matter of getting more ammunition and magazines without driving the wife insane 

You won't find the blemish on the lower.  At least the last 8 or so blem lowers I have bought from PSA were perfect. PSA also has the best deal on quality magazines, grab them when you can.  


palmettostatearmory.com/catalog/product/view/id/1239/

[whitebear620]

Got my rifle in, everything function checks fine, will be going to the range tomorrow to get everything sighted in and test my ammo. I did find the blemish in the lower, slight scratches right above the safe/fire markings on right side, I still don't care. Will post a picture on Monday.