AR newb questions

[spongejosh]

I built my first AR trying to keep it at $1000 but I went way over that. I think it's pretty good right now and I don't see myself selling it for another any time soon.

Have you ever shot an AR before? If you haven't played around with one before at the range it might be a good idea to try someone else's first and see what you like or don't like. Even if you buy a used one off here and shoot it for a while you won't really lose any money. A new rifle may be $1200 and be sold here used for $900. After you use it for a few months and decide you want something different, you can sell it again for $900 or trade for something else.

Building your own is a great experience and it really does help teach you how the rifle functions. However it could be a huge waste of time and money if you realize it's not your thing after shooting a couple times.

[dwalker460]

Just my .02cents...

Your first AR should be an off-the-rack fairly standard rifle, probably along the lines of a 16"bbl, A3/flattop with iron or BUS, nothing real fancy. Use that rifle to learn the weapon, and do practical research on what you might like by going out and trying bits in stores, shooting other folks rifles, etc. You may end up with adding optics, rails, etc. and never sell that simple rifle, or you may build something up from scratch, no way to tell at this point.

My personal observation is that once you decide to build a rifle STOP reading magazine article, reviews, and forum posts about components etc, otherwise you will second guess every part you buy and the rifle will never get built, or if it does actually get built, you will ponder the great reviews of X part vs the Y part you went with, which can lead a lot of weird places. Feature creep and tacticool rifle builds are fun to watch, but IMHO simple is usually better for my sanity.

[RonMexico]

If you want a solid ar for a steal of a price grab a Wyndham weaponry( old bushmaster owner). Sportsmans had them for749-849. If I need to build another rifle I would use this as my starting platform, if I wasn't going to build it from the ground up.

[Great-Kazoo]

Just my .02cents...

Your first AR should be an off-the-rack fairly standard rifle, probably along the lines of a 16"bbl, A3/flattop with iron or BUS, nothing real fancy. Use that rifle to learn the weapon, and do practical research on what you might like by going out and trying bits in stores, shooting other folks rifles, etc. You may end up with adding optics, rails, etc. and never sell that simple rifle, or you may build something up from scratch, no way to tell at this point.

My personal observation is that once you decide to build a rifle STOP reading magazine article, reviews, and forum posts about components etc, otherwise you will second guess every part you buy and the rifle will never get built, or if it does actually get built, you will ponder the great reviews of X part vs the Y part you went with, which can lead a lot of weird places. Feature creep and tacticool rifle builds are fun to watch, but IMHO simple is usually better for my sanity.

Thank you.

I don't want to buy crap or something I'll sell to replace. I want to do it right the first time

Eventually you will learn there is no "first time" when building an AR. Or doing it right the first time. There is point A then you evolve from there.
When able browse the firearm acc section AND firearms. You will see items that new went for a lot more then being sold for.
You can pimp you AR out and 2-3 weeks later ask yourself why? OR start at square 1 shoot the shit out of it and other peoples AR's see what you like, or don't then start on rifle #2, or 3.

[jreifsch80]

i built my first and only ar15 for about 550$... it's all colt except for the lower and furniture. colt a1 parts kit, colt 1/7 16 inch pencil barrel, model 1 sales car15 stock kit and triangle carbine hg's. it shoots very nice, just trying to tell you that quality can be had cheap if you don't mind used or surplus parts kits (if they can still be found)

[Great-Kazoo]

i built my first and only ar15 for about 550$... it's all colt except for the lower and furniture. colt a1 parts kit, colt 1/7 16 inch pencil barrel, model 1 sales car15 stock kit and triangle carbine hg's. it shoots very nice, just trying to tell you that quality can be had cheap if you don't mind used or surplus parts kits (if they can still be found)

OR having people sell you parts for the good deal.

[rpm]

I don't want to buy crap or something I'll sell to replace. I want to do it right the first time

Colt 6920

BAUUR

[ark3maxu5]

Amen to what everyone else has said about it being an evolution. I was thinking the same way you are several years ago when I was shopping for my 1st ar and have changed or upgraded so many things since then. The one thing I haven't regretted was starting with a quality base; Colt HBAR match. That being said, there are so many companies out there that build a quality product. Dpms is a great example of a rifle that can't be beat for the price, mine shoots 1/2 moa all day long with factory match ammo, definitely take a look at them. My two cents.

[Great-Kazoo]

I don't want to buy crap or something I'll sell to replace. I want to do it right the first time

Here is a pic with a few upgrades of another board members DPMS that i mentioned, walmart was selling for the right price. The sky's the limit. Buy a basic and the money you saved, buy AMMO!

http://www.ar-15.co/forums/showthread.php?t=57273

[ray1970]

Since it is your first one, I vote for buying a complete, ready to go rifle. $1000 gives you quite a few quality options for an "entry level" rifle. Just buy something basic first and then start upgrading it as you figure out what you really want. No need to sell that first rifle if you find it doesn't meet your needs. Just start changing things out until you get it like you want it. Keep an eye out for good deals on used parts when you start upgrading if you want to save a few dollars.

Whatever you do, have fun with it and be safe.