I’m helping a friend put together his first AR, a do-all rifle that will be reliable enough for home defense. He wants something reliable and doesn’t want to cut corners just to save $20 here and there, but he’s also not an AR hardcore (yet ), so he doesn’t want to get a bunch of top-shelf components. He just wants something as reliable as he can get for a budget of $1k. (Yeah I know–that was his budget idea, not mine!).
I went over the basic components of a general-purpose build with him, and here’s what he decided on:
Aero-precision complete lower: $380 from G&R Tactical. Milspec trigger, G&R LPK, VLTOR EMOD, H buffer, etc.
A BCM 16" standard 1:7 twist chrome-lined mid-length upper, with DD OmegaX 9" rail, FSB. $699. (Currently out of stock, but he can wait).
This puts him at $1080 excluding shipping and FFL fee. Plus, he’d still need a rear sight, which will add $70 to $125. So we’re already over his target budget, probably by at least $200.
Question for forum:
Is it possible to setup a configuration like this with similar “milspec” components, but keep his cost under $1K? I don’t think it is, but maybe I’m missing something. Is there anything on this configuration where he could find something more cost effective, without trimming the quality and reliability? For comparison, I looked at the complete BCM “Mid-16 Mod 0” rifle, which runs $1045 and is a decent rifle, but it has even more basic features than the above one, and is still lacking a rear sight. I’m afraid the dude is probably going to have to just suck it up and spend around $1200.
One other detail: the above build does NOT include a BCG, as some BCM uppers do, but I have a BCM semi-auto BCG lying around that I bought for backup and never used, so I’m giving that to him to get him started.
What’s driving the need for a rail? Your buddy would probably be better off going with a set of MOE handguards at first since he could then afford a rear sight and some mags/ammo.
If you need to shave a few more dollars you could make it a BCM blem lower with their m4 stock and save another $90. You’d give up the emod though. I didn’t look at the other complete lower to see what other options it may include such as QD endplate, etc. so that could skew this figure slightly.
EDIT: you mentioned sights above on the list of still to get after already passing the $1K mark. Don’t forget a sling too–which could be purchased with the saved $90 from above. He’s already saving a chunk with you providing the bcg but as posted above moe hand guards would also save extra cost. Oh and since he’s not ordering the bcg/ch combo, might as well through in gunfighter:D
I’d recommend either a standard or MOE handguard instead of the DD rail. That will save some cash, and if he wants to mount a light on the gun, there are mounts that attach to the front sight, or to the MOE handguard.
But I don’t see a 100% “need” for a rail on a home defense/all around AR. But I’m an AR noob, so take my advice with a grain of salt.
Yes, you could make changes and lose some of the cost. Mentioned already were the rails, and blemished BCM lower. But, how will he feed it and care for it once he has it?
And does everyone else work for G&R Tactical? That guy has his own preference and you have yours. I won’t ever give Spikes my money, but I have my own circle of distrubitors that I frequent and I lead people towards them if someone asks me who I buy through.
ETA: Grant, I didn’t mean to specifically single you and your company out, I was just using it as an example because people don’t blink when they recommend your company. Spikes has been given a bad rap, and rightfully so IMO, but it would be a bit of a double standard to jump on one persons opinion because it goes against public opinion based on which forum you are posting it on (ie TOS liking Spikes)
You must not have read the rest of his posts. Do some research before you decide to chime in please.
I’ll help you out, this is what I consider being a shill. RP88 makes a statement, NV claims Spike can beat a BCM build w/o proof or validation of said statement. Get a clue Nimba!
RP88
with BCM, you can build a 100% milspec rifle for maybe $850.
Going by price versus quality versus value, nothing can beat that, except maybe a good Daniel Defense package.
And in terms of parts and uppers, their diverse product line and prices on them is amazing. A complete BCM upper runs less than what most tier 2 and lower uppers go for, and have double the quality.
That is why they are so popular. Also, I speak from experience that their customer service is quick and professional.
Nightvisionary
Actually Spikes beats it. Their milspec standards and processes are well documented and the M-4 or Mid length carbines can be had for about $800.
I wrote this somewhere else recently, but it applies here too:
I just finished piecing together a couple of middys for considerably less than I could have bought complete guns. Shipping was fast and had the guns assembled within 5 days of placing the orders. Bravo Company (complete uppers- one minus a handguard- and blemished lowers- significant savings), DSGarms (sights, MOE handguard and sling mounts- plus their discount and Going Green sale), and Midway (Geiselle triggers on sale, but now out-of-stock and now not-on-sale) had excellent prices on the items I wanted, and excellent customer service. And that included getting an Aimpoint from Botach.
As an example:
$535 one middy upper with fcg
$277 blem lower shipped
$30 Magpul MOE handguard
$25 Magpul ASAP sling plate
$20 Magpul RSA front sling thing
$55 Magpul rear BUIS
$14 Magpul EMag
$15 Magpul front grip
Total $971 not counting shipping
There ya go…a basic “enhanced” solid shooter of a gun!
Or just the upper, lower, and handguard for $850…just add a rear sight…hard to beat that!
just did it last week…but it does look like the blem lowers just went up about $30 since then. The upper I used is still in stock, but I think you could add the BCG and charging handle for $135…I don’t know if that option is still available.
So it looks like it might cost around $900 now.
), so he doesn’t want to get a bunch of top-shelf components. He just wants something as reliable as he can get for a budget of $1k. (Yeah I know–that was his budget idea, not mine!).