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Posted: 4/4/2014 6:35:44 PM EDT
| Hello guys I'm wondering if it is all possible to purchase and build an ar on a $400 budget? I have searched been spending a lot of time looking and don't think it's possible. $450 seems more likely. I appreciate the help. If anyone has built one this cheap id like to hear about it. I have seen a couple threads but on top of the gun seeing an eo tech on it that's not what I'm looking for. I'm looking for a functioning not going to war or winning 3 gun competitions. I'm talking going to the rage or woods letting your wife kids and friends take some stress out and fire lead out. Thanks robert. |
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$400 to $450 is tough but doable ...
Here is an option but remember quality might suffer some in this price range Everything except the stripped lower http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/ptac-16-1-7-m4-rifle-kit.html Stripped Lower http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/psa-blemished-safe-fire-lower.html If you can spend a little more ... I'd go with a non PTAC upper from Palmetto, then a lower with kit ... might be an extra hundred or so, but will probably be worth it ... |
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Quoted:I'm talking going to the rage or woods letting your wife kids and friends take some stress out |
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new frontier armory lower - $110 shipped http://www.joeboboutfitters.com/New_Frontier_Armory_LW_15_Complete_Poly_Lower_p/nfa-lw15blk.htm ptac upper w/ bcg/ch - 319 http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/ptac-16-m4-1-7-upper-with-bolt-carrier-group-and-charging-handle.html after psa shipping ($15) and your ffl xfer fees you should be up around $450 when psa first released the ptac uppers they went for $289 when joebob's first releaed the nfa lowers they went for about $95 shipped |
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Quoted: If my kids were that stressed out, maybe I'd think about counseling (oh wait no that's just me who needs counseling). Having said that, Robert, I think it is worthwhile to spend some more time reading and researching and getting a better idea of what you want. Then, after that, while having saved more than $450 in the bank, perhaps spend a little more money on components that are more tailored to what you want or like. Then again, I am surprised that a $450 option is even available. So, you may benefit from the low entry level price, in which you can learn more about what you like and want....which are two different things. The thing is, I envision that if you start out with a $450 piece...esp if you're building it yourself (kudos to you sir)...you will eventually want "more" whatever that means to you. Most of us start out buying a complete rifle, then move into building or own. Then reloading our own rounds. Therefore, this may simply be your first step. But what do I know. You may have a ton of pistols, and this is your first rifle. But if you're trying to do it on the cheap, I recommend one of two options: a) recognize that you will want more later or b) hold a little bit and save this initial investment, and spend a little more time on research to decide what you think makes a sweet ride, then modify that ride as you see fit down the road. Really, these are the same. Okay, I'm done. I'm gonna go back in my corner now. Quoted: Quoted:I'm talking going to the rage or woods letting your wife kids and friends take some stress out I disagree - I would suggest start with a simple set up to get familiar with the AR platform - then after you've done your research I would upgrade or just build another AR instead of upgrading just buy ammo and mags and shoot the piss out of it |
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new frontier armory lower - $110 shipped http://www.joeboboutfitters.com/New_Frontier_Armory_LW_15_Complete_Poly_Lower_p/nfa-lw15blk.htm ptac upper w/ bcg/ch - 319 http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/ptac-16-m4-1-7-upper-with-bolt-carrier-group-and-charging-handle.html after psa shipping ($15) and your ffl xfer fees you should be up around $450 when psa first released the ptac uppers they went for $289 when joebob's first releaed the nfa lowers they went for about $95 shipped Don't do this. If anything, Get a stripped NFA lower and put a an all metal lower parts kit in it. That's what I did with my NFA stripped lower and it ran great with 5.56. But now it's under a .22lr upper. Save a little bit more (like $200.) You can build a nice lower for $200 and spend $400 on an upper with the current market. This isn't early 2013 like when I started FFS. |
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why not just get a mp 15-22 and a bunch of magazines for it? you (as well as kids/ family/ friends/ etc) will probably get way more enjoyment out of that. also $450 does seem to be the cheapest, but thats usually not factoring in a rear sight and atleast one magazine. for even $450, you'll have a bottom of the barrel AR. If this is what you want regardless, used parts is another option. occasionally a used high mileage upper is sold for cheap on the EE |
