Any recommendations for a beater AR?

[SlightOpinion]

I want something stupid. I want something I can mess up enormously. I want something I can try absolutely horrid things out on and see what happens. I've already got myself an actual "this is my gun" ar 15, but I don't wanna fiddle around with a drill press making experimental lightening holes, or carve little wooden parts, or anything like that, when it comes to my primary defensive long arm. Does anyone have recommendations for the he absolute cheapest way to legally get my hands on a nominally functional AR platform gun?

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[Camelfilter]

Classifieds on here, or buy a lower online & build one...

 

[obesechess]

Classifieds on here, or buy a lower online & build one...

Yeah, DIY is probably the way to go. PSA is selling stripped lowers for $30 right now and a few other spots have been cleaing out inventory at insane prices this past few weeks.

 

[titsonritz]

If you can't find a cheap POS AR you're not looking very hard, they are literally everywhere.

 

[ZA_Survivalist]

PSA is a good option. Very affordable and unless you compete or run the gun above typical plinking use, it will hold up fine.
There are horror stories about breakages but PSA will typically make right on issues and you can always replace something that could break.

Current trend is to crap on PSA, I own many of their products and have quite a few rounds down range on some of my earlier purchases. They work fine for what they are.

My focus was your question of affordable low cost AR.. PSA fits that role.

 

[Onstep]

BCM makes an excellent beater rifle. Designed for abuse and neglect.

 

[WSavage]

PSA really has the market for cheap stuff that actually works well.

 

[MikeInOr]

Check the dumpsters behind the local gun stores.

 

[OrPackrat]

Palmetto State Armory.

You can get budget to nicer platforms and with the inexpensive ones. Not feel bad about beating on it...

 

[EK9mm]

PSA complete lower and a used Aero upper would be my suggestion.

 

[Aught Six]

Was building them for $350, before the dark times, before the inslee.
Buy pieces and some assembly required. Its easy I did it for decades in he army.

 

[arakboss]

If you're going to butcher it up you might as well start with something that deserves butchering.

This complete lower for $50 plus a sub $200 BCA upper and you're ready to go for about $250.

RT15-POLY-CL-A RT15 Poly Complete Lower Receiver

Buy RT15 Poly Complete Lower Receiver Online Now!

www.ammunitiondepot.com

 

[arakboss]

Something to consider is that many budget AR15s have been sold in the $300 to $350 range. That means there should be lots of them hitting the used market for less than that. For some reason though, you don't see them priced below $300 used very often? I suspect $250 to $300 is near the floor for used AR15 prices.

 

[titsonritz]

If you're going to butcher it up you might as well start with something that deserves butchering.

This complete lower for $50 plus a sub $200 BCA upper and you're ready to go for about $250.

RT15-POLY-CL-A RT15 Poly Complete Lower Receiver

Buy RT15 Poly Complete Lower Receiver Online Now!

www.ammunitiondepot.com

I would never buy this type of polymer lower, they fail too easily at the takedown pin/receiver extension interface. The only polymer lower worth considering is the integral stock type from KE Arms, which have become stupid expensive since the whole WWSD thing.

KE Arms - KP-15 WWSD DIY #1-61-01-018

#1-61-01-018 - KP-15 WWSD DIY

www.kearms.com

 

[arakboss]

I would never buy this type of polymer lower, they fail too easily at the takedown pin/receiver extension interface. The only polymer lower worth considering is the integral stock type from KE Arms, which have become stupid expensive since the whole WWSD thing.

View attachment 2111892

KE Arms - KP-15 WWSD DIY #1-61-01-018

#1-61-01-018 - KP-15 WWSD DIY

www.kearms.com

I may have misunderstood what the OP wanted. It seemed like he wanted something cheap that he could hack up and put back together with wood pieces. No reason to put an aluminum lower through that torture again, I've already sacrificed one forged lower.

 

[arakboss]

$350 is easy. Buy a complete AR15 from ACI, BCA, Radical Firearms, Anderson, etc.

$300 Every once in a great while you can find one of the above rifles in this price range.

Or buy a complete $100 lower and complete upper from numerous different suppliers. This can be done almost all the time these days.

$250 Buy a $30 Anderson lower and rifle build kit for $220 or less. You'll likely have to source the build kit from one of the sketchier suppliers.

$200 find someone who built a $250 rifle from above category, got tired of it and is now selling it for $200. You might be waiting for awhile if you try this option.

I would place a WTB ad with your criteria and budget and see if some seller will take pity on you.

 

[arakboss]

$350 is easy. Buy a complete AR15 from ACI, BCA, Radical Firearms, Anderson, etc.

$300 Every once in a great while you can find one of the above rifles in this price range.

Or buy a complete $100 lower and complete upper from numerous different suppliers. This can be done almost all the time these days.

$250 Buy a $30 Anderson lower and rifle build kit for $220 or less. You'll likely have to source the build kit from one of the sketchier suppliers.

$200 find someone who built a $250 rifle from above category, got tired of it and is now selling it for $200. You might be waiting for awhile if you try this option.

I would place a WTB ad with your criteria and budget and see if some seller will take pity on you.

This rifle kit is $200 with code 20off. Add a $30 lower and you have a $230 AR15.

16″ .223/5.56 Black Friday AR-15 Rifle Build Kit

Shooting steel case ammunition through our products voids ALL warranties!!! Legal Restriction: Durkin Tactical is currently using a third party vendor to verify the legality of our parts.

www.durkintactical.com

 

[obesechess]

Something to consider is that many budget AR15s have been sold in the $300 to $350 range. That means there should be lots of them hitting the used market for less than that. For some reason though, you don't see them priced below $300 used very often? I suspect $250 to $300 is near the floor for used AR15 prices.

gonna piggyback on this - if OP doesn't want to DIY it, both Northwest Armory and J&B Firearms have very lightly used S&W MP Sport II's for sale right now for $400-450, and I believe the ones at NWA have mild upgrades (LPVOs and/or better furniture). Strongly considering one myself while I assemble parts for my first build.

 

[arakboss]

gonna piggyback on this - if OP doesn't want to DIY it, both Northwest Armory and J&B Firearms have very lightly used S&W MP Sport II's for sale right now for $400-450, and I believe the ones at NWA have mild upgrades (LPVOs and/or better furniture). Strongly considering one myself while I assemble parts for my first build.

"Does anyone have recommendations for the he absolute cheapest way to legally get my hands on a nominally functional AR platform gun?"

It looks like OP wants the absolute cheapest way to get a rifle he could tweak on.

 

[obesechess]

"Does anyone have recommendations for the he absolute cheapest way to legally get my hands on a nominally functional AR platform gun?"

It looks like OP wants the absolute cheapest way to get a rifle he could tweak on.

you are correct, sorry, been a minute since I read the original post.