How can I get one of theses guns for under 400.00. One that shoots good, it dosent even need to be new and I dont mind building a Frankin Gun I just want a AR in .223. I just got done looking at the photo thread and my shirt dripping wet from drool. I have looked at kits and they start at around $550 but then I need a lower at 125.00. Thats still a little high. Any Ideas?
Welcome to the site.
Under $400? Unless if you have some serious contacts for sourcing parts on the free, or dirt cheap, the best thing I can say is…just get the thought of an AR out of your head.
Yup, not going to happen, and if it did, you’d be miserable with the results. Look at an AK instead.
The price of a carbine is just the start of this addiction… ah I mean hobby. Heck, it is not easy to get a case of quality ammo for it at your price (wolf excluded). Oh, and a quality optic is not cheap either.
If you really want one, you will have to pay more and find ways to raise the money.
If you just like the looks of the carbine, there are quality air soft models…
You can’t even get an AK for under $400 unless you go with a Saiga.
Yeah, sorry your dead in the water. Maybe in the Congo you can get one for 400U$D, but not here in the free world, sorry brother.
The market is flooded with RRA’s and Bushmasters right now…I’ve seen a used Bushy for $700 somewhere in the classifieds…I’ve also seen NIB DPMS M4’s go for $800 + tax. Double your budget and you’ll be able to get one.
Start piecing one together.
Buy parts as you can afford them.
$400 will get you a lower, upper, LPK, and a BCG…that’s a good start.
Now that I got my head around $400, and the post-binge AR market–I’d go with ColdDeadHands’ idea. If you can get a like-new, reasonable name brand for around $600-700, that’s a great start. If you try to build your own, you won’t be close to that. For brands, go here:
https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=6642
Just figure that with a BM, Stag, RRA, you can easily stake the carrier, swap out parts, etc… Just for goodness sake, stay away from Blackthorne or whatever.
When I build a lower it usually comes out around $600-700 by itself, Id suggest saving at least $800 before trying to build a rifle.
what do you buy that racks the price to $700 on the LOWER??
i built my dad an AR in the height of the ban hysteria for ~$750
No such animal. Save up another $600 by mowing some lawns, delivering pizzas, or working some overtime and you can build yourself a quality AR.
Geez, no sense scaring a guy. Is that some 100% Hawaii tax, Franklin? 
Lower: $125
LPK: $80
Complete BCM Stock kit: $75
Even if you add $15 to each for S&H or taxes, that’s only $325…hello.
Then look around and you can find a nice upper in the sixes…so yeah, it’s a thousand for new.
And used you can get something serviceable for much less in today’s market…but not $400.
Stripped lower = $125-$150
LMT SOPMOD stock & tube = $250
Geissele SSA trigger = $170
Misc small parts = $30-$50
MIAD = $30
FFL fee = $27
S&H = $50 for all of it
If Im painting it then I gotta get a can of durabake over here, all said and done thats another $50-$70
If a redimod is going on thats another $200…
Lowers get really expensive, but uppers are a different animal altogether.
perfectly good stock: http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/M4-Stock-Milspec-p/stock%20m4%20milspec%20black.htm
and someone new to ARs doesnt nead a geissele trigger.
also what are “misc small parts”?
i’ve built all three of my lowers for less than $400
there’s been plenty of good advice in this thread… start building, is the best one. buy a part with every paycheck- but expensive parts every other paycheck.
otherwise, it’s gonna be Vulcan Arms for you.
Preferences are just that, Im down to what I know I like with a box full of spare parts Ill likely never use. misc small parts are the parts that you need to complete a stripped lower such as takedown pins, springs, detents, bolt catch, roll pins, mag catch; the other stuff that you get in a lower parts kit besides the standard FCG that I dont have a use for.
I paid that much for a good barrel and shipping…
I don’t think even the crappiest AR brand is that cheap, and I mean crap. :o
$400 is waay impossible to build.
i’ve been in your shoes. skimp here and there. I got a crappy AR which I was lucky that I was able to sell.
get quality parts. Never mind if it’s gona take you 6-8 months to build.
Mine took 6 months.