What'd you spend on your AR build?

[Ron Burgundy]

I'd like an AR (this http://www.mnguntalk.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=29804 didn't help one bit). My wife would like me to not spend money on 'another gun.' I'd be willing to sell-off one of my guns to make a dent in funding a rifle.

I have almost zero rifle experience but wouldn't be opposed to tackle a total build. It's kinda like legos, right?

Without putting complete crap parts in a build, how cheaply can I build an AR for plinking? What'd you guys/gals spend on your builds? Would I be better off just buying one off the shelf? I like the idea of a piston system but understand there are quality issues from some of the more affordable manufacturers.

[yuppiejr]

If you're not in a time crunch you can wait around for some of the parts to go on sale.. don't bet on it any time real soon though.

If you go with one of the complete poly lowers you're talking $100-$120. A complete "metal" lower will run $180-$225 depending on how you Barbie it up.

Uppers are where you spend the money. A basic knock around upper from Del-ton will come in a variety of configurations for around $400 with the barreled upper receiver, bolt carrier group, charging handle and a standard front sight. You will just need to add a rear sight (as cheap as $30 from UTG) and your choice of GI or polymer magazines (Magpul Pmag, Lancer, etc..)

http://www.del-ton.com/ar_15_barrels_s/4.htm

Check with Atomic Tactical, DKMags and Element Arms in town if you want to window shop and talk to some folks who seem to give good advice on what to buy to new prospective AR owners.

One thing to consider right now is the significant cost and low supply of ammo, if there ever was a time to consider your total cost of ownership when you buy a new rifle this is it. At $150 per 1080 rounds a 5.45 chambered Huldra upper for $600 @ Fleet Farm is really compelling when you consider the cost of the rifle AND fairly widespread availability (for now) even if the initial investment is higher than a basic Del-Ton. If you buy a bunch of surplus ammo now it will last as long as the gun and you're pretty much protected from lack of availability or price spikes later. For example, 5000 rounds of 5.56 at today's prices is $1750 at $350 a case, 5.45 = $750 for 5400 rounds at $150 per 1080 round surplus tin. If you can find steel cased .223/5.56 you're still talking $250 a case so $1250 for 5000 rounds which pays for the upper in 6k shots.

[timwarner]

I spend more on the accessories than on the upper itself. Lowers can get spendy depending on the stock.

For your first one, just buy a lower and a kit from like Del-ton or someone. That will run you a little more, but get you a rifle sooner.
After that, you have one to keep your appetite sated, and can spend time looking and waiting for the right parts to go on sale.

The first rifle in that thread, minus optics and magpul stock/grip (the whole kit and kaboodle came with a stock and grip I didn't like)
I think was around... 600 maybe a bit more. Throw on a PRS stock, Magpul grip, rail covers for full FDE coloring, harris bipod on a larue QD mount, and burris 4.5-14x on larue QD rings and that adds a significant amount. But you should be able to do a basic rifle in the 600-700 range.

[whiteox]

I built my own lower and put the Huldra 5.45 upper on it. I got the Magpul MOE lower build kit from PSA when they were on sale for $125, and bought a stripped lower locally for $100. If you are patient Palmetto does run sales where the stripped lower goes for around $50.

Altogether I put about $850 into it before sights or optics.

I'm very satisfied. Especially since I chanced into 3 cases of ammo at $130 and snagged another at a gun show for $125. Fleet Farm has it on sale for $140 fairly often.

[Norsesmithy]

My cheapest AR was my first AR, I built it from a Del Ton kit. It cost me 475 dollars plus the price of a lower (I paid 150, but that was before AR lowers were consistently available for 60 dollars or so). It is an A2 clone, so it was complete except for a mag.

Doing it again, I'd have picked something lighter and handier (and all of my subsequent ARs have been), but that wouldn't have made it more expensive.

It's a great rifle, very accurate, very reliable. Having subsequently owned AR-15s and AR-15 parts made by several manufacturers, I'm of the opinion that, short of a premium brand like Bravo, Colt, or similar, the Del Ton stuff is just as nice if not nicer than many of the more popular manufacturers(Spikes, CMMG, RRA, Bushmaster, etc). Properly optioned, the Del Ton rifle will have all of the features of the more expensive rifles, and they have undergone all of the same quality assurance processes (MPI/HP, etc) of the big name manufacturers.

Depending on the configuration you are looking for, you can get a very serviceable NEW AR-15 for $515 plus shipping and transfer, IF you are willing to wait for a stripped lower to go on sale for 49.99. If you can't wait, there are lowers for sale in the 60-80 dollar range pretty much every day, the trick is just checking around and finding who has them in stock.

Mags, optics, and possibly rear sights are not included at that price.

Assembly is something that anyone who can rebuild a carb or detail strip a pistol can handle no sweat.

Right now my only other "real" AR (I've got a dedicated .22 gun too) is a Bravo Company rifle, it was ~900 before I started to add accessories. In it's current configuration, it cost me $1300, and the only thing I'd add to it would be an optic, it's otherwise as close to perfect as a man made contrivance can be.

I seriously love that rifle, I like that rifle so much that I actually wear the hats they sent me. Daily. They're actually pretty decent hats, and they are nice and subdued in color and logo.

