I like to build somewhat pricey rifles / pistols. My buddy buys the entry level PSA stuff when it goes on sale.
He typically will have less in a complete rifle than I will in the lower.

His 'cheap' guns shoot side by side with mine - no substantial accuracy difference that we have noticed.

The biggest difference is typically the trigger and weight. A good shooter can work around both characteristics.

 

I also would add that unless you're target shooting or hunting, a milspec trigger is more than enough for typical self defense distances outside of the home and at CQB distances within the home. A $100-$200+ trigger upgrade is not nessarary.

 

The 16" Ruger AR556 is a good rifle. I bought one 4 years ago and I've had a lot of fun with it - probably close to 5k rounds through it. It shoots 77gr TMK really well - my deer hunting bullet. It has digested 2k rounds of steel cased Tula without a hitch. I did upgrade the trigger to the Ruger 452 two-stage within the first 6 months if ownership.
I like the handiness of the 16" carbine, but I like the features of the 18" Ruger MPR better. My son in law bought an MPR last year and he's liking it. Although his MPR doesn't eat steel cased ammo all that well unless he oils the ammo. Not sure why. His MPR is a much smoother shooting rifle than my 16" carbine.

I sure wouldn't pay extra money for the Colt name - you don't get a thing other than a horsey roll stamp.

 

Local shop has Anderson package deal for $435. You add your choice of furniture since it doesn’t come with any.

 

I've come to understand the wisdom in "buy once, cry once", and getting something at least mid-level.

 

I have probably weighed in here already but my 2 556 guns are a budget build purchased from my gun smith and an upper/ lower purchased separately and put together. 700 dollar guns. Although experienced with pistols I am a novice rifle shooter and did not want to spend 1500-plus on something whose capabilities I'm not quite able to fully exploit yet. I have broken them down to clean, replaced little bits and pieces and done research on the proper way to do various things. I have shot them a lot, learned what furniture feels good and why. Trouble shot some feed issues on one, learned a lot about how they work. Why they mal function. How to fix them. Between that and improving my shooting I I feel prepared now to build or invest in a higher end off the rack gun. But I could easily just keep what I have, swapping barrels, triggers, and furniture as I see fit. When I window shop online I don't really look at entire rifles. I can pick up Mil Spec PSA lowers all day long so I look at complete uppers that can be optioned out how I like and put on lowers I already have. If I want a laser accurate shooter for more than just casual plinking just gonna look for an upper with a premium barrel.

I also see the benefits of saving up and paying 2K on that first solid rifle knowing you'll have it for years and won't need to do much to it.

I don't think either is really the wrong way to go. But I like having my 2 solid beater learning rifles that I know well inside and out. Strong chance I just will upgrade things on them as time passes.

 

Regarding "going budget" I can appreciate a simple M16 or M4 style rifle/GI sling/iron sights setup, but if the rifle is meant for protection, there are some add-ons that are probably well worth having. A quality light, red dot optic and quick adjust sling are my basic requirements for such a rifle. Often, optic and sling mounts, rail sections and so forth are necessary additions/prerequisites depending on the rifle's out-of-box configuration.

Plus quality magazines and ammo of course. Nice to have: trigger upgrade, spare parts, some kind of kit to carry extra magazines.

In the end, a solid complete setup is a total investment well in excess of the rifle's unadorned purchase price.

Going low budget, say just $500 for the rifle. A decent PSA rifle can be built for that, give or take. I'd add another $300 bare minimum just to get the thing setup with a well reviewed, inexpensive optic, sling and a decent rifle specific light (including any hardware to mount these).

Then of course mags and ammo. 5 mags and 500 rounds, just to get started, is ~$300.

So $1200 with tax easy, for decent stuff, at the lowest prices. Obviously not all has to be purchased at once, but the initial $500 for the rifle is not the whole picture.

 

I was going to recommend a Bushmaster but I just looked at their website and their prices are insane. I'm very happy with my basic M4 style AR-15 from them but you can't touch one for under $1200 now.

 

I have a Ruger AR556 I use in the classes I teach and it has been great.

 

Palmetto State Armory. Got one just this past week in olive drab.When compared to the Colt, I can tell no real difference. The PSA shoots just as well as the Colt. I got a fully assembled upper, a fully assembled lower. set them together pushed two pins and gun was assembled. Took about 10 seconds' top. I paid 405 before taxes for the entire16" barrel carbine. Both upper and lower ship free. The PSA is closer to mil. spec than the Smith or Ruger. It's the bottom rifle.

 

You won’t be able to tell the difference between a Colt and a lower tier gun by looking at it or holding it. The quality is in what you don’t see. I won’t even get into the differences. There are many.

 

With the price of ammo being what it is I doubt I wear either one out.

 

The PSA shoots as accurate (a little more so), runs just as fast and functions every bit as good as my Colt. And as a plus it's a nicer finished, tighter spec. product. My friend has a Windham Weaponry AR, and the PSA is a much nicer firearm than those also. The nitride finish is very nice. The PSA has shown me how terrible guys are being taken to the cleaners in the world of so called 'upper tier' AR's. The only decision is chromed lined or not chromed lined barrel. Without auto fire I really see little need for chrome lined.

 

It's monkey see monkey do. They want to follow and do whatever they see the military doing. They aren't going to shoot full auto or EVER even get close to shooting out a barrel. They aren't the $11k-$12k in ammo in one rifle to be able to shoot the barrel either... They just want to piggyback off what the military is doing. I rather have the weather and corrosion protection of nitride than to have a phosphate chrome lined barrel, bolt, etc.

