I'm putting together a plan to build a trainer/possible truck gun as low as possible. I am going to hit the EE hard for better deals than new. I am not trying to reinvent the wheel here, basic carbine setup is all I'm after.

I don't think I can really beat a new lower, unless I can get a LNIB/BNIB on my local board or Armslist for a decent price. I would even pay a bit more to do that than pay lower + shipping + transfer.

LPK- haven't done my research here yet. I don't know if it would be better to look at a new one just for condition and knowing all is there, or see if someone is trying to sell down their stock. I know piecing together one is not price conscious because of shipping.

Buffer tube and stock, lots of these in the EE, just depends on price and style. Buffer itself, I am sure I could find one there in the EE as well, worth looking at new?

Upper - I don't have the tools to put one together. Buying the tools for this particular project would be counterproductive. Not saying I won't, but for this it's not there. Is there anything I need to look for in a good used upper ? Not concerned with handguard that's easy and cheap, and easily upgraded later if needed. BCG I've seen people include, some not. Have to see what comes with the upper.

Sights - really depends on upper. At this point no plans, of it has a carry handle and FSB gas block then I'm set, but if not then that will open up other options.

Mags - USGI and PMAGS are plentiful and cheap. May splurge on a 40 to keep in the gun, then some 30s as spares.

I feel I am forgetting something here. What else do I need? What do you think i need to consider for this?

I've had ARs and am always buying and selling. I don't have any ARs now, but still familiar with the platform. No set budget, be fun to see how low it can be done for.

Super budget wise PSA typically has some ultra cheap uppers. AndroCorp also has a budget section and arfcommer discount codes to boot in industry forum. Probably hard to find a used on EE that beat those prices

^this

Right now they have several deals going on 16" mid length uppers for $189 - $209, some with free shipping. Add $100 for BCG and charging handle for ~$300 total. Not bad, and pretty hard to beat even if you're piecing together the cheapest individual parts you can find.

I've seen the PSA uppers for the good prices, and they are on the list. Checking out AndroCorp now.

If I could do that, be the same $$ as a used one, definitely a better way to go.

That is hard to beat! I'm looking at them now, seeing what is out there.

I remember when the PTAC came out, is that line any good? I know it's not a Noveske or Colt, but I don't want to spend $200ish on a piece of shit. Even the PSA branded ones are cheap and I have heard many issues with them.

If you're buying this weekend, then PSA would likely be your best bet on just about all of it...crazy deals going right now.

For the price of a set of iron sights, you could probably buy a Primary Arms red dot sight.

PTAC

Add a $50 Anderson lower, and you've got a $400 rifle, before shipping and tax.

I only buy mags off the EE anymore, I can't find better deals than that.

I don't know about everyone else, but a lot of the prices on uppers in the EE are way high. Even PSA uppers on EE are higher than you can get them from PSA new.
Gripe over:).

There are some good deals out there, but there are also people that are trying to subsidize their income by scooping up all the good deals and marking up the merchandise 15% a month later, once they think everyone forgot about those good deals.

Bought EVERYTHING for an el cheap truck gun at PSA for like $420.   Hellova sale going on until Monday.

If they were marking it up 25% I'd call them gunshow vendors.  

 
Either way they shouldn't quit their day job.  They're investing a lot of capital for a pretty shit profit margin.  Nothing under 20% even begins to tickle my taint as far as my interest in it goes.  

Just don't mention what parts you're going to buy on the cheap, otherwise someone here will convince you that's one part you need to buy quality.

And that will be every part.

So, if you want to build a budget AR, do it on the down low

CHAD

My last 5.56 build I had $375.00 including shipping of all parts into to it, the only thing I had in stock was the carbine plastic handguard, I had to purchase everything else, but with prudent shopping on both ebay and in EE I was able to put a good shooting gun together for less than $400 bucks.

That said, I did have to mill my 80% lower to do it.  I understand many people don't have the equipment to mill an 80%

This is a darn good complete upper for the price
http://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-16-midlength-5-56-chf-ultra-lightweight-upper-with-bcg-and-charging-handle.html

I built a similar rifle that you're looking for.  I already have stripped lowers, so I can buy everything else online without using an FFL.

For a cheap training/trunk/truck gun, PSA is hard to beat.  The last cheap rifle I built, I think I had about $375 into it; all stuff from PSA.

When times got tight a while ago I sold off my lowers , so I am starting from scratch. I would like to find someone selling local to avoid the transfer costs. I wish I had a few sitting around.

