$500-$800 build for a friend

LockedBreech · January 24, 2012, 12:53 AM

Hey all, I could use your help. Despite owning a very nice AR-15 I'm still very much a newbie to the platform. My buddy has this much to spend.

Uses of the gun: It doesn't need to be a killer SOPMOD combat carbine or a match-grade competition rifle for accuracy. He wants a basic, no frills AR that will shoot reliable and last a long time.

Minor stipulations:

Complete uppers and lowers preferred, not required.

The closer to 500-600 rather than 700-800 the better.

Both 16" carbines and 20" rifles are valid for consideration.

I very much appreciate your input

ripnbst · January 24, 2012, 01:54 AM

Palmetto State Armory

Pick One of These

Then get this, and you're into it for around $600-$700 depending on the upper you choose.

I've never run into ANYBODY who had anything bad to say about Palmetto State Armory and/or their products.

bejay · January 24, 2012, 09:00 AM

if your willing to assemble the lower would just probably buy a kit and a stripped lower 2 seperate orders should bring the cost down some.
http://palmettostatearmory.com/AR-rifle-kits.php
http://palmettostatearmory.com/index...r15-lower.html
another option would maybe be a complete polymer lower like the plum crazy or lw-15 usually 100-130 bucks and a complete upper instead of a kit.
http://newfrontierarmory.com/catalog...ducts_id=34089

tcritter · January 24, 2012, 04:26 PM

I have heard good things about the smith&wesson sport. It can be had for about 650 dollars. That is going to be next purchase.

Jayhawkhuntclub · January 24, 2012, 04:29 PM

Another vote for the S&W Sport.

shrewd · January 24, 2012, 06:57 PM

stag, works great for me, had the model 2 nib at a gun store for 700ish

Check used, a gun show maybe, or look at smith and wesson and palmetto

mdd · January 24, 2012, 08:24 PM

I would not bother looking at used guns. New AR-15 rifles are cheap but around here the used ones aren't. I guess everybody that got soaked for a grand on a dpms sportical during the Obama scare doesn't believe they are actually a $600 rifle. I bought two of the palmetto state armory lowers during their Christmas sale but for my cost to assemble it the way I want, I'll have roughly the same amount as buying a comparable assembled rifle straight from rock river. Assembling it though will be an excellent learning process and so I'm looking forward to it.

madcratebuilder · January 25, 2012, 06:33 AM

Palmetto State Armory is the best deal on the market. You get as close to a mil-spec rifle as the AR15 gets. With a kit and stripped lower it's under $600.

January 24, 2012, 12:53 AM	#1
LockedBreech Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 2009 Location: Rocky Mountain West Posts: 3,395	$500-$800 build for a friend Hey all, I could use your help. Despite owning a very nice AR-15 I'm still very much a newbie to the platform. My buddy has this much to spend. Uses of the gun: It doesn't need to be a killer SOPMOD combat carbine or a match-grade competition rifle for accuracy. He wants a basic, no frills AR that will shoot reliable and last a long time. Minor stipulations: Complete uppers and lowers preferred, not required. The closer to 500-600 rather than 700-800 the better. Both 16" carbines and 20" rifles are valid for consideration. I very much appreciate your input Last edited by LockedBreech; January 24, 2012 at 12:58 AM.

January 24, 2012, 04:26 PM	#4
tcritter Member Join Date: August 11, 2011 Posts: 34	I have heard good things about the smith&wesson sport. It can be had for about 650 dollars. That is going to be next purchase. Last edited by tcritter; January 24, 2012 at 07:14 PM.

January 24, 2012, 01:54 AM	#2
ripnbst Senior Member Join Date: November 24, 2010 Location: Spring, TX Posts: 1,560	Palmetto State Armory Pick One of These Then get this, and you're into it for around $600-$700 depending on the upper you choose. I've never run into ANYBODY who had anything bad to say about Palmetto State Armory and/or their products.

January 24, 2012, 09:00 AM	#3
bejay Senior Member Join Date: August 22, 2008 Posts: 195	if your willing to assemble the lower would just probably buy a kit and a stripped lower 2 seperate orders should bring the cost down some. http://palmettostatearmory.com/AR-rifle-kits.php http://palmettostatearmory.com/index...r15-lower.html another option would maybe be a complete polymer lower like the plum crazy or lw-15 usually 100-130 bucks and a complete upper instead of a kit. http://newfrontierarmory.com/catalog...ducts_id=34089

January 24, 2012, 04:29 PM	#5
Jayhawkhuntclub Senior Member Join Date: December 13, 2007 Posts: 581	Another vote for the S&W Sport.

January 24, 2012, 06:57 PM	#6
shrewd Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 2010 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 306	stag, works great for me, had the model 2 nib at a gun store for 700ish Check used, a gun show maybe, or look at smith and wesson and palmetto

January 24, 2012, 08:24 PM	#7
mdd Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2010 Posts: 626	I would not bother looking at used guns. New AR-15 rifles are cheap but around here the used ones aren't. I guess everybody that got soaked for a grand on a dpms sportical during the Obama scare doesn't believe they are actually a $600 rifle. I bought two of the palmetto state armory lowers during their Christmas sale but for my cost to assemble it the way I want, I'll have roughly the same amount as buying a comparable assembled rifle straight from rock river. Assembling it though will be an excellent learning process and so I'm looking forward to it.

January 25, 2012, 06:33 AM	#8
madcratebuilder Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2007 Location: Northern Orygun Posts: 4,923	Palmetto State Armory is the best deal on the market. You get as close to a mil-spec rifle as the AR15 gets. With a kit and stripped lower it's under $600.