You could buy my AR180B off the EE - it's all ready to go and shoots like a laser beam, or if you would live with a restricted AR15, you can build a decent one for under $1000 as follows:
Aero Precision stripped lower and upper from Armseast = $260
DPMS M4 chrome lined 14.5" bbl from ATRS including front sight and barrel nut = $330
LPK, milspec stock kit, upper parts kit and gas system split between 2 orders = $200 at Brownells
Stag Arms complete bolt assembly = $175 from Armsest
By my math that's about $965, but you'd have to assemble it yourself. Pick up an LMT lookalike NCStar rear BUIS from GP Tactical for $30 and you're in the AR game with all north american made parts (except BUIS) for under $900, of course you do have a little more to spend on taxes and shipping, but that's a given no matter what you buy new.
Or you can wait 2 or 3 more months as NEA is purportedly releasing an all-canadian made M4-style AR15 with billet upper and lower for under $1000. They are also going to release a non-chrome lined M4 style barrel for about $175 and S&J hardware is selling AR15 barrels for about $220. Of course, on these last two barrels you will need to supply your own gas block and a front sight of some flavour if you want one.
Then if you are really on a budget, there is the CQ series of Norinco AR15's which are probably just fine for killing paper, though fit and finish leaves a little to be desired. Typically ready to go out of the box for about $700 plus tax and ship.
Personally, I like building using known-quantity parts and can duplicate the 'rinco for a couple-hundred more using north american made in-spec parts, so that's the route I generally go and have shied away from the Norc - only because of philosophical reasons. My M14 receivers are all Chinese and I feel bad enough about that, so I shy away from their AR's where comparable alternatives are available.
I've shot the XCR enough to know I never want one with fasteners coming loose during strings, known reliability issues and the lovely (horrid) robarm lack of customer service.
If you want to go spendy and non-restricted, my personal advice would be to look at the following guns, in no particular order:
1) A used AR180B where someone else has eaten all the depreciation on installing uber-cool stuff. Not the best of the non-restricted AR's, but more customizable than most, affordable, and pretty accurate.
2) HK SL8-4 or -5, new or used. I'd steer clear of G36 clones because they are pricey and don't shoot any better than a standard SL8. The basic SL8-5 is a gun with many of the earlier issues worked out and they shoot tiny groups. That being said, it's maybe the only commonly encountered .223 black rifle I've never owned or demo'd
3) Swiss Arms. I like the quality of build, but for a .223 it's about 60% too heavy, has few accessories, and is very picky about what ammo it likes. Also proprietary mags that sometimes crack for $100 a pop unless you want to outlay $500+ for an AR magwell aftermarket lower. Had one and sold it. Better stuff out there for the money.
4) Tavor. Bullpup coolness, but not as accurate as other options (like the non-bullpups or even the FS2000). Horrible trigger. Expensive rifle for what it offers and some take only proprietary mounts. Those that like them really like them. I tried one a buddy lent me for a few weeks and I was happy to return it to him as I HATED the trigger.
5) FS2000 - fat like that girl you picked up at the club but you didn't want your buddies to find out about. Short on features, but accurate and nicely ambidextrous. A bit overpriced like all FN stuff, but a fun little rifle.
6) SU-16 - ugly and not yet on the market up here.
7) Benelli MR1 - Ugly. Maybe the most non-black rifle looking black rifle ever. It looks like a 12 gauge shotgun with a cotton barrel tumble dried high to shrink it. The stock reminds me of something from ATI that should be on a K-Marted SKS. I demo'd one and never again. Accuracy was marginal compared to most other black rifles. Price is attractive though.
8) KelTec RFB - cool gun, but in .308 and takes metric FAL mags that while plentiful in the US are harder to find up here. Also very expensive for what it is.
Of those listed, if I could not own an AR15 and had to buy new, I'd likely get an SL8-5 with an AR15 mag well conversion. Either that or a used AR180B. Of those I've owned I only still have an AR180B that's been heavily modified for accurate shooting, but more often than not I bring an AR15 when I head to the range.
Hope that helps. Caveat is that these assessments are just my opinion. Other may (and definitely will) disagree with me.
