need help building a cheap-o

[skt4271]

Ok fellas, I'm trying to build the cheapest AR for a brother of mine as a Christmas gift, lowest I think I can do it is around $500.

Anderson lower & upper receiver
Rra lpk
Joe bob tube stock kit

This is where in stuck.

[Ryno12]

Good luck building one that cheap. You're better off buying an M&P.

Then there's this too:

https://www.m4carbine.net/showpost.php?p=1015576

[skt4271]

Sorry, delete thread or lock if I did it wrong.

[tom12.7]

Have fun rolling the dice in function in this game. A ton of unkown combinations in the lower tier, good luck.

[wigbones]

Try palmetto state armory for build kits. Might be the closest you'll get to your price range.

[skt4271]

Yeah they have a ptac kit that had every thing except lower , so I should be ok.

[IraqVet1982]

http://www.slickguns.com/product/complete-ar15-rifle-anderson-lower-337

There you go... Less than $350.

[Ryno12]

Yeah they have a ptac kit that had every thing except lower , so I should be ok.

So quality isn't a priority with this build?

[tom12.7]

It seems not so good, lets hope this is a junker that couldn't see serious use. For those, it may be okay.

[SeriousStudent]

If all he is going to do is shoot dirt clods at Granny's pond, a $338 AR will be fine.

If all it will ever be used for is selfie's on the Interwebz, it will be perfect.

If he's your brother and you like him, or he might have to defend someone you like with that AR, then I would get something a bit better.

[Hapworth]

Honestly, get an M&P Sport. Grant has them for $550 -- effectively in your price range -- and they're a proven commodity. Why shell out almost as much for an iffy proposition?

http://www.gandrtactical.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=811036

[Berserkr556]

If the firearm may be used to protect life and limb buy the M&P Sport. I know a few police officers who depend on their M&P Sport and there is a couple instructors who use them as loaner guns at carbine classes where the rifle is shot a lot and they work. PSA is hit or miss, even their premium line and their ptac line I wouldn't trust to shoot dirt clods.

[C_1]

S&W M&P sport, or Palmetto State Armory upper/parts.

[wigbones]

http://www.kygunco.com/mobile/products.cfm/id/37242/name/smith-wesson-rifles
M&P 15 sport on sale right now for $529

[Uprange41]

The M&P Sport... Get it.

It's a factory rifle with a well-earned reputation of budget performance (one that I can personally attest to).

[Waylander]

M&P Sport.
Just do it and be done with it.

[zonerA1]

probably be better to buy a gun off the rack. The advice your getting (M+P Sport) is right on. I recently bought a Delton Sport new for $550. 100% reliable so far( with my reloads,haven't shot factory ammo in it. I shoot it with irons only and it's more accurate than i am shooting irons. This is also a good rifle for that kind of money. You can send a factory gun back to em if it's not right....with your inexpensive build if it doesn't work you are on your own.....Mike

[avant]

Radical firearms sells great budget rifles. A handful are between 5 and 550

[TMW89]

My M&P15 sport is a bad rascal. I got mine for $700 otd. I've since put some money into it. Great gun, no failures what so ever
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/09/15/07aecf3545d5847717f6b03abbfa054a.jpg

[TMW89]

^ Having said that, I could've saved a couple hundred bucks had I built it the way it is now, rather than buying one then fixing it up

[Tzook]

Now is definitely a good time to be getting in on the cheap ARs. You could always look to PSA for the parts that don't matter as much, and get a decent barrel and a BCM bolt carrier group.

[seb5]

Buy an M and P Sport or a used rifle. I've got more than that in AR tools I'll bet!

[Co-gnARR]

Try palmetto state armory for build kits. Might be the closest you'll get to your price range.
I was just looking there for ammo, etc. There's really nothing I see there that can be built much cheaper than the cost of a new 6920, once you factor in shipping & FFL fees.

[Shao]

I wouldn't buy the M&P Sport just due to the barrel steel. It's a great deal for a plinker and I'm sure that it will serve it's purpose as a defensive weapon, but all of my ARs are 4150 save one, a stainless 24" bull-barrel monster and I couldn't bring myself to downgrade. Even for a plinker. I've had great luck with the PSA FN CHF barrels. You should wait until they have a free shipping on uppers sale, buy one without the BCG and charging handle, pick up a quality BCG elsewhere, a lower, parts kit, and furniture and you should be around the $600 mark. Plus, you get the satisfaction of building the lower and tuning it yourself. It's what I would do.