Cheap AR?

[piston10]

Most of you seem to knock higher end AR's, how many of you all have a lower end 1911 vs a higher end 1911? Would you rather have a Dr. Grayson 1911 or a nice Colt vs a RIA? What's the difference between that and when building/buying an AR?

I'm not trying justify spending $5000 on one, I'm just trying to figure out the attraction of a super budget build.

I understand not everybody has the money, but for the ones that do, why not build a little nicer? Or you really think there is not advantage to better parts, barrels, BCG, free float hand guards?

 

[sumoj275]

Now you know why I quit messing with AR's, and centerfire, and started playing with bp. I have built cheap to the incredibly expensive. I do know this, that a quality bolt and carrier, a quality barrel, a free floated hg, and a nice trigger goes a long way. Why even mess with cheaping out if you can source good parts? I know some of use are on budgets, and others can buy what they want. I still drive an old 94 Ford pickup, even though a newer one would be nice.

Recently I put a pistol AR together for the simple fact I wanted a 7.5" toy that I did not need to spend 200 for a stamp. Maybe n the future I will go that route, but it will be a more useful 10.5" upper. The pistol is comprised of quality parts and is about 800 into it. But I can tell you, the 800 I have in it is a lot more than an 800 gun.

 

[aviator41]

1911's are boy barbies too.

I had the option to buy any 1911 I wanted recently. What did I buy? an RIA - and I love it.

I've had colts, kimbers, springfields - they shot really great, so did the RIA. If I wanted to have a desirable firearm to show off to friends or that might give me a microscopic edge in competition, sure, the higher end guns will fit that bill. Really, the RIA is more than capable of protecting me and plinking cans. . . it may fall short in perceived value, but 99 times out of 100, it's quite acceptable.

I can tell you that I my RIA and my budget AR, together, cost less than a fancy Daniel Defense AR. I'd rather have two guns than one. How about you?

 

[piston10]

1911's are boy barbies too.

I had the option to buy any 1911 I wanted recently. What did I buy? an RIA - and I love it.

I've had colts, kimbers, springfields - they shot really great, so did the RIA. If I wanted to have a desirable firearm to show off to friends or that might give me a microscopic edge in competition, sure, the higher end guns will fit that bill. Really, the RIA is more than capable of protecting me and plinking cans. . . it may fall short in perceived value, but 99 times out of 100, it's quite acceptable.

I can tell you that I my RIA and my budget AR, together, cost less than a fancy Daniel Defense AR. I'd rather have two guns than one. How about you?

I would rather have a DD

 

[aviator41]

Okay, why would you rather have a DD?

sell me.

 

[novtec1]

Heres my 1911 tell me what it is...

heres my AR....

both have been to numerous carbine and pistol classes and i have not had a problem out of either.... and shot just as good or BETTER than stuff that cost more than what i paid for em (parts wise)

so in the end.. if you need a name to make it kool do it... why pay for something cause of a name if you can get something that will do the same thing that name is not a famous.

 

[clock152]

ok.... I have not had in my hands a bad azz high end over the top $1700 AR but I do have my first build from FBT at right at $600 that I have over 3K rounds thru. I have ran this dude thru hell and back and can still shoot a 1" group at 200 yards.. this is my go to banger and I love her... I know her ins and out's, I know what it likes and what it don't... if I had a $1700 AR it damn sure ain't gonna have the scars this ***** has and I wouldn't trust my life to it either!

 

[piston10]

Okay, why would you rather have a DD?

sell me.

I won't even try. I totally respect and agree with what you are saying. I have a different opinion. For example my rifle, I like the keymod, I like my stock, I prefer my aimpoint, I like my ambi controls, I like that if I ever break a bolt it will be replaced for free, I like that it has a proven reliability record.

With that said, I'm looking at doing a budget build, nothing wrong with it. I will just have to sit down and draw it up on paper and see what it cost. With the things I prefer in a rifle I'm not sure it will come out as a "budget". I think it will be close to what a DD would cost.

 

[Shootin 4 Fun]

Most of you seem to knock higher end AR's, how many of you all have a lower end 1911 vs a higher end 1911? Would you rather have a Dr. Grayson 1911 or a nice Colt vs a RIA? What's the difference between that and when building/buying an AR?

I'm not trying justify spending $5000 on one, I'm just trying to figure out the attraction of a super budget build.

I understand not everybody has the money, but for the ones that do, why not build a little nicer? Or you really think there is not advantage to better parts, barrels, BCG, free float hand guards?

I'm not knocking high end ARs, but the simple truth is that many of the components in less expensive rifles are the same thing that high end companies are paying the mfg to stencil their logo on.

Is a BCM cold hammer forged barrel made by FN any better than a PSA cold hammer forged barrel made by FN, or a DelTon cold hammer forged barrel made by FN?

Is one bolt carrier group that is constructed of 9130 steel with chrome lining and a MPI tested Carpenter 158 bolt any better than another brand with the same specs?

Mil-spec triggers are mil-spec, there are some manufacturers out there that produce great triggers, but that is a personal thing that each shooter will determine which is best for them.

There are only 3 components that truly reflect the quality of a build, barrel, trigger and bolt carrier group.

I have a rifle that most people could only dream of building, I don't like it any better than one that I put together from trade in parts. Both guns are equally reliable, one would cost in excess of $3000 to build, the other around $400.

 

[piston10]

I'm not knocking high end ARs, but the simple truth is that many of the components in less expensive rifles are the same thing that high end companies are paying the mfg to stencil their logo on.

Is a BCM cold hammer forged barrel made by FN any better than a PSA cold hammer forged barrel made by FN, or a DelTon cold hammer forged barrel made by FN?

Is one bolt carrier group that is constructed of 9130 steel with chrome lining and a MPI tested Carpenter 158 bolt any better than another brand with the same specs?

Mil-spec triggers are mil-spec, there are some manufacturers out there that produce great triggers, but that is a personal thing that each shooter will determine which is best for them.

There are only 3 components that truly reflect the quality of a build, barrel, trigger and bolt carrier group.

I have a rifle that most people could only dream of building, I don't like it any better than one that I put together from trade in parts. Both guns are equally reliable, one would cost in excess of $3000 to build, the other around $400.

Fair enough and I agree, but why then do you own the expensive one?