Need help! looking to buy my first AR15

[birdhousepdx]

Hello fellow board members. Im in need of some help. Im looking to buy my first AR15 but here's the catch I only have about 750 bucks to work with, and with my first child due to be delivered at any time 750 is my max. I dont really know very much about them, i have shot a m&p15 and a sig and liked them but out of my price range. Any help on a decision for a budget AR would be great, wife gave me the ok on my dream weapon that i will only get one chance at. Just dont want a P O S. Thanks again.

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[eldbillbo]

http://www.northwestfirearms.com/rifle-shotgun-discussion/72812-official-ar15-type-rifle-personal-review-tread.html

http://www.northwestfirearms.com/general-firearm-discussion/76114-building-new-ar15.html

http://www.northwestfirearms.com/general-firearm-discussion/75476-whats-reasonable-ar15.html

http://www.northwestfirearms.com/general-firearm-discussion/37274-building-ar15.html

http://www.northwestfirearms.com/rifle-shotgun-discussion/28587-looking-buy-new-ar15.html

http://www.northwestfirearms.com/rifle-shotgun-discussion/34984-please-explain-twist-ar15.html

http://www.northwestfirearms.com/rifle-shotgun-discussion/42584-first-ar15-build-daniel-defense-magpul-etc.html

http://www.northwestfirearms.com/rifle-shotgun-discussion/4758-my-1st-ar15-build-advice.html

http://www.northwestfirearms.com/rifle-shotgun-discussion/12026-concidering-getting-ar15-suggestions.html


For $750 you can get a decent new one or or a very good used one here in the classifieds
also for $750 you can build a very good one yourself buy buying quality barrel and internals and skimping on furniture and receivers.

there are other things to consider . what twist rate , do you want a flat top or A2 or A1 upper. collapsable stock or A2 . 16 or 20" barrel chrome , chrome moly or stainless steel. do you want accurarcy over longevity . also remember if you buy a entry level Ar you can always upgrade parts later either get tools or make pals with someone who has tools . these things are so easy to build i am at the point i can do them blind folded

 

[Creeper]

Not much to add to eldbillbo's post... pretty much covered it all.

I will add, or rather corroborate, that if you are mechanically inclined, have some decent hand tools, some patience, want the most bang for your buck and want to know your rifle on a intimate level... build your own. You'll be glad you did.

Cheers,
C

 

[birdhousepdx]

So are all the uppers ind lowers interchangeable then? Ill just be target shooting and maybe home defense. It would be nice to get something that will hold up so that maybe in a few years i could start tricking it out. Im brand new to the firearm world so pardon my rookieness lol

 

[eldbillbo]

Pretty much . Some early colt upper and lowers have a large front take down pin. then later larger fire control pins
natrually a .308 upper won't fit a .223 lower however many different calibers offered in on the .223 platform like .300 black out, 6.5, 7.62x39 5.45x39 9mm .45 6.8spc ect.

not to mention a drop in .22 kits for the .223/5.56 platform that you can simply switch form .223/5.56 to a .22 rimfire by pulling the BCG and dropping the conversion kit i

but say if you started with really cheap rifle like a SSA or DTI you could later up grade the bolt assembly and barrel to make it a higher quality rifle. but personally with $750 i would be patient and comb the boards for a good deal to pop up it does happen every once and a while just 2 weeks ago there was a colt tactical carbine for $825 granted that was a little over your budget but that would last you your lifetime and make a fine rifle to pass down to further generations

 

[rockstardrnkr]

Doesn't fishermans have one for 670 or something close to that. 16" I know it comes on the great deals section sometime when they go on sale. but the sale price is only $10 off normal so really they are an inexpensive way of getting into an NEW Ar.

 

[slimmer13]

My buddy just built one with a SAA lower, DPMS LPK, Tapco 6 pos stock, Spikes upper and Troy 13" battle rail for $800.

 

[BAMCIS]

With all due respect birdhouse, with a kid on the way you may want to defer on making this purchase right now. In my opinion you'll need to spend a bit more than $750.00 for a decent gun. And don't forget of the cost involved to properly feeding this gun.

Yes, the parts are interchangeable, but keep in mind the parts MUST work in harmony with one another. Gun manufacturers put a lot of thought and engineering into their product. Will one manufacturer's part, say bolt for example, work right with say a buffer spring manufactured by another company? Will this buffer work properly with this length gas tube? Maybe yes, or maybe no. You won't know until you go to run it. If it does run then awesome! Good for you! But if it doesn't run right you're stuck with it. Then you go about changing parts until it does run right. By then you'll probably have as much into your gun as a top tiered gun would have cost you in the first place. Also be mindful of the resale value. You're going to have a much more difficult time selling a “frankengun” than one made from start to finish by a single manufacturer.

