First AR purchase

[mindseducer]

Hello everyone! I’m looking to make my first AR purchase. There’s so many competitors out there I just really can’t decide what to get. Does anyone have any recommendations from their personal experiences? Since it’s my first I want it to be “affordable” but obviously don’t want it to be crap. OR would any of y’all recommend building your first AR before purchasing one? Or is it better just to get one and learn about the parts and all that and then build one later down the line?

 

[red442joe]

I say Del-Ton, or PSA to start.
However, if building, Black Rifle Disease, BRD, is real.

Joe

 

[Big Green]

Look into Knights Armament.

 

[Havok1]

What are you trying to do with it and how much do you want to spend?

I don’t really think there is much value in building one unless you can’t buy one that’s built how you want.

 

[kbaxter60]

I say Del-Ton, or PSA to start.
However, if building, Black Rifle Disease, BRD, is real.

Joe

I went Del-Ton with my first build.
Very happy. I recommend you find a Marine buddy who knows the build and has basic tools to help. Worked for me.

 

[unicom]

All my experience has been building my own. I’ve done it this way because I can put what I want into the rifle or on it. I do t always save any money doing it this way but it’s put together with what I want. I’m piecing together a wilson combat with all wilson combat parts because I can. They won’t touch the rifle if I have any issues with it because they didn’t assemble it there but I don’t care. Building your own just helps a bit with understanding how it all works together and what goes into swapping out or replacing parts. It’s a pretty simple rifle to build with the correct tools.


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[TipBledsoe]

All my experience has been building my own. I’ve done it this way because I can put what I want into the rifle or on it. I do t always save any money doing it this way but it’s put together with what I want. I’m piecing together a wilson combat with all wilson combat parts because I can. They won’t touch the rifle if I have any issues with it because they didn’t assemble it there but I don’t care. Building your own just helps a bit with understanding how it all works together and what goes into swapping out or replacing parts. It’s a pretty simple rifle to build with the correct tools.


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+1

 

[unicom]

Smith and Wesson M&P rifle aren’t bad. I know PSA has been mentioned as well as del-ton and knights armament. If you have the cash look at Daniel defense, noveske, Springfield armory, bcm just to name a few


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[Fishkiller]

I bought a S&W M&P for my first one. It shoots well but the trigger is so so, but I don't want to mess with it. Keeping it original as it came out of the box if I ever sell it. Cost wise it was around $500. Since then I have built a few.

 

[zackmars]

Colt 6920. Basic yet high quality. Great resell value.

 

[popper]

Some mfr have proprietary parts. PSA/Anderson are decent.

 

[Here4TheChix]

Is building vs. buying complete still ~13% less, in "excise fees"?

 

[Tnhawk]

Without an understanding of the operation of an AR, how would you expect to assemble a better AR than you would purchase assembled with a warranty? I know a pilot who designed and built an aircraft, but he acquired years of knowledge and experience flying before attempting this task.

 

[zackmars]

Is building vs. buying complete still ~13% less, in "excise fees"?

Not really, unless you want a very specific configuration

 

[baboon]

I would suggest first thing you do is find an FFL holder near you that aint going to rob you in a transfer. Having the money up front, saving him using his might go a long ways in buying it reasonably. I found a FFL out here by me who takes care of me.
Colts have collector value
FN has military contracts
LMT, Laru, Knights, LWRC, POF USA, Geissele are nicer high end guns.

Assembling your own is great way to learn how to take care of your rifle & maintain it. Assembling a rifle gives you option you might liquor want not offered by any one company.

Hit guns store to look and handle different rifles take notes & compare. Then look online to find deals. Remember that the AR platform is very broad in what is offered. Buying a top of the line factory lower goes very long way. You can change uppers to fill goals latter in life.

 

[Tnhawk]

Colt 6920. Basic yet high quality. Great resell value.

I purchased one of these years ago. I haven't seen any reason to "improve" it.

 

[baboon]

I purchased one of these years ago. I haven't seen any reason to "improve" it.

This right here!

 

[toddnjoyce]

Without an understanding of the operation of an AR, how would you expect to assemble a better AR than you would purchase assembled with a warranty? I know a pilot who designed and built an aircraft, but he acquired years of knowledge and experience flying before attempting this task.

I’ve built every single AR I’ve ever owned. The only real decisions to make are large frame or small frame and gas or piston. ARs are fairly simply and keeping it to small frame makes it pretty fool proof regardless of caliber. Even just assembling an AP lower with LaRue MBT and throwing a complete BCM upper on it gets you far more quality then buying a complete budget AR for close to the same money.

The EAB homebuilt argument is a non-sequitur; nothing about flying an aircraft translates to building, whether it’s plans built or kit built, and whether you have a PPL or an ATP certificate.

 

[zackmars]

While FN guns look nice, they aren't legally allowed to use knowledge of the TDP on commercial guns, so you get things like 4140 vs 4150 barrels, plus a number of other minor differences.

 

[billtool]

I purchased one of these years ago. I haven't seen any reason to "improve" it.

I did improve mine with a new trigger. Mid-grade AR triggers in general leave much to be desired IMHO. I’ve never fired a high-end AR.