Home Forums Hunting & Shooting AR and Tactical Rifles Best sub 1K (money) AR

Yep, and you get the RRA National Match trigger, much better than most stock triggers. It's no Giesselle, but not bad. Mine runs around 9-9 1/2 lbs with a VXIII 2.5-8. The 16" carbine version is quite a bit lighter but noisier.

Might want to look at http://www.windhamweaponry.com/

I quit recommending anything... grin

Mark,

I would go with one of these:

http://www.rockriverarms.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=225

Or if you could live with a 16" barrel, one of these:

http://www.rockriverarms.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=224

My latest is a mid-length flat top, like the bottom link. With the lightweight barrel contour option and fixed stock and a set of Burris rings attached, it goes about 6.5 pounds (no scope yet) and balances well. Haven't shot this one, but my other RRA's have been accurate.

Only downside is they take about six months to get in from order.

Another vote for smith & wesson.

Finally realized you are as dumb as I am eh? grins.

At Walmart we sell a DPMS Sportical for $587. Throw on a $70 Center point scope and for less than $600 you are in the AR business. kwg

Mark, you are going to want a JP(3lb) trigger on what ever you get, especially if kids are going to shoot it.

I hate 16" barrels, loud as hell.

Colt 6920 can be had for around $1000 if you shop around. PSA also makes a good AR for an affordable price. That is where I would start.

I missed the boat.....I tried to put a 1K rifle together with optics


Most here a spending 1K on the rifle....bare

1K is hard to maintain for a bare rifle...

But it's what you wind up with in the end that counts. No different than building a custom bolt gun, good parts = money.

1000 used to be about what I'd spend on average for an accurate bare gun. The only extras we had were scope, and I don't count that or the mounts in the cost of a gun.

Lower with decent trigger. 300 ish bucks. Anyone can live with an A2 stock. If small they can live with an A1. Flat top upper, 120 bucks plus a few parts, float tube 100ish, barrel 500ish. Done.

There are quite a few good brands out there.

Some posters already touched on this Mark, but it is usually cheaper to buy your rifle in two halves, the upper and the lower. You will probably want to replace the factory trigger. There are a few ARs that come with their own special trigger, but if you are coming from a decent factory bolt gun trigger to a good factory AR trigger you will be very dissapointed.

My advice would be to buy a lower reciever. Stipped if you're so inclined. Putting one together is very easy with minimal tools. That way you can just buy the aftermarket trigger you want and install it. You also avoid having to pay an extra 17% tax by buying the gun in two seperate halves.

If you want to save your ears I would select a 20" barrel minimum. I currently have a 223 AR with a 16" barrel and it is very loud. I used to have an 18" 223 and it too, was way too loud for my comfort.

My favorite local gun dealer gave me a great price on a NIB RRA "Elite Operator": $900 plus tax. I enjoy building AR's, but I'd be hard-pressed to build one with the same features at the same price.

I had the RRA Operator gun, back then they did not stake the gas key, it was 1-9, don't think a 5.56 chamber, heavier than my Friends LE marked 6920, and I lost money on it when I sold it.

I am totally happy with my Smith and Wesson .Less than $700 as is.Very accurate.



Jayco

How accurate is the Smith? Nephew and BIL each have one, neither one is better than about 1.25 MOA or so at 100, one has a barrel bore that looks like my gravel drive.

Just curious if those were flukes or a norm?

I'd have no aversion to a Smith at all, especially if the accuracy was a bit better. Other than that their guns have done well, especially once you yanked the junk triggers most ARs come with and put a RRA NM in there.

Too darn many options....uffda a lot to take in.

Does the S&W come with a 20" or so barrel?

Thx
Dober

20 inch barrels are rare these days.