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Posted: 11/26/2012 1:12:35 PM EDT
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Hello guys,......I would like your help purchasing my son an AR-15 for Christmas. My son and I are new to the AR platform but not guns, we are avid shooters. I need this gun to come in under $1000 or Mom is going to put a stop to it and spend the Christmas budget on Ipods, video games, and other junk that will be gone and forgotten by next Christmas. You may be thinking that under a $1000 is not going to be difficult but he does not like the "basic" AR look. He really likes the look of the MP-15T witht he adjustable stock and quad rail fore grip, the more tricked out the better!
So here are my questions,.... 1.) is it better to buy a basic AR and add the fore grip and stock or find one ready to go 2.) how hard is it to install the quad rail fore grip, or any of the options for that matter? 3.) It seems online prices are much cheaper than I can find locally but I have no idea how to go about ordering a gun online through a dealer? 4.) Optics,...o boy what to do here,..I am thinking a basic 1x4 scope and let him upgrade later, he has a job so upgrading is not a problem. So basically I need a AR-15 for under $1000 that is tricked out with maybe not so hot add-ons but a solid foundation,...I am just looking for that wow factor Christmas morning, he can spend his own money upgrading optics and stuff. I would love for someone to be as specific as "order this gun, this sight, this stock, .........) Thanks guys!!! 
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| If you are looking for the best bang for the buck, right out of the box, I would go with Colt. PSA has really good prices for their rifles but I see too many issues with their customer service from members and fellow shooters. If you want something that you can get before Christmas, you are probably going to have to purchase from your local gun store. Depending on what they carry, Colt, Stag, RRA, Spikes, CMMG, BCM, and maybe even Bushmaster are all solid choices for an entry level AR. |
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You can put together one for that price range...
Off the Top of my head I have a lower right now that I just finsihed. 129 for the lower 60 for the LPK 35 for the buffer tube, nut, spring and buffer 20 for a used MIAD grip and 40 for a used magpul stock Lower is $284. JSE or DTI both have uppers you can buy assembled and ready to rock starting at 425 and up to 560. So thats 844 out the door and ready to shoot. You just need mags and ammo and your GTG. FYI you will have to buy an optic or a rear sight but other than that you can put together a nice gun for a lot less money just shopping the EE here. |
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Build it from scratch, period. The upper can be assembled, but at the minimum you customize everything else. I was just telling a buddy of mine the same thing. This coming from me, who recently built three of them this way...
Edit: I am building one this week for my dad as well :) |
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Welcome aboard!
While Colts are nice, they are a bit on the pricey side and other reliable rifles can be had for less. Check out Bud's black gun section for some sub-$1000 ARs. Bud's Black Rifles |
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The Smith & Wesson is a solid rifle and a lot of people are picking up the "T" model right now. If you shop around, you can find a good deal. To order online, you just need a local FFL to take delivery. They will likely charge a fee (around $25) to do the transfer. As long as that fee and shipping come in under what you can get locally, you're in good shape.
As far as optics, based on what you stated in your original post, I'd go with the Primary Arms 1-4 scope. Great reviews for a budget scope and will last longer than a lot of others in its price range (under $150) You can likely build something under your budget but you would have to have the time to do it and some basic tools. With Christmas just a month away, I'd go with a complete as my first AR and build later down the road. It would suck to build something that didn't go bang the first time because of something simple like a hammer spring being installed backwards. |
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I am not a gun expert, but I think if you are mechanically inclined (and have the time, tools, etc) you could get things under the gun price wise by buying a PSA (or similar) stripped lower, LPK, and assembling your own.
