Need help from the AR-15 experts

[A10DCC]

Alright, I return from Baghdad in about a week and am looking to blow a few grand on stuff, one item will be an AR-15. I would like to build one but it almost seems cheaper to buy one already done. I know very little about these rifles (though I have carried a rifle on me every day for the past four months!).
Through all my searching I found this to be one of the best deals, what are your thoughs, can I build it for cheaper or do you know any better deals out there. I would like one with a red-dot and a rail I can attach a light and fwd handle or bipod to. I have went on AR-15.com for a while but we are limited to 30 mins of comp use per day here and I would like to be shooting within a week of returning from Iraq if possible. www.glocktalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1112728 (the rifle)
Is there a site I can go on to build one with all the accesories, I really have no prefrence of brand and will only be using the rifle for plinking around as I have a 7mag and .270 for hunting. I have no problem with used rifles either.

BTW my MAX budget is around 1500, though I would like to stay around 1300 or under. Any help would be appreciated!

 

[redmidgrl]

I bought a DPMS Panther Arms at a gun show. After pimping it out with tac-rails, grip pod, etc., came out to be around $1100... LOVE IT!! http://www.dpmsinc.com/

 

[nittany03]

I bought a DPMS Panther Arms at a gun show. After pimping it out with tac-rails, grip pod, etc., came out to be around $1100... LOVE IT!! http://www.dpmsinc.com/

Sheesh. I got my M4gery for that price BEFORE I started pimping it out. First I didn't like the handguards, then the buttstock had to go. Sights, trigger, meh . . . I'm going to have George Washington's axe by the time I get done tinkering. Someone please stop me before it's too late.

 

[Bevo16]

There is no way that you are going to get a rifle, quad rail, forward grip, light, and red dot and stay under $1500. That's my setup, and I have right at $2,000 in my rifle and that's before ammo.

You can get an AR these days for under $1000 if you are shopping around and not looking for a top brand with any bells and whistles. You can get a stripped down DPMS for around $700, but it's bare bones.

You will be looking at the ball park of $1,000-$1,2000 for a good rifle, another $250 for a handguard, $100 for a forward grip, but the optic is going to bust your budget. The base model EO Tech (a 512) is going to run you $350 and I would not want one of those.

Sales tax. Transfer fees. Background check. Iron Sights. Cleaning kit. Extra mags. Ammo. We have not even talked about those yet.

It's a project. Research your rifle. If you don't know anything about them, I would advise against trying to build your first one. Look at what kind of trigger you want. Do you want a chrome line barrel? Do you want a match trigger? Do you want 1:7 twist rate or is 1:9 good enough for what you want to do with it? Are you going to want to shoot the heaver 75gr+ rounds? Those are questions you need to have answers to before you buy or you are going to get down the road and find out that you don't really have the rifle you want.

After you get your rifle, put iron sights on it and learn to shoot. After you know what you are doing, then look into an optic.

Just my $.02

 

[feddoc]

Building one is ok and not that difficult, unless, like me, you have a one-pinned sear block, then things are a bit trickier. Cheaper...maybe. Better...maybe. I just put a new complete upper ($954), new Timney trigger ($200) and a Leupold ($600). I did my research on subguns.com before I went to the store to get the extras.

Bevo is right, do your research. I would also add that you should consider buying or building with an end result in mind. Since you mentioned that you want a plinker, that shouldn't be hard to do with your budget in mind.

 

[Rocketman]

You may have used your issue weapon enough to know what you want but if not, like these guys say, you might want to buy a quality basic rifle. There are some good deals out there now and if you want to be shooting quick that's the way to go. Spend the left over money on ammo and go shoot the hell out of it. Then upgrade.

 

[A10DCC]

All, I appreciate all the help this far. Bevo, I have shot enough rounds through my A2 or my M4 to know the workings of the rifle and how to shoot, both iron sights and mil red dot. I am lost when it comes to civilian brands though and whats quality and whats junk.
I have seen a few bushmasters for around 900-1000, I think I may just buy the rifle for now and pimp it out later once I start raking in the O1E pay I think I just got a little over-excited and didnt realize how much money can be dumped into a rifle used only for shooting some beer cans out in a field.
Can't wait to get home so I can actually shoot some rounds though, I should be leaving BIAP tonight!!

 

[Rocketman]

Basic rifles from Rock River Arms, Daniel Defense, Bushmaster, DPMS etc all are in your price range and all will do what you are asking and more. Spend the grand on the weapon and buy all the ammo you can with the rest. Shoot it hard and often.

 

[ryan1234]

Just curious if you all have had any experience with del-ton (DTI) uppers? I had a LMT upper and I really liked it, but they've been back ordered for a long time. With the del-ton you can order a "kit"..... which includes everything you need for your stripped lower.... everything...
http://www.del-ton.com/Rifle_Kit_p/rkt100.htm

basically you take the base price of $485 and then pick your "options" of:

Barrel (chrome lined, etc)
Handguards (KAC, YHM,DPMS,etc)
gas block/front sight (standard, YHM front flip,etc)
Buttstock (Magpul, ACE, CAA, etc)
Flash hider/comp (yhm,etc)
lower parts/match trigger (JP, Knights, RRA,etc)
charging handle (PRI, badger)
bolt / carrier
the list goes on....

From just pricing what options I was planning on getting, it will be significantly cheaper - less than $900 (for 16'' flat top upper and Chrome barrel, YHM quadrail, Magpul stock, phantom comp/fh, RRA match trigger + lower parts, chrome bolt/carrier, yhm front flip/gas block)... does anyone know or have heard about the quality of the DTI uppers/barrels themselves?

Throw a Spike's lower on there and you have a pretty darn good deal for $1000

 

[Rocketman]

Just curious if you all have had any experience with del-ton (DTI) uppers?

I don't. One way to get a quick answer to your question is to post it on AR15.com. I'd do it in the AR Discussion Forum. You'll have 10 different answers in an hour or so. The good news is that agree or not you'll end up with some good options/deals. For sure if anyone has anything bad to say about Del-Ton you'll hear it.

http://www.ar15.com/forums/forum.html?b=3&f=118

Also below is the URL for the Del-Ton forum on AR15.com. I see a Del-Ton customer service sucks thread right above a Del-Ton is awsome thread.......enjoy

http://www.ar15.com/forums/forum.html?b=2&f=100

 

[ryan1234]

I don't. One way to get a quick answer to your question is to post it on AR15.com. I'd do it in the AR Discussion Forum. You'll have 10 different answers in an hour or so. The good news is that agree or not you'll end up with some good options/deals. For sure if anyone has anything bad to say about Del-Ton you'll hear it.

http://www.ar15.com/forums/forum.html?b=3&f=118

Also below is the URL for the Del-Ton forum on AR15.com. I see a Del-Ton customer service sucks thread right above a Del-Ton is awsome thread.......enjoy

http://www.ar15.com/forums/forum.html?b=2&f=100

Thanks for the link. I remember reading a while ago in another forum that HK customer service sucks and HKs are over priced etc, etc. My experience with HK customer service has been great!! The recoil spring retainer c-clip on my USP looked like it was about to break (wasn't sitting right, bent), I called them...they just asked for an address and mailed three c-clips out next day mail... simple as that. I can't say enough good things about the gun though.