I am new to the AR game and am thinking about buying an AR to add to my collection. A friend offered to trade me a stripped lower as a starting point and I am wondering how much money I should expect to spend on building an AR 15 from a lower this way. I suspect there isn't really a cost savings in building over buying a complete gun but it does appeal to me in that I can spread the cost out over time and build something exactly as I would like it without having to find something similar and modify to suit. What kind of ball park figures have you guys spent on building AR's? I am not necessarily looking for the highest end parts I am on a tight budget but I want to have a quality firearm with decent resale value if I end up wanting to sell it. please share your thoughts and experiences
average cost to build a budget AR15
- Thread starter Red Beard Forge
- Start date
From what I see, frankenstiened AR's tend to take a long time to sell. Most people rather buy a brand name AR, especially if the custom one is not made of top shelf components. And the top shelve ones also take a long time to sell, as the price is really high, and someone looking for that type of firearm might not like some of the components you chose.
At the price some of the budget AR's are selling these days, I'm not sure you can build for cheaper. For ex, there are 2 spnsors of this site selling ARs for less than 700$.
But if you absolutely want to build one for the sake of building and spreading the cost over a longer period of time, I'd expect to spend anywhere between 700 and 1000$ for an entry level gun
At the price some of the budget AR's are selling these days, I'm not sure you can build for cheaper. For ex, there are 2 spnsors of this site selling ARs for less than 700$.
But if you absolutely want to build one for the sake of building and spreading the cost over a longer period of time, I'd expect to spend anywhere between 700 and 1000$ for an entry level gun
Building a budget gun has become increasingly difficult in the last few years, considering you can from time to time get a decent quality complete gun like a S&W for under 1000, maybe even under 800 if I recall correctly.
You're absolutely right though, there is no overall cost savings but as you said being able to spread the cost out over a few months while acquiring all the necessary parts is a benefit. I can't really comment on how cheaply you could build a rifle as all of my builds have cost well over 2500-3000 but if you troll the EE you can find huge savings.
Just as a thought, if you're planning on spreading the cost out over a build, why not push your budget a little more or extend the project time and build something that's not going to scrape the bottom of the bucket? That is depending what you want out of the end result. Knowing what you want out of the rifle you plan to build can definitely help you choose which components to buy.
I'll leave the same recommendation for you as I do all the folks I've guided through a build. Spend your money where it counts most:
-Barrel
-Quality mil spec BCG
-A reliable optic
-A somewhat improved trigger
Everything else is just personal preference and decoration.
Feel free to PM me if you've got any questions, I've always been happy to help guys with their first builds.
You're absolutely right though, there is no overall cost savings but as you said being able to spread the cost out over a few months while acquiring all the necessary parts is a benefit. I can't really comment on how cheaply you could build a rifle as all of my builds have cost well over 2500-3000 but if you troll the EE you can find huge savings.
Just as a thought, if you're planning on spreading the cost out over a build, why not push your budget a little more or extend the project time and build something that's not going to scrape the bottom of the bucket? That is depending what you want out of the end result. Knowing what you want out of the rifle you plan to build can definitely help you choose which components to buy.
I'll leave the same recommendation for you as I do all the folks I've guided through a build. Spend your money where it counts most:
-Barrel
-Quality mil spec BCG
-A reliable optic
-A somewhat improved trigger
Everything else is just personal preference and decoration.
Feel free to PM me if you've got any questions, I've always been happy to help guys with their first builds.
IMO the entry level S&W M&P Sport 2 at $690 new in stock is a good starter gun. I don't see any reason to build your own until you have a budget of $1500+ for the build, because the value just isn't there.
Where would I find said firearm for $690? The only ar I have seen at that price point was a norinco? I would be very tempted if I knew which retailer had a name brand AR at that price point
Last time was under Al Flaherty's. You can call to put in a reservation at that awesome price.
Irunguns has now a promo for an AR for around 450$ usd. So once you factor in the exchange rate, export fee, delivery and tax, you're looking at around 700 cdn $
Dante also has an AR for around that price. As does Al Flaherty.
There's also the EE, where you can find better quality ones for roughly the same price. But that will be for a used gun. Which in my book is as good as a new one.
Dante also has an AR for around that price. As does Al Flaherty.
