Seems that AR prices continue to drop. Sub-$500 AR’s that actually work are becoming more and more common from different sources. The days of an AR being a dream purchase are pretty much over. Layaway, financing, and of course saving are options to purchase one of these budget-friendly beasts.
ClassicFirearms.com often have Bear Creek AR’s for under $500. I used to have one of Bear Creek’s uppers and it was great. A friend has two of these AR’s and he speaks highly of them.
Del-Ton makes the Del-Ton DT Sport Lite available for as low as $469.99. DPMS’s Sportical is available for around the same price. Anderson makes a very nice looking AR running $499.99.
Even these budget AR’s can be further customized to fit the owner as needed.
There are other great firearms out there and you should get what you can afford. More and more it is looking like that which can be afforded is an AR.
Oh – and with the coming election who knows what will happen to the availability to purchase AR’s in the future.
JR
Well you have me rethinking what I am doing on this. I was pretty sold on the DPMS brand but I like the Bear Creek here. Of course they are all just basic and you would have to invest $500 – $600 or more to get laser, light, optics .. flip sights etc..
And from them you have to find a FFL shopt that will carry the paperwork to you can own it in your respective state. It does hav a paper trail too of course….
Whatever works for you goingray58. You’re right on the need to add optics and possibly some other accessories. Depending on planned range for use will dictate the optic and potential cost. Just standard open sights might be fine however older eyes(like mine) love red dot sights. Magnification may be in order if longer ranges past 150 yards or so are needed. 3-4X might be in order. Laser? I don’t care for them.
Looking forward to hearing what you eventually get.
I don’t know what I like yet. The heavy barrel ar I had had leupold 3×9 glass and iron sights if you took it off. The mini 14 was iron sights only. I was thinking flip up iron sights that looks through the Glass on eeotech. And add bipod,light and laser. That adds $600.00 or so.
Which models or types of the above do you guys have.?
Got the Sunday paper… Gander Mountain Add… DPMS basic AR… No sights… Nothing… Bought one… Tacking on all the Tac-Ticool ‘Suff’ would triple the cost… Why do that… Simple ‘iron’ sights… Simple red dot or simple glass… Or not… pic-rail on the side to clamp on a hand held tac light… Mags… Mags… Mags… Parts kit… Wipe lightly with the lube of your heart… place in corner of closet… Repeat when the price is right.
Sounds like a good plan Thomas!
I’m trying to justify building a AR pistol or buying a AK pistol with Sig Armbrace or put the money into a simple non-harbor freight solar kit. Palmetto Arms just is having killer deals on AR kits, ammo and USGI alum magazines. I never thought the day when I’d see AR’s being sold below many AKs. And Thomas, you are correct – keep them simple, don’t add all the bells and whistles to it. Irons or lower cost vortex dot sight, decent 2 point sling and lots of magazines.
jh – I have the Harbor Freight it and it has run well for close to 5 years now with no issues. While solar power has dropped in price the Harbor Freight remains up there a bit for what you get. Typically what I hear for problems is failure of the charge controller over time. Amazingly mine has remain outside in all kinds of weather somewhat protected in a deck box – and still works.
I did just receive a 100 watt solar kit – see HERE. Has great reviews and extra 100 watt panels are around $125. My plan is to put together a 300 watt system – verify it works for my purpose – and crate it away until needed. Building some type of frame is planned as well. The panels are NOT light – though not crazy heavy either.
I built an AR pistol and love it:
I much prefer the Shockwave Blade over the Sig Brace.
I still need to add some Magpul folding sights on mine.
JH, I think you will be disappointed in that Chinese Harbor Freight solar kit.
Back when they first came out, I bought the wife and I a couple of Bushmaster Carbon 15 AR style pistols. What great little guns (now discontinued)! Add the arm brace and the 100 round rotary Beta mag and it becomes a powerful little weapon. The Carbon 15 is very light as the lower and upper are a fiberglass derivative and it has a full length top rail with factory ‘iron’ sights. I topped ours with reflex sights. Sadly, this pistol was not designed for a mud flap ejector cover.
PR