If You Had Around $700, What Would You Buy?

[jobhater]

I had started my posting in the Wanted Section, looking for a decently priced used AR-15. After finding out what you all have said, I’m thinking that maybe I’ll just try to get the upper and lower complete sets and build it myself. I’d like to build a decent quality rifle, but for around $5-700 (& that is seriously pushing it for me). I am doing research online, but I thought I’d ask you, the professionals & non-professionals... What would you buy if you had around $700? I’m talking complete rifle or the upper and lower parts. The scope, magazines, ammo, and additional parts can come later. If you can be specific about items, that would be GREAT!

BTW: I still need to figure out if I can afford that, though…I just spent $50 on Christmas gifts at lunchtime L and that wasn’t even for someone I know. It was for the Christmas for Kids charity. (4x4 event going on tomorrow in Co. Springs.)


Happy shooting

[Sucka]

By the time parts are available for actual purchase, you can probably at least double those savings. Put $20 away each week and by the time something is actual available, you should be up in the $1K + range. As we said over in the Wanted section, realistically, nothing is available right now, especially new. Keep your eye on the FS section and the EE over at arfcom (which is insanity right now btw) and hope to find something that meets your budget. Otherwise, place your back orders of the components you want, and by the time they're ready to ship you can easily have saved the additional funds.

As for actual components. Anvil Arms has among the cheapest lowers. Last i saw, they were still taking orders for stripped lowers for $95 bucks or so (factor in the ~20 for your transfer fee). Double Star, CMMG, DPMS, ect ect all make nice affordable lowers. CMMG has cheap parts kits, around ~55. You'll need a buffer tube and stock, that you should be able to find over on arfcom for a reasonable price. Uppers vary quite substantially. Do you want M4gery, Midlength, Rifle length? Are you looking for the absolute cheapest upper + BCG? Honestly, the sky is the limit on uppers, there are so many flavors, you need to narrow down what you're looking for there. Figure an upper is going to run you ~400-500ish for a decent one.

Since we don't know what a new ban will look like i would focus all my attention on getting a lower receiver. As you know, that is what is considered the actual firearm, so assuming there is a grandfather clause, that's what you're going to need to make it "pre ban". Again, that is only speculation on my part since we don't know what a new ban would look like, if there even is one.

Damn shame you had your head in the sand on this one, Aloharover (member here) is a dealer in the springs and he ran a pre election sale on complete rifles for $715 out the door. Now i just wish i bought more of them.

Good luck, and keep your eye open for deals.

[jobhater]

You hit on something that I was thinking...buying the lower first since that would be the part to be banned, if there is a ban. I was actually thinking that I should get the lower and a bunch of magazines. Then, once I can afford it, get a good upper. There are soooo many parts, though. Its a little overwhelming. I don't think I want to get a stripped kit, because I'm too much of a newb. As stores catch up, (and my finances catch up), then I would look into buying a complete upper probably within a month or two (or with my tax refund).

[Sucka]

That's a good plan of attack. Do not forget, we DO NOT KNOW what a new ban would look like, if there is one at all. There might be thousands upon thousands of paperweights out there if the new law is written as such.

I wasn't into EBR's during the Clinton ban, but from how i understand it, all lowers needed to be built into COMPLETE firearms prior to the ban going into effect. Obviously enforcement of that is next to impossible, and the burden of proof rests with the government. That being said, you probably could get away with building lowers in the future IF there was a ban, however it might not technically be legal. Just something to consider.

Hi-Cap mags and a lower would by on my to get list if i was caught with my pants down so to speak right now. 10 mags per rifle minimum with spare parts to rebuild them as they wear out, there is no such thing as too many, but 10 would be a starting point.

Don't forget ammo. It isn't getting any cheaper, and it to is running scarce at the moment. Obama has supported taxation of ammo in the past, not to mention some ridiculous bill could be written about lead in ammo being hazardous to the environment , or whatever.

As far as a stipped lower, don't hesitate. There are tons of resources on the web, videos that walk you through it, and a whole bunch of local members who would be more than willing to assist you.

Probably sounds overwhelming right now, but the saying "you snooze you lose" has probably never rang so true when it came to firearms. Write your reps and let them know how you feel about gun control, and join pro 2A groups to ensure a ban NEVER reaches Obama's desk.

[jobhater]

I'm already starting to stock up on ammo for my other guns and some hi-cap magazines for my Para Ordnance. (wanted them anyway...this election pushed me to go ahead and get them)

After I typed up that post, I realized that I will need to get ammo soon. I'll probably buy in bulk before getting an upper.

I guess this weekend, I'll be looking for a good deal on a lower. There is a gun show next weekend in COS. Are gun shows good for getting lowers & magazines? Or do they tend to jack up prices? (I will also be looking online for used this weekend.)

And, if there isn't a ban...then thats great! I won't feel bad at all for spending time and money on an AR15. I have a feeling that the cost of ammo will make me feel the worst.

[Sucka]

All reports from the fun shows have been jacked prices galore. A few of the good guys supposedly had good deals for the show right after the election, but have since run out of stock, or adjusted prices accordingly. Doesn't hurt to check it out, but don't be surprised to find nothing available, or items at insane prices. I haven't been to a show in probably 6 months, and even then prices weren't anything to write home about. Get there early and hope for a diamond in the rough.

[banks74]

If I were you I would buy a lower reciever and a cache of magazines and ammo. I know Jensens had Tac Innovations Billet lowers in stock for $250 ish. Alot for a stripped lower, but being billet makes it more $cheese. I really like their billet lowers as they have some cool features, and they are the same price give or take a few bucks since the before the election.

[jobhater]

Banks74, what makes the billet so much better?
Due to change in finances, I'm only looking for a lower now & magazines. :-(

[banks74]

There is a big debate about this. If you google it you will find some of them. I personally don't think billets are "so much better" than forged. From my expierence with them (I only have expierence with Tactical Innovations Billet lowers), I would say the only things advantageous about them would be the finish is superb as is the lower itself. (Very clean lines) A few of the built in features are nice, like the built in trigger guard, the little set screw on the back of the reciever to hold the spring and plunger. The price is alot more because there is more time on the machines with a billet vs. a forged lower. The price while expensive usually means they don't sell as fast and therefore there is a good chance someone has them in stock. For example Jensens is out of every forged lower, but they have a few of these left.
Basically I would just ask yourself if you want a receiver right now and if you are willing to pay the extra coin for it, buy one, or if you are fine waiting a while, for someone to get some back in stock at a reasonable price then buy a forged for alot less. Can't go wrong either way in my opinion. As long as you stick with a quality company you can't go wrong with either option.

[Colorado Osprey]

Something else to ponder.


If you buy a stripped lower find a friend and assemble your lower into a complete gun with their parts and take a photo on a newspaper to prove that the weapon was assembled into a firearm. This will be proof that it was a comlete firearms assembled before the ban if in fact they don't get grandfathered. During the 1994-2004 ban, even if you owned a stripped lower before the ban you were not allowed to assemble it into pre-ban configuation after the ban was in effect. BUT.. pre ban guns were allowed to be switched from pre to post to pre-ban configuarations because they were already "evil."

Once you have the proof that it was assembled into a pre-ban before the ban, you can give all the stuff back to your friend. During the last ban, once the ban took effect prices plummeted on pre-ban kits as you weren't allowed to put them on new recievers. If the ban is similar to the last one time may be on your side if you just buy a lower.

I'd have to say that the days of $500 AR's are looong gone though.

Shoot, $100, $200, $300 and $400 AK's are a thing of the past too.