What is the best AR15 for under $850?

[DubC-Hicks]

The title pretty much says it all. I'm kinda on a budget and I'm looking for my first AR. I've found a Stag model 2 and 3, a few del-tons, some DPMS's and a few others. Also, do any of you have any experience with Rocky Point Guns? They are selling some of their AR's for $700-800. Any suggestions? thanks in advance

[Bigfatts]

The best AR under $850 is the one you piece together yourself. My gun:



DPMS 16" heavy SS upper: $440 on sale
Del Ton stripped lower: $120 in a local shop
SS lower parts kit: $55
M-4 4 pos stock: free give away

Total: $615

It took me roughly 40 minutes to put together the lower, and that's never having touched an AR lower before, it's easy. Had I bought this gun in a local shop it would have cost me $1000+ easy. So put one together yourself. In addition to saving you money, you learn the inner workings of the platform. It's a great learning experience.

[ronl]

Classic Arms has an AR from a new manufacturer in NC for $699. Might be worth a look.

[gearchecker]

BAGFATTS,
Your AR is sweet!

Dub-c,
I agree that building your own is the way to go if you possibly can.
If you want ready built DPMS is pretty good, but certainly not Rock River quality. Classic Arms is agood call too. They're a good platform to start with and they'll leave you some money for all the ammo you're going to end up buying. Once you start shooting it, the ammo will keep your wallet pretty thin.

Best wishes on your future acquisiton. Post pictures when you get it together.

Regards,
Gearchecker

[Huskerguy]

I have a Stag and it is a very solid AR - absolutely no complaints. It is accurate and never misses a beat. Around here you can pick up a S&W M&P for under $800 and it is a nice AR as well. Prices are coming down pretty quickly in my area.

[Quentin2]

Well I assembled mine last August/Sept. and it came in around $800 including carry handle sights, 1 magazine and a GI sling. Very happy with it and today I could do it for less. If not in to building then look at the Spikes Tactical LE carbine or middy.

[Zhillsauditor]

Around here you can pick up a S&W M&P for under $800 and it is a nice AR as well.

As an AR newbie, I recently purchased a used DPMS with a bunch of extras recently (including 1,250 round of (brass) ammo) for $1,000. However, it is not the quality of the M&P, which I think a lot of after handling a friend's.

AR prices are down, and probably going to stay that way for awhile as demand falls.

[10-96]

Does CMMG still have rifles for sale in their Bargain Bin? I've never seen any junk come from there. $599-$699.

[MosinM38]

I think you can get Doublestars for $850?

I assembled an AR15: Doublestar lower receiver and Bushmaster upper: $740 including shipping.

Next plan is a Doublestar Lower and a 16" mid length upper.

[Longdayjake]

I think CMMG or double star (j&t distributing) will give you what you want. After dealing whith crappy Deltons and DPMS's I just can't recommend them.

[kx592]

Bushy xm-15 for 889 OTD local shop from me

[WhyteP38]

Used to be, Umlaut Arms sold Stag uppers separately from Stag lowers, which saves you about $100 in tax because the lower receiver is the federally taxed item. Just push in 2 pins and you have a complete rifle. I did things that way.

If possible, in your situation, I would order my upper and lower receivers separately. I'm not sure Umlaut does it any more, but a little web surfing should locate what you need. I know other places used to do something similar with other brands. Or search Gunbroker for them. Or you could buy an assembled upper from one place and an assembled lower from another to accomplish the same thing. I did it that way once as well. By the way, the assembled upper [xxxxx] can be shipped right to you, no FFL (and associated fee) needed.

[Palmetto-Pride]

For the money I would go with a S&W M&P 15, Stag, or Spikes....just my .02

[Denny Hansen]

With mil-spec parts, MP tested bolt, etc. it will be very hard to beat this:
http://www.spikestactical.com/z/inde...roducts_id=443

Denny

[Quentin2]

By the way, the assembled lower can be shipped right to you, no FFL (and associated fee) needed.

I'm sure this was just a typo, anyway just in case to clear it up for someone new - this is true of the upper and almost every other part except a complete or stripped lower (which must be purchased or transfered via an FFL).

[ISC]

This is the cheapest way to buy a new AR:

1)Go to http://www.classicarms.us/ or another reputable wholesaler. The bargain bin AR from CMMG I got was quite good, but that was a limited time deal.

2) Find a local FFL holder who will do a transfer for you ($20 is a pretty common fee)

3) ask him to fax a copy of his FFL to the wholesaler or give you a photocopy to fax/email/mail

4) pay classic arms directly. You shouldn't have to pay any tax unless they are located in your state.

5) wait for the FFL to notify you that your gun arrived, do the transfer paperwork, pay the fee and pick up your gun.

A rifle that wholesales for $700 like this AR 15:


will retail for at least $850 instead of the $699 it wholesales for. In addition to that, usually the dealer will keep the extras like the hardshell case, carry handle, magazines, sling, and cleaning kit and sell them seperately, maybe offering them as a "shoooter's package" for $75-$100 extra.

