First AR-15 recommendations?

jska

jska

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I’m going to heed everyone’s advice in my hi-point thread, and I’m going to pick up an AR-15 for HD in the next few months. It will probably be my only rifle for a couple of years, so I’m thinking in mind of reliability over bells and whistles. Budget of $500-800, 😎👍.
 
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For that price range I would lean towards a S&W MP15.

Or, learn the platform. Purchase a lower, a lower kit, and a completed upper from PSA and put it together yourself. Plenty of videos on youtube to lead you through the steps. I recommend this because it will show you exactly how it works, allow you to work on it/upgrade it as you please, and save money.

Some recommend a decent optic, which isnt a bad idea. I do not put as much weight on this as some because iron sights have been stacking bodies for centuries. Also, if this is a "home defense" rifle, then consider that the ranges you will be dealing with are generally going to be sub 25 yards or so. An optic wont hurt, dont get me wrong, but solid iron sights and practice and you will be good to go.
 


Lower for $60
Upper for $480
$540 for the parts, plus tax and transfer of the lower and you are in for around $600. The Magpul backup sights are not something I would want to rely on after a drop into a combat zone, but for practice, plinking, and home defense they would suffice until you decide on a red dot or whatever else. The railed upper will allow you to keep it stripped, or go full tactical timmy in the future.

That, and they look good.
 
For a home defense carbine, I would want the following.

1- relatively light weight and a “flat top” model with a built in rail.
2 - shorter barrel (say 18”). Easier to maneuver around corners in a house versus longer barrel models.
3 - dependable weapon mounted light on front, such as a sure fire. I prefer one that is activated by my hand squeezing a bulb switch at the front of the hand guard.
4 - dual magazines. Magpul makes some nice dual 30 and 40 rounders. Or single mag in the mag well and spare in a holder on the stock.
5 - an optic would be nice. I like the Holosun 510C GR
6. A sling.

Future add-on would be a suppressor. Just about all the AR’s come with a threaded barrel so you’ll be ready to add one in the future.
 
B00ger said:


Lower for $60
Upper for $480
$540 for the parts, plus tax and transfer of the lower and you are in for around $600. The Magpul backup sights are not something I would want to rely on after a drop into a combat zone, but for practice, plinking, and home defense they would suffice until you decide on a red dot or whatever else. The railed upper will allow you to keep it stripped, or go full tactical timmy in the future.

That, and they look good.
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Upgraded furniture and trigger. Plus the MBUS. Not a bad start at all.
 
BigWaylon said:
…and I bet you can find somebody in your area to help you assemble a rifle kit.
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@jska

Browse this thread if you want an idea of what it will take to finish it.

From rifle build kit and stripped lower to functioning AR-15

This is not a step-by-step guide on how to build an AR-15. But there have been several people recently asking about building their own, and lots of suggestions on how to to do it. So this afternoon I had my 12yo son attempt to assemble one with my guidance. Spoiler alert: what he didn’t know...
carolinafirearmsforum.com

I’d never even shot an AR-15 when I built my first one. You can do it.

If you get desperate, ride to Charlotte one day and we’ll have it done in <30 minutes. Or I’ll meet you at PHA (exit 84 on I-85), we’ll put it together and you can test fire it.
 
 
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You don’t have to buy a huge one. Even a smaller one could be repurposed down the road.

You could buy one of the locking security cabinets instead. Or just a hard-sided case with padlocks.

Or just one of the single rifle locking mounts where it’s visible hanging on the wall, but locked in place.

Or put it in a closet and put a better lock on that door.
 
As to a “starter” AR I’ll still point to the Barnes Precision Machine Basic Patrol Carbine … it’s a lot of carbine for maybe $800 street price if you find one. You get a solid carbine with a great rail, excellent barrel and slick NiB BCG that is made in NC and that only really needs sights of your choice, a couple mags and ammo and you’re good to go.

BPM/BPC -BASIC PATROL CARBINE – BPM

usamade-ar15parts.com usamade-ar15parts.com

As to locking one up … there is a newer combination lock for bikes that looks like a big cable tie … about 2 feet long … that you can run thru the open upper and out the mag well to secure it to an anchor point of your choice at home on in a vehicle. They work for other stuff also like expensive cooler and other toys.

www.ottodesignworks.com

OTTOLOCK

OTTOLOCK makes a full spectrum of portable locks that won't weigh you down. Our best-in-class, lightweight cinch locks are designed for bicycle, scooter, and outdoor quick stops to protect against opportunity theft.
www.ottodesignworks.com www.ottodesignworks.com
 
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I'd run a aero upper, and either build a stripped aero lower or run a psa lower for that budget
 
MadMardigan said:
Lower
149.99

Upper

189.99

Mags and Ammo

113.49

Red Dot

79.99

BCG
79.99

Charging Handle
49.95

So 750ish pending dealer xfer on the lower, but ammo, mags, red dot, and everything you need.
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Or buy this instead of the upper/BCG/CH in the list above:

www.combatarmory.com

Combat Armory AR-15 .556 - 16" LENGTH 1:7 TWIST W/ 15" SLIM M-LOK Hand-guard NO Assembly Required With BCG and Charging Handle

www.combatarmory.com www.combatarmory.com
 
In that price range S&W and Ruger come to mind, good rifles. Possibly even a Saint on a deal. You can also get some really good deals on LEO trade ins.
 
