The GOOD DEALs and INTERESTING find thread!

[Juke Skywalker]

Help me tell a friend where he can do better than a Ruger 8514 AR-556 for $789.99?
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/941707884

I've already suggested he look at a 6920OEM1 at ArmsUnlimited, and told him if he goes that route I'll donate a CAR plastic handguard from my spares box to get him up to speed so all he needs from there is a rear sight, triggerguard, stock, sling and optic, and he can probably One Stop Shop everything else at Midway if we can ever get him past "I'm not an armorer and have no desire to ever learn to do it myself."

What specifically with the Ruger is he interested in? Is he just looking at the price point, barrel length, the aesthetics of the handguard? There are good/better sub $1000 complete rifle options outside of Ruger. If price is key I would probably try to push him toward an Aero Precision upper and lower (can find decent deals if you cherry pick from different sites). Or an Aero upper and really any lower from a company where it would be returnable if it shows up with any QC issues. I assume he's trying to purchase a complete rifle because he doesn't want to do his own build?

[Diamondback]

What specifically with the Ruger is he interested in? Is he just looking at the price point, barrel length, the aesthetics of the handguard? There are good/better sub $1000 complete rifle options outside of Ruger. If price is key I would probably try to push him toward an Aero Precision upper and lower (can find decent deals if you cherry pick from different sites). Or an Aero upper and really any lower from a company where it would be returnable if it shows up with any QC issues. I assume he's trying to purchase a complete rifle because he doesn't want to do his own build?

You assume correctly, he's not ready to drop the coin and build the skill for anything more than a screwdriver or Allen wrench. We're working on him, but we're talking "Baby's First AR here" for him to take his first dip-toes-in-pool--dude's been "all talk no buy" for years, and a bunch of us over here have even offered to DONATE parts from our spares bins if he'll just get off his ass and buy the damn receiver to build on.

So here we go...
Upper $525 https://www.aeroprecisionusa.com/m4e...complete-upper
BCG $69 https://www.armorally.com/shop/toolc...carrier_group/
basic-bitch CH $11 https://www.armorally.com/shop/ar15-...arging-handle/
BUIS $130 (Wilson Combat) https://www.midwayusa.com/product/102516976?pid=941378
Lower $265 https://www.aeroprecisionusa.com/ar1...-carbine-stock

An even grand.

[Juke Skywalker]

You assume correctly, he's not ready to drop the coin and build the skill for anything more than a screwdriver or Allen wrench. We're working on him, but we're talking "Baby's First AR here" for him to take his first dip-toes-in-pool--dude's been "all talk no buy" for years, and a bunch of us over here have even offered to DONATE parts from our spares bins if he'll just get off his ass and buy the damn receiver to build on.

So here we go...
Upper $525 https://www.aeroprecisionusa.com/m4e...complete-upper
BCG $69 https://www.armorally.com/shop/toolc...carrier_group/
basic-bitch CH $11 https://www.armorally.com/shop/ar15-...arging-handle/
BUIS $130 (Wilson Combat) https://www.midwayusa.com/product/102516976?pid=941378
Lower $265 https://www.aeroprecisionusa.com/ar1...-carbine-stock

An even grand.

That's pretty much what I had in mind. I would probably sleep on getting the upper directly from Aero though, unless they are having a sale or have something specific in stock you can't find elsewhere. They can usually be found cheaper from other distributors. Here's an 18" in FDE with a cut upper rail (it doesn't sound like he's planning to mount laser/multi switches up top if this is his first) for $441.
https://www.opticsplanet.com/aero-pr...filiate-483222
here's another, black w/ a slightly different handguard - $441 https://www.opticsplanet.com/aero-pr...0-APAR700305M8

Not that OpticsPlanet is my favorite place to buy things but just an example, there are plenty of sites carrying their uppers. IIRC, 5-7% coupons are available through opticsplanet for pretty much any purchase from their site.

[Diamondback]

Thanks, Juke, I was trying to give him MSRP's as a start for "you can do better." Trying to teach him to do a little shopping around rather than just fixate on the first thing he sees... That "give a man a fish vs teach him how to fish" thing, ya know.

[JediGuy]

I have found that trying to lecture someone who isn’t already a gun nut is not productive. They won’t care enough to appreciate the “great/better deal” that you help them with. If they aren’t on this forum or another already deciding what parts they want to use, they don’t care and won’t.

Get the best complete AR they are willing to spend money on. Let them figure it out.

*I shared the PrimaryArms AndroCorp deal from last month with a friend who has been wanting to buy for a long time. $400 is just hard to argue with. He got one. Now, after 6 years of talking about it, he has an AR.

[Stickman]

Supposedly a good lower. The price is $120 other places, but these are being cleared out at $49.77 each here....

https://www.primaryarms.com/orchid-d...lower-receiver

[Diamondback]

I have found that trying to lecture someone who isn’t already a gun nut is not productive. They won’t care enough to appreciate the “great/better deal” that you help them with. If they aren’t on this forum or another already deciding what parts they want to use, they don’t care and won’t.

Get the best complete AR they are willing to spend money on. Let them figure it out.

*I shared the PrimaryArms AndroCorp deal from last month with a friend who has been wanting to buy for a long time. $400 is just hard to argue with. He got one. Now, after 6 years of talking about it, he has an AR.

JG, we're not trying to harangue, more gentle nudges. The sparks are already there, and he's a religious Everyday CCW even in Florida's climate, we just need to get him enough tinder and a "booster" ignition source. He's already planning to call his FFL about assembled lowers Monday morning... I've recommended his very first move after getting the lower should be pop the stock off and drop on an SBA3/SBA4 so he can still use that lower in pistols in the future.

[Hammer_Man]

I would second making this a sticky.

B&T reduced back pressure 5.56 suppressor $750.00 at Arms Unlimited.
https://www.armsunlimited.com/BT-RBS...23439-1-us.htm