Lower: 100 (http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/ar-15-05/lower-parts/lower-receivers/psa-ar15-lower.html ) (OOS but you can use Spikes or another brand) PSA LPK: 100 ( http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/ar-15-05/lower-parts/parts-kits/psa-moe-plus-lpk-2757.html ) Stock and buffer tube: 50-75? BCM Complete Upper: 520 ( http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-BFH-16-Mid-Length-Upper-Receiver-light-weight-p/bcm-urg-mid-16lw%20bfh.htm ) So that is ~$800 with 200 left to find/buy a charging handle and BCG. BCM makes upgraded versions of both of these (for $205), with the BCG coming into stock every so often. The idea behind a project like this is that you not only get higher quality parts for your same amount of money (or a bit less), you get to learn about your rifle and how it works for future upgrades and/or repairs, and you get to spend some hands on project time with your son! Assembly time doesn't seem to be that lengthy, based on instructional youtube vids, and the tools don't seem to include more than a vice and some punches or a wrench. Once the lower is assembled, the upper just goes on to that in one piece. I think I forgot to add furniture for the rail to the total cost. You can probably find a cheaper complete upper, but BCM is very high quality and would be a great purchase. Just my take on the matter. |
| I think some of you may have missed the point of this thread! I can not start with a $1100 basic gun and come in under the $1000 price limit. Is math not your best subject? To those who have given good advise thank you! What about my other questions,...how ard is it to change the stock and fore grip on cheaper rifles? |
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Quoted:
I am not a gun expert, but I think if you are mechanically inclined (and have the time, tools, etc) you could get things under the gun price wise by buying a PSA (or similar) stripped lower, LPK, and assembling your own. Lower: 100 (http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/ar-15-05/lower-parts/lower-receivers/psa-ar15-lower.html ) (OOS but you can use Spikes or another brand) PSA LPK: 100 ( http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/ar-15-05/lower-parts/parts-kits/psa-moe-plus-lpk-2757.html ) Stock and buffer tube: 50-75? BCM Complete Upper: 520 ( http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-BFH-16-Mid-Length-Upper-Receiver-light-weight-p/bcm-urg-mid-16lw%20bfh.htm ) So that is ~$800 with 200 left to find/buy a charging handle and BCG. BCM makes upgraded versions of both of these (for $205), with the BCG coming into stock every so often. The idea behind a project like this is that you not only get higher quality parts for your same amount of money (or a bit less), you get to learn about your rifle and how it works for future upgrades and/or repairs, and you get to spend some hands on project time with your son! Assembly time doesn't seem to be that lengthy, based on instructional youtube vids, and the tools don't seem to include more than a vice and some punches or a wrench. Once the lower is assembled, the upper just goes on to that in one piece. I think I forgot to add furniture for the rail to the total cost. You can probably find a cheaper complete upper, but BCM is very high quality and would be a great purchase. Just my take on the matter. I agree with most of this, but the PSA I mentioned above includes everything, and has an Aimpoint PRO, all for a grand. I can see how some have PSA trust issues, but I had real issues with them, and they made things right in a timely manner and on their dime. Hard to beat a complete rifle with an Aimpoint for $1,000. |
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I think some of you may have missed the point of this thread! I can not start with a $1100 basic gun and come in under the $1000 price limit. Is math not your best subject? To those who have given good advise thank you! What about my other questions,...how ard is it to change the stock and fore grip on cheaper rifles? The stock is easy. The handguard can be easy, and can edge into pain in the neck territory. That said, rails without purpose are just needless weight. |
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I would go with a basic rifle from PSA. Bang for the buck, I put them on top personally.
Optics, accessories, can wait until funding is available. And for 1000 with optics, you would be skimping on the optic. I set aside about 600-900 for a good scope and mount for a 1-4. |
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I think some of you may have missed the point of this thread! I can not start with a $1100 basic gun and come in under the $1000 price limit. Is math not your best subject? To those who have given good advise thank you! What about my other questions,...how ard is it to change the stock and fore grip on cheaper rifles? Easy killer. They mean well! ETA: A handguard (plastic, stock, magpul or otherwise) is easy. A free float rail, a little harder depending on the rail. A stock, most of the time doesn't require any tools. very easy. Price of the rifle has really nothing to do with anything. A DPMS and a Noveske are fundamentally the same. *hides* |
