Budget AR15. What’s the floor in 2026?

[BLJ]

In the market for a an AR15.
Looking for a 16”, M4, no sights, 5.56/223 Wylde. Those are the specs I think I need.
Not really looking to deal with a braced pistol.

Use will be property/farm defense, home defense, animals to 200 with factory 73 ELDM.
Shooting and range time with ADI.
Will have an LPVO and a light.

What’s the cheapest you would trust?

I like the side charger on the BCA’s but reviews seem “mixed”.

Had a shit experience with (2) pistol kits from PSA some years ago so I would rather avoid them if possible.

Really rather not piece one together but if that’s the best option

I see Ruger has a new one out that I believe to be an Anderson piece.
S&W M&P 15??

I’m not familiar with a lot of the smaller brands but I’m open for suggestions.

Like to be in it less than $600. Way less if possible. If it is possible. Because in this circumstance I need it to go bang every time first thing and be as accurate as possible second.

Thanks.

 

[Cschoonover90]

Palmetto, you can get complete lower for $120 and upper for $200. Can’t really beat that.

 

[Geewhiz]

Palmetto, you can get complete lower for $120 and upper for $200. Can’t really beat that.

The $200 psa uppers generally dont include the charge handle or BCG. I picked up a few anderson "dark horse" ar15's last year for $380/per

 

[K9kodi]

I am almost done building another. havnt spared any coin, aero precision upper and lower, aero handgaurds and buffer tube, Timney trigger, maritime bolt catch, piston system, b5 furniture, I went aero bc I like their anodized green and it’s all a match. I may have about 1k invested and she’s a beauty.

 

[Cschoonover90]

I am almost done building another. havnt spared any coin, aero precision upper and lower, aero handgaurds and buffer tube, Timney trigger, maritime bolt catch, piston system, b5 furniture, I went aero bc I like their anodized green and it’s all a match. I may have about 1k invested and she’s a beauty.

You can occasionally find blemeshed receivers, my last Aero upper was a blem and I couldn’t find the blemish.

 

[coyotekilla]

Bear creek or palmetto usually has an Easter sale. I have 2 bear creek uppers. The 16" 223 is a 1:7 twist and 1/2 moa. The 6.5 grendel needed a barrel swap but a shaw fixed it right up. Both are side chargers and I like them better than my 2 std ones.

 

[Chris in TN]

I like the side charger on the BCA’s but reviews seem “mixed”.

I now have two side-chargers and one is a BCA upper with a Ballistic Advantage barrel on it.

To be clear, they are not one-gun-does-everything rifles. They are dedicated hunting rifles and I have other things I'd rely on for defensive purposes.

I *really* like side chargers for hunting - here at home there are times that I need to climb into a stand then quietly chamber a round. Not easy with a traditional AR charging handle. So I have embraced side chargers, for that.

Now - having said that - would I buy one of those ~$200ish BCA uppers and put it in a defensive role? Not likely. At least not without some exhaustive testing and switching the gas block setup for one that was pinned in place and likely also switching to a better-tested bolt.

Breaking the cheaper BCA uppers apart, the upper receiver itself is likely fine. Even the side chargers, as long as you understand they can't be broke down without tools. But I wouldn't trust their bolts (because they're cheap) or their gas blocks (simply because their blocks are attached with set screws which I do not trust).

At the end of the day I think I would trust a side charger after testing, but only with factory ammo, simply because the side charger requires tools to take apart, and if you ever get a overpressure handload that drops a primer into the receiver, you'll almost certainly need to take the thing apart to fix the issue and I wouldn't want that to need to involve tools. But then again, I only use factory ammo for home defense anyway.

 

[BLJ]

The $200 psa uppers generally dont include the charge handle or BCG. I picked up a few anderson "dark horse" ar15's last year for $380/per

Have you had good luck with the Anderson?
I’m curious (assuming) if the new built in KY AR for Ruger is a rebadged Anderson.

 

[BLJ]

I now have two side-chargers and one is a BCA upper with a Ballistic Advantage barrel on it.

To be clear, they are not one-gun-does-everything rifles. They are dedicated hunting rifles and I have other things I'd rely on for defensive purposes.

I *really* like side chargers for hunting - here at home there are times that I need to climb into a stand then quietly chamber a round. Not easy with a traditional AR charging handle. So I have embraced side chargers, for that.

