Entry level AR

[DenverGP]

I've got that PSA kit that Big John linked bookmarked. Looks like a pretty good starting point.

[SideShow Bob]

Using the PSA sales, just be patient, you can put a complete lower (BlackHawk edition) barreleled mid-length upper (standard not PTAC) and standard BCG (also not PTAC) plus a MagPul MBUS gen 2 rear sight (from the trading post) all for under $500 under $600 with a Vortex StrikeFire rot dot optic.
. That was last spring to early summer. Their prices are all still in the same range, so you should still be able to build (put together) an AR for the same amount of cash out lay, you just have to catch their sales. Heck PSA evan has Valentine's day sales and specials.

[TheBelly]

What in particular makes the BCM upper higher quality? AR quality has always baffled me, so many parts look the same from the low end to the high end.

I'm sure I'll later upgrade some of the parts of whatever AR I get (better trigger, ambi controls, charging handle, sights/optics etc)

Saw a few melonite/nitrided barrels, some googling tells me that a lot of people think it's a better option than chrome lined.

it's not that there is anything wrong with a home built gun. nothing wrong at all, in fact. I do it at least once every other month or so.

what a factory built gun can offer is fit and finish of teh final product.

[DenverGP]

I'll also keep a close eye on any deals from Winham, those look really nice to me.

Now I'll see how long I can wait for the deals to show up.

[DenverGP]

Just saw this deal, looks like right at $500 shipped when paying by credit card:
http://www.kygunco.com/kgc-ar-15-rif...on-stock-81426

Melonite coated barrel, 9130 Super Steel Magnetic Particle Tested Bolt (whatever that means), Looks like a decent gun, some comments seem to suggest it's basically the same gun as the bushmaster XM-15 (made by Xtreme Machining in Drifting, PA, USA.)

[Tactical Joke]

I'd assemble a lower with a roll mark that you like and get a BCM upper for it. You'll pay a little more, but QC is worth it to me.

I have most of the tools you'd need to assemble your own upper, and I don't mind loaning them out if you want to try to build your own.


Get an Aero stripped lower, a stag lpk, a BCM stripped upper, barrel, and BCG, along with ALG Defense lightweight rail, and you'll have a very affordable rifle that will likely outlast you. Throw on an aimpoint patrol, and you've golden.

I admit, I'm an AR snob. The only thing remaining from my Rock River ARs is the lowers, and an upper that was stripped and converted to .22LR..--everything else is DD. The RRAs ran okay, but there were a lot of little details I didn't like. As was mentioned earlier, the higher cost is usually due to higher QC costs.

If its out of your budget, I understand, I'm not gonna put down anyone else's blaster. The great thing is that its pretty trivial to upgrade them if you decide you want something a little different. The hardest things to overcome I found so far are overtorqued flash hiders and barrel nuts.

[tim-adams]

my two cents..

use a mid length gas system.. the gun shoots a lot smoother..

[hurley842002]

my two cents..

use a mid length gas system.. the gun shoots a lot smoother..

I can only speak for my BCM middy, but I could never tell a difference between it and carbine length AR's, and I even had a muzzle device that should have assisted with what little recoil the AR had.

[Great-Kazoo]

I can only speak for my BCM middy, but I could never tell a difference between it and carbine length AR's, and I even had a muzzle device that should have assisted with what little recoil the AR had.

Likewise.

[huntnfishn5280]

My buddy and I both bought the Bushmaster ORC and are very pleased with it's performance. There is a $50 rebate until the 24th so If you pick one up on Gunbroker or PSA for mid 5's you should be in the sub 500 range. I think PSA had them for $500 yesterday but they sold out immediately. This is my first shots at 100 yards with cheap FMJ's and a 3x-9x Burris.