| Thanks for the replies guys. I actually own 4 ars. Three are name brand guns. A windham varmint a bushmaster Orc a smith 15-22 for my wife and kids. The kids are 5 and 2. The last one is a 7.62x39 I built from scratch. I wasn't trying to rattle cages I should have given more info in my first post. I can afford more than the 450$ budget and understand not buying junk. My whole reasoning is a friend of mine and I wondered is it possible to build for that price point. We live where the oil field is booming and so is facebook with ars well above retail being sold. We were wanting to show you don't need to over spend to have an entry level ar and get ripped off. I appreciate the help and liked your comments. I have read a lot on here and you guys and gals are a great bunch. Thanks robert. |
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Quoted:
Thanks for the replies guys. I actually own 4 ars. Three are name brand guns. A windham varmint a bushmaster Orc a smith 15-22 for my wife and kids. The kids are 5 and 2. The last one is a 7.62x39 I built from scratch. I wasn't trying to rattle cages I should have given more info in my first post. I can afford more than the 450$ budget and understand not buying junk. My whole reasoning is a friend of mine and I wondered is it possible to build for that price point. We live where the oil field is booming and so is facebook with ars well above retail being sold. We were wanting to show you don't need to over spend to have an entry level ar and get ripped off. I appreciate the help and liked your comments. I have read a lot on here and you guys and gals are a great bunch. Thanks robert. I'm glad you posted that before I replied to your original post:) I think building a cheap AR is a lot of fun just to see if you can do it or for 'bragging rights.' I just bought the cheapest upper I could find (PTAC) for $299. PSA sells a complete blem lower for $149, and viola - a $450 AR. There's a little more to it than that though. Add shipping, FFL transfer and it's almost at $500. Add what you need to actually shoot it (rear sight and magazine) and it goes to over $500. I'm not sure it would be a good entry level gun (I'll have a better idea about that in a couple weeks and all the parts are here). If my budget was really limited to $400, I'd probably skip the AR and get a Ruger 10/22, a few spare mags, and a few bricks of ammo. |
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Quoted: I'm glad you posted that before I replied to your original post:) I think building a cheap AR is a lot of fun just to see if you can do it or for 'bragging rights.' I just bought the cheapest upper I could find (PTAC) for $299. PSA sells a complete blem lower for $149, and viola - a $450 AR. There's a little more to it than that though. Add shipping, FFL transfer and it's almost at $500. Add what you need to actually shoot it (rear sight and magazine) and it goes to over $500. I'm not sure it would be a good entry level gun (I'll have a better idea about that in a couple weeks and all the parts are here).
If my budget was really limited to $400, I'd probably skip the AR and get a Ruger 10/22, a few spare mags, and a few bricks of ammo. So you're saying it's easier to build a cheap AR? 
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It will take some bargain hunting, but you can definitely put together an AR for under 400 dollars. I'm working on a build right now with all-new parts that I'm thinking will end up costing about 380 minus a rear sight and a magazine, and I figure it will be about 405 when I'm all finished (with shipping and FFL, YMMV).
Getting a New Frontier Armory lower is a good way to start your build. With enough shopping, you should be able to get one for about 40 bucks shipped or less depending on the deal. If you wanted to put together an AR for as little as possible RIGHT NOW, here's how I'd do it: Palmetto State Armory Blackhawk LBK - 80 Palmetto PTAC BCG - 80 "Model 15 Model 4 Charging Handle Assembly" by FSI MSG on Amazon - 16 Palmetto PTAC 16" M4 Upper with StrikeFire - 290 IMI Polymer Mag on Clearance at Palmetto - 8 UTG Flip Up rear sight on Amazon - 22 New Frontier Armory Poly Lower - 40 The Amazon stuff will all ship free. The Palmetto stuff can all be ordered at once, so add like 11 for shipping. I'm not going to count the Palmetto shipping or your local FFL fees, because those could be as low as 0 or as high as the sky for folks without many dealers nearby. If you add up all the costs of the products, it will run you 536 for a complete AR along with a nice StrikeFire red dot sight. Sell this red dot sight on the ARFCOM Equipment Exchange for ~120 bucks, and volia - you are the proud owner of an AR with sights and a magazine for 416 dollars. In comparison, buying a wonderfully cheap Palmetto rifle kit will run you 470+ for the kit, receiver, sight and mag. You can find 420 ATI kits all day - see Wideners, among other sellers, for those. If you want to do this exact deal, do it ASAP - Palmetto is always switching their deals and it's lined up really well this evening. Also, Palmetto is slowly raising their prices over the past month - The same Blackhawk lower build kit they're selling for 80 dollars was ten bucks cheaper a few months ago, as was pretty much everything they are selling now. The advantage to this is that you are getting a metal LPK (verses the all plastic complete lower from NFA that will run you 110-120 at JoeBob's) and it's nearly all made in the USA, if you care about that sort of thing. The only risk you run is that you have to sell the Strikefire - if you don't want to worry about that, be patient and wait for the PTAC 16" M4 complete upper for 290 for the best deal. If you want to go even lower in cost, you're going to need to be patient - I've been working on my cheap build for months now. That's kind of fitting, though, because I have far more time than I have money.
