Average Price of NEW "Standard" MA-compliant AR15 in Massachusetts

[LibertyArms]

Ladies & Gentlemen,

Would you kindly inform this boob of what a new "standard" MA-compliant AR15 should cost in MA? What I mean by "standard" is a no frills AR without cool add-on features like scopes, red-dot sights, expensive furniture, etc. Just a basic MA-compliant rifle.

• I would like to know what a single manufacturer's rifle would cost, i.e. a Smith & Wesson, Bushmaster or some other brand. (I expect these would be the most expensive?)

• I would also like to know what a Frankenstein rifle would cost, i.e. a DPMS upper on a CMMG lower, a PSA upper on a DSA lower, etc. (I expect these would be the least expensive, since such a rifle can be assembled from a conglomerate of inexpensive parts?)

Again, this is for a rifle that can be sold/purchased in Massachusetts.

Thanks!

 

[saltydude]

Kind of a broad question on this forum. Couldn't you get your first question answered by simply visiting a few local firearms dealers and checking a few prices ?

 

[EJFudd]

Ladies & Gentlemen,

Would you kindly inform this boob of what a new "standard" MA-compliant AR15 should cost in MA? What I mean by "standard" is a no frills AR without cool add-on features like scopes, red-dot sights, expensive furniture, etc. Just a basic MA-compliant rifle.

Should cost or currently does cost?

I assume the word "standard" rules out an S&W Sport.

If you shop around, the current range (excluding the Sport) is about $799 for a very plain vanilla model to around $1,100 for a nice ORC with a few frills.

Put it together from parts? Probably end up in about the same range if you are using all new parts.

 

[LibertyArms]

I've looked at such rifles at a few places and the range of prices was unbelievable. Some started in the $800's and went all the way up into the $1200 for basic rifles. That's why I'm puzzled.

 

[mac1911]

Ok I will chime in.
The average price of the run of the mill carbine is 699-1200 rifle same. Now go shopping. If your dead set on a base model shop around. Your standard A2 rifle is not high on the list of what people seem to want so you might find one cheaper than say a carbine with colored plastic on hit and some sort of rail or tactical flip sights ect ect.

 

[EJFudd]

I've looked at such rifles at a few places and the range of prices was unbelievable. Some started in the $800's and went all the way up into the $1200 for basic rifles. That's why I'm puzzled.

Once you pick out the configuration and features you want and narrow down the brands and quality level you desire (premium brands can command some very big prices), you should be in a tighter range. But even after that, there will be variations of $50-$100 or more between reasonably comparable brands... and, of course, different shops will apply different discounts or mark-ups.

 

[TBalls]

I've seen them as low as the mid-$600's.

 

[mac1911]

it pays to shop around. Sadly you can usually find better prices on mass compliant models out side of mass and have them shipped to FFL for transfer.

 

[Kid Presentable]

I've seen them as low as the mid-$600's.

yup, i've seen m&p 15 sports back down to before FR prices, but they go fast.

 

[xtry51]

You can build a rifle with a lower and a kit from wideners for about $500.

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

On the new NES Cheese Scale:

Imported Aged Gruyere: $1300+

Cabot Private Reserve: $950-$1300

Market Basket Mild: $800-$1000

Velveeta: $700-$800

Bagged Powder Cheese: $575-$700

Spray Can imitation: $500-$600

 

[LibertyArms]

On the new NES Cheese Scale:

Imported Aged Gruyere: $1300+

Cabot Private Reserve: $950-$1300

Market Basket Mild: $800-$1000

Velveeta: $700-$800

Bagged Powder Cheese: $575-$700

Spray Can imitation: $500-$600

This is perhaps the best explanation I've seen yet!

In response to an earlier reply re buying or building, is there an actual demand for AR's in MA? I'll let you know why I ask.

I just finished building my own. It is a Frankenstein's monster that is, well, mine! I spent a LOT of time learning about the myriad options available and price comparisons.

I wonder if there is a market in MA or Frankenstein AR15 that are MA-compliant, built with quality parts from various manufacturers. Is it even worthwhile considering building such rifles for sale here, or are they just another pretty hanger on a gun shop wall until someone buys one on an impulse?

 

[EJFudd]

This is perhaps the best explanation I've seen yet!

In response to an earlier reply re buying or building, is there an actual demand for AR's in MA? I'll let you know why I ask.

I just finished building my own. It is a Frankenstein's monster that is, well, mine! I spent a LOT of time learning about the myriad options available and price comparisons.

I wonder if there is a market in MA or Frankenstein AR15 that are MA-compliant, built with quality parts from various manufacturers. Is it even worthwhile considering building such rifles for sale here, or are they just another pretty hanger on a gun shop wall until someone buys one on an impulse?

Sounds like you are looking to become a firearms manufacturer... yes? Otherwise, I'm not getting your point. Yes, there's an obvious demand for MA-compliant AR-15's, but not so much for ones assembled from parts by others. Seems to me that known brand names are going to be in highest demand and command the best prices. I'm not sure that one sitting on consignment somewhere assembled from parts by some unknown Joe Blow is going to command a lot of money. My experience is that folks build both for the experience and to get exactly what they want... or sometimes just to save money. But I'm not sure that translates into something one could sell at retail for a profit in normal times. And then there is that whole firearms manufacturer licensing thang.

 

[Dream to Dream]

Frankenguns are rarely desirable. If you're planning on building guns and selling them at a local shop for a profit, remember that the shop will have a consignment fee that eats into your profit. Unless you have access to deeply discounted parts, you are unlikely to have a profit margin that makes the endeavor worthwhile. Even if that is the case, the potential customer is usually unable to check (or, more often, ignorant of) the signs of quality manufacturing. While many of use know how to check if the bolt carrier gas key is properly staked and the feed ramps are properly cut, can you determine if the carrier key and fasteners are properly hardened? What steel is the bolt manufactured from? Is the chamber actually NATO dimensions? Is the gun properly headspaced, or did someone throw a POS BCG in with a crappy barrel?

If, however, you are considering opening a shop to do this kind of work, I would recommend having at least some machining skills and equipment to augment it. Anybody can throw together a quality AR, but a competent gunsmith who can pin & weld or silver solder a brake, thread or recrown a barrel, drill and pin a FSB, etc. will have far better luck.

 

[LibertyArms]

All,

You're right about everything you write. I suppose I got all excited when I built my own AR and thought there may be a market out there for similarly built rifles. You're also right that putting together rifles as I thought would likely require an 07 FFL, although I would have to check with my ATF agent to confirm. I'll just have to be content to build more of my own if I can afford it, and to help friends and acquaintances when they build theirs.

Pipe dream. Too bad...

 

[Kisspik002]

Black Friday stag arms is selling there 3h upper for $345. which is cheap. build yourself a lower and you can have a nice carbine for under 550. As cheap as your gonna get.