Budget AR15. What’s the floor in 2026?

[RockAndSage]

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.

Here's the absolute best counsel I can give on this, in terms of ARs and reliability: you really do get what you pay for. Unless you urgently need the gun, then sell off a few things, set some money aside for a few paychecks, do it right the first time.

The absolute bottom of the barrel AR that will likely work fine would be a cheap PSA. Next up from that is probably a Smith & Wesson M&P. Stuff Form mentioned to you in a different thread. Above that would be some of the cheaper guns in PSA's Sabre line, which can be had for right around $1000.

When you go below $600, things tend to start going sideways pretty quickly in different ways, in terms of reliability - there's only so much a manufacturer can do for reliability and durability at rock-bottom prices. This shows up mostly in how well the gas-system is put together, and whether the different parts are actually in-spec when gauged, as well as just holding up without things coming loose. Gas keys, gas blocks, and roll-pins working loose especially, along with things like mis-assembly, with the barrel/barrel extension being clocked a bit, or barrel nut not being torqued properly. So it's a bit of a crapshoot, on a bunch of items.

But starting with one of those guns can be a great way to learn how to diagnose AR malfunctions, and how to fix them. Which usually costs money in replacement parts, shipping, hours, etc...which end up costing more in total than buying a better gun to begin with.

 

[Pilsner]

I've got a PSA with nearly 5k rounds through it, most of which are suppressed. It is still a 1.3-1.5 MOA 10 shot shooter with original barrel. I've shot it to 1k yards, it has killed well over a 75 hogs year mostly out of traps, along with at least a half dozen deer a year. Stupid thing is cheap but just works. I also own $5k dollar custom rifles but this PSA is the rifle that lives in my truck every day for ranch duties.
This is a sub-$400 AR when purchased new years ago.
I've since built/assembled a few of their guns from parts without issue and about the same accuracy zone. i've done some other ARs from higher end parts kits and they never shot better enough to justify their 2x, 3x, or 6x price tags.

 

[K9kodi]

I’m in the classroom of you get what you pay for to a point. If you believe the description of parts and use all mil spec parts you should at the very least have reliability. The old 1911s, if I am not mistaken just worked and mostly bc tolerances allowed for dirty guns and parts not being surface mated.

Sometimes what you lose in accuracy and beauty you gain in reliability.

I do believe I found the middle ground, or the high ground for middle ground price.

Instead of dumping a pile of cash at once, shop around and buy the parts, learn how they go together. Buy good parts a little at a time. I mean a decent lower can be had for 150 bucks, a good trigger another 120, maritime boot catch, 20-30 bucks, mil spec mag release 15 bucks, ambi Gieselle or radian selector 60-80 bucks, buffer tube and spring set 60 bucks in running an armaspec csptured buffer 60 bucks and your lower is done. Take a break and research uppers and barrels.

 

[Abacist]

But starting with one of those guns can be a great way to learn how to diagnose AR malfunctions, and how to fix them. Which usually costs money in replacement parts, shipping, hours, etc...which end up costing more in total than buying a better gun to begin with.

True and valid points. My experience of trying to turn a bottom-tier AR into a reliable shooter included all of the things you mention, as well as a healthy dose of hair-pulling frustration, and I never fully trusted it. As others have suggested I would either assemble from quality parts you source yourself or buy a higher-quality rifle.

 

[The Harbor Master]

It's not full on Gucci, but by no means cheap... BCM. The absolute work horse of the AR world. There's "better," but for the price BCM is the do-it-all. If you're hoping for more precision, it may not be your best bet... All the BCMs I've used are about 2.5moa guns (to clarify, that is with cheap stuff like PMC Bronze or basic m193... ELDm or TMK might get better results). But for a defensive, home defense, SHTF work horse, I do not think they can be beaten in that price range. Properly staked, MPI, true spec... I love mine.

 

[RockAndSage]

True and valid points. My experience of trying to turn a bottom-tier AR into a reliable shooter included all of the things you mention, as well as a healthy dose of hair-pulling frustration, and I never fully trusted it. As others have suggested I would either assemble from quality parts you source yourself or buy a higher-quality rifle.

Regarding building one, I would actually advise against it, especially if budget is a concern or a guy has no experience with ARs. Not to be contrarian, but to really build one right, you also need tools. And proper ones at that, if you want to minimize the risk of doing things wrong. Which can blow a stringent budget pretty quickly.

Where it makes more sense is if you want something specific/special, or in just assembling a set of tools over time with one repair/upgrade at a time. Do a few of those, and you end up with enough to build a whole gun before you know it, along with a bunch of distinct assembly experiences and the research involved in doing each one right. But for a budget starter AR, would recommend a complete gun first, or a fully assembled lower and a fully assembled upper if you can find a deal on those separately.

 

[BLJ]

I’m kinda thinking I’d rather have a complete rifle at this time. Not sure if I want to scrounge and wait.

I built 2 pistols in the past. That’s where I had the issues with the PSA parts.

 

[BLJ]

SW MP 3 has caught my eye tonight.

So far.

 

[Steve300xcw]

Dude. Just get drunk and start lookin around on gunbroker..

 

[RockAndSage]

Dude. Just get drunk and start lookin around on gunbroker..

Truth.

 

[Steve300xcw]

Truth.

I mean his cheap AR is goona turn into a $20k SxS .410, but is that a bad thing?

 

[RockAndSage]

I mean his cheap AR is goona turn into a $20k SxS .410, but is that a bad thing?

DO IT, OP. Drunken gunbrokering is an American tradition.

 

[Jamie930]

Build your own. Pick a good barrel and good floated hand guard.

Built mine for like $600 at it shoots 73 ELD just fine

 

[Steve300xcw]

Built mine for like $600 at it shoots 73 ELD just fine

Dude. Not a single round hit the bullseye

 

[K9kodi]

Regarding building one, I would actually advise against it, especially if budget is a concern or a guy has no experience with ARs. Not to be contrarian, but to really build one right, you also need tools. And proper ones at that, if you want to minimize the risk of doing things wrong. Which can blow a stringent budget pretty quickly.

Where it makes more sense is if you want something specific/special, or in just assembling a set of tools over time with one repair/upgrade at a time. Do a few of those, and you end up with enough to build a whole gun before you know it, along with a bunch of distinct assembly experiences and the research involved in doing each one right. But for a budget starter AR, would recommend a complete gun first, or a fully assembled lower and a fully assembled upper if you can find a deal on those separately.

I absolutely see your point.
But not everyone has the coin to drop at once. I don’t. I also don’t wanna buy a built one for a cheaper price then replace things on it with new ones I bought essentially buying two. Haha.

I mean you have a great point, but understanding I couldn’t afford to drop the coin on the one I wanted at once, I just took my time buying good parts as I could. I’m not sure what boat the op is in, might not be any of my business

 

[dreadi]

I wouldn't trust anything considered cheap. It's very easy to spend $1,000 on known quality parts when building one and not even be high end.

SW, Springfield Armory, BCM, Stag Arms, all make good rifles among others.