How to get in the AR game

qiu_lijie

qiu_lijie

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Although it might not be the fiscally responsible thing to do, I have been eyeing various ARs on EE for a while now. Since I don't plan to get multiple ARs in the near future, how can I get the best AR for the money (not necessarily looking for the cheapest, but the best I can do for any given budget)?

The way I see it, there are three ways to get an AR:
  • Buy a complete rifle from the factory or some else has put together.
  • Buy complete upper and lower then put them together.
  • Buy components and build it from scratch.

From various online post/videos (mostly US-based), some people suggest that building from scratch would get you the most value. Does this apply up here? My other concern with building from scratch is that I don't have many specialized tools like wrenches, vice blocks etc., and it seems like a waste to get them just for one build. Also if I decided to buy an AR in parts, where should I allocate more budget on (upper vs. lower, barrel vs. BCG vs. trigger etc.)? I'm not in a huge rush to get one, so I just need to know what should I be looking for and I'm fine with waiting around for the best deal from vendors or on EE.

So in what's your take for a guy to get his first AR? Any opinion would help. Thanks in advance!


Edit: Thanks for all your comments guys! After reading them I'm not looking to build from scratch for the moment. However, I'm still considering buying upper and lower separately then put them together. From what I understand, although the lower is the registered part, most of the accuracy and relability of the AR is determined by the upper receiver. So I'm thinking maybe I can spend a bit more on the upper and get a slightly cheaper lower to get an overall superior AR. Is there anything I'm missing here?
 
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AR prices are super low right now. You can get a decent quality basic S&W or DPMS for $6-700. Building has done hidden costs: you need a few specialized tools which can cost a hundred $ or more, and you'll likely be paying $12-15 shipping per part you buy...

I strongly encourage buying a basic AR to start...
 
I would definitely buy one that's complete,either with the accessories you want or a plane Jane one. It is much cheaper to buy like that over buying all the parts and building your own.
 
I just joined the AR game myself. I found one on the EE that was up for trade. I lucked out with some of the parts to be honest. But honestly the easiest is probably to buy one that’s ready to go. That way you can use it right away and then see what you’d like to change to make it more “yours” so to speak. They are incredibly simple to work on btw. I had every part removed from mine worhing an hour or so.
 
I just built an AR on the cheapedt parts I could find.
Stag Arms set.$220
Brownells BCG $120
Brownells Stock kit $100
Brownells LPK /CH$120
TNA GB/HG/FH $160
DA barrel (EE) $110.
I put 100 rnds through it and sold it for $500.


So ya, it’s cheaper to buy s S&W or Ruger.
 
If you want to get into it quick, buy a complete AR.

If you want to buy the tools, or have a friend with them, and have some time to play with, build your AR.

Chances are you'll change stuff out either way as your taste and budgets change.
 
The first AR I bought was a stripped lower and upper. Picked out every single part myself and spent the small amount for the tools needed. I thought it was worth the learning experience and i appreciated the process so much that every rifle I own now (but one) I put together myself. I have nine
 
If you only intend to own one, building is a waste of time as it won’t be any cheaper than the budget ones, and you likely don’t have any idea as to what you’d want out of a build, so there’s really no merit to that aspect for you. We won’t even get into the tools portion.

It’s hard to recommend much more without knowing your budget.
 
Phat Eagle said:
AR prices are super low right now. You can get a decent quality basic S&W or DPMS for $6-700. Building has done hidden costs: you need a few specialized tools which can cost a hundred $ or more, and you'll likely be paying $12-15 shipping per part you buy...

I strongly encourage buying a basic AR to start...
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Unfourtanly, I don't have cash burning a hole in my pocket at the moment. Yeah, after more research about cost of all the different tools, I don't thinking getting everything for just one rifle is a good idea now.

DILLIGAF said:
Best way is this right here https://www.albertatacticalrifle.co...dern-sporter-receiver-set/category_pathway-14

You stay off the registry and ist NR :dancingbanana:
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Well they already got me on the registry for the pistol, so I don't think there is a point paying more for a similar NR. Plus I don't think there is anything the man can't track nowadays, just the matter of how hard they try.

FoxAlpha said:
If you only intend to own one, building is a waste of time as it won’t be any cheaper than the budget ones, and you likely don’t have any idea as to what you’d want out of a build, so there’s really no merit to that aspect for you. We won’t even get into the tools portion.

It’s hard to recommend much more without knowing your budget.
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Yeah I'm going way from building from scratch, but is there any merit in getting a better upper and slightly inferior lower? From what I heard the upper (barrel and BCG) is more important to the function of the rifle, and putting them together would be just pushing in two pins.
 
Just buy either a Colt USA Le6920 or Colt Canada. Check out Nordic Marksmen, I would leanbto the SAS uppers.

Other brands to consider.

LMT
BCM.

Do it right the first time.

Cheers mate. ��
 
Stoner99 said:
Just buy either a Colt USA Le6920 or Colt Canada. Check out Nordic Marksmen, I would leanbto the SAS uppers.

Other brands to consider.

LMT
BCM.

Do it right the first time.

Cheers mate. ��
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I echo what he says, maybe not necessarily about the sas uppers but even that wont set you wrong.

Check the ee, there are some good guns for good prices on there. Buy a good quality gun from the get go, bcm, dd, lmt, colt to name a few make some great guns.
 
Stoner99 said:
Just buy either a Colt USA Le6920 or Colt Canada. Check out Nordic Marksmen, I would leanbto the SAS uppers.

Other brands to consider.

LMT
BCM.

Do it right the first time.

Cheers mate. ��
Click to expand...

Not sure what the appeal of Colt is other the brand name. Is the quality that much superior (I'm honestly asking here cause I don't have any experience with them)? Cause for the money I'm pretty sure I can get better furniture on it.

Ravenmanwoody52 said:
Spend $2200 and let a company that has millions in r&d do all the hard work. You get a proven rifle out of the box after all the hard work. My 2 cents. - Sig Sauer 716 Patrol G2-
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That's a lot of money I don't have :p. Plus as much as I like Sig, the 7.62 nato would be too costly to shoot compare to 5.56.
 
qiu_lijie said:
Not sure what the appeal of Colt is other the brand name. Is the quality that much superior (I'm honestly asking here cause I don't have any experience with them)? Cause for the money I'm pretty sure I can get better furniture on it.



That's a lot of money I don't have :p. Plus as much as I like Sig, the 7.62 nato would be too costly to shoot compare to 5.56.
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Colt canada makes some excellent weapons. The price is in line with rivals like dd and bcm for comparable features.

The extra money is for the better quality of materials used to make the ar and the qc process to ensure it's built right is more extensive ensuring you get a quality product off the get.

That being said they aren't alone in the field of excellent ar manufacturers. As for the le6920. Its not the best by a long shot. For me it's the benchmark that the rest need to meet or beat. Amd believe me plenty of ars beat it(admittedly they are also more money usually). One caveat being skip the expanse. It is colt in name only.
 
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