Should I...

Buy it, use it, and then you can develop your own opinions about what would make a better AR for you. Now you have your second AR which will be a build based on what you want. You budget will get you a really nice gun especially if you are patient for a used one. Lots of guys buy one and then unload them a few rounds later.
 
Buy it USED!
You cannot build a nice AR for that cheap without using parts that say DPMS, Omni, Norinco, DA or NEA. You have to have the tools, scour the EE daily, deal with shipping and EMTs, then end up with an expensive ( yet cheap) rifle and regret not just picking up a used DD for $1300-$1500 while saving yourself the headache. Your Frankenbuild will also have a poorer resale value than a used bone stock DD or Spikes or Wyndham.
A friend of mine is going through this process now. He got in on the blemished Colt IUR deal, found a used VLTOR lower. He wanted to build a $1500 AR but he will be heading north of $2000 soon!
 
I think you guys made your point! I thought building one would be a fun learning process and maybe even get a decent quality gun out of it! Guess I'm on the hunt for a used one!

Thanks!
 
timach said:
I think you guys made your point! I thought building one would be a fun learning process and maybe even get a decent quality gun out of it! Guess I'm on the hunt for a used one!

Thanks!
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Build and learn as there are plenty of reputable u-tube videos.
 
Personally, I don't have the patience to source parts and build my own unless I already have one to shoot. Besides, does your budget for a build include the price of tools?
Lots of good lightly used AR's in the EE…..
 
All my ARs are ones I assembled. Including some barrels turned from blanks. Set them up the way I wanted them. First one cost a lot less than purchasing one, new or used. But I was fortunate in sourcing the parts. It is an interesting and educational experience to assemble an AR. But, generally speaking, it is not a less expensive way to get one.
Best idea is to buy a plain jane rifle (don't pay extra for someone's tackiekewl gimcracks), and shoot it enough to determine exactly what would be most useful to you, then decide if you want to assemble one or customize what you have.
 
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tiriaq said:
All my ARs are ones I assembled. Including some barrels turned from blanks. Set them up the way I wanted them. First one cost a lot less than purchasing one, new or used. But I was fortunate in sourcing the parts. It is an interesting and educational experience to assemble an AR. But, generally speaking, it is not a less expensive way to get one.
Best idea is to buy a plain jane rifle (don't pay extra for someone's tackiekewl gimcracks), and shoot it enough to determine exactly what would be most useful to you, then decide if you want to assemble one or customize what you have.
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This.

I went from owning quite a few ARs, different builds, different brands... Now I own one I built (mainly because I sourced parts smartly, and it has an interesting serial number)

I do keep thinking about building up another though....
 
Just buy a used rifle off the EE. With our dollar where it is you will never build a complete rifle for under $1500.
I love putting them together but my last rifle cost me over $1500 to build and I used an NEA upper and lower. If you want to build a nice rifle using quality parts you're looking at close to $2000 these days and you still need to buy a couple tools to assemble the upper.
If you can forget about the budget and just buy parts as you can afford them and as you come across good deals then go for it and build one but buying a complete decent quality US built AR will be cheaper and you'll be shooting as soon as the transfer clears.
I don't know how much experience you have with AR's but until you've shot a few it's hard to know what you like and what works for you. That's why I also recommend buying a complete basic rifle for your first. You'll get to do modifications and swap out parts as your budget allows and it will let you know what you like and don't like. I would suggest a rifle between 12 and 16 inches to start with as they are fairly compact and still quite versatile. I discovered that the ultra short (less than 10 inch) rifles are not much good for anything other than annoying everyone around you at the range and giving yourself a headache since the muzzle blast is excessive and the performance is lacking. My personal favorite is a rifle with a 12-14.5 inch barrel with a free float forend (not quadrail) with a continuous top rail and no front sight.
Keep it simple to start with and don't skimp on your optic, Budget for a minimum of $400 for glass. Think Aimpoint PRO or similar which will be over $500 but it's worth it. If you can't afford to get good glass then a set of Magpul flip up sights will do until you can afford a decent optic. If you buy a Bushnell or other cheap optic you'll just want to replace it once you try someone else's rifle that has a nice optic on it and you'll end up spending more in the long run.

Also, don't forget to budget for ammo, these things are hungry and you're looking at around $0.50 per trigger pull for FMJ for banging gongs and more if you want the rifle to print some groups once in a while.

Good luck
 
cr5 said:
Just buy a used rifle off the EE. With our dollar where it is you will never build a complete rifle for under $1500.
I love putting them together but my last rifle cost me over $1500 to build and I used an NEA upper and lower. If you want to build a nice rifle using quality parts you're looking at close to $2000 these days and you still need to buy a couple tools to assemble the upper.
If you can forget about the budget and just buy parts as you can afford them and as you come across good deals then go for it and build one but buying a complete decent quality US built AR will be cheaper and you'll be shooting as soon as the transfer clears.
I don't know how much experience you have with AR's but until you've shot a few it's hard to know what you like and what works for you. That's why I also recommend buying a complete basic rifle for your first. You'll get to do modifications and swap out parts as your budget allows and it will let you know what you like and don't like. I would suggest a rifle between 12 and 16 inches to start with as they are fairly compact and still quite versatile. I discovered that the ultra short (less than 10 inch) rifles are not much good for anything other than annoying everyone around you at the range and giving yourself a headache since the muzzle blast is excessive and the performance is lacking. My personal favorite is a rifle with a 12-14.5 inch barrel with a free float forend (not quadrail) with a continuous top rail and no front sight.
Keep it simple to start with and don't skimp on your optic, Budget for a minimum of $400 for glass. Think Aimpoint PRO or similar which will be over $500 but it's worth it. If you can't afford to get good glass then a set of Magpul flip up sights will do until you can afford a decent optic. If you buy a Bushnell or other cheap optic you'll just want to replace it once you try someone else's rifle that has a nice optic on it and you'll end up spending more in the long run.

Also, don't forget to budget for ammo, these things are hungry and you're looking at around $0.50 per trigger pull for FMJ for banging gongs and more if you want the rifle to print some groups once in a while.

Good luck
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In my experience I have come to witness shooters regularly changing parts on either custom builds or ready builds. Its an addiction to have the next best thing.

I do agree with trying a good used one first but I will not consider a first build as a poor choice either. It's all about the shooters budget really. Can learn a tremendous amount while building.
 
For $1300.00 I'd keep my eyes peeled in the EE for an STI or a Sig M400. I've owned both and for that price range, in my opinion you would have a hard time finding a better turn key deal.
 
I have no experience with AR's I usually shoot long distance but been shooting more pistol reguarly and want an AR to bring to the action range too.

I love tinkering with anything so I thought hmmm, maybe I should build my own. But if I can get a better one without building one, I think I should do that for my first AR.

Thanks guys! :)
 
Spend $300 more and get one of the best. Colt Canada IUR. They have just been made available with all CC parts. Odell Engineering is supplying these to dealers across Canada.
 
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