Your cheapest AR build?

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Shawn56555

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I am building my first AR and I am planning on doing it for as cheap as possible. So far I have bought a lower for $80 and an LPK for $80 as well. When it's all said and done I'm hoping to be in if for around $500 (not including optics). Do you guys think this is possible? What is the cheapest AR you have built and for how much?

I am in no rush to build this rifle. I basically check dealer sites looking for sales on parts I need. What are some good dealers to keep an eye on for cheap AR parts?
I may buy a used upper if it turns out to be cost effective, but I will definitely buy a new barrel and BCG.
 
You can buy a complete Norinco upper pretty cheap.
If you're not in a hurry to finish it just keep your eye on the EE parts section for deals on stuff.
Not sure if you'll be able to finish for $500 all in but you can definitely build one pretty cheap if you take your time and wait for the right prices on used parts. Just make sure you know what stuff costs new before you buy so you don't buy used parts for $5 less than new parts.
I suggest staying away from NEA parts but I have an AR I built with an NEA upper and lower that worked out great but they're kinda hit and miss on whether or not you get stuff that is compatible with other brand parts.
 
I have been told by the "guru's" here that you can build a 1 MOA AR for $1000......I haven't seen it though. I doubt you can make your budget of $500 or else you'd see them on the EE for a lot cheaper for a complete rifle.
 
CHEMMY said:
I have been told by the "guru's" here that you can build a 1 MOA AR for $1000......I haven't seen it though. I doubt you can make your budget of $500 or else you'd see them on the EE for a lot cheaper for a complete rifle.
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$400 barrel, $100ish ALG ACT trigger then cheapest crap you can get your hands on for the rest. It's possible but would be hard to do, especially if you need to buy tools as well.
For a $500 budget you're not going to be installing a barrel capable of 1 moa. There are plenty of cheap used barrels for $100-$150 though if you just want to be able to shoot.
 
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This build cost me about $300. I asked a buddy if he had any A2 stocks in his spare parts bin that he didn't need anymore. A few months later, he came by my place with a complete A2 stock assembly, as well as a complete 20" HBAR upper

All I had to do was buy a lower and the LPK which cost me about $300.

Obviously that's not the norm, but I bet a working rifle could be slapped together for under $500. Most used Norcs in EE will be around that price.

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Building an AR 15 doesn't really seem worth it anymore. The price of complete rifles has dropped significantly.
 
FoxAlpha said:
Hah, cheapest AR ive built for myself...... probably was around 2800-3000
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You're just not trying hard enough, lol!

cadgo said:
Building an AR 15 doesn't really seem worth it anymore. The price of complete rifles has dropped significantly.
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Still fun though, piecing it all together. But yeah, I agree, it's definitely possible to get a complete working rifle for a pretty good price nowadays. If you're happy with shooting one straight out of the box and leaving it alone, may as well go that route. I think IRG has US made ARs for about $500 USD in Canada right now.
 
CHEMMY said:
I have been told by the "guru's" here that you can build a 1 MOA AR for $1000......I haven't seen it though. I doubt you can make your budget of $500 or else you'd see them on the EE for a lot cheaper for a complete rifle.
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If you throw in used parts and get lucky with the barrel, not all mid priced barrels are necessarily capable of that level of accuracy.
I would agree that it can be done.
 
AOWM said:
If you throw in used parts and get lucky with the barrel, not all mid priced barrels are necessarily capable of that level of accuracy.
I would agree that it can be done.
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They said it can be done with off the shelf parts.....I disagree. Like you said.....maybe if you find some used parts or catch Black Friday sales or something.
 
The real advantage I had found with building them from parts (which is the only way I have done it) is that it's not a lump sum of money all at once. If you're like me and are distracted by shiny things and have a spending problem it's almost the only viable way to purchase firearms.

It's also way more fun to build.

Also, by the time you source all the parts, pay shipping on everything as youll likely be shopping numerous stores, and buy some of the tools I'm not sure how far ahead you are.
 
My cheapest build was roughly $600

I got a compete norinco upper with ch and bcg. for $350

the $89 NEA lower (since sold) "z" marked.

the LPK was 80 from Epps.

and the rest was EE bits and pieces... (some free local)
 
cadgo said:
Building an AR 15 doesn't really seem worth it anymore. The price of complete rifles has dropped significantly.
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With the prices you can get a complete rifle for these days it's no longer about getting one as cheap as possible but more about building exactly what you want the way you want it without having to pay for the parts you're not going to use that come one the complete rifle options.
Also a fun project and helps guys understand how their rifle works which helps in troubleshooting if there are problems.
 
cr5 said:
With the prices you can get a complete rifle for these days it's no longer about getting one as cheap as possible but more about building exactly what you want the way you want it without having to pay for the parts you're not going to use that come one the complete rifle options.
Also a fun project and helps guys understand how their rifle works which helps in troubleshooting if there are problems.
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I agree. Building them is a great way to get what you want but in the context of "cheapest build", I'm not sure building makes sense anymore.
 
cadgo said:
I agree. Building them is a great way to get what you want but in the context of "cheapest build", I'm not sure building makes sense anymore.
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No, you're right building is not cheaper anymore.

I doubt a complete rifle can be built using milspec parts for $500 but if you're willing to take the risk with NEA/BCL or Norinco parts off the EE it may be possible to keep it around $500.

Just off the top of my head, I haven't been buying much for AR parts lately so I may be a little off.
Lower $80+
Upper $80+
Buffer tube, spring, and buffer $80+
Complete BCG $100+
Barrel $150+ (new) $100+ (used)
LPK $80+
Furniture $100+
Magazine $20+
Odds and ends $50+
Tools $50+
Those are the cheapest I can think of, prices only go up from there.

Nope, doubt it can be done for $500 unless you get some wicked deals or have a generous buddy.
Better off buying a complete rifle for $500+ on the EE or just spend $700 on a S&W at Cabela's

Franken AR's have lower resale as well so even if a guy put one together for $500-$700 a base model brand name rifle will have a better resale value and be easier to sell.
 
cadgo said:
Building an AR 15 doesn't really seem worth it anymore. The price of complete rifles has dropped significantly.
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Building a budget AR can be done, but for myself building isn't about conforming to a strict budget. Instead it's about building the rifle to the exact specs I set forth to get the exact rifle I want.
 
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