Looking for some AR15 purchase input

[Badhabit]

I'm looking to get my first AR style rifle and keep the base cost under $900. I like the the style of the S&W M&P 15T Tacticle with M-lok. I found a price online for $855. plus tax and shipping and FFL. I have never had one in my hands so I don't know if I like the fit and feel. It would be used as a plinker and varmit getter. I don't put 1000's of rounds downrange a year so I need to keep it simple and accurate. Any suggestions for other rifles to look at? If I can save money on the cost I'm for looking at them. I'm not apposed to having someone build one for me and then do a FFL transfer.

Let me know your thoughts.

[NitRally]

Id suggest looking at the Ruger Ar556's

[Russ McDonald]

Make my own.  I can make one cheaper with pretty decent equipment.  I have built 2 .223/5.56 for around $600.  Anderson Arms lowers, lower parts kit and a PSA complete upper.  Built a 300 black for about that same manufactures.  Also did a AR10 .308 for $800 Aero Precision complete lower and Bear Creek complete upper.  Plus you don't have to deal with the 1639 crap that some stores might have you do.  The lower you have to do a back ground check on and should be able to take it home that day.  Everything else buy away.

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[Jpmiller]

Make my own.  I can make one cheaper with pretty decent equipment.  I have built 2 .223/5.56 for around $600.  Anderson Arms lowers, lower parts kit and a PSA complete upper.  Built a 300 black for about that same manufactures.  Also did a AR10 .308 for $800 Aero Precision complete lower and Bear Creek complete upper.  Plus you don't have to deal with the 1639 crap that some stores might have you do.  The lower you have to do a back ground check on and should be able to take it home that day.  Everything else buy away.

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Is there a good resource you or anyone else on here can reccomend for someone completely in the dark on building an AR rifle? I'm in a similar boat to the OP but completely oblivious to the process.

[Russ McDonald]

Make my own.  I can make one cheaper with pretty decent equipment.  I have built 2 .223/5.56 for around $600.  Anderson Arms lowers, lower parts kit and a PSA complete upper.  Built a 300 black for about that same manufactures.  Also did a AR10 .308 for $800 Aero Precision complete lower and Bear Creek complete upper.  Plus you don't have to deal with the 1639 crap that some stores might have you do.  The lower you have to do a back ground check on and should be able to take it home that day.  Everything else buy away.

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Is there a good resource you or anyone else on here can reccomend for someone completely in the dark on building an AR rifle? I'm in a similar boat to the OP but completely oblivious to the process.

Youtube.  I had no idea and got on YouTube and found tons of videos how to build AR platform. Most local stores i am seeing very few parts.   Sportmanswarehouse, Cabelas, Basspro, Sportco I see they carry Anderson lowers.  I have gone to Palmetto State Armory for uppers https://palmettostatearmory.com/palmetto-state-armory-mil-spec-carry-handle.html.   they sell much more.  Bear Creek https://www.bearcreekarsenal.com/bca-ar-10-complete-upper-18-416r-stainless-steel-socom-barrel-308-winchester-mid-length-gas-system-1-10-twist-w-15-mlok-rail they sell tons of stuff.  Cheeper Than Dirt, Areo Precision all have web sites to purchase off of.  I am sure you can get plenty of help off the forum to on a build.  Mine are inexpensive plinkers but you can add on to them like crazy.  Like I said YouTube was my friend when I built my first one and then it was easy.

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[Alchase]

I'm looking to get my first AR style rifle and keep the base cost under $900. I like the the style of the S&W M&P 15T Tacticle with M-lok. I found a price online for $855. plus tax and shipping and FFL. I have never had one in my hands so I don't know if I like the fit and feel. It would be used as a plinker and varmit getter. I don't put 1000's of rounds downrange a year so I need to keep it simple and accurate. Any suggestions for other rifles to look at? If I can save money on the cost I'm for looking at them. I'm not apposed to having someone build one for me and then do a FFL transfer.

Let me know your thoughts.

If you are buying a completed rifle, the S&W is a good rifle for the money.

As others have said, you ca get get a good quality lower and a decent upper for less.

[Badhabit]

Thanks everyone for your input. I'll have to watch some You Tube.

[Caseyd]

I’d wait unless you’re in a hurry. Pricing is high (almost double) compared to a few months ago.

[300rum]

Don't build a rifle for your first rifle, don't do it.  S&W is very reliable and a good price point.  Spend a bit more and buy a Colt or Daniel Defense (you'll be able to get your money back out of them if you need to), stay away from most everything else. 

[fishngamereaper]

If you can find one buy it.  Pretty slim pickings recently.

The ease of building them varies depending on the level you want to start at. Complete uppers/lowers =easy. 80% lowers, parts kit, barrel= harder.

I would buy a complete rifle, learn it, strip it down, get to know it, then if you want to go build one later you already know pretty much what your dealing with and where the parts go. 

[whackmaster]

Bear creek uppers kick butt 

[cem3434]

Don't build a rifle for your first rifle, don't do it.  S&W is very reliable and a good price point.  Spend a bit more and buy a Colt or Daniel Defense (you'll be able to get your money back out of them if you need to), stay away from most everything else.

I would disagree and have built several rifle over the years as they are a pretty easy build. You are just paying for the name at some point as they are all mil spec rifles and parts are interchangeable. Certain guys swear by certain names and I love Colts, but my Colt AR is the worst shooting of all my AR rifles.

I have shot Aero, PSA, Bear Creek, Bushmaster Colt, S&W, Daniel Defense, Ruger, etc and found they all shoot very similar for me. The best shooting AR's for me seem to be the ones my brother has built, but he literally has thousands into a single rifle. Unless you are spending way more than you budget upgrading triggers, barrels and optics, they are all pretty much the same. 

[dreadi]

That’s a decent price, not high, especially in the current national market. Buying a new complete rifle from a dealer means you’ll also get a warranty and depending on who it’s coming from it may have more warranty then just the manufacturer’s.

I suggest, get it and enjoy.


BLACK HAMMER ARMS
http://www.blackhammerarms.com
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[lokidog]

My son and I built one, Anderson lower and everything else was in plastic bags. It was not difficult. There are specialized tools to purchase, or better yet, borrow, that will make it much easier to do.

It was a fun project.

[Dan-o]

IMHO, the number 1 thing - by far - to accurize an AR is dropping in a good trigger.   Mil spec triggers are just terrible. 

You can buy a complete upper and a complete lower from someplace like bear creek arsenal or palmetto armory for way under your budget.

Save $90 for a larue trigger and you should be shooting good.

Its a thought. 

A $90 larue trigger will get you 95+ percent of the accuracy that you'll get out of a $300 trigger in my opinion.


Good luck.