I am new to the AR world and have been reading until my eyes bleed. I am more confused now than when I started! I would like to purchase an AR rather than build one for my first go around. I don't need a $2500 gun but don't want a cheap POS either. Right now I'm thinking about the $1000 range or so. Here is a list I have created from the pages and pages I have read along with the local shops I've stopped at.

Springfield Saint $800
Rock River LAR-15 ATH $875
Colt 6920 $900
S&W M&P $750
Ruger $650
Core15 (not sure what model) $660

I am completely overwhelmed with what brand to go with. One website I go to says stay away from brand "x" and the next website says it's the best gun ever. The 2 local shops I went to praised the Core15 guns and the Rock River guns. Any other suggestions? Any of these look good to start with?

I have the Ruger one. Works great for the price I paid sub $600 on sale and a coupon for Cabela's. It is accurate and more more accurate than I am. I did change out the stock for one that isn't plastic. Also changed out the trigger for a RRA Varmint cause got it at a good price.

All your given examples will work, it's hard to find a factory built ar that doesn't work.

Colt OEM

Add B5 SOPMOD/Bravo, Magpul trigger guard, and Centurion Arms handguard.

Just go for the Ruger.  You'll end up customizing it later anyway, might as well save a few bucks.  They'll all be good quality.

The LAR-15 ATH looks like a $1200ish gun that is on some special for the $875. Is it worth the extra $$$ over the ruger? I've never heard of the Core 15 brand until today either. Anyone know anything about them?

Colt 6720

What do you want to do with the rifle?

I plan to use it for hunting coyotes and plinking at the range. Of course the whole "self defense" allure doesn't hurt either but mostly I'm getting it for coyote/varmint hunting.

If you can afford it get the Colt 6920. Make sure it's a 6920 and not a Expanse.

If it's only go to be used as a critter getter' than I would look at a S&W Sport II, decent rifle with many good reports.

if it's going to be used at any time as a self defense rifle I'd look at the higher end rifles. You don't have to spend a fortune to get something good but as with anything quality costs more.

If you just want a grab and go rifle I'd suggest getting the Colt 6920, it's a proven no frills rifle.

If you like the 6920 but want to change out the funiture start with the Colt OEM1 and add what you want.

If you have some AR tools and some mechanical know how I'd look at the Colt OEM2 or the BCM OEM rifle offered by brownells. Add a free float rail and whatever stock you like.

If I were doing it again I'd start with a good factory built rifle I'd use for defense. Second I'd build a critter getter' rifle or just an upper.

Colts 6920's are not too expensive but they come with disposable stock, and hand guards, and a stupid FSP.

I'd suggest you buy one with a free float Mlok/Keymod hand guard and low profile gas block. As mentioned, any decent name brand will probably perform admirably. (I basically only buy Palmetto State Armory online these days because for $500 I can order the exact upper and lower I want).

Like others already said, they will all work. I'm going to suggest the RRA. I myself have a LAR-15 ATH and it was my most accurate rifle until I built one. I've shot really good groups with cheap PMC ammo. I currently have mine dressed in OD green furniture with an ATN X-Sight. Imho you can't go wrong with a RRA. I have two and they both run flawlessly  
That's a good price also.
Good luck.

There's nothing stupid about front sight post; it's only your ignorant opinion of it.

Rock River lower complete with White Oak Armory upper

or La Rue  (buy once cry once)

When I first got into the AR world, I was like you and thought the fsp was stupid, old, bulky, not cool, etc. But the more I have gotten into these guns, the more I love the fsp due to its durability, reliability, and you never think twice about your irons loosing zero from dropping. All my go-to rifles are fsp guns other than my mk12. I almost vote the saint due to midlength gas, but the colt us proven, and ymmv, I'd buy those 2 before I even gave a glance at the others.

You could always wait for the new midlength Colt rifle that they had at SHOT. Not sure when it'll actually be out.

I'd look at a BCM mid length upper with a low pro gas block. You'll likely save money and get more of what you want exactly going with separate lower and upper halves.

Rainier has a sale on the BCM lowers. Like $340 for a complete lower with their Gunfighter stock.

I'm selling a BCM upper right now. PM if interested. Can I say that here?

BCM is probably the highest quality you'll be able to get with the modularity you'll appreciate later and won't quickly 'grow out of.' Main reason is your $1k budget though.

All decent rifles. If you are considering an M&P Sport II you should check out the Windham rifles. I got a Windham SRC as my first a few years back and it is an amazing rifle for the money. Incredibly accurate too. The flat top SRC model wouldnt be bad for scope mounting either if you were primarily hunting coyotes. Buy a Windham SRC and youll have enough left over for a Geissele trigger too

Colt 6920 for sure. Ruger would be my last Choice,  too many plastic parts that should be metal. And that weird front sight with the pins in the wrong location.

There is a reason Colt has so many fanboys.
I would add, as far as AR and parts go it pays to be a follower.

This is an excellent value. I would recommend this if you want to customize you AR.

In fact I think I will order one now! It's that good of a deal.

http://www.stagarms.com/stag-furniture-free-rifle-right-handed/

Note the product details
The Stag Arms Furniture Free Rifle is a high quality, durable rifle that is ready for you to customize to your liking.

This model features a 5.56x45mm NATO chamber 16” 1/7 chrome lined barrel, six position tube, A2 birdcage flash hider and a mil-spec manganese phosphate coated M16 BCG.

Every complete rifle from Stag Arms comes with a Transferable Lifetime Warranty, an Infinite Shot Barrel Guarantee, a magazine and a rifle case.

https://m.facebook.com/wyoarms/

Great guys, good rifles, no crazy high price

Do you guys have a website?

Midlength Colt with legit components, not "Expanse" QC shortcut stuff of various origin, lightweight barrel, excellent rail, nicer furniture already installed, should be a soft shooter and very handy for the length given the furniture and bbl profile.
LE6960 Colt Combat Unit Carbine
$1200, no tax since it's from OH.  Suck it up and skip the regrets.  It's your first AR and presumably only one for a while so you want to have confidence in it.
You'll want a light, sling, and irons, and a few more mags, Magpul Gen M2s are gtg, so figure another $400 or so all in for decent shit.  Then get a case of Wolf Gold 55gr for $320 delivered and practice.

After a short while you'll want to spend money on ergo tweaks and optics, so don't set yourself up to be wishing you had a better quality rifle to put them on.

If I were buying one right now, I'd probably jump on the springfield, just to see.  I like the features.  I'm with what the other guy said, FSB's aren't a bad thing, but I do shoot irons a lot.  And the Saint's longer sight radius would be good.  Plus I think the fact that they put a decent trigger in is a really good idea.  Some factory triggers can be pretty darned heavy.  They also have a really good warranty policy.  

But yeah, you can't go wrong with a 6920.  And really all of them are probably serviceable.  The 6920 is probably the one that you could trust the most on reputation.  But even with that you have to run some ammo through any gun to see how it's going to perform.  

Having said all that, I think the most popular type of set up with a lot of the in the know dudes is a 16" mid length medium weight or even LW barrel, with a decently long and light rail.  Slap some magpul buis, a quality RDS and a light.  Or now a 1-4 instead of the RDS.  And there really isn't a better do it all set up for a carbine.  Until you get into SBR's with cans.  

Mids will usually have a bit less recoil than a carbine (like the 6920) and follow up shots are quicker.  The longer rail gives you more real estate for a good grip, and a light, and sight radius for irons if you're going to use them.  

This is the 3rd time I've posted this vid today, LOL.  

patscarbine

Get the Colt.  It'll be a quality first AR and it will hold value better than almost any other brand.

I agree with the "build it yourself" philosophy. Unless you simply don't have time, it isn't nearly as difficult as I thought it would be to build from scratch. And if things like mounting the barrel seem overwhelming, you can always buy an upper barrel assembly. I just think that, like others have said, you're going to end up replacing a lot of parts once you get to know what you want. And it's fun! You get to learn what every little part does and how it works. And at the end, you can tell people there isn't a single part that you didn't specifically choose.

If this isn't in your plan though, I kinda like the Saint. It has a lot of the BCM products I've put in my build and while I haven't seen one of the poly handguards in person, they look cool in pictures.

PSA CHF middy upper and PSA magpul lower + geissele trigger

THIS