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I am not a gun expert, but I think if you are mechanically inclined (and have the time, tools, etc) you could get things under the gun price wise by buying a PSA (or similar) stripped lower, LPK, and assembling your own. Lower: 100 (http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/ar-15-05/lower-parts/lower-receivers/psa-ar15-lower.html ) (OOS but you can use Spikes or another brand) PSA LPK: 100 ( http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/ar-15-05/lower-parts/parts-kits/psa-moe-plus-lpk-2757.html ) Stock and buffer tube: 50-75? BCM Complete Upper: 520 ( http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-BFH-16-Mid-Length-Upper-Receiver-light-weight-p/bcm-urg-mid-16lw%20bfh.htm ) So that is ~$800 with 200 left to find/buy a charging handle and BCG. BCM makes upgraded versions of both of these (for $205), with the BCG coming into stock every so often. The idea behind a project like this is that you not only get higher quality parts for your same amount of money (or a bit less), you get to learn about your rifle and how it works for future upgrades and/or repairs, and you get to spend some hands on project time with your son! Assembly time doesn't seem to be that lengthy, based on instructional youtube vids, and the tools don't seem to include more than a vice and some punches or a wrench. Once the lower is assembled, the upper just goes on to that in one piece. I think I forgot to add furniture for the rail to the total cost. You can probably find a cheaper complete upper, but BCM is very high quality and would be a great purchase. Just my take on the matter. I agree with most of this, but the PSA I mentioned above includes everything, and has an Aimpoint PRO, all for a grand. I can see how some have PSA trust issues, but I had real issues with them, and they made things right in a timely manner and on their dime. Hard to beat a complete rifle with an Aimpoint for $1,000. cool! ive never used them before and dont hate them, i was just trying to put a really nice frankenstein together for under the max :P |
1) You have some options here. One method is to buy all of the parts and assemble it yourself. This can be a lot of fun. The tools for building a lower are a few brass punches and vice grips. Installing barrels (and free floating handguards/free floating quad rails) involves a vice, a specialized barrel wrench (about 30 bucks) and an action block (about 30 bucks). That's about it for tools required to do virtually any repair/parts replacement you can imagine on an AR15. You can build one and later customize it. You can buy one and later customize it. You can buy one or build one and never customize it (like me ). It's all up to you. There are pictoral guides on how to do all of this in the build it yourself forum. 2) There are two types. The non-free floating type install just like standard handguards (really easy). The free floating type generally requires removal of the barrel and front sight base. The front sight base can be a pain. You then install a new (proprietary) barrel nut which the free float tube or quad rail screw into. This is not a complicated procedure, but I have heard it can be annoying (I have never done it.) Again, there are excellent pictoral guides in the BIY forum. 3)Go to your home town forum. Ask people to post places that do cheap transfers near where you live. Talk to one of these guys. Get a signed copy of his FFL. Then order your gun online. Call the dealer, and tell them to ship it to the gun dealer you name, and then send in the signed copy of his FFL. It will then be mailed to that gun dealer. Then you go in, do your background check, pay a fee (usually 15 to 30 bucks) and you have your firearm. 4) I am a long time believer in iron sights. I don't buy optics. With that said, quality optics are a wonderful thing. Crappy optics really suck. The main ones people around here go for are aimpoint, eotech and the trijicon ACOG. All of which are extremely expensive. I'd recommend just attaching an iron sight and telling your son to buy his own optic. Much cheaper for you that way. Also bear in mind that home building is a really fun father/son project, so you may want to go that route for bonding time. Or you can just go shooting together. Or as arfcom would say, get both!  ETA: I just saw your budget. It will be very easy to come in under budget and make a quality AR15. But it will be virtually impossible to do it for that budget with fancy optics, quad rails, etc. This is one of those things where you don't want to skimp out on substandard (heavy) quadrails or cheap optics (easily broken/don't hold zero well). |
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To address your question number 3. Buying a gun online is super easy. The hardest part is finding a good FFL.
1. Find a good local FFL willing to accept the online order. I recommend a good local gunsmith, they charge the least and don't sell their own firearms, so they'll do transfers all day long for extra income. Mine charges $20 for ar15 transfers. 2. Once you've talked to an FFL, find and purchase your firearm online. 3. Immediately after purchase, have your FFL send a copy of their license to the online retailer if they are not already on file. 4. The retailer will check the license and send the firearm to your FFL. 5. Your FFL will call you when it arrives. You go there to pick it up and fill out the necessary paperwork. Super Easy!!!! |
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I think some of you may have missed the point of this thread! I can not start with a $1100 basic gun and come in under the $1000 price limit. Is math not your best subject? To those who have given good advise thank you! What about my other questions,...how ard is it to change the stock and fore grip on cheaper rifles? I think your best option is to purchase a complete lower from a dealer for less than $300, then a quality upper from elsewhere. (Rainier Arms, BCM, Brownells, etc) the upper is not considered a firearm and they can be freely shipped via UPS/Fedex/USPS directly to your front door. This STAG upper is a pretty good deal: http://www.rainierarms.com/?page=shop/detail&product_id=614 The buttstock is very easy to change, no tool required most of the time. The foregrip can be easy or difficult depending on the model, but most require nothing but basic hand tools. |
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As for a good rifle, the TROY 5.56 looks very promising. They had them on sale at dicks for $800, not sure what they cost now.