Good luck, my friend! |
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Quoted:
So you're saying it's easier to build a cheap AR? Quoted:
Quoted: I'm glad you posted that before I replied to your original post:) I think building a cheap AR is a lot of fun just to see if you can do it or for 'bragging rights.' I just bought the cheapest upper I could find (PTAC) for $299. PSA sells a complete blem lower for $149, and viola - a $450 AR. There's a little more to it than that though. Add shipping, FFL transfer and it's almost at $500. Add what you need to actually shoot it (rear sight and magazine) and it goes to over $500. I'm not sure it would be a good entry level gun (I'll have a better idea about that in a couple weeks and all the parts are here).
If my budget was really limited to $400, I'd probably skip the AR and get a Ruger 10/22, a few spare mags, and a few bricks of ammo. So you're saying it's easier to build a cheap AR? And with the current market of .22 ammo?  That $400 will buy an afternoon of shooting. Sad but true at the LGS $10 buys you a 100 rounds,and that's when they have it in stock.
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| Thanks for the replies. I understand having more time than money and that's what brought me to see if it could be done. I can take some constructive criticism. I have tried to paper build one and pas seems to be the cheapest place to build one. When I paper built my 7.62x39 I was in it around 800-900$. When I completed the gun I was realistically in it about $1100. I could see being able to build one cheap having spare parts from other guns or buying used. We were going after being able to buy everything new to show that it can be done. My buddy has been saying "if there's a will there's away". Thanks robert |
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After reading your initial post, I was under the impression it was your first AR and you wanted to go as cheap as possible. After reading your other posts, this is more of a "see how cheap I can possibly get an AR for" gun. There are occasionally people who say "this is my AR, I spent $200 on it blah blah blah" but they do not include the cost of parts they already had or got for free. If you can put together a complete AR (including rear sight) for $400, I'd be impressed. But $450 does seem to be the bottom
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I put together a Basic M4 Carbine for $457 plus some trades for parts.
PSA Premium M4 Upper with CH & BCG $399.99 Free Shipping Anderson Lower at LGS, $57 OTD I traded some items I 've had sitting around fore ever for a CMMG LPK & a 6 Position Carbine Collapsible Stock. The items I traded, didn't represent anything to me as far as value is concerned, its just the pack rat in me, cannot dispose of anything of military origin. I still need to pickup a Magpul BUIS for it, and that will raise the overall price a little, but it is still very much within the budget I set for myself. |
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Quoted:
After reading your initial post, I was under the impression it was your first AR and you wanted to go as cheap as possible. After reading your other posts, this is more of a "see how cheap I can possibly get an AR for" gun. There are occasionally people who say "this is my AR, I spent $200 on it blah blah blah" but they do not include the cost of parts they already had or got for free. If you can put together a complete AR (including rear sight) for $400, I'd be impressed. But $450 does seem to be the bottom Your exactly right it is to see if it can be done. I think $450 is bottom dollar buying néw and not cheating with parts you have sitting around or free stuff. Thanks for the response. It seems easier also to buy complete uppers and not piece one together. It's easy also to llook at individual parts and have a lot of cash tied up into it. Thanks for the help guys. |
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I think $550 is really my floor given some restrictions I've placed on things. I don't like the M4 profile barrels, I greatly prefer midlength gas systems and I won't do PTAC at this time.
