View Full Version : Looking to build a AR.... Cheep
How can I get one of theses guns for under 400.00. One that shoots good, it dosent even need to be new and I dont mind building a Frankin Gun I just want a AR in .223. I just got done looking at the photo thread and my shirt dripping wet from drool. I have looked at kits and they start at around $550 but then I need a lower at 125.00. Thats still a little high. Any Ideas?
Welcome to the site.
Under $400? Unless if you have some serious contacts for sourcing parts on the free, or dirt cheap, the best thing I can say is.....just get the thought of an AR out of your head.
Yup, not going to happen, and if it did, you'd be miserable with the results. Look at an AK instead.
Iraq Ninja
08-01-09, 16:51
The price of a carbine is just the start of this addiction... ah I mean hobby. Heck, it is not easy to get a case of quality ammo for it at your price (wolf excluded). Oh, and a quality optic is not cheap either.
If you really want one, you will have to pay more and find ways to raise the money.
If you just like the looks of the carbine, there are quality air soft models....
You can't even get an AK for under $400 unless you go with a Saiga.
geminidglocker
08-01-09, 17:28
Yeah, sorry your dead in the water. Maybe in the Congo you can get one for 400U$D, but not here in the free world, sorry brother.:confused:
ColdDeadHands
08-01-09, 20:20
The market is flooded with RRA's and Bushmasters right now...I've seen a used Bushy for $700 somewhere in the classifieds...I've also seen NIB DPMS M4's go for $800 + tax. Double your budget and you'll be able to get one.
evileyeswatchin
08-01-09, 21:20
Start piecing one together.
Buy parts as you can afford them.
$400 will get you a lower, upper, LPK, and a BCG...that's a good start.
Now that I got my head around $400, and the post-binge AR market--I'd go with ColdDeadHands' idea. If you can get a like-new, reasonable name brand for around $600-700, that's a great start. If you try to build your own, you won't be close to that. For brands, go here:
http://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=6642
Just figure that with a BM, Stag, RRA, you can easily stake the carrier, swap out parts, etc... Just for goodness sake, stay away from Blackthorne or whatever.
N.Franklin
08-01-09, 23:23
When I build a lower it usually comes out around $600-700 by itself, Id suggest saving at least $800 before trying to build a rifle.
When I build a lower it usually comes out around $600-700 by itself, Id suggest saving at least $800 before trying to build a rifle.
what do you buy that racks the price to $700 on the LOWER??
i built my dad an AR in the height of the ban hysteria for ~$750
MarshallDodge
08-01-09, 23:30
No such animal. Save up another $600 by mowing some lawns, delivering pizzas, or working some overtime and you can build yourself a quality AR.
Geez, no sense scaring a guy. Is that some 100% Hawaii tax, Franklin? ;)
Lower: $125
LPK: $80
Complete BCM Stock kit: $75
Even if you add $15 to each for S&H or taxes, that's only $325...hello.
Then look around and you can find a nice upper in the sixes...so yeah, it's a thousand for new.
And used you can get something serviceable for much less in today's market...but not $400.
N.Franklin
08-01-09, 23:56
Stripped lower = $125-$150
LMT SOPMOD stock & tube = $250
Geissele SSA trigger = $170
Misc small parts = $30-$50
MIAD = $30
FFL fee = $27
S&H = $50 for all of it
If Im painting it then I gotta get a can of durabake over here, all said and done thats another $50-$70
If a redimod is going on thats another $200...
Lowers get really expensive, but uppers are a different animal altogether.:D
Stripped lower = $125-$150
LMT SOPMOD stock & tube = $250
Geissele SSA trigger = $170
Misc small parts = $30-$50
MIAD = $30
FFL fee = $27
S&H = $50 for all of it
If Im painting it then I gotta get a can of durabake over here, all said and done thats another $50-$70
If a redimod is going on thats another $200...
