lowest price on a decent upper with bolt/charging handle?

Jeff V

New member
I want to build a budget AR, I wont try and save $30 and have something that is unreliable/shoots like a mini 14 but I am trying to do this at a low price.

I will be using a plumcrazy lower and ive seen for $400 a complete upper on midway's site. Anything else out there similar I did some searching but all im finding is stuff for more money without the bolt/charging handle.
 
Originally Posted By: Jeff VI want to build a budget AR, I wont try and save $30 and have something that is unreliable/shoots like a mini 14 but I am trying to do this at a low price.

I will be using a plumcrazy lower and ive seen for $400 a complete upper on midway's site. Anything else out there similar I did some searching but all im finding is stuff for more money without the bolt/charging handle.

Sometimes you get what you pay for. You'll be the one to decide if you want things like a MPI tested BCG, or what the barrel life is rated at, if it has a forward assist, if it is freefloated, what the barrel contour is, etc. New Frontier Armory has some pretty good options/prices. Rock River uppers are a decent price and pretty accurate as well.

If I were you, I'd not look at prices, and sit down and pickout what options/upgrades are of interest to you, and THEN select brands/vendors based on that. I think a good upper could be had in the ~$5-600 range easily enough. $400 uppers are going to be on the low end of the spectrum of quality and price.
 
how many rounds can go through an average quality barrel? factory loads not hot loaded reloads?

The reason I ask is this isn't going to be shot nearly as much as some of you shoot. I just dont have the kind of money it would take to feed an AR through tons of rounds. And when I do have that kind of money, im sure ill be wanting something different/better than whatever I buy now.

I want a functioning rifle, that can shoot MOCoyote at 100 yards. Nothing more nothing less.

I want to get a .223, bulk ammo is too expensive for the 22-250, and I want a bolt gun/semi auto. I have realized that I can build an AR for about the price of a bolt gun and the AR just has more cool factor too it.
 
Originally Posted By: Jeff Vhow many rounds can go through an average quality barrel? factory loads not hot loaded reloads?

The reason I ask is this isn't going to be shot nearly as much as some of you shoot. I just dont have the kind of money it would take to feed an AR through tons of rounds. And when I do have that kind of money, im sure ill be wanting something different/better than whatever I buy now.

I want a functioning rifle, that can shoot MOCoyote at 100 yards. Nothing more nothing less.

I want to get a .223, bulk ammo is too expensive for the 22-250, and I want a bolt gun/semi auto. I have realized that I can build an AR for about the price of a bolt gun and the AR just has more cool factor too it.



QUALITY AR products and upgrades=$$$$$$. You gotta pay to play unfortunately. You can build a bolt gun much, much cheaper than an AR, and be more accurate and reliable in more conditions. The Savage Edge/Axis for instance would rival the standard AR trigger and match or beat accuracy wise of most AR15's under the ~$800 price range assembled...for a price of $300.

I'd do a lot of research before laying down cash for an AR. My first AR I built was a Model 1 Sales 223 20" heavy barrel upper with an LMT BCG. The 20" heavy barrel is a tad bit unwieldy and heavy to run around with. If I would do it over again an 16-18" SPR type profile barrel would have been a better choice. I'm not one who likes to sell off guns, but it may get sold at some point minus the BCG or rebarreled or...who knows. Just make sure what you get the first time is what you want. The sky's unlimited with AR's.
 
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That's something I never thought of. I also never knew those savages were so reasonably priced. Ill have to put some thought into it but I could buy a lot of ammo for the price difference between the AR and the savage. That's my main reason for the .22-250 to .223 switch I want to make building up an ammo supply more cost effective.

Time to do some more thinking
 
Originally Posted By: Jeff VThat's something I never thought of. I also never knew those savages were so reasonably priced. Ill have to put some thought into it but I could buy a lot of ammo for the price difference between the AR and the savage. That's my main reason for the .22-250 to .223 switch I want to make building up an ammo supply more cost effective.

Time to do some more thinking


It will take quite a few thousand rounds down the tube to make any sort of difference pricewise between your 22-250 & 223 ammo when you factor in buying a new gun. You can also look at the Savages with Accutriggers, for an even better setup. GOOD 223 ammo isn't cheap. Only the plinking stuff. So, you'd gain cheaper plinking ammo with 30 round mags, but not really much savings over the hunting ammo, since you don't reload.
 
I understand that I am buying a new gun regaurdless just cause I want something other than a single shot. I just feel better when I have a lot of ammo on hand. Not sure why. I have all common calibers aside for my rifle. 22, 9mm, 12 gauge.
 
Take the $500 you save on buying the Savage and invest $250 of it in reloading supplies. Then your 22-250 shooting will be cheaper than even .223 factory ammo.
 
Still does nothing for building a supply of ammo, I dont have the time for reloading. Also does nothing for the whole single shot problem, unless you ment the $500 was coming from buyin the savage instead of building an AR
 
400 is pretty iffy on an ar upper, but there are a few good ones out there in the 500-600 range if you look around.

we make a very nice upper for $575, new frontier is supposed to do a good upper in that price range, and i am not sure what speacialized dynamic charges.
 
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Originally Posted By: Jeff VStill does nothing for building a supply of ammo, I dont have the time for reloading. Also does nothing for the whole single shot problem, unless you ment the $500 was coming from buyin the savage instead of building an AR

Yes...$800 (for an AR)- $300 (for a savage bolt action)= $500 left over. If you don't have time to reload just dump that into ammo. $500 is a lot of ammo for just about any gun.
 
put a jse upper on a plum crazy lower for my nine year old. rounds 20 through 25 you could cover with a quarter and that was with one flyer on my part other four under a nickel at 100 yd. final price of the gun $505 w/out scope. seems to be a good option to me
 
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