I've been browsing the EE and it seems most are mid level uppers, more than I want to spend.  I've seen some nice ones, but not what I want for this.

Some local LGS have lowers in stock, but also the higher end roll marks (I know they are essentially the same, forged not billet of course) $125+ each, and they aren't even the cool no/pew/pew pew pew ones.

Buying a kit from PSA is probably the way to go. I got one of those $299 for everything but the lower PTAC kits and am pretty happy with it for a beater rifle. I put an Anderson lower and a magpul mbus rear sight on it for a grand total of I think $406. With the sales going on this weekend it might be worth it for a few extra bucks to get PSA brand.

Yep, same here. I bought the 16" 1:7 twist Nitride kit and built it on a Tapco lower. $480 totsl into the gun but then I couldn't resist and put a LaRue MBT in it that I got off the EE for $125 shipped brand new.

OP, check PSA for a Freedom kit. I'm not sure I would mess with their PTAC line but Freedoms are good to go.

full upper with BCG

Most I as looking without BCG and CH, this has that and it's a Middy (just a preference). I was looking at a dissy for about $210 but needs the BCG and CH, which adds another $100 or so.

Unfortunately I'm not in a position to buy this weekend, I wish I was. Family vacation in two weeks so it's all going to that. After we get back, I am going to start throwing some coin at it. And can start looking at Independence Day deals.

I just saw this reading thru again. I think one like the one above is the ticket. Just getting the lower, but there is a gun show coming up in August for a cheap lower, but would like to have this done before then. Still searching the Armslist and my local shooters forum for someone to let one go.

The sights I'm not sure on either. Hoping by that time either PA will be running a big sale or I can see if someone is upgrading their RDS for something else, and i can be a winner there.

Long guns and receivers are good to buy in any state, right? I know handguns need to be in state.

So change of plans. I have a buddy of mine who runs a gun shop, but he is about 2.5 hours away. For some things like a cheap lower it's out of the question. But for some things, like a cheap fully built rifle, it's good. And he's near the beach, for what the family thinks is am impromptu trip!

M&P15 Sport, this doesn't show it but will have a carry handle for a rear sight, 2 mags, for about what y'all re paying already having your lower in hand.



I am still going to build one, but will not be under the budget that this one has.

Smith is out, had a guy make an offer he couldn't refuse.

Lower is key,  getting a lower local, even if it's more than the online options out there, but less than buying, shipping  and transfer, will be important.

Radical and PSA are high on the list, watching used boards as well, but most of those are still at or above retail.

I am taking donations as well lol

Act quick.  I see the mother of all panics coming.....

First time build. What do you guys think of this upper? I'm going with a Blem Psa lower.

http://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-16-mid-length-5-56-nato-1-8-stainless-steel-heavy-freedom-upper-with-bcg-charging-handle.html

Or this

http://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-ar15-18-rifle-length-223-wylde-1-7-stainless-moe-upper-no-bcg-or-ch.html

Or this

http://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-16-mid-length-cmv-cl-stripped-upper-without-bcg-or-charging-handle.html

I nabbed two compete with BCG and CH 16" middy uppers from Aero for $321.50 each. I will have around $425 into those two rifles when it's all said and done. Can't get much better than that, and the only "cheap" thing I'm using is a Anderson carbine buffer kit. I've got plenty of M4 buttstocks and carry handles so they're "free" essentially.

I've been able to find quite a few Aero uppers that are complete with BCG and CH at cheaper or the same price as PSA's freedom/PTAC lines.   And IMHO the Aero stuff is on par or better than their premium line.

Mind posting a link to the uppers you bought?

Deals over. It was from Aero themselves.

Your bolded statement is the same as my experience.  There are some decent deals in the EE, but more along the lines of saving a few hundred off an upper that's normally quite expensive.  

The only really cheap stuff is Frankenguns built by individuals, and I'm not about to trust a rifle built by some random person I don't know without a company to stand behind it.  

I ended up just buying a PSA upper on a great sale.  Really, I think all the true budget deals are to be found online new.  Most likely anyone who has a company built budget upper they want to sell probably paid way too much for it a few years back, so if there were to unload it at a competitive cost for used upper in it's build range they would take a massive loss.

The week before their black Friday sale, PSA had PTAC slickside M4 kits for $300 shipped. I combined that with an Anderson lower, generic carry handle, cheap sling, and a single magazine for an all-in total of $402 including shipping, taxes, and FFL fee. The only cost not included was an AR multi-tool.