info: http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_3_118/578970_New_Troy_5_56_Carbine.html Dicks ad: http://www.slickguns.com/product/troy-carbine-79998-store-dicks |
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As for a good rifle, the TROY 5.56 looks very promising. They had them on sale at dicks for $800, not sure what they cost now. info: http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_3_118/578970_New_Troy_5_56_Carbine.html Dicks ad: http://www.slickguns.com/product/troy-carbine-79998-store-dicks damn.... nice. |
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IMHO-With this post election buying frenzy, & Black Friday/Cyber Monday shipping overload. Add in the time to Christmas.
Buy one. The 11% excise is built-in to the price. If you decided this back in August, might be a fun project. I put together one. It was much more than what I could buy a decent rifle for. It's a heck of a rifle though! Stags are pretty nice ARs too. Oh, front Quad rail- depends on which one you get. It also depends on your state regs. A pinned muzzle break looks to be a giant PITA. I doubt Tenn. has though regs. Mainly New England & possibly Cali. Just my .02. |
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I would buy this all day long. http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/featured/psa-16-mid-premium-patrol-rifle-package.html +1 My PSA has been nothing but exceptional. They do have some cheaper models also, allowing for further accesssories or ammunition purchases. Many reccomend Colt but I just don't see the point in paying an extra couple hundred dollars just to have the logo on the reciever. Sure it's Colt... sure they were the first to mass produce ARs... sure they have military contracts, but it seems like they attempt to cut corners in the civilian market. |
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You can get a Rock River Arms Elite Operator II dressed up enough that your boy will love it for $1000
LINK 
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He really likes the look of the MP-15T witht he adjustable stock and quad rail fore grip, the more tricked out the better!
So why not just buy the M&P 15T, if that is what your son likes? Folks are picking them up at Dick's Sporting Goods on sale for $900, or $800 if you open a Dick's charge card account. |
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Hello guys,......I would like your help purchasing my son an AR-15 for Christmas. My son and I are new to the AR platform but not guns, we are avid shooters. I need this gun to come in under $1000 or Mom is going to put a stop to it and spend the Christmas budget on Ipods, video games, and other junk that will be gone and forgotten by next Christmas. You may be thinking that under a $1000 is not going to be difficult but he does not like the "basic" AR look. He really likes the look of the MP-15T witht he adjustable stock and quad rail fore grip, the more tricked out the better! So here are my questions,.... 1.) is it better to buy a basic AR and add the fore grip and stock or find one ready to go 2.) how hard is it to install the quad rail fore grip, or any of the options for that matter? 3.) It seems online prices are much cheaper than I can find locally but I have no idea how to go about ordering a gun online through a dealer? 4.) Optics,...o boy what to do here,..I am thinking a basic 1x4 scope and let him upgrade later, he has a job so upgrading is not a problem. So basically I need a AR-15 for under $1000 that is tricked out with maybe not so hot add-ons but a solid foundation,...I am just looking for that wow factor Christmas morning, he can spend his own money upgrading optics and stuff. I would love for someone to be as specific as "order this gun, this sight, this stock, .........) Thanks guys!!! I had a similar problem. I could spend $1500 on a new AR and be in the dog house big time or get what I wanted under a grand and continue to be admired and respected. 
