Budget AR, need some suggestions!

Dooran

Dooran

Regular
Rating - 100%
9   0   0
Location
Alberta
I'm doing a budget AR, my first AR!!!! I don't have a ton of cash and am trying to keep the cost down, figure I'll have some fun with this one and do one for $4k-$5k next summer. I just bought a Norinco CQA 14.5" from Marstar cause it was really cheap, be here next week! Looking to make some changes but nothing to expensive. I'm thinking of putting an optic on it but I'm not sure what I can get for $200-$300 that isn't a piece of junk, I've tried some cheapo red dots before and hated them. Any holographic one that are in that price range?

I'm looking to replace the forestock so I can put on a foregrip and maybe the stock and changing the pistol grip. I also need some super cheap plincking ammo, and LAR-15 mags.

this build is mostly for just having fun at the range, might use it to start 3 gun but just for fun never actually done 3 gun before.

I know there's a difference between $300 and $500 optics etc. but I really need to do this on a budget, any help and advice would be great!!! Thanks!!! :dancingbanana:
 
Although not holographic the Bushnell 1-4x PCL Throwdown scope is pretty solid for $300.

There are rails that replace the existing front stock using the existing delta ring setup, some minor fitting may be required. It won't be free floating though. If you want a free floating rail, you'll have some gunsmithing work to do.
 
I went the Norinco route the first time.
This allowed me to take the thing apart and screw with it without being too concerned with scratching or breaking anything.
I also went the cheap optic route the first time.

Since then I bought a nice Stag and built a Noveske exactly how I wanted it.

My advice is as follows. Spend as much as you can on quality optics.
If you need to wait a little longer and shoot the rifle with open sights till you can save up for a good optic.
I bought an EOTech and couldn't be happier.

The same goes for the rifle.
Don't start spending multiple hundreds changing everything on a Norinco just to go buy a better rifle down the line.
Spend the least amount of money on the Norc ou can and put the rest towards a quality rifle like a Stag or a Daniel Defense or something else.

As a side note not many here in Canada seem to buy a Stag but I was very impressed with the rifle I purchased.
Most on this forum recommend Daniel Defense and I also find them to be well built.
 
my advice is similar. keep an eye on the EE
fantastic deals show up for quality optics and firearms though the smoking deals, they usually only last a couple hours. minutes sometimes.
honestly why spend full price on a brand new optic/rifle etc when you can pic up a safe queen never used sight/rifle for a significant discount and hey there might even be mounts/ accessories included.
 
Do yourself a favour with ammo. Buy PMC bronze 223. It's mid priced but shoots exceptionally well. I've seen a free floated Norinco shoot 5 rounds 1 moa at 100 metres with this ammo using an inexpensive red dot. Cheap ammo loses it's appeal if it's not accurate.
 
Personally, if your vision is okay, I'd just use the irons until you can afford the optic of your dreams. You might even come to prefer the irons. I used an Aimpoint H1 last season, and this season I'm running straight irons. The A2 sights are much more useful than many people think, IF your vision is up for it.

If you're set on an optic, then as said above, consider the Bushnell TRS-25 and the Vortex Sparc. I've used both, and it comes down to what you want. Strangely enough, the Bushnell seems to have better overall reliability ratings. Lots of the Sparcs seem to go back for warranty. The glass on the Sparc is much better, but dealing with warranty and being without an optic is a PITA, even with the terrific Vortex warranty. BUT the Bushnell would require the purchase of a riser, which is included in the Sparc package.

You don't have to replace the forend to run a foregrip. There is a bolt-on lower rail that you can install on that M4 forend, and then mount the foregrip of your choice. Not the most elegant solution, but it is both cheap and effective. It's worth considering.

Yes, you'll probably want to swap out the pistol grip and likely the trigger guard, too. Those are both matters of personal preference.

The stock makes the least amount of difference between all of the mods you mention. It's also relatively expensive to replace. If it bugs you, you can tighten up the feel of the stock by layering the right type and amount of tape in the right location of your buffer tube. Again, not elegant, but it works.
 
Stupid question, I'm a newb to red dots and such, i have scopes for my rifles but nothing like this. I have a buddy that bought a cheap nc ctar red dot and it was terrible! you zeroed it and it didn't matter it was always off, you almost had to centre the red dot and then aim it(if that makes sense) to even come close if at all to the target, my newb understanding is this isn't an issue with an eotech holographic and I'm worried that a red dot will not be accurate. I checked out the bushnell Tr25 today and it was ok for cheap. I looked at these mini ones or whatever they're called and was told they're the same thing just as accurate, is one better than the other for accuracy or price?
first-strike
 
The reason your friend had trouble with his NCstar is because it was an NCstar. You might as well just throw your money in the toilet and flush.

