best "cheap" AR15 kit

[sghart3578]

Hello friends,

I have an AR15 receiver that my son bought a couple of years ago. He wants me to join the black rifle crowd. Other than shooting his Ruger the only time I have fired anything like an AR was when I qualified in 1979. I am a blackpowder/lever action type.

But with the way things are going I figure it can't hurt to have one.

What would you fellas recommend as a kit to complete this project? I have looked at Delton, Palmetto State Armory, etc. but after a couple of hours of reading I am more confused than ever.

Are there vendors to steer clear of? If so, you can PM me instead of posting in the forum if you like.

Any help and advice will be appreciated.


Steve in N CA

[dragon813gt]

If you want cheap, buy parts when they are on sale. You can pick up higher end parts for the price of cheaper ones if you do this. This will take time. So if you want to buy everything at once you will be paying more.

PSA usually takes a while to ship parts. So just be aware of this. Primary Arms pretty much ships same day. JSE Surplus is a good place to get parts cheaper as well. A lot of them are no name but I've had no issues w/ them.

[Electric88]

Depends on how deep you want to go into building your own lol. A quick and easy way of doing it is to buy the stock, buffer tube and lower parts kit from wherever and then just buy a completed upper to slap on. I've had good interactions with Radical Firearms for complete uppers. A lower parts kit you can buy from pretty much anybody, I've used Andersons, Spikes, and others and they all work fine. Important thing to remember when buying the stock and buffer tube is that there are either mil-spec or commercial buffer tubes. There is a difference between the two, and they won't intermingle. I've seen more support for mil-spec buffer assemblies. Or you can buy an m4 clone stock/buffer combo for something like $60 from Primary Arms or someone else online.

Or you could truly build your own, selecting your own barrel, rail, etc. I've done both, and both are fun I typically spend more when I build from the ground up though haha

[nagantguy]

If your asking about lower parts kits, I'd have to say my best luck to date has been with palmetto state kits. Been using then for a long time only be a use I stumbled upon a deal on several kits for one price, and I have to say they are as nice as any I've used. Two years ago palmetto state caused lots of anger with slow shipping and selling out of stock items as in stock, burned me on some Christmas gifts that didn't come until February. But have since corrected their ways and I'm still comfortable recommending their kits.

[nagantguy]

Also don't worry about not being a black rifle expert, the field is awash in makers parts and accessories, most are good If you get a junk component it'll show itself quickly and is easily replaced. Building one is simple, some punches, a armours wrench and a vice and vice block are all the tools you'll need and just on YouTube there is a thousand hours of build videos, you alluded to some military service, if that's the case and you were issued a m16 the manual of arms and normiclature are still the same. I think you will be surprised at how accurate and fun the black rifle can be. And there are so many caliber and component options ,example, a me upper, a heavy barreled upper for coyotes and wood chucks, and a 300 balckout upper for deer and pigs with or without a can (suppressor ) all on one lower, all can use the same bolt carrier group changed back and forth with two pins. If your a lever gun guy than 300, 450 bushmaster and 458 socom will float your boat!

[Boolit_Head]

Most of the cheap kits are just that, Cheap parts. You might not save but you can get better parts shopping sales and assembling yourself. Black Friday and Christmas sales this last year were pretty good. I am not sure when the next round of good sales might be.

[Clay M]

Palmetto State Armory has some nice kits for the money.

[dragonrider]

I bought a lower from Palmetto and a this complete upper from Surplus Ammo
http://www.surplusammo.com/saa-budge...-customizable/

[wrench man]

I've got two Delton rifle kits, VERY pleased with them, i got a lower build kit from PSA, the stock was sloppy on the buffer tube and I swear the trigger is the most horrid one I ever pulled!?, both were swapped out even before I shot the rifle, don't believe I'll purchase from them again?, plus they NEVER seem to have anything in stock?

[Vann]

Daytona Tactical, about as cheap as you can get.

[Garyshome]

Head on over to Thunderguns for some good deals on uppers, looks like obama is at it again, the prices are up a little since the last time I was there
http://discountpartsandmore.com/

Daytona Tac. they have some pretty good deals also.
http://daytonatactical.com/

[osteodoc08]

PSA-Palmetto State Armory

I'd look for one of their rifle kits that use the premium barrel. This is where the money is on their kits and is the right place to put it. Those FN CHF barrels are as good as they get for the price.

[flint45]

Del-Ton kits from Midway have been good.

[Lloyd Smale]

I put together a gun with model 1 parts on a colt lower. It wasn't really a budget build as I used a stainless barrel but it was a real shooter when it was done. Its still my favorite ar.

[sghart3578]

Thank you guys, you were all very helpful. This morning I got off the fence and bought a kit from Palmetto State Armory.

http://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-1...rifle-kit.html

I will post a review and my impressions if you guys are interested. I have some factory ammo already and some reloads I put together for my son's Ruger.

Thanks again,


Steve in N CA

[Lonegun1894]

I have the same exact kit you bought except with the 1:7" twist barrel instead of your 1:8". I think you'll be very happy. My only complaint is that the handguard is oval instead of round like what I am used to, but that isn't a big deal. Shoots great!

[Lonegun1894]

I just put a removable carry handle with standard rear sight on it cause I'm a dinosaur. What are you putting on it if you don't mind me asking?

[6bg6ga]

First of all there is no best cheap kit. All function and work fine. You can however ask for vendors that seem to supply a quality part or section at a decent price.

I have assembled a file in order to obtain a quality build at a cost effective price. For a stripped upper I go with Radical Firearms for a upper minus the bolt and charging handle.
The charging handle has me going to Rousch Sports. The bolt assembly Surplus Ammo. Door and forward assist if needed Rousch sports. The buffer tube assy and stock Surplus Ammo.
THe lower parts group Aero Precision. A lower is going to come from my local gun shop and will be an Anderson. Magazines... whatever works and is cost effective.

If buying a barrel I go to Radical Firearms and a rail Monstrum Tactical.

The above is the best combination that I have come up with.

[6bg6ga]

Thank you guys, you were all very helpful. This morning I got off the fence and bought a kit from Palmetto State Armory.

http://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-1...rifle-kit.html

I will post a review and my impressions if you guys are interested. I have some factory ammo already and some reloads I put together for my son's Ruger.

Thanks again,


Steve in N CA

So, your build will be in the $500-550 range depending on the lower you pick.

[Elkins45]

Brownell's ran a deal where you could buy 10 magazines and a lower parts kit for a pretty good price and I picked one of those up right after the Aurora theater shooting. I eventually just bought a lower so I could use the parts kit. I figure if it's from Brownell's then I don't have to worry about the quality. I made a pistol lower.