beer__guzzler
Member
- Location
- new brunswick
I'm finally really considering buying my first ar platform. Looking to go the cheapest route and if I like the platform then invest some serious cash. So what's the cheapest ar out thare?
Cheap ar??
- Thread starter beer__guzzler
- Start date
This. It’s the best bang for your buck rifle in Canada as far as I’ve found.
If anybody you know recommends a Norinco or an NEA/BCL rifle slap them.
Then slap them again.
And again.
And again.
Until they learn that friends don’t let friends buy NEA.
Just took my 10.5" Norinco out for 1st time yesterday, she went bang all day. Had an NEA with me as well, not so much. So I agree on the NEA, some having issues. I have the A1 20" Norinco as well, it ran 100% as always it has, along with a 14.5" one too I owned, lol. That was the 1st AR I bought, never had one Jam or anything. The S&W are nice for the money, but I like the 10.5" for the same or lower price.
I have seen used CQAs for between $400-450. Most new entry level ARs such as Savage, Anderson, Colt, etc. are under $1k. The cheapest I have seen a M&P15 (new) is $599 but you will have to consider taxes, delivery and transfer wait time. The absolute cheapest and best route (and this is not for everyone and might not be your cup of tea) is to build one. You get higher quality parts, learn about the intricacies of the gun and if you do your home work, the cost will certainly be lower.
Take for example a couple of builds back, I put together my cheapest AR to date. When all the dust settled, even with all the delivery charges and taxes, it came in at $550. I did the math and if I were to have gone the absolute cheapest, I would have had a brand new functioning AR for around $400 but I wanted a few luxury items like a better trigger, LARS pistol mag, Magpol stock, etc. I had most of the parts gathered while waiting for my stripped lower and upper combo to be shipped which is how I normally do my builds. I was at the range last weekend and one guy put down his DD and another his SIG AR to come over and marvel at the all mighty $550 AR which I am sure would not have happened if I brought any of factory ARs because it looks killer and feels and performs so much better than any of the other entry level ARs that I own (3 to be exact). But I wouldn't put it up against my competition ARs though. The most flattering comment from the day at the range was from the guy who owned the Daniel Defence, when he said he will be selling his DD AR to do what I did, now that he see what is possible with a set budget and some imagination. I made him a believer. Next for the 550, I think I will break the budget and spend $10 to engrave a personal slogan on the dust cover.lol
Take for example a couple of builds back, I put together my cheapest AR to date. When all the dust settled, even with all the delivery charges and taxes, it came in at $550. I did the math and if I were to have gone the absolute cheapest, I would have had a brand new functioning AR for around $400 but I wanted a few luxury items like a better trigger, LARS pistol mag, Magpol stock, etc. I had most of the parts gathered while waiting for my stripped lower and upper combo to be shipped which is how I normally do my builds. I was at the range last weekend and one guy put down his DD and another his SIG AR to come over and marvel at the all mighty $550 AR which I am sure would not have happened if I brought any of factory ARs because it looks killer and feels and performs so much better than any of the other entry level ARs that I own (3 to be exact). But I wouldn't put it up against my competition ARs though. The most flattering comment from the day at the range was from the guy who owned the Daniel Defence, when he said he will be selling his DD AR to do what I did, now that he see what is possible with a set budget and some imagination. I made him a believer. Next for the 550, I think I will break the budget and spend $10 to engrave a personal slogan on the dust cover.lol
BadLieutenant
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Montreal, Quebec
Cheapest route ....... not always the best alternative.....
Better start with a "real" entry level AR15 ......Pretty much like getting a Civic.....not a Lada
Keep on lurking the EE and get yourself a Colt or Windham Weaponry.....you could get yourself something that will keep you happy for thousands of rounds downrange
I saw some brand new ARs in those brands for less than $1K
Better start with a "real" entry level AR15 ......Pretty much like getting a Civic.....not a Lada
Keep on lurking the EE and get yourself a Colt or Windham Weaponry.....you could get yourself something that will keep you happy for thousands of rounds downrange
I saw some brand new ARs in those brands for less than $1K
I don't know why people knock Norincos or BCLs, especially BCL! I have a bunch of Norc products and they are fantastic for what they are. A guest who have never shot before wants to go to the range and is eyeing up my Les Baer, my Norinco 1911 will do just fine. And why would I buy a m14 that cost $2k usd from those traitors, Springfield Armoury when I could buy a M305 for $600 from those copy right infringing, trade make violating commies. OK, I know everyone jokes about Norc's and BCLs but it is getting a bit old.
