Very hard topic for me

imacgyver · Mar 28, 2011

If I were to purchase/build an AR what am I looking at for base price (not junk) to what would be a top of the line build/purchase.

I've had friends buy these in stores starting at 600 to 1100. I'd want to be able to piece several uppers with a nice lower (.22 and .223) - NO JAMS - EVER!!! It's got to be as reliable as my AK and pin point accurate!

Go!

redneck1861 · Mar 28, 2011

I can't think of any gun that will never ever jam.

KillShot · Mar 28, 2011

Top of the line would be, in no particular order:

POF, LWRC, GA-Precision, and Knights Armament. If you're wanting a "top o'the line" AR-based rifle, be prepared to spend $1500+ for an AR-15 and for an AR-10, be prepared to spend $3000+.

imacgyver · Mar 28, 2011

Ahh, definitely stay around .223 .22lr or 7.62x39 if possible. Is it possible to build one that is just as good as the above listed or worth trying?

bsdubois00 · Mar 28, 2011

100% worth it - check out our LOKI build in the rifle section - we will be raffling that one off REAL soon

Mitch Rapp · Mar 28, 2011

I have never had a problem out of my Rock River, some people don't care for them, not sure why. My 16 inch mid length AR will shoot under 3/4 MOA at 100 yards, and has never had a malfunction that I didn't cause. Depending on the model, they will cost $850-1200.

bsdubois00 · Mar 28, 2011

I have about 1250+/- in the one I just built:

Quentin Defense Billet Lower
Quentin Defense Billet Slick Side Upper
Magpul CTR Stock
ACE ARFX Stock
Ergo Grip
Timney 3lb Trigger
Lund/SJC Titan Comp
Viking Tactics 13" Handguard
Nordic Tactical Charging Handle
Nordic Wilson 16" Barrel
JP LMOS BCG
JP LMOS Buffer

imacgyver · Mar 28, 2011

Am I right in thinking that I can purchase a decent lower and have 2 or more uppers configured for certain situations and just attach them like legos?

And you are going to just give me this me??? You are the best!

B.S. DuBois said:
I have about 1250+/- in the one I just built:

Quentin Defense Billet Lower
Quentin Defense Billet Slick Side Upper
Magpul CTR Stock
ACE ARFX Stock
Ergo Grip
Timney 3lb Trigger
Lund/SJC Titan Comp
Viking Tactics 13" Handguard
Nordic Tactical Charging Handle
Nordic Wilson 16" Barrel
JP LMOS BCG
JP LMOS Buffer

Spiff · Mar 28, 2011

Get a BCM upper and one of their blem lowers, if they're still selling them.

Alternatively, spend a lot more money and get a JP CTR-02 or an LWRC M6.

imacgyver · Mar 28, 2011

BTW I am very poor (have a family and not allowed to drop several hundreds/thousands) so I have to take time to build it!

bsdubois00 · Mar 28, 2011

Yep just like legos - you can put a .22, 6.8, 6.5, 5.45, and MANY more uppers all on a .223/5.56 lower

Its like tinker toys for adults

I'm in Norman if you need help assembling

imacgyver · Mar 28, 2011

very nice, I gotta bring it up with the wife first. What is the first thing I buy?

bsdubois00 · Mar 28, 2011

I would start with roses for the wife - maybe a nice dinner.

Thats usually a good place to start.

From there really its up to you - figure out what exactly you want first. I'm by far no expert on the matter but if you stick with JP parts you usually can't go wrong. Atleast BCG, BOLT, TRigger.

The lower is really preference something cool and billet or something affordable and normal.

Handguard is up to you - barrel I went with the Nordic 16" its like $170 (i'm a cheap ass) - the White Oak 18" is a very affordable barrel also - under $300

imacgyver · Mar 28, 2011

you have been most helpful - was almost going to buy this but I'll wait it out!

http://www.centerfiresystems.com/ar-ia-car-gb.aspx

redneck1861 · Mar 29, 2011

JP. I have a almost a straight out of the box DPMS flat top AR. All I added is a quad rail and VFG. If you want to shoot it sometime to see what a lower end AR shoots like, just let me know and you are more than welcome to run as many rounds as you would like.

imacgyver · Mar 29, 2011

nice! Thanks a ton Justin. I've always been such a commy lover, that it will take me a lot to get over my ak and do this! I am always down for shooting!

ChrisC · Mar 29, 2011

Mitch Rapp said:
I have never had a problem out of my Rock River, some people don't care for them, not sure why. My 16 inch mid length AR will shoot under 3/4 MOA at 100 yards, and has never had a malfunction that I didn't cause. Depending on the model, they will cost $850-1200.

I think it's because of the "it's not a (insert name here)." I ran a bushmaster carbine in TDSA's urban rifle class and in CLEET's Rifle instructor school., which is the rifle I use at work. Only issue I had was a weak extractor spring which was an easy fix.. I ran wolf ammo and still had no problems qualifying at the instructor level.

I find it funny that people will point fingers at this brand or that brand when they are likely forged at the same plant...

I have built my last three AR's and will not buy another complete rifle unless it's a smoking deal...

ChrisC · Mar 29, 2011

B.S. DuBois said:
I would start with roses for the wife - maybe a nice dinner.

Thats usually a good place to start.

From there really its up to you - figure out what exactly you want first. I'm by far no expert on the matter but if you stick with JP parts you usually can't go wrong. Atleast BCG, BOLT, TRigger.

The lower is really preference something cool and billet or something affordable and normal.

Handguard is up to you - barrel I went with the Nordic 16" its like $170 (i'm a cheap ass) - the White Oak 18" is a very affordable barrel also - under $300

i used a white oak 18" on my SPR build.. range report hopefully this weekend... gotta zero in that vortex PST

redneck1861 · Mar 29, 2011

ChrisC said:
I think it's because of the "it's not a (insert name here)." I ran a bushmaster carbine in TDSA's urban rifle class and in CLEET's Rifle instructor school., which is the rifle I use at work. Only issue I had was a weak extractor spring which was an easy fix.. I ran wolf ammo and still had no problems qualifying at the instructor level.

I find it funny that people will point fingers at this brand or that brand when they are likely forged at the same plant...

I have built my last three AR's and will not buy another complete rifle unless it's a smoking deal...

1 thing I can say is at the rifle match on Sunday, my rifle had absoultely no issues, other than the fact that I couldn't hit anything, but that was a user error. There were 3 problems that I saw with the guys on my squad with their rifles. 1 was just really bad ammo, then wormys mag broke, and then either ryan or josh's lower broke. All were way nicer rifles than mine. So having a higher end rifle does not mean that it wont have an issue at some point

imacgyver · Mar 29, 2011

sure, I saw Wormy's vid with the diarrhea of rounds on the roof. That had to have sucked. My primary concern with the AR in general is the stories I hear of them jamming like crazy for even minor things. True my ak can jam, especially from HPs but most do. But I also dropped 350 on it and it turned out to be a gem! So I am not opposed to the gem of a deal. I spent more on my 9mm and am having some issues with the de-cocker that I need to work on before Sunday.