Lowers get really expensive, but uppers are a different animal altogether.:D
perfectly good stock: http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/M4-Stock-Milspec-p/stock%20m4%20milspec%20black.htm
and someone new to ARs doesnt nead a geissele trigger.
also what are "misc small parts"?
i've built all three of my lowers for less than $400
there's been plenty of good advice in this thread.. start building, is the best one. buy a part with every paycheck- but expensive parts every other paycheck.
otherwise, it's gonna be Vulcan Arms for you.
N.Franklin
08-02-09, 02:52
perfectly good stock: http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/M4-Stock-Milspec-p/stock%20m4%20milspec%20black.htm
and someone new to ARs doesnt nead a geissele trigger.
also what are "misc small parts"?
Preferences are just that, Im down to what I know I like with a box full of spare parts Ill likely never use. misc small parts are the parts that you need to complete a stripped lower such as takedown pins, springs, detents, bolt catch, roll pins, mag catch; the other stuff that you get in a lower parts kit besides the standard FCG that I dont have a use for.
QuickStrike
08-02-09, 06:48
I paid that much for a good barrel and shipping...
I don't think even the crappiest AR brand is that cheap, and I mean crap. :o
lanceriley
08-02-09, 09:12
$400 is waay impossible to build.
i've been in your shoes. skimp here and there. I got a crappy AR which I was lucky that I was able to sell.
get quality parts. Never mind if it's gona take you 6-8 months to build.
Mine took 6 months.
How can I get one of theses guns for under 400.00. One that shoots good, it dosent even need to be new and I dont mind building a Frankin Gun I just want a AR in .223. I just got done looking at the photo thread and my shirt dripping wet from drool. I have looked at kits and they start at around $550 but then I need a lower at 125.00. Thats still a little high. Any Ideas?
I'd just buy a complete lower with the $400 you have right now. BCM complete lowers are selling for $315 right now.Then just save up for the upper. You can find good deals on used quality upper receivers and then buy a new BCM, LMT BCG. I've been down that road before and just came to the reality that you just have to piece it together one paycheck at a time and you might as well do it right the first time using quality parts. At least if you buy a quality complete lower first, the rest of the parts can be shipped to your house.
ColdDeadHands
08-02-09, 17:42
just for example;
http://glocktalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1092597
Not going to happen - simply not a realistic expectation. And even after it's built, you need to be able to afford mags and ammo.
Secondly, don't even THINK about buying a Hesse/Vulcan/Blackthorne firearm, kit, or parts. You could not pay me enough money to be anywhere near one when it is being fired. Even they won't meet your price point, though.
The best deal going for a "cheap" AR for quite some time has been something like buying a Stag upper and combining it with any decent lower. That'd run you roughly $750 for a complete rifle with sights. For another $100-150, you'd be getting into the sorts of rifles most people here would consider at a minimum.
Bottom line, if you NEED a fighting rifle and simply cannot or will not spend more than $400, you need to be looking at an SKS.
If you simply WANT an AR because you think they're cool, you simply cannot get even the crappiest, possibly unsafe of AR's for $400 without people giving you parts for free. And then even if you did that, you'd be pissing away that $400 on junk.
Look at it this way; lets say you REALLY want a Ferrari. If you scrounge parts, get some free clunker parts, and do some work, you could spend $4000 and put together a Ferrari-ish body kit onto some piece of crap frame and engine. But it wouldn't be safe, wouldn't be durable, wouldn't perform worth a damn, and ultimately would be a waste of time and money because the budget provided simply cannot deliver the item you want. Not even close.
...
My first AR, a basic A2, took me 2 years to put together. My carbine took 5 years.
If you just like the looks of the carbine, there are quality air soft models....
Iraq Ninja may have meant this with a bit of sarcasm, but I honestly recommend this route quite a bit. If you don't plan on using your M4 for defense or competition, then why not? A friend of mine has a nice airsoft MP5 and I actually like it due to the following:
- Looks and feels like the real thing.
- Cheap to purchase and shoot.
- Full auto without NFA
- You can shoot it in your livingroom.
You aren't getting an M4 for $400. Be honest with yourself, and if you just want a toy, then just buy a toy.
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