There's also the EE, where you can find better quality ones for roughly the same price. But that will be for a used gun. Which in my book is as good as a new one.
This thread mentions a few stores taking pre-orders:
forums.redflagdeals.com/al-flahertys-outdoor-store-smith-wesson-m-p15-sport-ii-ar-15-223-cal-699-99-2096962/
That's a good point about the tools too - if you don't already have 'em, or can borrow them, you'll need to set aside some budget there too. I"m in the middle of my first AR build and while I had a pretty good selection of small hand/bench tools, there were still some specific items I needed (AR armorer's wrench, roll pin punches, vise blocks, etc - got lucky on EE with a combo purchase).
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Its straightforward to see how much it will cost you. You tally the parts and cost associated. I found halfway through that it is not cost effective and actually more expensive to make one vs buying one. Not factored are the tools you need to make it....so it was a deal breaker. Unless you want to pursue this as a way to learn...same as anyone who build from 80 per cent.
84wh1
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I did a budget 10.5 SBR recently...here is my breakdown
- AERO Upper 125$
-AERO lower 100$
-Buffer Tube from EE 25$
-Buffer and Spring brownells 20$
-BCM stock from EE 50$
-BCM QD end plate EE 20$
-Magpul MIAD grip 50$
-DPMS LPK 75$ brownells
-COLT Canada BCG 200$
-NEA barrel 200$
-MI flash hider 50$
-Yankee Hill quad rail from the EE 125$
-Troy BUIS EE 125$
-ERGO gas block 50$
-Gas tube brownells 10$
So yeah im in it for about 1200$. add the Eotech and now im sitting at 1800$. Saying that I had lots of the parts laying around but they still had to be purchased at some point
Honestly you can buy new complete for less money unless you go ULTRA budget build (Like used Norc and NEA components)
- AERO Upper 125$
-AERO lower 100$
-Buffer Tube from EE 25$
-Buffer and Spring brownells 20$
-BCM stock from EE 50$
-BCM QD end plate EE 20$
-Magpul MIAD grip 50$
-DPMS LPK 75$ brownells
-COLT Canada BCG 200$
-NEA barrel 200$
-MI flash hider 50$
-Yankee Hill quad rail from the EE 125$
-Troy BUIS EE 125$
-ERGO gas block 50$
-Gas tube brownells 10$
So yeah im in it for about 1200$. add the Eotech and now im sitting at 1800$. Saying that I had lots of the parts laying around but they still had to be purchased at some point
Honestly you can buy new complete for less money unless you go ULTRA budget build (Like used Norc and NEA components)
It is possible to assemble a budget AR. If you are lucky in acquiring parts.
I was given a SP1 barrel assembly complete with handguards. I bought a used US M-16 stripped upper for $15. Bought the least expensive stripped lower I could find, which happened to be an Olympic Arms. That was a lower cost project.
Look at it this way - is it cheaper to buy a car, or to buy the parts and assemble a car?
I was given a SP1 barrel assembly complete with handguards. I bought a used US M-16 stripped upper for $15. Bought the least expensive stripped lower I could find, which happened to be an Olympic Arms. That was a lower cost project.
Look at it this way - is it cheaper to buy a car, or to buy the parts and assemble a car?
My colt IUR was not really on a budget but it had the components that I wanted in it.
Breakdown of my parts.
Colt lower, stripped $224
Colt IUR upper, $599
LMT BCG, $236
VLTOR charging handle, $69
Magpul MOE+ grip - $29
Spikes tactical buffer tube/spring (mil spec), $119
Magpul CTR, $89
Trigger tech, fully adjustable, flat trigger, $256
Magpul BUS front and rear, $50 (used in EE)
TNA lower parts kit, $61
Total cost was $1731, a little on the high side.
Breakdown of my parts.
Colt lower, stripped $224
Colt IUR upper, $599
LMT BCG, $236
VLTOR charging handle, $69
Magpul MOE+ grip - $29
Spikes tactical buffer tube/spring (mil spec), $119
Magpul CTR, $89
Trigger tech, fully adjustable, flat trigger, $256
Magpul BUS front and rear, $50 (used in EE)
TNA lower parts kit, $61
Total cost was $1731, a little on the high side.
