Looking for 1st AR15 recommendations

[BadShot]

AR's come in a bunch of flavors and configurations. You've got a really good price range for a quality rifle. Nothing wrong with building one, just use quality parts not cheapest you can find.

Think of these like cars.. sure you can get a Yugo and it'll do what you basically want, but reliability and longer term costs will not really be worth the money you might save up front.

Take some time and read Rob's post here: http://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=6642

He's taken the time to assemble some great data and take input from folks that know these weapons inside and out. So here are some "brand names" to consider that fall well within your price range.

Traditional:
Daniel Defense
Saber Defense
LMT
Noveske
Bravo Company Manufacturing
Colt

Piston:
LWRCi
PSW
Ruger SR556

Those are the big boys.. they all make a great product and have an excellent reputation within the AR community. You get a absolutely reliable weapon with a great company to back it up if something does go wrong with it. After those, well, while I'm not a massive fan of the "Chart" that Rob created, you can see for yourself where the quality differences are in the likes of DPMS, RRA, Bushmaster and others.

[KL7]

Thanks for all the great information. I've been reading all the links. Now I just need to make up my mind what I want to do and start ordering.

[tmckay2]

i personally got two bone stock delton ar15's when i first started two years ago. first a 20" kit, then a 16" kit. you can mess with the kit to how you like it, picking all the options, but i wanted it cheap, and i think i got each for like 600 even. then i upgraded things as time went on. don't get caught up in high end brands early on. if they are better, its not by much. that being said, never go completely cheap in the ar15 world. delton is cheaper but still very reputable and have great customer service. the problem is their rifle kits may be back ordered if they are still reeling from the obama craziness. but i love both of mine, never had a single issue.

when i got mine i had never had a gun, ever. i had hardly shot one. but i went on youtube and they show you how to put the lower together. i think its nice to do this because you become very familiar with the ar15 and how it works. its also very simple. took me like an hour the first time. just need a few punches, hammer, pliers, etc. basic tools. i didn't get any fancy tools although these would be nice if youre messing with the upper. the lower you don't need them. you just need to pay close attention to protecting parts of the rifle so it isn't scratched for dented while putting in pins, etc.