Recommendations for entry-level AR-15

[DesertRanger]

Of the less expensive AR brands and models, which would you recommend to a friend who wants to buy their first. I stick to the brands that my former agency trained and carried, but my buddy can’t afford those. I’ve gone down the YouTube rabbit hole and found that every brand and model is either loved or hated by someone. 

[Hozzie]

There is a post in the deals and steals thread for one that is $330.  Probably works as good as most others if you just want to put bullets down range.  Don’t think you will find anything any cheaper.  The old adage probably applies, you usually get what you pay for. 

Edited November 14, 2023 by Hozzie

[Scotty]

If he’s like me and not going to be putting thousands of rounds down it every year I’d wait until Black Friday sale when these drop to $400 w/ a $20 off coupon. 
 

https://www.primaryarms.com/andro-corp-industries-bravo-556-ar15-rifle-16in

 

Small vet owned shop, warranties the same as PSA. BA barrel, MOA is fine. Goes bang. I listened to a lot of online forums and the general consensus was they were solid beater ARs and the customer service was good. The bones are good, I swapped triggers and added sights and optics and tinkered around. Otherwise I’d just find a blem PSA if he’s trying to stay in budget budget range. PSA rifles seem to have gone up lately though. 
 

if he wants to pony up a few more bucks I’d wait for a deal on an  https://gunprime.com/products/smith-wesson-mp15-sport-ii-optics-ready-556-nato-16-30rd-black  backed by their CS can’t go wrong  everyone else online says to jump at a Zion for $700 or so.

Im not a big AR guy, don’t know enough about what accessories I actually like, it’s been fun just getting a decent rifle with good bones and tinkering so I’d just get a cheap one and let him figure what he likes.

[Grayfox54]

The used AR market is absolutely glutted with rifles. Just pick a decent name at a price he can afford. 

[BigK]

The best cheap name brand I've owned was the original S&W M&P 15 Sport. I was very impressed with the performance for the price and still have no need for a forward assist or dust cover on any of my better rifles now.

[gregintenn]

Is there a bad one?

[NoBanStan]

Anything PSA really.

*edit* I forgot the obligatory "You're riskin yor life if you don't buy a DD, Noveske, LMT!" #dontforgettheacog

Edited November 15, 2023 by NoBanStan

[danbot]

I bought a bear creek arsenal AR15, and I'm really impressed for the price. 

[pop pop]

Desert Ranger, I just faced the same thing you are looking for. I went to Outpost Armory, in Murfreesboro TN, and was looking for an entry level. The rifle I carried in Vietnam was a Colt M 16.  I looked at the S W Sporter and was really thinking that might be the one. I ended up purchasing an all-metal, except for the furniture, Springfield Armory Saint in 556/223 which included metal sights. I like all metal guns. It was a tad higher in price and a little heavier. My son-in-law purchased a Palmetto Armory AR, in Charleston S C recently. It cost him, 499.00 and he likes it. I had that in mind when I went, however settled on the one I purchased. I am satisfied also. 

[gregintenn]

Unless someone stocks precisely what you want, I would suggest buying parts and assembling one yourself. Cheaper and better than buying something and then spending a small fortune swapping out parts to suit you.

Anderson and Palmetto State make passable receivers. Many companies sell serviceable lower and upper parts kits. Put your money in a good barrel and good trigger.

 

There really isn’t any magic in a quality AR.

Edited November 15, 2023 by gregintenn

[norsemen308]

PSA, they just work and their customer service is amazing. 

[Sleep profit]

Smith  or Anderson  but I would wait to Black Friday  to see what’s for sale 

[elbereth]

For a beginner or someone who just wants an AR, consider the DelTon DT Sport Mod 2 - due to the user friendly upper configuration:

Lightweight (pencil) Barrel (melonite finish includes bore)

Front Sight Tower

Carbine gas length and Car handguard (light weight and balance)

Comes with folding Mako plastic sight, so good to go out of the box, but not sure of the quality.