Now - having said that - would I buy one of those ~$200ish BCA uppers and put it in a defensive role? Not likely. At least not without some exhaustive testing and switching the gas block setup for one that was pinned in place and likely also switching to a better-tested bolt.

Breaking the cheaper BCA uppers apart, the upper receiver itself is likely fine. Even the side chargers, as long as you understand they can't be broke down without tools. But I wouldn't trust their bolts (because they're cheap) or their gas blocks (simply because their blocks are attached with set screws which I do not trust).

At the end of the day I think I would trust a side charger after testing, but only with factory ammo, simply because the side charger requires tools to take apart, and if you ever get a overpressure handload that drops a primer into the receiver, you'll almost certainly need to take the thing apart to fix the issue and I wouldn't want that to need to involve tools. But then again, I only use factory ammo for home defense anyway.

Would you consider it to be reliable after a bolt and gas block swap?

 

[270-300]

Id say the completed units from psa will likely be the least expensive on their daily deal sales. Unless you find a gun shop going under.

Of course I will offer my rokslide disclaimer. I have decades of proven results hunting and i never pay more for flashy rifles. This upsets some point when i prove this.

Of course my new second disclaimer is kaleb does not like my disclaimer and insists i should leave rokslide, im not bashing rokslide with my first disclaimer.

With disclaimers over, if your just looking for an inexpensive light weight do it all hunting rifle there are lots of options out there these days we didnt have 10 years ago. A few more crafty manufacturers have never variants of semi auto 556 rifles that are not ar based.

And theres always the $450 glenfield model a.

For home deffense dont forget the pump shotgun.

Dont forget the optic psa often has great deals on those.

 

[270-300]

Would you consider it to be reliable after a bolt and gas block swap?

I once had the gas block loosen and move on a $150 bca upper. They dont stake anything when they build them. It was fine once i tightened and staked. But that backs up chris' stance of dont pick one for deffense. I did originally contact customer service and calls and emails were never returned. But that was during corona. Things might be different there now.

 

[BAKPAKR]

Dig up some of those money jars in your yard and get a Noveske.

 

[Geewhiz]

Have you had good luck with the Anderson?
I’m curious (assuming) if the new built in KY AR for Ruger is a rebadged Anderson.

I bought 3 of them and I haven't shot any of them so I can't attest to the quality but I tell you what I sure sleep better at night knowing that I have 3 ar's under my bed, so that's worth something.

 

[BLJ]

Dig up some of those money jars in your yard and get a Noveske.

My Ruger Americans will get jealous if I bring home something nicer than a Tikka.

Do t want to disrupt the social harmony in the safe.

 

[K9kodi]

You can occasionally find blemeshed receivers, my last Aero upper was a blem and I couldn’t find the blemish.

I know you used to, you can’t find shit for aero now a days. Something’s up

 

[diverc18]

Recently shot and sighted in my buddies psa 18in 223 wylde complete upper with charging handle and bcg. 10 shot group with 73 eldms was right around 1-1.3 moa. Pretty impressed with it as of right now. If I remember right the velocity was like 2590 or something like that.

 

[BLJ]

I know you used to, you can’t find shit for aero now a days. Something’s up

Not really interested in Aero either.
No personal experience but enough stories to believe.

 

[BLJ]

Kinda figured I would get a fair amount of PSA recommendations.

If QC is better than it was I won’t need customer service.

 

[Chris in TN]

Would you consider it to be reliable after a bolt and gas block swap?

On the one hand - mine has been through several hundred rounds without a single bobble.
On the other hand - my HD rifles went through a lot more than that before I thought of them as being truly reliable.

I'll just say that if you swap the bolt and gas block, what's left is the bolt carrier, the upper itself, the barrel, and the forend. Assuming the forend is tightened properly and the bolt's carrier key is properly staked, I'd think you'd be fine. I can't speak to their barrels. The one I bought, I never fired. But those are kinda big assumptions. I'm pretty comfortable starting with a pile of parts and assembling an AR15 in a couple of hours and once it's function tested and zeroed I'd take it hunting that same day. I see defensive rifles differently and outside of some dire emergency I'd prefer to put a bunch of ammo through them before trusting them.

 

[BLJ]

Fair points. Thanks.