Budget Friendly AR Build

[Bvictorious]

I am looking for some feedback for a budget friendly AR. I would like a decent quality rifle, so I would rather no "off brands". Any suggestions for parts, brands, or stores would be much appreciated. I'd like to keep the build under $800 since I can buy a new off the shelf rifle for not much more than that.

 

[crazymjb]

For that price I would look to BCM complete lightweight uppers, or rifles when they release them.

Mike

 

[F2386]

This question is asked a million times so I'll give the usual answer. Take a look at Stag, S&W M&P15's, Spikes Tactical, PSA, CMMG and Del-ton. I feel that BCM is a tier above these guys.

 

[mac1911]

budget AR ? To me this means a decent amount of saveings. building vs buying of course you need to compare apples to apples. Your build has to replicate what you thought you might by.
For the most part its tough to build a standard off the shelf AR for much less than buying one. Example is the S&W M&P sport and its like competitors.
My least expensive AR I built was a A2 configuration its my FrankenAR. Here is a few things I learned when trying to do anything budget
1. Shipping, you need to watch this buying 5-10 different items from different sources increases total cost. Free shipping or one source shopping keeps this cost down
2. Sometimes used parts are fine
3. Ask anyone that might remotely have guns/gun parts sometimes you knock peoples memory loose and they say "you know I have some parts kicking around for a AR I used to have"
4. There seems to be some great deals on uppers right now, you must shop around.

for some of the least expensive "KITS" try AR15sales.com out of NH pete has some great prices on stag RRA LMT.

Heres my run down on my A2 AR budget, prices include shipping
1. Group buy lower 75.00
2. LPK group buy 49.00
3. used A2 stock/tube/spring 30.00
4. Stripped A2 fixed handle upper 40.00 original owner swapped out to flat top
5. I took a chance on a add from AR15.com simply said slighty used rifle length AR barrel 5.56 nato, replaced it with heavy target barrel and tube.
I called the number and the seller said, Im not one to have spare parts lying around, aprox 500 rnds through it. 150.00 shipped. I bit
What came was a complete barrel assembly hand guards and all. 150.00
6. I purchased a used rear sight assembly which someone swapped out for a National Match set up 25.00
7. Bolt assembly, this is where asking people "got gun stuff" comes into play I asked and ended up with what looked like a never fire bolt assembly for ZIP,NATA, ZERO......who hoo
I snaged a charging handle and dust cover parts on some other online parts place Jessurplus I think for another 30 bucks
I had to buy a new gas tube and a few small items, spacer was missing for stock. in the end I was under 500.00 but it took me about a year to aquire all the parts.
Now moving on, I look into building a AR to copy the Rock River Arms National Match A2 model. I could not build one for the price I could buy a complete rifle for.
I did how ever build a clone of the S&W MP tactical for aprox 400.00 less than buying one

 

[Gammon]

You don't really save a lot by building your own AR. You do get to build exactly what you want. For a budget friendly AR, I would check out Four Seasons. They have some Stags and S&Ws for very reasonable prices.

 

[JohnMarston]

easy, buy an M&P sport. even better, a used one.

 

[mac67]

You don't really save a lot by building your own AR. You do get to build exactly what you want. For a budget friendly AR, I would check out Four Seasons. They have some Stags and S&Ws for very reasonable prices.

+1. You can also check www.ar15sales.com

 

[namedpipes]

easy, buy an M&P sport. even better, a used one.

I'm purchasing parts over time to keep my outlay at any one time below the wife-dar.

I've got lowers, lpks and mags for two rifles.

With an eye toward keeping the cost of individual parts reasonable and accepting that the final total will probably be ~ buying whole, any shopping list tips for decent, inexpensive parts? (brands, models, vendors?)

I know I need stripped uppers, bolt carrier groups, barrels, furniture, ...

 

[JohnMarston]

I'm purchasing parts over time to keep my outlay at any one time below the wife-dar.

im pickin up what you are puttin down these things do happen! and happened to me until my wife was addicted

 

[mac1911]

Just watch your shipping if you order several items from several places. Some places have minimum shipping charges no matter how little $ your oder is. You could easily add 100.00 to your build in shipping if not careful.

 

[crazymjb]

You can get an incredible rifle for 800 bucks that will be accurate and reliable, no need to skimp. I say again look to BCM.

If you must build, buy parts from dsgarms and rainierarms, and bcm, great prices and cs. No need to buy junk parts.

Mike

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2

 

[mac1911]

have you tried the build your own AR function over on Brownells web site.....not the best prices but kind of gets you a good perspective.

Budget AR: for me is just that.....pick a budget. Then see what falls in that budget.

Dont forget to leave room for mags,optics,slings at least a O'shit kit(basically some small spare parts) google AR 15 O shit kit.

 

[Kisspik002]

My two cents....buy a stripped lower have a lower parts kit, buffer tube and spring and stock put on it then you can pick from a wide variety of uppers, stag arms makes a great upper for a good price