Colt le6920 or bcm mid-16 mod 0...

[RHINOWSO]

Trooper, Aimpoint Pro, BFG Sling, and mags & ammo is hard to beat for $1500.

[MegademiC]

Ar rifle and rds, get the colt. If you want to add a sling and flashlight, the price of a rail and added benefits becomes a wash.

I would suggest against an arbitrary budget. Define what you want and save to earn it.

Edit- that trooper is a heluva deal.

[JediGuy]

I’ve seen this vendor referenced before, can’t speak to their service:

Colt 6920-R Trooper - $819 plus shipping plus FFL
https://www.shtftactical.com/product...8289020604-913

Daniel Defense Fixed Front and Rear Sights
$100-120 anywhere, less in the Equipment Exchange on this site, saw a set recently

Trijicon MRO on lower 1/3 Larue QD mount - $440 plus shipping
https://www.larue.com/products/triji...d-mount-combo/
(Alternative, Sionics has the Aimpoint PRO for $437, which you could get with the light setup referenced below.)

D&H 30 rd magazines - $6.99*10= $69.90 plus shipping
https://palmettostatearmory.com/d-h-...zine-8416.html

Ready to go.

Bonus material:

Flashlight and mounting system (I don’t know much about lighting, but this vendor is thumbs up and I’d probably buy this setup) - $130 plus $13 shipping
http://sionicsweaponsystems.com/stor...ifle-zero.html

Frank Proctor sling - $34 and free shipping if you have Prime (why would you not?)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HNMXDHC...sp_detail_page

As my two year old would say: “All done.”

[magister]

Here’s the good news. You’ve already narrowed down your choices between two outstanding rifles. Both answers are correct. I like my Trooper and BCM mid equally, and you’ll probably enjoy whichever you pick.

[MistWolf]

Correct gas port diameter and buffer weight is more important than carbine gas vs midlength. I like shooting a 16 inch carbine gas Colt 6920 better than an over gassed 16 inch middie with a CAR buffer.

I suggest taking a close look at the Colt CCU. Free float handguard and a 16 inch lightweight barrel with a midlength gas system.

[JediGuy]

I suggest taking a close look at the Colt CCU. Free float handguard and a 16 inch lightweight barrel with a midlength gas system.

If you look this direction, I can vouch for this vendor. Colt CCU, with better pistol grip, better handguard, “better” safety, better stock, better gas system, lighter barrel. - $1088.52 with free shipping plus FFL

https://www.gunbuyer.com/clt-combat-...6960ccu-c.html

You would still need to add sights.

[titsonritz]

Yea really like the mod 2, but trying to stay within my budget.

One of the many great things about an AR is, if budget is a major concern, one can simply make "three payments", first buy a complete lower, next but a BCG, mags & ammo, lastly buy the upper of choice and put it together and go shooting.

[Magnoliabreeze]

If you look this direction, I can vouch for this vendor. Colt CCU, with better pistol grip, better handguard, “better” safety, better stock, better gas system, lighter barrel. - $1088.52 with free shipping plus FFL

https://www.gunbuyer.com/clt-combat-...6960ccu-c.html

You would still need to add sights.

Wow...that’s a great price on the ccu..was just researching that rifle...and that’s a much better rifle over the trooper it seems.

I’ve seen this vendor referenced before, can’t speak to their service:

Colt 6920-R Trooper - $819 plus shipping plus FFL
https://www.shtftactical.com/product...8289020604-913

Daniel Defense Fixed Front and Rear Sights
$100-120 anywhere, less in the Equipment Exchange on this site, saw a set recently

Trijicon MRO on lower 1/3 Larue QD mount - $440 plus shipping
https://www.larue.com/products/triji...d-mount-combo/
(Alternative, Sionics has the Aimpoint PRO for $437, which you could get with the light setup referenced below.)

D&H 30 rd magazines - $6.99*10= $69.90 plus shipping
https://palmettostatearmory.com/d-h-...zine-8416.html

Ready to go.

Bonus material:

Flashlight and mounting system (I don’t know much about lighting, but this vendor is thumbs up and I’d probably buy this setup) - $130 plus $13 shipping
http://sionicsweaponsystems.com/stor...ifle-zero.html

Frank Proctor sling - $34 and free shipping if you have Prime (why would you not?)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HNMXDHC...sp_detail_page

As my two year old would say: “All done.”

Didn’t know a good red dot would be that high...that’s got to be a top of the line red dot right.
Is there one a little cheaper than that but still plenty good I could be looking at.

[grizzman]

Neither the MRO nor the PRO are considered a top of the light RDS. An Aimpoint T2 or M5 would qualify, and they're $750 plus. The PRO is a solid and relatively inexpensive option. A used M3 or ML3 should be worth considering.

I've got a Vortex Crossfire RDS. It hasn't been completely reliable (the dot occasionally goes out when the intensity is changed), but it's not a primary optic, so that's fine for now.

The CCU checks all the right boxes, and I consider it a worthy competitor to a BCM RECCE.

[grizzlyblake]

Best prices I can find right now are $1035 for the CCU and $819 for the Trooper. Figure $80 to add the Magpul furniture on the Trooper and you're essentially looking at $100 difference.