Del-Ton, Carbine Rifle

 

Edited November 15, 2023 by elbereth

[peejman]

Find a used one or build it from parts. Get a fully assembled upper and build the rest.  Took me an hour for my first rifle, and that includes 3 tries to get the trigger right. 

There's really nothing that can't be fixed or changed to suit your fancy.  

[leroy]

On 11/14/2023 at 12:25 PM, gregintenn said:

Is there a bad one?

What Mista Greg said..!  I ain't ever heard of a " bad " one.  They all do pretty well.  A " budget " ar will shoot into 2 moa.  That's 4 inches at 100 yards.  Your head is wider than 4 inches . 

leroy...

[gregintenn]

4 minutes ago, leroy said:

What Mista Greg said..!  I ain't ever heard of a " bad " one.  They all do pretty well.  A " budget " ar will shoot into 2 moa.  That's 4 inches at 100 yards.  Your head is wider than 4 inches . 

leroy...

I suppose I’ve been lucky. I have a pile of them. A factory Bushmaster, a S&W 22, and several I’ve put together with various parts and pieces of varying quality from bargain basement to top shelf. All will shoot half of this or better with no malfunctions. They are boringly reliable and accurate to a fault.

Edited November 16, 2023 by gregintenn

[VFL1911]

Depends on your definition of "budget." Ive found the best route is to wait until Primary Arms has a 10-13% off weekend sale on their site (usually do it 1-2x quarter) and buy a Aero Precision complete lower for < $150... You could then match it with whatever upper you wanted, pending finding another sale or saving a few extra bucks to get a decent upper.

[Ronald_55]

Right now even trying to piece one together is hard to do for the $330  that the one is running for. 

If he is not gonna be going to war with it, get that one and if he likes it, he can save more for a "better" one. Though better is very relative. I am the guy that is happy with MOA of a 6 inch target for 16 inch AR-15s though. If I want precision, I have other guns for that. In a hostile situation, most ARs are gonna pump ammo toward center mass and be just fine.

[Fencersms]

PSA would be my “bargain” choice. I built a AR9 using one of their BLEM AR-15 lowers and a BLEM 9mm upper. Hundreds of rounds down rage without issue. $450ish?

Ruger556 for mid-tier has been a great performer.
 

HonestOutlaw did a pretty flattering review of one of the other posters suggestion, Bear Creek 

[DesertRanger]

Thanks for the perspectives- they were all helpful. He’s going with the Anderson AM15. It’s cheap, and I have an Anderson that I built years ago and is every bit as accurate as my Sig 516. If he catches the bug, he can chase whatever ideal rifle he chooses. 

[gregintenn]

13 hours ago, DesertRanger said:

Thanks for the perspectives- they were all helpful. He’s going with the Anderson AM15. It’s cheap, and I have an Anderson that I built years ago and is every bit as accurate as my Sig 516. If he catches the bug, he can chase whatever ideal rifle he chooses. 

I've yet to buy anything from Anderson I later regretted buying.

[kbud]

On 11/16/2023 at 1:34 PM, gregintenn said:

I've yet to buy anything from Anderson I later regretted buying.

Other than upper/lower fit, never had an issue with Anderson.

[gregintenn]

16 minutes ago, kbud said:

Other than upper/lower fit, never had an issue with Anderson.

I’ve yet to have that problem. Mine have all fit together like they were made as a set.

[mikegideon]

25 minutes ago, gregintenn said:

I’ve yet to have that problem. Mine have all fit together like they were made as a set.

Out of all the ones I have built, I have only had one problem. It was an AR Stoner barrel with a headspace problem. Midway made good on the barrel. I replaced with a BA, and swore off Stoner for good.

I have had great luck with PSA rifle kits. I have built several of them with various brands of stripped lowers. A couple of those wound up shooting sub MOA with my favorite test ammo.

[Snaveba]

My best AR was a home built  blem Anderson lower, no-name mil spec upper and a decent 300bo barrel. The lower parts kit was probably BCA, I did put a nice stock and decent forend. It shot like a dream. I’m sure I can buy it back from my buddy if I ever think I will own an AR again.