First AR recommendations
- Thread starter DaveOHCPC
- Start date
Bassbob
Emissary
Leaves you $500 plus for an optic and other stuff.
I have a Ruger AR556, which i really like but the A2 front sight isn’t for everyone.
The S&W M&P Sport III comes as a flat top and i haven’t heard a bad thing about them yet.
Both of these are in the $600-$800 range.
@Bassbob’s PSA suggestion is a good one. I have a PSA that i put together and it’s solid.
Can’t go wrong with any of them.
The S&W M&P Sport III comes as a flat top and i haven’t heard a bad thing about them yet.
Both of these are in the $600-$800 range.
@Bassbob’s PSA suggestion is a good one. I have a PSA that i put together and it’s solid.
Can’t go wrong with any of them.
TEXASforLIFE
SAINT
ar15 wise i like s/w's! as for ar10, i like aero precision.
Bassbob
Emissary
Really we need more info. OP says just a range toy so I default to something that is no frills, but will run reliably and accurately. Hence my PSA suggestion. If we're talking about what our personal opinions of favorite ARs are or in what order we may rate them, then we need to know how far up the tier the OP wants to go.
For instance, at the moment my favorite ARs are my Bravo Company and my Wilson Combat. The uppers alone for either of those is going to be approaching 1k or more.
If I was trying to build a mid tier ( really it would be an upper, low tier) gun I would go Aero Precision before I would go SA, Ruger or S&W. That's just my opinion. The S&W and the Rugers are budget priced, but I don't like either of them and Rugers especially have a bad rep for QC. Springfield ARs are overpriced in my opinion. Aero is as good or better and costs less.
As we all know, if you put some or all of it together yourself you can get a gun much more customized to your liking and pay less money. There's not a whole lot of difference in receivers frankly. Most mil spec lowers are going to perform similarly and are made from the same stuff so one isn't inherently going to last longer than another. That said, we all have our preferences. I went with matched receivers for the Wilson Combat and I would have went for matched receivers with the BCM except you can't hardly find a BCM lower receiver and when you do they're north of $300, which is totally unnecessary IMO. So I went with an Aero Precision M4E1 stripped lower and filled it up with the parts I prefer. The Bravo complete upper I bought for a little over $800 with their BCG and frankly I don't think you'll get a better upper without going to something like Noveske or Larue or one of those. I'm also quite sure an Aero upper is going to be a rock solid choice as far as reliability and accuracy. And then we get into preferred FCGs and BCGs there comes a great divergence of opinions.
Anyway, for someone's first AR I would almost always suggest a budget priced complete rifle, but one I know will run. Hence my PSA suggestion. You could go even further than the one I put the link for though and find one with an FN barrel and their EPT trigger. You will pay a little bit more but it's money well spent as far as I'm concerned.
For instance, at the moment my favorite ARs are my Bravo Company and my Wilson Combat. The uppers alone for either of those is going to be approaching 1k or more.
If I was trying to build a mid tier ( really it would be an upper, low tier) gun I would go Aero Precision before I would go SA, Ruger or S&W. That's just my opinion. The S&W and the Rugers are budget priced, but I don't like either of them and Rugers especially have a bad rep for QC. Springfield ARs are overpriced in my opinion. Aero is as good or better and costs less.
As we all know, if you put some or all of it together yourself you can get a gun much more customized to your liking and pay less money. There's not a whole lot of difference in receivers frankly. Most mil spec lowers are going to perform similarly and are made from the same stuff so one isn't inherently going to last longer than another. That said, we all have our preferences. I went with matched receivers for the Wilson Combat and I would have went for matched receivers with the BCM except you can't hardly find a BCM lower receiver and when you do they're north of $300, which is totally unnecessary IMO. So I went with an Aero Precision M4E1 stripped lower and filled it up with the parts I prefer. The Bravo complete upper I bought for a little over $800 with their BCG and frankly I don't think you'll get a better upper without going to something like Noveske or Larue or one of those. I'm also quite sure an Aero upper is going to be a rock solid choice as far as reliability and accuracy. And then we get into preferred FCGs and BCGs there comes a great divergence of opinions.
Anyway, for someone's first AR I would almost always suggest a budget priced complete rifle, but one I know will run. Hence my PSA suggestion. You could go even further than the one I put the link for though and find one with an FN barrel and their EPT trigger. You will pay a little bit more but it's money well spent as far as I'm concerned.
