Colt LE6920 or ???

[RatherBOutdoors]

I see several AR related posts, but don't want to hijack their thread.  I am looking for my first AR for occasional target practice and just plain having fun.  I haven't looked into AR's since I left the military a number of years back.  I looked at Walmart the other day and found a basic LE6920 (not the MP version) for $957.  Seemed reasonable.  Are there others in this price range that are better or comparable?

My questions:  This comes with a 1:7 twist.  Given this is basically for play, will I see a degradation in accuracy for shots at 300 yards?  Also, what are the primary contributors to one manufacturers base rifle being $650, another base rifle being $1000 and others starting at $1500 or more?  Is it primarily better tolerances? Many appear to use the same barrels (or barrel type) and similar receivers, etc.  Also, is it worth the extra money to look at AR's already outfitted with all the Magpul equipment (i.e. LE6920MP-B or the SOCOM - I like the idea of windage and elevation adjustments) OR is it better to buy a base model and then outfit it after the fact?

I'm just trying to get a little better educated before I buy.  Any feedback from the AR aficionados would be appreciated.  Just as a side note, I like tack driving accuracy in my rifles (i.e. my 22-250 bull barrel with a 6.5-20 Leupold), but given this is for play and not hunting, I want to keep the price reasonable. 

[Crunchy]

before you buy the 6920 dry fire it a few times if that is possible at the store.  I am not a big fan of that trigger.

[Hornseeker]

Rather... I was just about to put up a similar thread, but based more on parts for building an AR (assembling I guess would be the correct term).

I decided to splurge on something I have been interested in for about 3 years and kept denying myself for several reasons... but anyhow, I've jumped in head first into the AR world...

So first I'll asnwer your question. If you are willing to spend 957, I'd urge you to spend another hundred and find a shop or FFL holder to order you a Stag Arms gun. I only say this because Ive only got experience with about 3 ARs... a Stag Model 6 (which you can pick up for a thousand bucks)... Some random Delton (not sure on price) and a DPMS heavy barrel varminter (I think near that 1k to 1200 range)...

The Stag model 6 comes with an exceptional trigger and a 24" stainless bull and Ive seen it shoot all sorts of ammo in a quarter at 2-300 yards. Amazing rifle, I think, for the money. If I was just gonna buy a rifle, it wiould be that one. BUT... I am not in favor of the 24" barrel. I'd check to see ifyou could order it with an 18 or 20... or just run the barrel to a smith and have him cut it and thread it or crown it... Probably a hunnert bucks if you shop around. Killer rifle.

The little Delton, i think was like a $700 gun... and it also shot lights out, but minute of ground squirrel at 300, instead of an inch...

The DPMS I shot was a great gun, also a 24" barrel though. Trigger was nothing like the Stags though. My buddy told me the stags trigger was the RRA 2stage national match...

There are a hundred options that would suit you well... Talk to Carpsniper here (SPlit Diamond in the sponsor area)... he can give you a great idea of a factory rifle OR put a rifle together for you.

Anyhow, I bought ten lower receivers, final cost about $60 a piece... and am building my own.

My question, and we can nuke this if it jacks your thread too badly... is similar to your question. There are TONS of components for sale all over the internet on at least 20 sites... SO for an example, I can buy the bolt carrier group from brownells (bushmaster) for $70... Or I could order some razzu model, like a seekins or something, for like $180... what is the real difference in a BCG like this... IF I am not going into combat and an occasional "issue" is not going to kill me... only irritate me a little.

In the end, I will tell you my opinion on what you could do... and maybe have a little fun. Build your own. For about $750ish... you can assemble your own AR and have a quality trigger (RRA 2stage NM) and a quality barrel (Wilson, BHW, or the Stag barrel)... with your preference of stock/handguard/grip... that should shoot better than anything near that price range. It doesn't take long to build one (Im talking from 2nd hand experience here)... and you'd KNOW the inner workings of your AR and know how to replace parts if anything was to happen... and it could be FUN...

[300rum]

The Colt will hold it's value better and be much easier to sell if you ever want to.  Colt is still the gold standard when it comes to the big AR manufacturers, whether real or perceived.  No one will pay top dollar for your franken AR that you put together or one of the off-brands unless there is another run on them and then the Colt will more then double it's new price overnight.

CDNN has had 6920's for sale for around $899 recently but you would likely have to pay for a transfer so it would put it on par with the price you quoted.   

As far as the trigger goes, run down to Rainier Arms and try out the various triggers that the have demos for.  Plan on spending about $250 or so for a really good one, I like the Hyperfire Hypertouch 24C. 

[RatherBOutdoors]

Thanks to those who provided feedback.  I decided to keep my eyes open for a reasonably priced Colt LE6920 that i could modify later (ie add a match grade trigger, etc), but would be suitable right out of the box to have fun.  Went to Surplus Ammo in Tacoma and they had the Colt on sale for $799.  Looking forward to playing.