My Del-ton was about $620 full up, but it's a chrome lined mid length HBAR with quality specs across the board, on a Spikes lower with a pristine used Colt carry handle rear sight. That price includes everything, even a 30 round gen two pmag and ffl fees. I could obviously shave $40 off right off the top with a PSA blem lower (I have two and they're respectable). I also think I could out do the price on the Del-ton kit, which was $490 with the pmag. Right now on PSA: Nice mid length with BCG and CH $399 Premium PSA LBK $85 Blem Lower $49 Carry handle (can usually get a quality one for $50 if you shop around). Shipping: $25 FFL $15 Still up around $600 and I'd probably upgrade the LBK to the Magpul MOE for an additional 30 bucks. Plus you still need a Mag. It would be a solid rifle though. If you go PTAC you can do $450-500 easily. |
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I was Honest in my post when I stated that I had traded for the LPK & 6-Pos Carbine Stock. Those items did have some real value, True, but to me I just could not bring myself to just throw them away. Because I knew "someone would want these things", and I was right. I traded them to a couple of VN Vets for the parts I needed, and they were really happy with all that I gave them in return (a little thanks for their service). I agree, that when people talk about using the parts that they have laying around, it tends to be forgotten that those parts DID cost them at one time, and should be considered into the overall cost of the build. Here is a link to one of PSA's Daily Deals. It's a Complete PSA 16'' M4 CMV Chrome-Lined Premium Rifle Kit for $499.99. Everything but Lower Receiver and Mag & Rear Sight or Carry Handle. http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/ar-15-05/rifle-kits/16-m4-cmv-chrome-lined-premium-rifle-kit.html |
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Quoted:
Thanks for the replies guys. I actually own 4 ars. Three are name brand guns. A windham varmint a bushmaster Orc a smith 15-22 for my wife and kids. The kids are 5 and 2. The last one is a 7.62x39 I built from scratch. I wasn't trying to rattle cages I should have given more info in my first post. I can afford more than the 450$ budget and understand not buying junk. My whole reasoning is a friend of mine and I wondered is it possible to build for that price point. We live where the oil field is booming and so is facebook with ars well above retail being sold. We were wanting to show you don't need to over spend to have an entry level ar and get ripped off. I appreciate the help and liked your comments. I have read a lot on here and you guys and gals are a great bunch. Thanks robert. Quoted:
Thanks for the replies guys. I actually own 4 ars. Three are name brand guns. A windham varmint a bushmaster Orc a smith 15-22 for my wife and kids. The kids are 5 and 2. The last one is a 7.62x39 I built from scratch. I wasn't trying to rattle cages I should have given more info in my first post. I can afford more than the 450$ budget and understand not buying junk. My whole reasoning is a friend of mine and I wondered is it possible to build for that price point. We live where the oil field is booming and so is facebook with ars well above retail being sold. We were wanting to show you don't need to over spend to have an entry level ar and get ripped off. I appreciate the help and liked your comments. I have read a lot on here and you guys and gals are a great bunch. Thanks robert. Quoted:
Thanks for the replies. I understand having more time than money and that's what brought me to see if it could be done. I can take some constructive criticism. I have tried to paper build one and pas seems to be the cheapest place to build one. When I paper built my 7.62x39 I was in it around 800-900$. When I completed the gun I was realistically in it about $1100. I could see being able to build one cheap having spare parts from other guns or buying used. We were going after being able to buy everything new to show that it can be done. My buddy has been saying "if there's a will there's away". Thanks robert I get that this was a hypothetical; If you said what I think you said, you may have stumbled onto something... How about a different angle here; If you are trying to social medialize a budget build then that is an interesting concept: Let's look at it in a few different directions. First you asked for a budget build price. Everyone so far has you searching for new parts. So asking a question of "How cheap can I build a new AR" is reallyclose to that $450-$500 mark if you search. As everyone has stated you may get unknown quality for a bargain basement price. Nothing bad, just a consequencial factor in the relative price ranges from certain manufacturers. Certainly some expectation of performance should be delivered & accepted. Second would be building one from New & Used parts. You will be amazed at what you can find & asssemble with what can be found on the EE. Now lets enter a human element twist. How about a "pay it forward" build... I have a mid-length foregaurd I would Pay it forward for you. Might even have some other parts also, Upper barrel nut/delta ring assembly, a buffer spring, some lower hardware (trigger springs, pins, detents, trigger guard). Add em to the hypothietical list, or the real one if you wan to do it. 