Talyn
SAINT
+100 ^ This
belladonna
Hellcat
I went for one like this for my first. It was a first and one to cut my teeth on as a beginner with the platform. It has been excellent for getting the feel and getting familiar with. Great starter.
Now for someone who has specific wants and needs, yes…more info required.
Bassbob
Emissary
And you have yet to really start with doing your own mods. Different trigger, lower parts, maybe an ambi mag catch or whatever. Stocks, grips, BCGs. Although in your case, you spent a little more up front and got the Magpul furniture and upgraded trigger. I think maybe your next step is to buy a stripped lower and build it out. Then you'll be hopeless like the rest of us.
SL66
Custom
I like my M&P 15, spent around 5 bones for it several years ago. The Vortex 1×8 lpvo was about the same with the mount. Plus added Magpul fore grip, Ergo fat grip and BAD lever.
I built the 10.5"pistol from a PSA kit. $420.00 for the kit, Came with everything but the stripped lower. I added a Spikes tactical lower and all said and done was at around $650.00. With the Rise Armorment flat single stage trigger, anti walk pins, AMG gen2 Huey and micro 3x magnifier it goes about $1400.00.
When the whole pistol brace fiasco came about I bought the 16" complete upper from PSA for around $325.00 if I remember correctly.
The A/R platform is a never ending adventure, start with a good base and buckle up. The initial purchase is just the beginning my friend.
View attachment 80982
I built the 10.5"pistol from a PSA kit. $420.00 for the kit, Came with everything but the stripped lower. I added a Spikes tactical lower and all said and done was at around $650.00. With the Rise Armorment flat single stage trigger, anti walk pins, AMG gen2 Huey and micro 3x magnifier it goes about $1400.00.
When the whole pistol brace fiasco came about I bought the 16" complete upper from PSA for around $325.00 if I remember correctly.
The A/R platform is a never ending adventure, start with a good base and buckle up. The initial purchase is just the beginning my friend.
Last edited:
belladonna
Hellcat
I’m leaning that way…And you have yet to really start with doing your own mods. Different trigger, lower parts, maybe an ambi mag catch or whatever. Stocks, grips, BCGs. Although in your case, you spent a little more up front and got the Magpul furniture and upgraded trigger. I think maybe your next step is to buy a stripped lower and build it out. Then you'll be hopeless like the rest of us.
Bassbob
Emissary
Much less 42 of those things.
BassCliff
Professional
Hi,
There an old thread around here about my first (and only, so far) AR-15. I got great advice from the crew. Thanks!
I was seriously considering a unit from PSA, with EPT and other goodies, at a budget-friendly price. But since I had been saving my gig money for a while I picked up a Saint Victor. For my first, I wanted a complete rifle right out of the box. There are other great suggestions in this thread. It's just the beginning. I will build my next one.
Thank you for your indulgence,
BassCliff
There an old thread around here about my first (and only, so far) AR-15. I got great advice from the crew. Thanks!
I was seriously considering a unit from PSA, with EPT and other goodies, at a budget-friendly price. But since I had been saving my gig money for a while I picked up a Saint Victor. For my first, I wanted a complete rifle right out of the box. There are other great suggestions in this thread. It's just the beginning. I will build my next one.
Thank you for your indulgence,
BassCliff
Belt Fed
Ronin
It's a great hobby, i was shooting AR's way before they were cool. even though they was cool the general public didn't know a lot about them. didn't too many own one. also wasn't near the companies making them either. Most were Colts and Armalites back then.
Lot of people here collect the accessories for them too. Like @Bassbob collects the BCG's. probably has a truckload. @KillerFord1977 collects thermal units for them. but he has a warehouse full of FN FAL's. @BET7 just collects the companies themselves. when you buy one, lets say a colt. well even though it's at yer house it still belongs to him.
Fortunately i have not caught that collection fever yet. but i can see where it would be easy to get hooked on them.
That direct link is too dang ….ez?
It’s in the cart, gonna sleep on it fn
Bassbob
Emissary
Bassbob
Emissary
It’s a solid entrance brother. With the money you’re saving buy a gen 2 Romeo 5 ($120-ish) and a set of Magpul flip up BUIS ( back up iron sights- $100-ish).