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You can get an IWI Zion for $800 as well, though I thought the fit and finish of the SIG M400 Tread was the better of the two. The SIG's handguard sucks, though.
 
jska said:
Well now I’m intrigued with building one
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It’s pretty straightforward AND gives you an inside look into how the AR actually functions. It is not always to cheapest way but you do get to select exactly what you want as far as parts go instead of buying a ready-made and swapping out various pieces which can actually end up costing way more than you realize.
 
a lot of good suggestions, I’d highlight the following:
-PSA (it works, can pick up a whole rifle for sub 500 if you watch the sales)
-Aero Precision (granted I have a personal preference towards them cause I could pick up their blems in house for cheap)
-S&W M&P sport. Have limited personal experience but have a lot of friends that bought them and like them. I’d watch for a sale on them honestly.

To make a better recommendation, is there a certain set up that you want? Do you want free float rials? Front sight base? Carbine midlength or rifle length gas system?

For home defense, I’d make the suggestion to build it out as a pistol instead of rifle. That way you can have it set up for home defense (pistol version) and just buy or build another lower as you have time/funds. Then once more time/funds come up, build or buy another lower for the rifle set up.rifle for awhile, personally I’d go with a mixture of PSA premium line

But above all else, go ahead and start stacking ammo and mags now. Closer we get to the election the more expensive and potentially harder it’ll be to find. We all remember the early days of Covid and the madness that ensued.
 
crazysarge16 said:
a lot of good suggestions, I’d highlight the following:
-PSA (it works, can pick up a whole rifle for sub 500 if you watch the sales)
-Aero Precision (granted I have a personal preference towards them cause I could pick up their blems in house for cheap)
-S&W M&P sport. Have limited personal experience but have a lot of friends that bought them and like them. I’d watch for a sale on them honestly.

To make a better recommendation, is there a certain set up that you want? Do you want free float rials? Front sight base? Carbine midlength or rifle length gas system?

For home defense, I’d make the suggestion to build it out as a pistol instead of rifle. That way you can have it set up for home defense (pistol version) and just buy or build another lower as you have time/funds. Then once more time/funds come up, build or buy another lower for the rifle set up.rifle for awhile, personally I’d go with a mixture of PSA premium line

But above all else, go ahead and start stacking ammo and mags now. Closer we get to the election the more expensive and potentially harder it’ll be to find. We all remember the early days of Covid and the madness that ensued.
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I’m a complete noob when it comes to AR-15s (family hates them and most guns) so I have no idea what that means, lol 😂. What mags and ammo would you recommend? @crazysarge16
 
Average Joe said:
Are you trying to get me to spend money? Cause that’s how you get me to spend money 🤣. I got an old beater truck that this would look lovely riding inside.
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My Combat Armory el-cheapo-priced upper is by far my most favoritist AR-15 I own. It “shouldn’t be”, but it is.

Before I upgraded the trigger I didn’t have $400 into that gun. And it didn’t NEED a trigger upgrade.

It was my first sub-$600 SBR, taxes included.
 
jska said:
I’m a complete noob when it comes to AR-15s (family hates them and most guns) so I have no idea what that means, lol 😂. What mags and ammo would you recommend?
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Some here are gonna say PMag then you’re gonna get some Lancer … and a few of us old guys will chime in with good old GI metal mags. Okay Industries (huge government and subcontractor for other firearms manufacturers) used to be my choice … especially their Surefeed … until they stopped production in ‘22. I put back a case of Okay’s when they announced they were stopping so I haven’t really thought about who I’d choose … so time to watch.

I will say for now if you see a sale on PMags buy 1 or 2 each time … you can’t go wrong with them. As to ammo … kinda sorta the same buy a box or two a decent quality brass cased ammo if you see it on sale at a decent price … prices are not likely going down much (if any) more and a firearm with no ammo is just a damp expensive hammer so start future proofing when you can and store it properly to protect it.

ETA … I would suggest look for a couple 20 round mags for when you may need a little more compact size (prone or bench work) than a regular sized 30 rounder. I actually even run 20 rounders in my HD carbine because of the size and for personal belief it feels more balanced.
 
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jska said:
Well now I’m intrigued with building one
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If you do, it won’t be your last one.👍

Want me to tell ya how it goes?

You pick up a couple stripped lowers, with the intent of buiding a rifle/pistol with one, then putting the other in the back of the safe. You start to accumulate spare parts, then you decide one day, “You know, might as well go ahead and build out that spare lower.”

Then you’re all, “I need to get another upper for that lower I just built and probably need to get a couple more stripped lowers to put back.”

Know how long those stripped lowers will stay stripped?

Not too long…..lol.
 
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Here is some YouTube videos to expand your knowledge. Granted, they aren’t the best but give you some basic information






So far as mags go, my personal preference is Magpul cause I can buy Gen2 for $9.99 at Fuquay gun or catch them for sale online and stack them deep. Starting out in the AR world, that is probably the best choice in my opinion.

Once you get yourself established (my personal preference is x7 loaded mags per rifle and as many as you can afford after that), then pick up some metal USGI mags. I’ve got a plethora of them from when I was in the Army, all still work for the most part and plus they just look better in certain guns (it is a crime to put a Magpul mag in a Blackhawk Down clone build)

Ammo wise, I mainly go with whatever brass I can find for the best price so long as it’s factory produced ammo and not reloads. I don’t have an AR set up for precision shooting yet, so having a stockpile of one certain brand and grain doesn’t mean a lot to me.
 
BigWaylon said:
Go ahead and buy 10 of these…


Code PMAG drops them to $8.99, and it’s free shipping for 10+ mags. That means <$100 delivered. Heck, use Sezzle for payment and pay ~$24 for four payments if you want.
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I don’t need more mags I don’t need more mags
$24 over x4 payments, wife will barely notice right?

@jska @BigWaylon just did a sweet AR pistol build and has pictures of same in my love the carry handle thread
 
I'd leave building one for later, personally. If you buy one there will be things you will notice that you'd like to be different. Make note of all of those and then when you build one make it exactly the way you like it.
 
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