I, for one, can't afford to spend $5-600 on an optic, even for my very custom DD, piston converted SBR. Not to mention, I just don't see the point. I don't rely on this gun to defend my life day in and day out. If I was going to war, id spend big bucks on an optic. For the range and 3 gun stuff my Vortex optics have all been great. I have a sparc now and really like it, I've had about 8 Srikefires and they were hit or miss. Some were awesome, some needed to be replaced quickly. That said, Vortex was awesome for replacement. Thought they weren't overly fast. I find a 1-4 optic to be my personal preference. A Bushnell AR optic is a good choice. I have one on my DD right now and its been excellent. Holds zero, its very clear, great features for the money. I had a Vortex 1-4 that cost more than double what my Bushnell cost and it wasn't any better IMO. Burris makes some good choices as well. Their Fastfire 3 is a great optic for the money. VERY small but works excellent. And their line of 1-4 tactical style scopes are great.

If your going to upgrade your Norc but plan to build a better gun down the line, consider buying parts for the norc you can eventually switch to the other gun. For instance, a stock. Sure, it may not be a huge deal but your going to want a good stock on your custom gun. So buy the one you'll want down the road and put it on the norc now. There are also lots of stocks and grips that aren't expensive but are still good. Magpul MOE stocks come up often on the EE for around $50. They may not be as good as a CTR but theyre better than the factory Norc stock IMO... I hate those ones.

The fore end is another story. Good ones cost quite a bit. Cheap ones are cheap. You can always put a cheap one on your norc now and get a better one for your new gun later. There are lots of reasonably priced rails out there that utilize the factory barrel nut so all you'd need to do is cut off the delta ring with a dremel and either shave down your A2 sight, or replace it with a different gas block (pretty easy to do at home) OR get a rail that goes around the A2 sight... which may require just cutting the delta ring off. OR, you could get a magpul for end that offers many rail options and looks pretty nice. They are drop in. If you match up all the magpul parts on the gun it can actually make it look pretty sweet. Even a norc.

I do agree with the other posters though, don't buy new stuff. The EE is FULL of great deals on barely used guns and parts. No point in throwing your money away unless you absolutely MUST have a certain part you can't find elsewhere. Even when you plan to build your own gun, you could look on the EE for a good staring platform that has the base components you want and just upgrade it from there. I started with a used but basically new DD M4V5 and have changed nearly everything on it. But I used the parts i took off to build other guns that I sold to recoup my money. And, it was fun. Now, I have my personal idea of the perfect AR.
 
Dooran said:
Stupid question, I'm a newb to red dots and such, i have scopes for my rifles but nothing like this. I have a buddy that bought a cheap nc ctar red dot and it was terrible! you zeroed it and it didn't matter it was always off, you almost had to centre the red dot and then aim it(if that makes sense) to even come close if at all to the target, my newb understanding is this isn't an issue with an eotech holographic and I'm worried that a red dot will not be accurate. I checked out the bushnell Tr25 today and it was ok for cheap. I looked at these mini ones or whatever they're called and was told they're the same thing just as accurate, is one better than the other for accuracy or price?
first-strike
Click to expand...
It doesn't matter what brand of red dot you purchase. Even though the NC Star is a turd the way a red dot is made requires you to always have the same cheek weld on the rifle for it to shoot at the same point of impact.
Some people will put a riser on the Aimpoint so it can be co-witnessed with a front sight.

If you look through an EOTech you will see the difference because the EOTech is a holographic sight.
When you move your head the hologram will move into and out of sight so sight alignment is instinctive.
No matter where you put your head, as long as you can see the dot you will hit your target (assuming steady aim, rifle accuracy, etc.)

The reason many people prefer the Aimpoint is size, weight, and battery life which is insane.
 
thump_rrr said:
It doesn't matter what brand of red dot you purchase. Even though the NC Star is a turd the way a red dot is made requires you to always have the same cheek weld on the rifle for it to shoot at the same point of impact.
Click to expand...

Hmmm, you 100% sure on that? Zero magnification RD sights have zero parallax and no minimal eye relief, just like a holo sight, why would you need consistent cheek weld to be on target?
 
I'm also looking to replace the fore stock, I was looking at a quad rail to free float the barrel but any other suggestions would be great, I found a UTC? For $106, $100-$200 would be great!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom