AR Sponsor
Posted: 9/21/2012 8:26:09 AM EDT
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Hey all,
I currently have a Colt LE6920MP and I love it. I have the itch to purchase another AR15. The main purpose of this rifle would be to plink around and shoot some steel on my friend's property. This will be a shooter and far from a safe queen. Scratches and wear will eventually be the norm for this AR. However, I can't decide if I want to build my own or if I want to purchase a cheaper priced one. I've been reading more and more good things about the S&W M&P15 Sport and it seems to be priced around the $700 price point. That got me thinking what kind of plinker AR could be built for the money. Perhaps I can get a better rifle for the money if I piece it together component by component. Could this be done? I'm asking for some ideas here. What kind of plinker can be built under $700? I do not want to use the cheapest quality parts. Quality is very important to me and I still want a quality rifle. It will be fed cheap plinking, dirty, target ammo too, so it must cycle the cheap stuff reliably. Please post up your ideas for a $700 plinker AR15! Iron sights are fine for now. Have at it! |
| I have a S&W M&P Sport and it's a good rifle for what you are talking about in my opinion. I have almost 2K rounds through it, no FTF's or anything bad; it's just been a great little rifle so far... I don't regret making it my first AR at all, having said that I turned around and bought a Colt LE6940 about a month later, but that was because I wanted a similar rifle but with a different configuration. I truly enjoy both. |
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Quoted:
How granular of a "build" are we talking about? Assemble the lower and mate it to a complete upper or a complete assemblage of an upper too? Correct, assemble the lower and combine it with an upper. I can put the BCG in but am hesitant messing around with the gas system. |
| I too would buy ammo for the Colt instead of another rifle. If you are set on another rifle for this purpose, then another vote for the M&P Sport. Great basic, no frills rifle and mine has only been fed steel cased ammo. Runs like a champ. The Sport barrel also gets high marks for accuracy. You could also look to PSA. Get a rifle with a dust cover and forward assist for the same money. |
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I agree with these guys... Shoot the Colt. If you want to build another gun you can. I assembled a PSA M4 for $700. I would probably take that over a M&P Sport, but that's personal preference. I built my PSA M-4 for slighty more but I got the hammer forged barrel. I think's it the equal of my Colt SP6920. I'll do another as funds permit 
I also have a factory PSA that I love also 
Colt at the top, Factory PSA in the middle...build on the bottom. I'm shooting the PSA's more until I decide if I can get another Colt as funds permit or do another build |
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How about you just buy a upper in a different config than your 6920 and just use the colt lower you have? Get a 18" or 20" or 16" mid gas lightweight upper from Palmetto or BCM and throw a optic on it with the money you save from not buying a new lower.
Then buy a stripped lower and all the parts as they come on sale and it won't hit your pocket book as badly. By the time you are done (lets say a year) you will have two quality rifles in different configs. This allows you to take advantage of all the holiday sales that PSA is bound to have (thanksgiving and Christmas). |
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I bought this upper http://www.shop.ar15hardware.com/16-556-A3-upper-w-Melonited-barrel-16556A3V2MEL.htm
Buy this LOWERplus lower parts kit and stock your in for 600 bucks 
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I'm sure you guys trying to talk him out of buying another AR only have one yourself, right? Hell no, I'm trying to talk him into one cuz I'm broke right now...I can at least live vivaciously through others right now
oh...and I have 3
Problem is 3 is a odd number, I like even numbers
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The S&W Sport would be fine, also I agree with the other members here about the PSA, get the upper half first and use your Colt lower, it won't hurt it much, or even get a BCM midlength gas lightweight profile barrel upper, later on as your budget permit slowly build a lower from a stripped lower receiver, lower parts kit and a buttstock standard kit (nothing fancy or get a MOE stock).
Another alternative I would suggest would be either a 9mm or .22 LR complete upper, for the 9mm get a good quality mag block like Hahn Precision (for Colt type mags) or VM HyTech mag block (for Uzi type mags), use a rounded type hammer like a Colt (M16 with bobbed tail hammer) or ALG Defense, have your 9mm bolt ramped by ADCO, use a 9mm buffer, by using low cost ammo you could shoot a ton of it at a very low price. I have a RRA 9mm carbine with Hahn and VM HyTech mag blocks which I built as a plinker, outdoors or indoor shooting ranges, my wife and kids likes to use it more than my other Colt AR (Colt carbines X4, a Colt 20" A2 clone rifle) and LMT M4 style carbine. My next build project is a .22 LR complete upper half, next after that maybe a 9mm AR pistol. |
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My budget/plinker AR
http://imageshack.us/a/img88/4990/20120917180110.jpg NFA Lower - $120 shipped with FFL Transfer DPMS Oracle Upper - $400 shipped $40 Red dot and a few Pmags all under $600 to my door, works for me :) |
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I just built my first PSA and I'm at $590 without BCG and have:
PSA M4 Upper with MBUS and Vortex Strikefire Red Dot MOE Handguard PSA Lower with LPK 2 PMags 30rd Now just waiting in a BCG and CH to buy. Was hoping to be under $700 but that's not gonna happen unless I sell the Vortex. |
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Quoted:
I agree with these guys... Shoot the Colt. If you want to build another gun you can. I assembled a PSA M4 for $700. I would probably take that over a M&P Sport, but that's personal preference. ^this or take that 700 bucks and start putting together another quality rifle. i like plinking with quality rifles...but that's just me. |
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