But if you are hell-bent on getting an AR now then do your own research. Eldbillbo gave some good places to start. You need to find “the chart” by “Rob_S” somewhere online. He originally posted it on the forum at m4carbine.net. “Rob_S” (aka Rob Sloyer) has been published in several gun mags and runs tacticalyellowvisor.net. The last time I checked he was forced to take down “the chart” by threatened legal action from one or more of the lower tiered gun manufacturers. It might be back up by now. I'm not sure. But if you can't find it but want to see it let me know and I'll see if I can get you a copy of what I have.

If you haven't noticed I have not recommended one brand over another. But I own three AR's, and they are all built by the same manufacturer.

Once you get a new gun you need to see it gets properly broken in.

Good luck in your search.

 

[lonegunman]

I'd hold off, stuff the 750 in the bank til after the kid arrives. Maybe tuck a bit more away and make sure the kid expenses are taken care of.


There is a ton of stuff in the $1000.00 dollar range that is top quality and with plenty of extras. If you have to scratch the itch now, buy a stripped receiver, pick up some mags, ammo and a couple of Mag-Pul goodies for your future purchase. If they re-elect Barry, prices will triple overnight, the socialists will be coming for guns asap. Having the receiver will insure you can build your gun in the dark years ahead.

 

[DieselScout]

Go to:

Curt's Discount Shooter's Supply
17843 Se Mcloughlin Blvd Suite 1
Milwaukie, OR 97267

Tell him your budget and tell him what you're looking for. I am sure he'll be able to help you out.

Here is his business review thread on this board.

 

[PDXSparky]

With all due respect birdhouse, with a kid on the way you may want to defer on making this purchase right now. In my opinion you'll need to spend a bit more than $750.00 for a decent gun. And don't forget of the cost involved to properly feeding this gun.

I agree. You don't need an AR at this point in time, but you probably should have an extra $750 saved for "just in case" because there are often unexpected costs after the baby arrives. If you don't need the money then, buy yourself some fun.

Also, in addition to gun food, you'll probably want to put an optic on it. That's going to cost you too.

 

[slimmer13]

Buy the AR. If you need to sell it later it would be a quick sell. Once your child is born, it will be a long time before you do anything for yourself again. Have a little fun in the meantime.

 

[eldbillbo]

Buy the AR. If you need to sell it later it would be a quick sell. Once your child is born, it will be a long time before you do anything for yourself again. Have a little fun in the meantime.

thats what i was thinking , Don't blow your dream on diapers .

 

[JAFO]

The Clackamas TheGunBroker usually has several ARs in stock. Go there and look at what they have and note the prices and some of the features you like about the guns. Then look around online. Plenty of the local dealers will do a transfer for you if you find something online that suits you more and the prices at TheGunBroker usually aren't bad if you find one there you want to leave with. You could also wait for an Expo or other gun show and go there to find one. Fort Moe Arms and Ortwein International are a couple good guys and there are plenty of other dealers around here who will treat you right.

 

[bruzer]

I hope I can say this without being offensive so here it goes.
Sounds like you have a good Wife who is trying to make her Husband happy before the birth of their child. Man up and take care of your family. Be a man, Husband and Father first and wait on an AR, especially a budget AR. Focus on your Wife and unborn child now. When you are looking back on 27 years of marriage with the same woman it is much more pleasant than remembering how much pain and suffering going through divorce was. Sorry but you will get more than one chance at your dream weapon since a budget AR is what you think you want right now. You will do what you want so my words are like the wind and I won't be offended if you don't listen to them but I will leave you with this, "Focus on your family right now. You are responsible for their success or failure. A Father should not take this responsibility lightly but embrace it and find joy and satisfaction in providing for his family." Wait on an AR for now. Once your family is taken care of there will be opportunities for a real AR in the future.
As far as the AR you want, that's easy, Noveske because they are made in my hometown and they are not a budget AR.
Good luck and stay safe,
Mike

 

[PX4WA]

a budget AR is a misnomer... the AR is the cheaper part, feeding it ammo over the years will cost a lot more...

wait until you can spend a bit more on what you really want...

don't even for a second think it will stop at 750... no sling? no mags? no optics? no bag?

WALMART sells a sig m400 with magpul furnmiture for 917 and includes a carry bag... best bang for your buck in my opinion, plus since it's factory it has lifetime warranty...

but on a different note, you are about to have a kid... get a handgun if you don't have one... more important for home/self defense...

and until your kid is much bigger, you won't have much time to use your AR anyway... unless you don't plan on spending time with your kid...

sounds like a few here don't have children... but us that do know it takes most of your time away...

congrats on the growing family...

 

[Ironbar]

Everyone always says, "build your own", but nobody ever explains HOW TO DO IT!

 

[birdhousepdx]

Went to kurts discount getting a surplus ammo and arms on tuesday. Thanks for the help.