Cost effective AR 15 (Mostly for the sake of grandfathering)

Get the lower from your kid for near nothing, put in the trigger of your choosing, and buy an assemble upper.

TNA (true north arms) has some on sale right now.

I like that plan. The assembled uppers I have on the EE are high-end at moderate prices, you'll end up with a really nice AR.
 
Apparently the 6920 without stock and hand-guard is out of stock.

Probably a dumb question but what is the difference between the 6920 and Expanse?

6920 is the same gun they sell to le organizations that ask for 16 inch carbines. Shares a lot in common with the m4. I think the 6921 or something is basically a semi auto m4.

The expanse has a colt machined lower with third party junk for everything else.

I will echo the colt 6920 recommendation for new to newish. Or check the ee for some good used buys. I think there are some lmt defenders at close to those prices and they are quite good as well.
 
Apparently the 6920 without stock and hand-guard is out of stock.

Probably a dumb question but what is the difference between the 6920 and Expanse?

I believe the basic Expanse other than being made of other manufactures parts; has no dust cover or forward assist on a lower machined for a forward assist... A pinned button, but that's it. I'm surprised Colt would even put that pos out to compete against entry level AR's... Like I said before, that's the one I'd steer clear of.
 
Apparently the 6920 without stock and hand-guard is out of stock.

Probably a dumb question but what is the difference between the 6920 and Expanse?

If you really want the colt 6920 OEM, drop them an email or give them a call and ask to reserve one. The folks at Nordic are pretty good about it and they would hook you up with one, at least that is what they did for me.

On a different note, some site vendors are starting to carry the new Sig M400 Tread for just over a grand, which fits your price range and comes with some additional features.
 
If you really want the colt 6920 OEM, drop them an email or give them a call and ask to reserve one. The folks at Nordic are pretty good about it and they would hook you up with one, at least that is what they did for me.

On a different note, some site vendors are starting to carry the new Sig M400 Tread for just over a grand, which fits your price range and comes with some additional features.

Yeah; first thing I did was sent them an email about the 6920. Seems like a deal. I live around the corner from a Cabelas that has tbe Sig, and most of the others mentioned on this thread. My only experience with Sig is my P226, which I can’t complain about.
 
I am thinking about getting my first AR as well and I have been eyeing the new Savage MSR 15 recon its around $1200 so a little more but it's 223 wylde a 5r barrel and Savage trigger it seems to have some great review especially accuracy.
 
S&W M&P Sport II. Trigger on my rifle is outstanding. One of the nicest triggers on a low end production AR I've owned. Guess I got lucky. I have the Ruger AR 556 but prefer the S&W.
 
Yeah; first thing I did was sent them an email about the 6920. Seems like a deal. I live around the corner from a Cabelas that has tbe Sig, and most of the others mentioned on this thread. My only experience with Sig is my P226, which I can’t complain about.

Man I was in the exact same boat as you just a little while ago, looking for something that's a good value but not necessarily the cheapest. I think there are pros and cons with either, but you can't go wrong with any one of them.

I don't have much experience with Sig's long guns either (only have a 226 like you), but most the early "reviews" I watched seems to think it's solid. Another feature of the Tread is it's enhanced control like ambi selecter, mag release, etc. Also it uses a mid-length gas system vs. colt's carbine length. But the Tread is still pretty new, and if you go with the colt you are paying for the proven track record.

At the end of the day, I think it comes down to how much tinkering you want to do with your first AR. The Tread would work more or less right out of the box, whereas the OEM kit would require you to get a few more parts (keep in mind thou you can absolutely fire it as it is).
 
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I got the colt oem2 I love it, the 875 Nordic sale price is a smokin deal. Mine was 900 on Black Friday saleS.

...But if you want to build it yourself and add a handguard and all that you will need a few tools like a strong vise, hammer, reaction rod(I think cgn retailer has unbranded rods for under 80$ Or real avid) or vise block and some roll pin punches for the gas block/ gas tube a really strong punch for the gas block (I used a strong bolt as my punch was mushrooming)retaining pins and a wrench for the barrel nut, you can get a cheap wrench for around 30-40$.
Roll pin punches and roll pin starter punches cab be bad for around 20-60 for a full set but you only really need like 3 sizes for an ar.
Then you will need a handguard and stock to finish the build.

I know tenda and a few retailers have a little nc/star ar armorers kit for like 75$ not sure of the quality as I have not used it.
 
I got the colt oem2 I love it, the 875 Nordic sale price is a smokin deal. Mine was 900 on Black Friday saleS.

...But if you want to build it yourself and add a handguard and all that you will need a few tools like a strong vise, hammer, reaction rod(I think cgn retailer has unbranded rods for under 80$ Or real avid) or vise block and some roll pin punches for the gas block/ gas tube a really strong punch for the gas block (I used a strong bolt as my punch was mushrooming)retaining pins and a wrench for the barrel nut, you can get a cheap wrench for around 30-40$.
Roll pin punches and roll pin starter punches cab be bad for around 20-60 for a full set but you only really need like 3 sizes for an ar.
Then you will need a handguard and stock to finish the build.

I know tenda and a few retailers have a little nc/star ar armorers kit for like 75$ not sure of the quality as I have not used it.

Correct me if I'm wrong,( Wouldn't be the first time) but wouldn't the 6920 with its low profile gas block take one of the full floating forends that are designed to work with the USGI barrel nut without stripping down the front end parts? That's assuming that the forends that don't take their own nuts are worth having, something I just don't know. That's sort of a few minutes of condensed googling, and I might be way off on this. Otherwise I have I'd only be a vise block and barrel wrench away from having the tools anyway. Or alternately, gunsmiths have to eat too.
 
I sort of missed this the first time through. How do the WW stack up against the rest?

I’d say better than the S&W and colt expanse, not as good as Colt Canada. They are nicely built imo. When bushmaster moved their ar-15 production, the people who used to work at the bushmaster plant got together and formed WW.
 
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