Okay so a couple weeks back i was talking about whether to get the S&W M&P 15 sport ir the Bushmaster carbin 15 as my first AR. Overwhelmingly the S&W was recommended as was my assumption in the first place. However now I am thinking about buikding my first AR fir the experience and because I think its awesome. Also for pricing reasons. But I want to keep it sub 600$ otherwise I might as well buy the 15 sport because thats what I can afford. First of all, who has buikt a budget AR like this that is as good or better in parts than some of these bushmaster, s&w, ruger entry level ARs? Where did you buy your parts? Did you buy complete uppers and lowers and get sights and stuff or did you buy all the parts and assemble them yourself? What tools will I need if any? Thanks a ton guys.
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My first AR-15 rifle (build or buy)?
- Thread starter SigSlinger508
- Start date
For your budget check out palmetto state armory. I will start with telling you their shipping blows. Here's a complete rifle kit for $450. Barrel is chrome lined, forward assist and dust cover...unlike on the sw sport. The barrel and bolt are also better quality than the sw sport IMO. All you'll need is a lower, rear sight/optic and a muzzle brake.
http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/catalog/product/view/id/2279/
There's other good deals on palmetto but again, their shipping is often slow.
You can also check out radical firearms, they have good budget priced uppers both on their website and at primaryarms.
I would suggest buying a complete upper since its your first build. Down the line when your more familiar, you can build one.
If you buy a complete upper you shouldnt need any special tools to put together the lower besides a set of punches.
http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/catalog/product/view/id/2279/
There's other good deals on palmetto but again, their shipping is often slow.
You can also check out radical firearms, they have good budget priced uppers both on their website and at primaryarms.
I would suggest buying a complete upper since its your first build. Down the line when your more familiar, you can build one.
If you buy a complete upper you shouldnt need any special tools to put together the lower besides a set of punches.
He still would need lower, rear sight(I didn't see one on that PSA kit), muzzle brake - permanently attached, bayonet lug removed, stock pinned - with shipping costs/tools etc I think he's well over the price of the Sport - and btw I'd take the Sport barrel over that PSA barrel.
OP just buy the Sport, shoot the hell out of it and see what you like/want to change. Buy/build your next upper over time to the exact specs you want and slap it on your lower. Buy/build a lower to your exact specs and now you have two complete rifles.
I don't think you can build a rifle for 600$ or less that will match the quality or guaranty of the S&W sport unless you really take advantage of group buys. If you want experience by the sport put 2k rounds through it then do a complete detail strip down to the last little part then reassemble.
You might be able to build a 600$ rifle that is configured in such a way that the sport or any other 600$ AR doesn't have.
My latest build has started with (I swore off building another but still have to many parts)
Anderson Lower from group buy 53.50 shipped and transformed
RRA 2 stage national match trigger/lpk, group buy 125$ shipped
Used A2 complete stock kit. 40$
Anderson blem upper receiver 39$
Now its down to barrel/handgard/BCG
It's going to be a optics only gun. Thinking short barrel for 200yards and in.
Leaves me 342$ for barrel/BCG/HG/CH to keep me at 600.00 ?
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If you were to have 01 AR, I would still go with the Sport. I share the opinion that a parts gun that you throw together is exactly that: a parts gun.
IMHO, I would start with the Sport (it was my first AR as well) and then learn what you like and do not like about it. Also, parting togther an AR on a budget is fine for hobby, but will you REALLY be able to count on that gun if you need to especially since it will be your frist build? From there, feel free to build at your leisure with a second AR.
Another good thing about going with the Sport is resale value- People are more apt to purchase a complete M&P Sport at less of a loss to you then a franken-ar you tried to throw together on a budget.
IMHO, I would start with the Sport (it was my first AR as well) and then learn what you like and do not like about it. Also, parting togther an AR on a budget is fine for hobby, but will you REALLY be able to count on that gun if you need to especially since it will be your frist build? From there, feel free to build at your leisure with a second AR.
Another good thing about going with the Sport is resale value- People are more apt to purchase a complete M&P Sport at less of a loss to you then a franken-ar you tried to throw together on a budget.
KMM696
NES Member
For a budget rifle, buy the Sport. That PSA kit is a good one, but by the time you finish buying the rear sight or optics, a lower, a new muzzle brake and making it MA compliant you'll be over the price of the S&W and have spent some time spending without shooting. Assembling an AR makes more sense when the configuration you want doesn't exist, or isn't available MAssified. Any of the PSA barrels that FN makes for them are very good barrels - just don't buy their PTAC line. Buy the Sport, shoot it a lot, and then you can either upgrade the S&W, or build one up just the way you want it. ![[smile]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/001.gif "Smile [smile]")
You'll be amazed by the number of different suggestions you get when you post "I've got $1500 to spend on an AR - what do I need?" ![[rofl]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/013.gif "ROFL [rofl]")
You'll be amazed by the number of different suggestions you get when you post "I've got $1500 to spend on an AR - what do I need?" 
