I coonfingered a Core 15 right before all the Sandy Hook panic. They seem like very well built rifles, but they were about $400 cheaper
If it were me... I'd simply wait another month or two before looking into an AR. Unless something crazy happens... I don't think any AWB will pass through Congress in the immediate future. Hopefully by summer you will be able to snag a quality AR for less than $1k
I bought one brand new from him in November just like it for 839 out the door. I saw it today and was kind of shocked. Unless his distributor jacked the prices up I would say his 10% rule is out the window.
Core msrp is up to 1079. The msrp on it when I bought it was under 1000.