Realistic cost of a 'budget' build-your-own AR?

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  • cobber

    Parrot Daddy
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    Sep 14, 2011
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    Somewhere over the rainbow
    I see a lot of people claiming that you can build your own AR for less than even the lower end (say $650) commercial models.

    I built mine post-Sandy Hook, and it was pricey.

    Anyone here build (not just buy separate upper and lower and combine them) an AR for under $700 recently?
     

    bocefus78

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    Apr 9, 2014
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    I personally haven't in a while, but it surely can be done. When I built my ar9 this spring, I did it for hundreds less than buying a complete upper and lower just by watching sales and using a used upper receiver, mag block, and trigger. Sure, my hand guard is a quad rail (gasp)....but it was a ff version, and it was only 39$ clearance at midway.

    I definitely came in under $700 which is doing something in the ar9 world per my research.

    Beggars can't be choosers.
     

    seedubs1

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    Jan 17, 2013
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    I've been right around $800-900 for my last two builds, and that included Elftmann triggers, Larue barrels, Noveske BCG's, really nice FF handguards, and matched upper/lower sets.

    Yes, it can easily be done under $700, and you can build a heck of a nice rifle.

    The key is to have money ready when deals are there.
     

    Fordtough25

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    Apr 14, 2010
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    Jefferson County
    I believe my last build was around $550, and that was with a RRA lower because that's all I could get! PSA kit on sale minus the lower, couple mags and a carry handle rear sight. Deals are still available just timing and grabbing before sold out.
     

    churchmouse

    I still care....Really
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    Dec 7, 2011
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    Speedway area
    I believe my last build was around $550, and that was with a RRA lower because that's all I could get! PSA kit on sale minus the lower, couple mags and a carry handle rear sight. Deals are still available just timing and grabbing before sold out.

    I guess I am not patient enough to sit and wait on sales etc.
    When I start a parts box for a build I get to a point when some of the major components are there that I have to finish it up.
     

    miguel

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    16T
    If you are patient, PSA -- and I'm sure other vendors -- can sell the parts to build one for $500, give or take. May not be your dream rifle to raid Entebee, but you'll be able to hurl lead down range in 223 or 556 with moderate accuracy.
     

    T.Lex

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    Mar 30, 2011
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    Yeah, it takes some patience and diligence in the classifieds, but it can still be done. Most recently did a budget pistol build for about $550 all in.
     

    foszoe

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    I've got my 2 Larue Barrels and Triggers over the last 3 years. Have some lowers to match them with so trying to to quality on the cheap, but i don't know anything about uppers other than there some metal
     

    T.Lex

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    I've got my 2 Larue Barrels and Triggers over the last 3 years. Have some lowers to match them with so trying to to quality on the cheap, but i don't know anything about uppers other than there some metal

    They go on top. That's why they're called "uppers." ;)
     

    shootersix

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    I know a guy who bought a complete palmetto armory lower (assembled with magpul stock and grip) for 150.00, it was blemished, but I couldn't see anything wrong (with in the last two weeks!)

    late last year, I bought a radical firearms upper for 199.99, the bcg was 89.99 (I upgraded to a fail zero nbc group for 150.00) plus 18.00 for shipping, I added it to a mag tactical lower, a dpms parts group, and a used 6 position stock for 10.00 so im in my second ar for 500.00 (440.00 if I had gone with the standard bcg)

    ive got a little more in my 3rd ar, just because I wanted a little better rifle

    400 for the Anderson upper
    90 for the s&w lower
    90 for the lpk
    80 for the rra 2 stage trigger
    60 for the stock kit
    (720.00 total)

    now both were flat top's so I needed to add sights or optics, both had full auto bcg's and both had free floating handguards, the radical has melonite coated barrel, and the Anderson has a chain link pattern fluting (its a heavy barrel)and is phosphate coated, if you add them up, the first one cheaper than MOST "budget" ar's, and the second one way cheaper than any ar built by a name brand company.

    and both were built post San Bernardino

    so yes, you can build budget priced ar15's with high quality parts and for less than most "economy" ar's
     
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