Race to the bottom: how low in price can you go building an AR from pieces/parts?

[QuietDan]

A lot of smart and resourceful people on this board.

How low in price can you go building an AR from pieces/parts? I don't know if this has been dissected on the forum. The solution may be a moving target.

I'd sure like to know a total dollar outlay for a minimal functioning .223 AR, and would be very interested in a parts list or hints if they are not state secrets. What minimal tools are required? Is there one book versus another that spells it all out?

Of course, pictures of your AR would be way cool, as well as a certain amount of justified bragging.

Thanks in advance!

[mikegideon]

I suck at it. I have tried a few times, and then Magpul showed up . We have some masters though. Could be a good thread!

[Guest 73challenger]

There is a company making pretty nice looking complete polymer lowers for $100 now. If you would have combined this with the PSA Thanksgiving upper deal you could have had a pretty high quality rifle for $420 plus a rear site. I wish I would have done that to have a beater rifle. But, you can still get a PSA upper for $410.

[mikegideon]

Those plastic lowers work too. That's the real beauty of the AR platform. All of mine are different, but they can share a lot of the parts.

[pcrc11]

Surplus Arms and Ammo lower around 100.00 with shipping and transfer. Complete upper 279.00, stock 50.00, parts kit 50.00 all from coffin arms, should keep you under 500.00.

[Guest Spurhunter]

I hear a comapny called Sota arms is selling lower dirt cheap. I know a guy at work grabbed on back in November for 49.99. That was a steal.

[j_fuelfiveo]

I paid $57 for my lower from PSA and $90 for my lower build kit. Now I just need to get an upper to pair it up with.

[PolePosition]

I'm thinking about building a dirt cheap AR as well. I already have a precision build and another high end build on the way, so figure I'd buy some tools and try a cheap one for a change. I plan on using all new parts though. Is buying all the PSA parts the most cost effective way? Or are there other vendors that would fit this criteria as well?

[bigwakes]

Rifle build kits from PSA 16'' Mid-length, Heavy profile, CMV, Chrome-lined, MP Rifle Kit comes complete with everything you need accept a stripped lower for $499.

Pickup a PSA lower on sale for $49 and you have a complete rifle for $550.

For tools you will need: A set of punches, some electrical or masking tape to protect the finish, a small hammer or mallet for pounding in pins. I would also have a laptop with some YouTube videos ready to go. Checkout ar15.com to get a diagram of everything in your kit so you recognize the different springs and pins mentioned in the video.

So easy a caveman can do it!

[Murgatroy]

Rifle build kits from PSA 16'' Mid-length, Heavy profile, CMV, Chrome-lined, MP Rifle Kit comes complete with everything you need accept a stripped lower for $499.

Pickup a PSA lower on sale for $49 and you have a complete rifle for $550.

For tools you will need: A set of punches, some electrical or masking tape to protect the finish, a small hammer or mallet for pounding in pins. I would also have a laptop with some YouTube videos ready to go. Checkout ar15.com to get a diagram of everything in your kit so you recognize the different springs and pins mentioned in the video.

So easy a caveman can do it!

There are a few extra charges skipped in there, the $8 shipping for the lower, the transfer fee ($25 in my case) and then $15 shipped for the upper.

That still keeps it under $600. If you luck out you can wait till the uppers/build kits are on sale too (the same time as the lowers in my experience) and you can get the complete rifle built for ~$550.

[Guest 73challenger]

I wouldn't go with the absolute cheapest parts, find the best cost AND quality. I would find the cheapest uppers with the best reviews.

[Dolomite_supafly]

Buy a M&P 15 Sport and be happy. You can't build better than this for less. Yes you can build one for less but not with the features of the M&P. And I am a builder of AR's.

Dolomite

[bigwakes]

I wouldn't go with the absolute cheapest parts, find the best cost AND quality. I would find the cheapest uppers with the best reviews.

That's why I have not gone for the cheapest. I got a spikes stripped lower and the optimum profile FN Spikes middy from Aim for $699. I was still under a grand for an awesome rifle.

[Caster]

I suck at it. I have tried a few times, and then Magpul showed up . We have some masters though. Could be a good thread!

Ain't that the truth. Every one I get into starts out fairly economical. Then.......

Unfair advantage my eye, they TAKE unfair advantage of my wallet.

[pcrc11]

Just be careful about the lower you use when it comes to resale value. I used a Surplus Arms and Ammo when I built mine. I had a hard time selling my AR because everybody wants a name brand lower. Dont seem to care to much what other parts are on the gun. Next one I build I will spend a few extra bucks and get a better known lower

[Caster]

Just be careful about the lower you use when it comes to resale value. I used a Surplus Arms and Ammo when I built mine. I had a hard time selling my AR because everybody wants a name brand lower. Dont seem to care to much what other parts are on the gun. Next one I build I will spend a few extra bucks and get a better known lower

Yeah, you can't get that in people's thick heads. "Durr I've never heard of Surplus Arms and Ammo" You could have an LWRC, Sabre or Daniel Defense (or equivalent) upper on it and they still would not understand.

[QuietDan]

Thank you all very much for your comments. I imagine there are still more. This is a lot to absorb.

[Fourtyfive]

Aren't the Surplus Arms and Ammo lowers made by Aero Precision ?

[gregintenn]

Great thread!

[Guest]

There are a few extra charges skipped in there, the $8 shipping for the lower, the transfer fee ($25 in my case) and then $15 shipped for the upper.

That still keeps it under $600. If you luck out you can wait till the uppers/build kits are on sale too (the same time as the lowers in my experience) and you can get the complete rifle built for ~$550.

And a rear sight, right?

[PolePosition]

Aren't the Surplus Arms and Ammo lowers made by Aero Precision ?

Yea, Aero Precision = Surplus Arms and Ammo = Spikes Tactical = Palmetto State Armory

[QuietDan]

Yea, Aero Precision = Surplus Arms and Ammo = Spikes Tactical = Palmetto State Armory

Well, well, well! This is good to know. Are they all the same same, or are they in some sort of brand-quality ladder?

[PolePosition]

Well, well, well! This is good to know. Are they all the same same, or are they in some sort of brand-quality ladder?

Aero makes all of them, so they should all be the exact same quality. Just different logos to my knowledge. I found a manufacturer that makes logo-less lowers for $75. Place called McKay Enterprises. All the reviews have been positive too. I think I might pick one of those up. A little bit more expensive than Aero and its re-branded counterparts, but I hate all of those logos! Haha.

[alingo2001]

But you can find a S&W M&P 15 for a little over $600 plus transfer for a complete rifle and mag.

[Guest Spurhunter]

I am hearing that PSA is going to stop doing retail sale on complete guns and lowers. Just too much paperwork involved they say...