Then you can post the idea and really get it rolling. I am sure many will see the oportunity to show ourselves as givers in society. I think it would be an interesting piece of human interaction that would be neat to see on open social media. |
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Now lets enter a human element twist. How about a "pay it forward" build... I have a mid-length foregaurd I would Pay it forward for you. Might even have some other parts also, Upper barrel nut/delta ring assembly, a buffer spring, some lower hardware (trigger springs, pins, detents, trigger guard). Add em to the hypothietical list, or the real one if you wan to do it.
Then you can post the idea and really get it rolling. I am sure many will see the oportunity to show ourselves as givers in society. I think it would be an interesting piece of human interaction that would be neat to see on open social media. Didn't they already have one of those going over on m4carbine.net? Last I checked it lasted for a couple months and then died an uneventful death... But given that the user base of ARFCOM is quite a bit bigger, it might actually work here. |
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Didn't they already have one of those going over on m4carbine.net? Last I checked it lasted for a couple months and then died an uneventful death... But given that the user base of ARFCOM is quite a bit bigger, it might actually work here. Quoted:
Quoted:
Now lets enter a human element twist. How about a "pay it forward" build... I have a mid-length foregaurd I would Pay it forward for you. Might even have some other parts also, Upper barrel nut/delta ring assembly, a buffer spring, some lower hardware (trigger springs, pins, detents, trigger guard). Add em to the hypothietical list, or the real one if you wan to do it.
Then you can post the idea and really get it rolling. I am sure many will see the oportunity to show ourselves as givers in society. I think it would be an interesting piece of human interaction that would be neat to see on open social media. Didn't they already have one of those going over on m4carbine.net? Last I checked it lasted for a couple months and then died an uneventful death... But given that the user base of ARFCOM is quite a bit bigger, it might actually work here. I said my peace for now. Let's see who else will offer up parts for the hypothetical list. Then if they are willing to go through with it. |
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Personally, I do not think it is possible. When you factor in
Lower ~$100 Upper ~$100 Barrel ~$150+ That's not including Stock, Trigger, Hand Guard, Grips, BCG, sights/optics, etc... Goodluck http://buildmyownar-15.blogspot.com/ |
| op I see your in New Mexico, I'm in west Texas and my gun guy has a couple Anderson stripped lowers for 65 out the door, and rra lpk for 65, combine that with a psa urg, plus a psa or utg receiver extension and find a cheap m4 stock and you will be pretty close to your budget, me on the other hand I am sitting right at 625 on just my lower receiver build, did just complete a bcm bfh build with only about 750 invested, allot of deals to be had in the ee |
| I believe you guys are right. $400 is a very low number. I already have a stripped aero precision upper and lower. I also had a 50$ safety bonus card from work 16$ and some odd cents in ebay bucks. I combined and bought a stag lpk. We have paper built it and seems like posted above the upper lower and barrel will kill the budget and go over. We don't want to cheat per say by using parts we already have. We were hoping to be able to be just like in school and show our work. Have a reference for every part purchased. We have been looking for the cheapest lower and found omni poly. Are they worth the $42 or is it a paper weight? Thanks for the help guys. I'm in hobbs New Mexico very close to west texas. |
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I believe you guys are right. $400 is a very low number. I already have a stripped aero precision upper and lower. I also had a 50$ safety bonus card from work 16$ and some odd cents in ebay bucks. I combined and bought a stag lpk. We have paper built it and seems like posted above the upper lower and barrel will kill the budget and go over. We don't want to cheat per say by using parts we already have. We were hoping to be able to be just like in school and show our work. Have a reference for every part purchased. We have been looking for the cheapest lower and found omni poly. Are they worth the $42 or is it a paper weight? Thanks for the help guys. I'm in hobbs New Mexico very close to west texas. Forget the polymer lowers. Anderson blem lower - $41.99 + $9.95 shipping = $51.94 from Copes |
| Yes you can build a $400 AR, but the reality is do you really want to go low end on vital components? I guess if you had a mill and all the needed tools already you could pull it off. I mean a cast upper and lower set that hasn't been machined at all yet could be had for 45 bucks, a used barrel for sub 100, a BCG for 90, a lower kit for 60. Sure, you can pull it off, just dont ask me to fire it or be around you when it's fired. |
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