Unless you are a collector, I see not point in paying a premium for a Colt if all you want is a shooter.

 

I've got rifles on both ends of the spectrum. True, there is a lot of performance overlap between a $500 vs a $2,000 carbine, and indeed the most important bits are the bolt and barrel, which can be upgraded.
The upside of an expensive factory rifle from the usual suspects, aside from some material quality, is the attention to detail during build via strict QA processes. That often means laser measuring all part tolerances and ensuring proper assembly. For some manufacturers in particular, it also means adherence to long term durability features (like pinned lo pro blocks, proper gassing). The details may not always provide actual value to the owner, aside from a warm fuzzy. But over time, tolerance issues and cheap small parts can cause problems.

 

It's not hard to assemble an AR and its not rocket science. The lower and upper that are in milspec does not require a bunch of laser measurements and most of them are made by the same companies anyway. The bolt and barrel are what matters the most. The bolts on most entry level ARs are outsourced manufactured by reputable companies some of which also make components for the boutique AR manufacturers. As far as the barrel is concerned, unless you are shooting full auto regularly or are going to put $10,000 or more worth of ammo through that one barrel in a somewhat short duration of time, that crap is not needed or an necessary period. Besides that, a good AR barrel can be had for very inexpensively, and they are easy to upgrade and swap out if you so choose.

The only real point con to PSA ARs are the barrels aren't dimpled and/or pinned. I have several PSA ARs. Before I learned how to build them myself, I spent well over $1k on boutique ARs. I've built ARs that cost more or the same as they it would have if I would have had purchased a factory boutique rifle. Other than looks and a few extra features that are nice but aren't really necessary, I don't notice a difference between all of them. My target down range doesn't know the difference either. I reckon the overwhelming majority of the estimated 10million ARs that are in the U.S. are mid grade. That is what the majority of Americans own, shoot, hunt with, and use for self defense. Colt and other boutique AR companies don't even manufacturer and sell a significant number of ARs to civilians annually.

 

Don’t overthink the first one. Just get a S&W or Ruger or something basic. Figure out what you do and don’t like about it. Start a more meaningful build from that data after some time with that one.
Or don’t. I was pretty happy with my S&W Sport 2. It’s likely all the AR I’ll ever need. But my needs are pretty simple. Plinking targets down at the river or possibly end of the world zombie gun.

 

PSA is good to consider because you can order a complete lower that will work fine for entry level and have your choice of complete uppers in whatever barrel length or configuration you desire. Personally I’d get one with a flat top, full length hand guard and free float barrel. That way you can add a red dot or low power variable optic or a set of picitinny compatible sights if you want to wait on the optic. Aero Precision is also with looking at. There’s nothing wrong with the M&P Sport or Ruger either.

 

You will not find an answer here. People will tell you to buy whatever brand they prefer.
Just buy the Ruger or S&W. Just buy it. There's no difference that you will notice as a new shooter.
They're not low quality. People with too much time and too little to do will nit-pick tiny little details with every brand but these nit-picked complaints arent relevant for 99% of people.

 

I use the Sig Sauer 716i TREAD in 7.62 and the sig sauer M400 TREAD in 5.56. They're a little pricey but we'll worth the money. There are multiple configurations to choose from.

 

I use the Sig Sauer 716i TREAD in 7.62 and the sig sauer M400 TREAD in 5.56. They're a little pricey but we'll worth the money. There are multiple configurations to choose from.
Two years ago I was in the same dilemna. Guy who works at my range/LGS who knows his stuff recommended the Smith Sport II because it's milspec and parts are easy to acquire. Got one and couldn't be happier.

 

Get the best you can get right now! Don't ever waste money on a beginner gun and then buy a better gun later. A beginner gun just make from cheaper material. Better guns last longer with good material and better quality.

 

Agreed. A colt 6920-EPR is the best bang for the Buck in my somewhat experience. Combat proven weapon with modern rail.

 

 

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Wish you gave some personal feedback/commentary along with the link.

But yes, those Zion 15s are a fantastic value. Maybe the best bet for 90% of folks considering the feature set and price. I also like the name. 😎

For folks wanting a sub $1k AR, that is what I suggest now. I won't even build folks an AR under $1k as you just can't touch their production price point. The ARs I build are mostly for the other 10% anyway, with match triggers, modern coatings on the BCG, and premium match barrels.

 

I bought a Ruger 300 Blackout and I am super impressed with it! Super reliable, accurate and soft shooting

 

Palmetto midlength and Dissipator. Got both on sale. Under $700 each. I added the magpul stuff to the Dissipator but that’s it.

 

S&W MP15 Sport II all yeah really need.

Need and Wants don't always align.

 

My vote goes to mid-length gas carbine. Springfield Saint with M-lock rail looks like a good reasonably priced option.

 

Just because you are new to ARs doesn't mean you have to get a cheap one. Truth is ARs today are ALL a lot better than they were 20 or 30 years ago. I think it would be hard to get a really crappy one these days. PSA makes decent rifles, but I would stick with their premium line. Smith and Wessons are good rifles. If I were getting a new AR today, I think I would spend the small amount over the two I listed above, and get a Colt CR 6920. In spite of the Colt fanboys screaming that "they ain't what they used to be," there isn't much difference other than cosmetc between the older ones and the current ones. You can still pick up a Colt OEM 1 or 2 for about $750. I think that is a hell of a good deal in today's economic climate. And if you get an OEM, you won't be stuck with furniture that you don't like.