Hi all.

Looking for my first AR.

I really like my Glock 19 from a standpoint of cost/quality/reliability.

Is there an AR manufacturer that has a similar cost/quality/reliability ratio?

I’m not expecting to spend $600, like I would on a Glock. I’m just trying to narrow down my options.

Hope that makes sense.

Smith and Wesson M&P is what comes to my mind.

If you just want something middle of the road and fairly complete out of the box with a factory warranty, grab a base line AR from one of the major gun manufacturers: Springfield Saint, S&W M&P15, FN FN15, Ruger AR556, etc.

But if you want to go cheaper yet still decent, $600 (or less) is very doable through Palmetto State Armory.

The cheapest option is to grab a stripped AR15 lower and a lower parts kit, plus a complete upper receiver group. With a Youtube video and a few basic tools, you can assemble your own lower, and then slap on the complete upper. It just won't have a factory warranty. For example, you can very easily build a basic AR15 through PSA for $350ish:
$50 stripped lower
$80 lower build kit
$200 complete upper
Plus a bit for shipping, and a couple tools (pin punches and a castle nut wrench).

Or you can buy a complete assembled AR from PSA for $450, if you want to pay a bit more for someone else to assemble the lower, and cover it with a warranty.

You can then spend the rest of your $600+ budget on more magazines, ammo, a sling, etc.

Or bumping the budget for the rifle alone up to $600 can get you something even fancier from PSA, with a free-floated rail and better barrel on the upper and a nicer trigger, grip, and stock on the lower.

I have a Ruger AR and it has been excellent so far.

I’ve had excellent luck with M&P15s and Springfield Saints in that price point.

Right now, I’d lean toward the Saint for accuracy, durability and a mid length gas system all in a FSB gun. You also can get one road ready with BCM furniture. Since the first of the year, I’ve shot the crap out of one and it’s held up well.

I agree with all of the above, and I'll add the Sig M400 as another quality offering in the $800-$1000 price range.

I would have said that the S&W M&P would be a good choice, even though they have some proprietary parts like the Ruger ARs, except I just checked gunbroker and the prices on this rifle have gone up (of course).

That being the case, I'd say the Palmetto State Armory offerings are hard to beat. You say you don't mind spending more than 600 but remember- you'll need to outfit your rifle, and that ain't cheap.

Two rifles at PSA catch my eye. If you're planning on mounting an optic of some sort on your rifle, you could get this midlength choice, currently being offered at 600.00:

https://palmettostatearmory.co...mbus-sight-set3.html

If, however, you choose to stay with iron sights (and this is my recommendation for a first AR), you can snag this M4-type rifle at 480.00 and I think that's a helluva deal:

https://palmettostatearmory.co...sic-rifle-black.html

To accessorize your rifle, you might consider following my recommendations in this thread, although, unfortunately, the IWC light mounts are difficult to obtain right now. I still recommend a BFG VCAS sling and the Daniel Defense A1.5 rear sight:

https://sigforum.com/eve/forum...0601935/m/7790097405

At least a dozen quality magazines. Pmags are hard to beat. M2 or M3 magazines, and the M2 is especially inexpensive right now.

And lubricant, lubricant, lubricant.

Thanks for the excellent replies. I think I'm off to a good start with this info.

quote:

Originally posted by YooperSigs:
I have a Ruger AR and it has been excellent so far.

AR-556?

That's what I bought and really like it. Like that it came with real iron sights already on it.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
The cheapest option is to grab a stripped AR15 lower and a lower parts kit, plus a complete upper receiver group. With a Youtube video and a few basic tools, you can assemble your own lower, and then slap on the complete upper. It just won't have a factory warranty. For example, you can very easily build a basic AR15 through PSA for $350ish:
$50 stripped lower
$80 lower build kit
$200 complete upper
Plus a bit for shipping, and a couple tools (pin punches and a castle nut wrench). ...

This is what I did and not only is it getting me back into shooting, i also understand how an AR-15 works. Putting it together was a great learning experience.

Now I just have to relearn how to get a bullet to end up where it’s supposed to go.