are name brand ar's really worth the extra dough?

[gomer pyle]

After working a piss load of OT lately and with the prices down on ar's, I decided I "need" a new gun(I wish I had kept my SIG 516). I keep looking at DDM4A1(also looked at LWRC IC SPR) but the tightwad in me keeps cringing. I've also looked at buying complete upper and buying/building a lower. I don't own a "bought" ar. Besides possible(but unlikely) resell down the road, is there a reason to get the name brand?

[Guest Jakedasnake]

Not only do you get what you pay for, but Resale value tends to stay firm.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Oh Shoot]

One advantage is that the entire gun is covered under whatever warranty the manufacturer offers.

 

On the other hand, with halfway decent components, things seldom break and if they do, generally easily and rather inexpensively fixed by owner.

 

You can often save 20% or more over complete rifle of same make just by buying a complete lower and complete upper separately when on sale, and then both are also warrantied.

 

- OS

Edited October 19, 2014 by Oh Shoot

[Troutburger]

If there's a chance of resale I'd go colt or better and get a complete gun. $800 & up

But u can go cheap with a blemished PSA lower and a delton rifle kit. Base m4 Appx $550-600 out the door. If you wanted to go cheap.

[BrasilNuts]

I just put together a AR for my brother, BCM upper and a PSA lower for $800.

Cheap and good.

[gomer pyle]

I've also been looking at BCM uppers. Just wondering if my OCD will let me have different brand lower attached? Also, for whatever reason, whenever I start building a gun, it always ends up costing way more than I thought when I add all the extras I "need". This what got me started looking at name brands, plus the wow factor.

[rugerla1]

After working a piss load of OT lately and with the prices down on ar's, I decided I "need" a new gun(I wish I had kept my SIG 516). I keep looking at DDM4A1(also looked at LWRC IC SPR) but the tightwad in me keeps cringing. I've also looked at buying complete upper and buying/building a lower. I don't own a "bought" ar. Besides possible(but unlikely) resell down the road, is there a reason to get the name brand?

I'd love to have one of the upper level AR's too but unless I get a BIG raise it's not gonna happen. I'm not too worried about it either because they basically are something I'd want over what I need and not a lot noticeable as far as function (to make it worth the 2x price tag).  :2cents:

[Garufa]

Depends on what you want.  You can build an AR significantly cheaper than a "factory" model and it will perform just as well.  On the other hand if you're concerned about resale value, a 100% factory gun is better.

 

Me...I'll never pay the price for a factory made AR and would never pay the price for a home made one.

[tnguy]

Building was a lot of the fun for me and I learned a bunch that I wouldn't have otherwise. I wouldn't put down buying factory made though.

[rugerla1]

Building was a lot of the fun for me and I learned a bunch that I wouldn't have otherwise. I wouldn't put down buying factory made though.

+1

[Omega]

I have one of each, one I purchased as a whole a S&W M&P 15 in 5.56, two I purchased as a complete uppers (two different brands), and two  PSA lowers one rifle and one pistol both in 300Blk, and a frankengun in 300Blk.  Since I don't plan on selling any of them, I am not concerned about resale and since they are all shooters I don't see any big difference in them except price.  

[GhostRecon21]

What is your budget?

[gomer pyle]

What is your budget?

That's the worst part, I haven't set one.

[runco]

Ask yourself, is there really a difference in today's automobile manufacturers?  If you work in the auto manufacturing industry like I do, then you know there is a wide array of difference.  If you are just a uniformed consumer under the barrage of the intended marketing spin and lure of warranties, you probably think its a bunch of hype, and probably think on the same lines is there really a difference.  The same goes with guns (ARs).  Though I do not work in the manufacturing industry of guns, I have been around guns the majority of my life, and ARs for the past 20 years, and once upon a time was in the retail business of guns, to "me", resale value and just personal experience the brand means everything to me.  If you want to do some serious homework on the question, just go trolling on AR15.com, I mean really spend some time there (not just an hour, but days), I think you will walk away with your answer. 

 

Added some AR information from some research I did a couple of years ago, very informative:

 

http://forums.officer.com/t81462/

 

https://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pwswheghNQsEuEhjFwPrgTA&single=true&gid=5&output=html

Edited October 19, 2014 by Runco

[leroy]

When ya build 'em, ya get what ya want... The barrel and the trigger (...and with the AR; possibly the bolt carrier...) is the heart of an AR ... Buy the best barrel, trigger, and bolt ya can; then pick up all the other "goodies" ya like...

 

Most all machines are the sum of their parts (...assuming they are assembled correctly and in specification...)... It's been my experience in the rifle and pistol business, that warranties dont mean much... I'm an old geezer, been shootin since the 60's; never had a warranty claim... It's a testament to haw good the parts are and how well they are assembled...

 

leroy

[Dustbuster]

It depends on what you value in your AR. I suggest building your own. Build one u like and it's priceless.

[No_0ne]

 

are name brand ar's really worth the extra dough?

 The answer to that question mostly depends on who you are asking, obviously those who own or sell the name brands will say yes ...

[Paisan]

I've also been looking at BCM uppers. Just wondering if my OCD will let me have different brand lower attached? Also, for whatever reason, whenever I start building a gun, it always ends up costing way more than I thought when I add all the extras I "need". This what got me started looking at name brands, plus the wow factor.

I wondered the same thing about my OCD (I have to mount lights at 12 or 6 o'clock for symmetry). I bought a Bravo Co. upper and put it on a Noveske stripped lower built with a Daniel Defense parts kit. No problem! Edited October 22, 2014 by Paisan

[Ted S.]

 The answer to that question mostly depends on who you are asking, obviously those who own or sell the name brands will say yes ...

 

Pretty much this. The value of any AR, name brand or not, really depends on the market. Buy any AR about a year and a half ago, and the absolute ####tiest cheapest AR anyone could buy would generally go for over $1000. Right now the market seems to be oversaturated with ARs, and if you ask anyone selling one or look at the classifieds here, they aren't exactly moving at warp speeds or selling anywhere near the original asking price. Supply and demand has a lot more weight in prices than people give it credit for these days.

 

If you're concerned about selling it, and you want to feel safe about it retaining as much value as possible, go with an expensive name brand and do not modify or add any parts to the rifle other than an optic. Rarely go to the range, and clean it before and after you go there. Keep it in a nice case or in a safe, and take extra care not to damage the finish.

 

If you aren't worried about selling in the future, build your own, have fun, and save some money (if you already have all the tools!).

Edited October 22, 2014 by Ted S.

[Spurholder]

OP, the only advice that I can give you is this:  AR's look alike, but not all are built the same.

 

If you're looking for the best possible compromise between quality and price point, I suggest that you take a strong look at the Colt LE6920.  It's available at multiple retailers at a good price , but here's the best one I've seen lately:

 

$899.88 and in stock as of 10/22/14 - http://www.impactguns.com/colt-m4-carbine-6920-ar15-16in-6920.aspx