On top of that, the dealer has to charge sales tax. Here's how the price for the same rifle compares:

transfer....................retail
$700----rifle...............$850
0.00---acc...............$75
$0.00---tax................$55
$20-----transfer..........N/A
$720----total---------$980

Even if you manage to talk the salesman down $50 that's still over a $200 difference.

Here's how they describe it:

THIS NEW AR-15 SEMI-AUTO, .223 CALIBER RIFLE IS MADE RIGHT HERE IN N.C. BY A NEW MANUFACTURER CALLED ROCKY POINT GUNS. WE HAVE KNOWN THESE GUYS FOR YEARS AND THEY ARE VERY METICULOUS AND DETERMINED TO PUT OUT A GOOD PRODUCT. IN MY OPINION THEY HAVE. THESE RIFLES ARE ASSEMBLED IN A STATE OF THE ART FACILITY AND PRECISION ALIGNED FOR THE TIGHTEST OF TOLERANCES. WE ARE EXTREMELY IMPRESSED WITH THIS RIFLE, AND YOU WILL BE TOO. BEST OF ALL THIS RIFLE INCORPORATES TONS OF HIGH END FEATURES AT A BARGAIN BASEMENT PRICE.

HERE IS WHAT YOU GET.

THE AR-15 RIFLE YOU SEE ABOVE IS KNOWN AS THE LE-15 CARBINE. IT INCORPORATES A 16.5 INCH M-4 BARREL WITH A BIRDCAGE FLASH HIDDER. RIFLE COMES STANDARD AS A FLAT-TOP BUT SHIPS COMPLETE WITH THE A-3 REMOVABLE CARRY HANDLE SO YOU HAVE THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS FOR EITHER MOUNTING A SCOPE OR OPEN SITES. RIFLE ALSO FEATURES A 6 POSITION COLLAPSABLE STOCK AND COMES COMPLETE WITH 2 NEW 30 ROUND MAGS, A CLEANING KIT AND A BLACK NYLON SLING. RIFLE INCORPOATES A 1 IN 9 BARREL TWIST. UNIT SHIPS IN A BLACK PLANO BRAND HARDSHELL CASE AND CARRIES A LIMITED LIFETIME WARRENTY. WE HAVE TREMENDOUS CONFIDENCE IN THIS RIFLE AND WILL PUT IT UP BESIDE ANY .223 CAL AR RIFLE ON THE MARKET FOR QUALITY, RELIABILTY, AND ACCURACY. WE STAND BEHIND IT COMPLETELY, JUST DON'T ASK US TO STAND IN FRONT OF IT. WE HAVE THEM IN STOCK NOW AND READY TO SHIP. AS THESE THINGS GET POPULAR AND THE DEMAND TAKES OFF, I HAVE A FEELING THE PRICE MAY RISE, SO DON'T DELAY.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS GREAT OFFER NOW...

ITEM # RPG-LE15......................................$699.95 -

[WhyteP38]

I'm sure this was just a typo, anyway just in case to clear it up for someone new - this is true of the upper and almost every other part except a complete or stripped lower (which must be purchased or transfered via an FFL).

You are correct, sir. What I should have written was "upper." Also, I should have specified that the lower and anything attached to it, including the upper, is taxed. Thus, the less attached to the lower, the less tax you pay.

[WhyteP38]

This is the cheapest way to buy a new AR:

Looks interesting. My concern would be with buying from a relatively unknown assembler. It often happens that a barrel marked "5.56" really isn't, or that the carrier key is not properly staked, or that the bolt is cheap. I am not aware of this assembler (RPG), so I'm not aware of any way to determine the quality of the build or the components. It could be very good, very bad, or in-between. I'd do some research first before buying.

At a minimum, I'd contact Classic Arms and ask a few questions.

[WhyteP38]

Umlaut Arms is still selling assembled Stag uppers and assembled Stag lowers separately. A 1H or 2H upper is $500, and a lower is $275.50. That does not apparently include any taxes, shipping, or FFL fees.

http://shop.umlautarms.com/Stag-Arms_c10.htm

[deadcoyote]

Build your own, it'll teach ya something and save you money.

[cwb]

oly arms k16.....thats going to be my next buy for hunting yotes

[Beentown71]

Here is a respectable price. I have not owned a Delton but my friends love theirs for the price.

http://www.aimsurplus.com/catalog.aspx?groupid=11

Black or olive drab.

Beentown

[Zhillsauditor]

Aim is sold out.

[specoperator]

I would have to agree that the cheapest way to get a quality ar is to assemble it yourself. You can look here in thefiringline sale area or gunbroker.com. My only warning is to buy a complete upper but ensure the carrier key is properly staked. If you're unsure you can google images and compare or take it to your local gunsmith. Lower parts kits (LPK) are cheap and easy to install. There's even plenty of videos on the web ( think YouTube) that show how to do the assembly. I know I built a $2400 ar for around $1500 so it does work out to be cheaper.

[Xfire68]

Got mine for $775! DTI 16" A2 DT-4.

I have to take more pictures with the EoTech HOLOgraphic Weapon Sight on it!