We should support BCLs because they are a Canadian company that is trying really hard to compete with bigger companies in an ever shrinking market. Realistically BCL is not that bad for their price point and their match barrels are recognized by professional shooters as one of the best. Add the fact that when on sale, they are a fraction of the price of their competition. Seriously guys, do we really want to lose a Canadian gun manufacture? Sometimes gun owners are their own worse enemy.
Looks like you answered your own question cheif. You don’t know.
Perhaps spending some time reading the thousands of reviews on here regarding piss poor quality and nothing but problems regarding NEA/BCL would answer that for you.
I’m sure your Norinco’s are fantastic for what they are, but a fantastic turd is still a turd none-the-less. There should be zero market for a Norinco ar15 in this day and age when their are competitively priced, built to spec rifles available nearly everywhere. Why buy a chicom rifle that’s going to require grinding and fitting of parts?
Now, the biggest question of all. Why in the hell should anyone support NEA just because they’re Canadian? They are absolutely garbage unless you have a serious addiction to gambling because that’s what you do every time you purchase NEA/BCL. Maybe you get one of the 1/1000 that seem to function fine, or maybe you get one of the 999/1000 that has some form of failure in manufacturing, quality, or both.
Please name these professional shooters that claim NEA barrels are top notch, I’d love to see the names on that list.
Do I want to lose a Canadian gun manufacturer like NEA? Abso-f**king-lootely I want to see them gone. They peddle nothing but trash to those on a budget, and swindle money from those who haven’t much under the presmise of a good bargain, meanwhile they sell you a poorly manufactured, often out of spec hunk of sh*t that’s going to require more money in postage getting warranty work done then it would have cost you to buy a reasonably well made rifle, built to spec like a S&W m&p 15 to the tune of 600-700 dollars.
Instead of rebranding in an attempt to shed the negativity that is synonymous with North Eastern Arms, they should have just closed down shop and cleared the way for other small Canadian gun builders to enter into the market.
Honestly, last question. If NEA is so great, why did they have to rebrand into BCL in the first place?
After owning an M&P15 2.0 for awhile now, I now realize that it is a turd... a well functioning turd but never less a turd because along with the CQA, it is near the bottom of the pile of entry level ARs in terms of quality and warrenty. Someone mentioned spending a bit more money and you can get a better entry level AR for under $1000. If I had to do it again I would have bought a Colt.
Runningfool
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- SW Ontario
Hyperbole much?
I don’t know anyone who shoots ARs professionally in Canada but some of the most credible members on this board have attested to their barrels being some of the best in the business...those members rarely post here any more for a number of reasons, one of which I’m sure is because every thread mentioning NEA turns quickly into a circle-jerk of the same message-board experts giving each other the ol’ friends don’t let friends buy NEA reacharound. Nea/bcl bashing is practically an official sport on CGN...some NEA has earned, most it has not.
ThatM305Guy
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- North Texas
Lol
Everything here is correct and what I was going to say,
The Mossberg MMR hunter is great bang for the buck as well, picked mine up 500$, flawless after 2000 + rounds
No forward assist but who cares, never had to use that function in my entire life
I recommend Norc AR's all the time
You may attempt to slap me if we ever meet and we will see how it goes
Travis Bickle
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Upper Lower Middle Alberta
NEA is garbage and so is BCL....and a lot of Canadian gun products.
But comparing a Norinco AR15 to an NEA anything I would say would be just as much grounds for multiple slaps.
The Chinese don't always hit the Bulls eye but one thing they make really well is a rock solid stock AR for dirt cheap....
Anyhow OP if you're looking for an AR that you just want to put optics or irons on and shoot, that will just keep going until you can't afford ammo then don't let people talk you out of Norinco ARs, they will fit the bill and can be had for as low as 400 off the EE these days. You will never break it or shoot it out. You can be sure of that.
You can go with a bottom barrel north American one for a couple hundred more if you want to start adding plastic junk to it etc norinco receivers don't fit one for one on all components But most people who regurgitate that are just parroting what they read instead of having owned and shot them for 10+ years.
From personal experience its the mag catch button hole and safety selector hole that are out of spec from NA standard primarily. Some handguards need modification to fit the norc barrel assy because they use a different size front guard cap.
All other parts will fit including barrel swaps complete. I've done this and much else.
Just FYI
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Still alive
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Rainy mosquito infested part of BC
I have seen Norincos that are junk and Norincos that run awesome. Same with M&Ps. The QC on the later runs of M&P IIs are not great either. I've played with a few with poor finishes and gratey bolts.
When you buy budget ARs, you get what you get. It's a by-product of any massed produced firearm.
Look at the Stag 10 vs. BCL discussions here. Even the vaunted Stag has QC issues now.
When you buy budget ARs, you get what you get. It's a by-product of any massed produced firearm.
Look at the Stag 10 vs. BCL discussions here. Even the vaunted Stag has QC issues now.