I would second the advice to buy the Sport. For the budget you are on the warranty alone is worth it.
I would add another reason though:
While constructing a 16" mid length AR pattern rifle is fairly straightforward, the possibility remains for problems. Without any experience with the platform you would rely on us to diagnose short stroking issues, over gassing, trigger malfunctions, or even head space, etc. These do occur more often on budget kit builds and PSA isn't exactly known as a bastion of high end QC.
Stick with the S&W for your first AR platform rifle and build your next five then discover that buying a BCM upper on pretty much any lower is a great way to go...
I would add another reason though:
While constructing a 16" mid length AR pattern rifle is fairly straightforward, the possibility remains for problems. Without any experience with the platform you would rely on us to diagnose short stroking issues, over gassing, trigger malfunctions, or even head space, etc. These do occur more often on budget kit builds and PSA isn't exactly known as a bastion of high end QC.
Stick with the S&W for your first AR platform rifle and build your next five then discover that buying a BCM upper on pretty much any lower is a great way to go...
I think this is one of the most simple guides on the AR assembly. You dont need a lot especially with the lower.
http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_3_4/226782_.html
Some of your questions:
budget build: I have done a few. From group buys on basic carbine uppers back in 2009 when a rifle was hard to find for a decent price. down side I waited a year for them.
USED AND DISCOUNT PARTS: built one from a colt upper kit that where selling for about 275.00 and a used lower. total for that build was 490$ but its a range beater and accuracy is horrible. the "new" barrel that came with the kit was just awful. rough machine marks you could see burrs down the barrel...but it was 275$ for the complete kit, minus the 2 mags they wouldnt ship to mass.
GUNS I BOUGHT VS build. RRA national match model in 2011 the rifle cost me 950$ shipped and transfered I could not get below 1200$ trying to build one.
Ruger 204: 1/3 the cost of buying THANK GOD I was able to unload it. Silly rifle unless you have a real desire for one. 24" heavy barrel is stupid if you dont have a use for it!
I did up a build list for the cheapest AR I could build using parts that I consider to be of the minimum quality to be worth me owning. Cheapest I can spec a rifle is $900. If you're looking to get a rock bottom budget AR, I'd definitely say buy one of a known quality like what you've been looking at. I built my first AR, but before optics I spent $1900 on it. If you want the best, build it. If you want cheap, get one off the rack.
Varmint
NES Member
I was gonna say the same thing, lol.
S&W has huge pricing discount due to their volume, you can't compete with that when building your own. Buy the M&P, and later, build a higher end AR when you know better what parts you like.
Good thing also about the sport is no muzzle device to worry about you can easily change out hand guards to free float if you like.
My buddy picked up the sport from 4season last year on special with the 420 round can of Fed m193 and a cleaning kit for 740$ out the door. He has done well with it. From minute of torso to getting nice 4" groups with A2 style sight on it shooting prone with a sling. He's just turned 3000 rounds and doing good.
My buddy picked up the sport from 4season last year on special with the 420 round can of Fed m193 and a cleaning kit for 740$ out the door. He has done well with it. From minute of torso to getting nice 4" groups with A2 style sight on it shooting prone with a sling. He's just turned 3000 rounds and doing good.
Any idea how mich the gun was without the ammo and cleaning kit included?
dcmdon
NES Member
I would not build a rifle with the budget you have.
You will end up with substandard parts and no warranty.
I'm not in any way saying it couldn't be done. (I've got a complete upper I picked up for $299 with BCG and it runs great in my machine gun. I actually picked up a second one for a friend. He backed out, so if you want it you can have it )
But once you build your gun, you are the manufacturer. (not legally) As such, any problems with it are your problem. This is particularly true if you build an upper.
The thing that keeps rolling around in my head is that for $600 spent on a Sport, you get a known reliable gun with a lifetime warranty.
For $600 on a build, you are buying tier 2 and tier 3 parts and then its your problem to get them to run properly together.
I'm not saying it can't be done. It could be fun.
It comes down to WHY. WHY are you choosing to build. If you are choosing to build because you want a certain gun, I'd say don't do it. If you are choosing to build because you want to enjoy the trip, then go for it.
Don
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Buy it.
I don't recall, but at the time I think they where still 600+
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I don't recall, but at the time I think they where still 600+
