$500 to spend for first AR...what do I spend it on?

[TFin04]

Used? New? Build my own?

My friend picked up a nice condition used Bushmaster for $500, would that be advisable?

I'm looking for a 16" barrel, 5.56 model with standard iron sights. I plan to buy the Magpul polymer mags for them, heard great things there.

Thanks fellas!

[Minuteman]

Originally posted by TFin04


My friend picked up a nice condition used Bushmaster for $500, would that be advisable?



Yeah! Great deal. Get that if you can.

Or build your own. Troll the Equipment Exchange at www.ar15.com for complete uppers. Get a lower and slap the two halves together. You only save about $50 or less by acutally assembling the individual parts your self. If you have to buy tools and a book that eats up the savings vs buying complete uppers and lowers.

You can get an assembled lower from CMMG for $189, minus stock and grip. I think it's $269 with. Get a used stock from ar15.com and you could get a new one for around $500

:patriot:

[TFin04]

Thanks for the heads up. I will be heading to that gunshop he got it from to see what is on the floor. They only resell guns and sometimes have good deals. Most of their prices are average at best, but a gem comes through there every now and then.

[Ghost Tracker]

I just "finished" my first AR build (if anyone is EVER completely finished) and careful, patient shopping allowed me to get MUCH higher quality components than I could've afforded otherwise. For example...

Complete RRA 18" Varmint upper (inc. Harris Tilt Bipod) $450 vs $750
Jewell Two-Stage Match Trigger $150 vs $215
Ace Full Size Skeleton Stock (inc. Spring & Buffer) $ 70 vs $125

All these parts were "as new" but I saved 30-40% just by being willing to watch & wait. The trick is - do your HOMEWORK & know EXACTLY what you want before you go shopping. The only three things that I bought at (brand-new) retail price was my Stag (stripped) Lower, my Bushnell 3200 Elite Scope & my Leopold Mark V Tactical Scope Rings. Everything else was bought "slightly used" from the Classified Ad section of several different Gun Forums.

For me, shopping/buying/building is HUGE fun...almost as much as shooting the thing. Enjoy Yourself!

[aaronrkelly]

I just built two rifles, I have $590 in each of them.

They were both built by purchasing rifle kits from Model1Sales. This is everything EXCEPT the lower receiver. You purchase it elsewhere. With the kit and the lower receiver you have everything you need to build a gun. It takes about 45 minutes at the kitchen table with a hammer and a few punches. There is a few guides over at AR15.com if your interested.

I bought Superior Arms lower receivers off Gunbroker for $94 each shipped.

Rifle kits from www.model1sales.com

The first one I built - 16" A2 CAR

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w193/aaronsguns/All%20Guns/S-15.jpg

Second - 20" A2 rifle

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w193/aaronsguns/All%20Guns/S-1520inch.jpg

I have over a thousand rounds out of each gun with no problems.

[ReAX222]

Hopefully I going to start peicing one together and I too can't drop the $1400 I want to spend on one in one stop. My plan is to order a RRA NM lower first, and hunt for an upper that meets the specs I am looking for. If I can't find what I want, I'll end up building it. The big thing I am after is not buying the same part multiple times to get the rifle I want.

[Akita]

+1 on buy the Bushy @ $500. Cant go wrong there.
Otherwise build your own.

[p7k3]

When looking for used or new deals go on www.elitedealseeker.com to the gun parts page. You wil get all the latest listings of all the for sale parts on the major gun boards. Saves a bunch of time going to each site.