I looked at the Colt LE6920MP for $995. Decided I wouls still have to spend about $200 to make it the way I wanted it. I also looked at the RRA Elite Operator. So I looked a the M&P Sort and the DPMS Sportical and the Bushmaster Carbon 15 and an entry model from Windham Weaponry. After considering all options, I decided on what fit me best was the DPMS Oracle. By going withthe Oracle, I was able to trick it out how I wanted it and still come in well under a grand, leaving me some wiggle room. I have just a couple of additions to make and I am sure later on I will change the optics and maybe upgrade the rails or who knows. But it is good to go now and I spent about $900 total (although I had some items on hand already, the $900 would have done it if I dodn't add the magnifier.) http://www.solidred.net/images/oracle_complete_800.jpg |
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You can get a Rock River Arms Elite Operator II dressed up enough that your boy will love it for $1000 LINK http://www.rockriverarms.com/images/products/purelop2.gif That is the look I am after,....thank you for posting! How does this rifle compare to the MP15T in qualtiy and price? I think I am looking for open sights if I want to stay under $1000,...maybe my dad will get the optics for him for Christmas. Any other options similar to these for the price? |
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Last christmas my dad (im only 19) got me all the parts for the lower and a preassembled upper he picked up at a gun show for i think $400 plus the bolt carrier group for another $120ish. I put the lower together in about 2-3 hours because i was being very cautious of the finish and it was my first time doing any sort of gunsmithing. It is really simple and easy to do if you follow the picture guides on here. I am so glad my dad baught me the parts instead of buying me a pre-built gun because now i know my gun inside-and-out as well have the confidence to fix anything if/when it will break. If your dad is gonna buy him the optics stay with a repitable company (Nikon, Aimpoint, EOtech, Trijicon). The upper my dad got me came with free floated quad rails and Magpul MBUS flip up sights which i am happy with. They are accurate, easy to use, and are cheap so they wont set you back if the upper doesnt come with them. A set is like $70-$80 and a rear alone is like $40-$45.
So in total, my gun BEFORE optics was only like $700-$750 and its great quality and hasnt given me a single problem. Check out the gun shows in your area or order the upper online and buy whatever lower you want from a store. If you buy an upper online you dont need to send it to an FFL as the government doesnt track the upper. If he is anything like me he would love to put together the gun. It means more to him that way too. |
| Buy a BCM upper, BCG, standard handguard and place it on a locally bought complete lower (Stag, RRA, Spikes, Aero, etc.) and have a great starting platform to work with. You'll stay under your mark and supply him with a great rifle/carbine. He can accessorize it as he learns more. |
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Seeing as this has to be done by Christmas I think I will pass on the build,.....I am sure I will want one after my son has his so maybe my son and I can build mine. I have two really good contestants; MP-15T and the Rock River Tactical operator, any others? Sure, right here: PSA with optics package |
PSA midlength rifle with Aimpoint PRO $999
PLEASE BUY THE ABOVE RIFLE, he will love it and you would be getting an amazing rifle and optic for a low price. Stop considering inferior rifles mentioned in this thread like DPMS and RRA garbage. Palmetto State Armory is top notch, affordable, and this comes with an optic. Its a no brainer. |
SportsMans Warehouse had the M&P 15T on sale a couple of days ago for $899. Add a Vortex Red Dot for $150 and He will have a great AR. That will put you a little over 1K though. Just have to beg for forgiveness. 
I have a M&P 15T with the 1/8 twist barrel and its very accurate with 55 gr bullets. The black one is my M&P with a red dot. $1050ish (with the red dot). Great gun. http://www.signs101.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=439&pictureid=2895 |
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Seeing as this has to be done by Christmas I think I will pass on the build,.....I am sure I will want one after my son has his so maybe my son and I can build mine. I have two really good contestants; MP-15T and the Rock River Tactical operator, any others? You have equal, but mediocre contestants. Members have suggested better rifles in your budget. |
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A Sig Saur M400 is another choice you could look at. It comes with Magpul furniture and would fit your budget. It also has integrated QD sling mounts in the lower receiver, which is unique. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile I was going to post this as well. Walmart has them below your $1000.00 price range, and you get all Magpul furniture, two Pmags, and a nylon case. Plus it has some bells and whistles that you kid will like, or should like. It would be a nice carbine to start off with. |
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PSA. Their long lead times would be an opportunity for your son to exercise patience. And the rifle would be superior to what you're considering right now. Or get a stripped lower, lower build kit and barreled upper and put it together with him. Do you know how proud that kid would be to be able to say he put his own AR15 together? If you ordered it now you should be able to get the stripped lower and lower build kit from PSA before Xmas. A PSA barreled upper would likely take longer to receive, but at least he'd have some presents to open and something to keep him occupied and spend some quality time with dad on Xmas day. And it would cost well under $1000. |
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