IF all you want is a basic plinker, I'd get a Del Ton Dissipator or middy 16 inch kit, if you like a light rifle, get the middy with the light weight barrel, select the 10 dollar option to have an A2 style upper so you don't have to buy a rear sight. Chrome lined or not is up to you, a chrome barrel will last longer and clean easier, while a chrome moly barrel will be more accurate, but be shorter lived. A plain jane M4 stock is fine, but if you want to upgrade, a Magpul CTR is an excellent no-frills stock that locks down more completely and doesn't wobble. The STR is the same thing but with battery storage compartments. Go for the Mil-spec tube, there are more options for a millspec buffer tube than there are for a commercial, and for many people AR buttstocks become somewhat like holsters in that they collect lots of different ones.

[Scratch]

Here's the breakdown on my first AR bought sometime around September of last year:

450.32 for the upper, bolt and CH From PSA
56.95 for the PSA lower (includes shipping and transfer fee)
46.80 for the lower build kit.
FREE - Rear stock, buffer tube and pistol grip (somebody gave them to me)
FREE - Rear sight, and Blackhawk sling, and BAD lever
________
$554.07

I like it alot, and it shoots very well, never had a problem yet. I also like that its a SS barrel. The lower was bought during one of PSA's 49.00 lower deals. Since then I've added a cheaper 4X scope and riser rail, but thats it. I don't like the standard plastic forend though and am looking at different options for a free floater. Here's a somewhat recent pic...

[Hmac]

I've built several ARs. The least I've ever spent was $1400, the most I've ever spent was $1800 (not including optic). I generally look around over some period of time trying to find various sale items to accumulate, but I am very picky about the mfgr and their reputed quality and don't shop the bargain manufacturers. I pay more, but I prefer to know that I've built a rifle from top-quality parts. I'd rather build a good rifle than a cheap rifle.

These days, with the extraordinarily high demand and low supply of AR15 parts, there aren't very many bargains from the quality manufacturers and I pretty much find myself buying parts based on availability rather than price.

[goett047]

The one I'm in the process of building now will be about 750-800 one I'm done tweaking it to my liking.

[Anokamnman]

I bought my complete upper from sota arms for $464 &I ordered a polymer complete lower for $99 from rockcreek on the forum. Pretty nice rifle for $563. Stainless barrel, quad rail. just needed to put on sights. Had a spare set of flip up sights that I used at first. Now the wife is picking out what she wants on her AR. That one will be a little more expensive.

[rugersol]

I'd recommend looking around ... PSA, Del-Ton, Midway ... see what's available ... both complete uppers ... and stripped, and BCG's. Couple weeks ago, EVERYTHING was on backorder. Actually, that's not entirely accurate ... some things, backorder wasn't even an option. ... LPK's, too!

I helped a buddy put together a nice one a couple months ago ... jest a hair over $700 ... and a real nice gun ... but that was with the $50 PSA lower ... and a $35 handguard. That was 'fore the SHTF. At that time, I woulda said that ya don't really save money ... but ya can put together a lot nicer rifle, fer the same, 'er not a lot more.

Now, depending on prices and/or if stuff comes back on the shelves anytime soon, I'd guess the same gun might be at least $100 more.

If all ya want's an M4, maybe see if ya can find one complete, somewhere ... fer a decent price. Might save a lotta frustration ... 'less 2wk ago was jest an anomaly.

edit: ... took a quick peek ... presuming it's still in-stock by the time ya check it out, I'd say this + this would give ya a nice "base" gun. At some point, if ya find a handguard ya like, knock off the FSB, slap it on, and ya got a decent free-float mid-length 1/7 AR. At another point, replace with yer buttstock of choice ... CTR should slide on with no special tools. And, at yet another point, drop in a nice trigger.

FWIW, they also had a total of zero BCG's in-stock ... any make ... any caliber.

[yuppiejr]

Most recent project:

CMMG Lower - $100 (I know...)
PSA MOE Lower Build Kit - $125 (on sale, been in the safe a while)
Huldra Mark IV midlength complete piston upper - $575 (on sale at Fleet Farm)
MOE Midlength Handguards - $35 (Fleet Farm)
Daniel Defense A1.5 fixed iron sights ($115 @ AIM)

$950 plus mags and ammo, I'm planning to add an Aimpoint PRO when funds allow and I'm comfortable with how I'm shooting the irons.

[Hobotorium]

I spent a little over $1000 on my 20" last year.
I used a BCM government profile upper, PSA M16 BCG and charging handle, DD LPK, PSA carbine receiver extension and standard buffer, FG MBUS, MOE Grip, Handguard, ACS stock, and I built it all off a stripped Delaware Machinery lower I picked up at Bill's for ~$100. It was exactly what I wanted. I've since mounted a PA 1-4x optic and it's great, saving up until I can afford the Leupold Mark 6 1-6x optic.

[Eghead]

DS arms usually sells their ZM4 lower for less than $100. http://www.dsarms.com/

[ScatterGun4015]

Some of my parts I traded for, but if you factor in trade value of things I traded I'm right around 2100 with optics. Initial build was around 1000 without optics, but like timwarner said once you start accessorizing it climbs pretty fast