Ideas....

[xjtwo]

If you had 1300 to build....what would it be, what would give you the best bang for the buck?
I am new to AR's, at least owning one (should've listened to my friend in the 90's) and plan on getting one soon. Do I order complete or build?

Cheers,
-J

[Sixgun]

Rock River Arms 950ish. 300 for ammo or a scope.[Beer] My 2 cents. I'm jealous, love buying new guns.

[xjtwo]

Me too and I just picked up a G32 last week, trying to get back in the game before Nov 08............

I like those RRA's so its basically boiling down to that or something CMMG........

[ssf467]

Crack

[Marlin]

I'd go RRA and the ammo also.. Pratice wth the irons first then go for the optics.

[bjl913]

Just curious? What makes people say RRA instead of say, a superior arms. I saw one at Jensens /w a chrome lined barrel for like 700! all you need is either a carry handle or BUIS.

[Sixgun]

I have read alot of good things about RRA in gun mags. Good groups and Quality. They guarantee all guns on grouping. .75 Moa Check them out. http://www.rockriverarms.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=230

[Asha'man]

I like my RRA, not that I have anything to compare it to.

BUILD. More fun and cheaper to boot.

[pickenup]

To build, or buy. Hmmmm........

Everyone has an opinion, but it depends on you. Are you the type that buys off the shelf and uses the product without questioning how it works? Or do you get it, take it home, take it apart to see what makes it tick?

With a ground up build, you will know "why" you put this part in, instead of that part. How sensitive are you to what trigger you have? You can decide before hand, if you want a one or two stage trigger, how much travel, and what lbs. you want to have in it. Which barrel, fluted, plain, bull, chrome lined? Which bolt, which stock, free floating handguard or plain, what size? Rails, partial rails, no rails? Flat top, carry handle, scope?

It takes some research (which isn't hard to find, and can be fun in itself) and time to build one. But you know exactly what you have when you get done. And if something goes wrong, you have a good idea what it is.

Or you can just throw what you can find together.
Either way, you "can" end up with a good rifle.

Easiest way is.....figure out what you want, buy it, and shoot the crap out of it. If you buy one, and feel that it just needs some trigger work (not uncommon) you can take it to Bill. He lives in the springs too, and I have heard he does some GOOD work.

p.s.
I don't have a RRA yet. I'm thinking that will probably be my next AR.

[roman gnome]

Show up for the next club shoot and try a few different ones out.

There's always a decent selection to fondle and check out.

[Colorado Osprey]

Having differernt AR's for differernt purposes means a choice needs to be made before a build or purchase.

Do you want something Tacti-Cool or CQB
Maybe long distance shooting or accuracy is more important than all other factors.
Maybe an investment.
What about an alternative caliber.

16" carbines or maybe a 9mm carbine will fill the "Cool" or CQB

1:7-8 twist for heavy bullets with a 20-24" flat top chrome-moly or stainless heavy or bull barrel with a trued upper reciever should fill long distance and/or accuracy department

AR pistols or SBR's make good investment pieces

There are so many alternative caliber rifles still in your price range:
17 Mach II, 22lr, 9mm, 40S&W, 10mm, 45ACP, 17 Remington, 17 Fireball, 17 Olympic, 17/223, 20 Tactical, 20 Practical, 221 Fireball, 204 Ruger, 22PPC, 223WSSM, 6x45, 6mmAR, 6mmPPC, 243WSSM, 25/223, 25WSSM, 6.5AR, 6.5/243WSSM, 6.8SPC, 7mmWSSM, 300-221, 30HRT, 7.62x39, 300WSSM, 338WSSM, 357 Auto, 358WSSM, 458 SOCOM, 450 Bushmaster,
etc., etc., etc.

I'd hold off on optics and ammo.
They will still be available after November.
With $1300 to get the most bang for my buck I would get 2-3 stripped lower recievers and build a couple with rifle/carbine kits.

Lower $120+
Kit minus lower reciever $460+
Complete Rifle Build $580

That said I have been down the complete rifle buy, the build route and the custom rifle from nationally accredited and dedicated AR target/varmint rifle builder.
The best bang for the buck as far as sale-ability at a later date is the build.
To most buyers they demand just as much money as a store bought rifle.... particularly if the manufacture of these rifles becomes banned.

[xjtwo]

Thanks for all the info, I have been searching like a mad dog on build kits as well as completes.....
I'm an avid MTN Biker & I don't just buy a complete set up, I'm more the type that likes to know whats going on it, how it works...ect.
I'm sure I'll end up being this way with these boys, just need to build up my knowledge a bit.