misterwhisker 4 Posted April 14, 2016 Hi all, I'm building my first AR and wanted to keep it below $500 as I don't plan on putting thousands of rounds through it and won't be shooting past 200 yds. I was looking at the following two kits that you just have to add a bare lower to and would like opinions, good bad and ugly about both. Yes, I know they will need compliance work to make them NJ friendly. Also if there are better choices out there for around the same price point then let me know as well. Thanks!! http://www.midwayusa.com/product/108623/ar-stoner-carbine-kit-ar-15-556x45mm-nato-1-in-9-twist-16-barrel http://palmettostatearmory.com/ptac-16-1-7-m4-rifle-kit.html Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Purple Patrick 638 Posted April 15, 2016 Delton isn't a bad company for cheap parts Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
High Exposure 5,668 Posted April 15, 2016 Slightly over budget but you will be quite happy. You can get a complete TROY upper: 16" midlength barrel with low-profile gas block 13" free float tube (either an Alpha or MLOK) BCG Charging Handle TROY BUIS Choice of Black or FDE For $529 at Primary Arms. Alpha Tube: http://www.primaryarms.com/supr-bf1-16ft-00/p/supr-bf1-16ft-00/ MLOK Tube: http://www.primaryarms.com/troy-industries-16-556-upper-w-13-m-lok-rail-and-flip-sights/p/supr-bf1-16bt-00-m/ If you bought the parts seperately you'd pay: - BCG ~ $150 - Alpha Tube with integral front sight ~ $280 - Troy BUIS ~ $180 You are basically getting the upper receiver, barrel, gas block, gas tube, charging handle, flash hider (which does need to be replaced with a brake/comp) for free. And it is all assembled. Once you receive it all you need to do is swap the FH for the brake of your choice and slap it on lower. It's the best value in an upper I have seen. You can also sometimes find them during sales for Black Friday, Memorial Day, Labor Day, etc... for ~ $450. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
n4p226r 105 Posted April 15, 2016 That is a good deal. The iron sights alone are worth close to $180. but close to $600 with complaince work Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
n4p226r 105 Posted April 15, 2016 Hi all, I'm building my first AR and wanted to keep it below $500 as I don't plan on putting thousands of rounds through it and won't be shooting past 200 yds. I was looking at the following two kits that you just have to add a bare lower to and would like opinions, good bad and ugly about both. Yes, I know they will need compliance work to make them NJ friendly. Also if there are better choices out there for around the same price point then let me know as well. Thanks!! http://www.midwayusa.com/product/108623/ar-stoner-carbine-kit-ar-15-556x45mm-nato-1-in-9-twist-16-barrel http://palmettostatearmory.com/ptac-16-1-7-m4-rifle-kit.html The good is that they are in your price range. The bad is they are parts sourced as cheap as possible with little to no quality control so you may get in spec parts. You may get out of spec parts. If you decide to go with a different upper you can get any lower, DSG arms sells a milspec magpul fixed carbine kit for $49 and any decent lower parts kit ( I'd suggest one from Midwest px) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Krdshrk 3,878 Posted April 15, 2016 JSE Surplus has a lot of good custom options. Can get a brake added on and a gas block without a bayo lug on some uppers. Then all you would need is a shop to pin the brake. http://www.jsesurplus.com/Custom16M41x75.56CarbineGBUpperNitrideCoat.aspx http://www.jsesurplus.com/custom223.aspx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Budasac 13 Posted April 15, 2016 That is a good deal. The iron sights alone are worth close to $180. but close to $600 with complaince work All that needs to be done is to pin the brake. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Budasac 13 Posted April 15, 2016 You can also check out Stag. They'll build you a NJ compliant upper with whatever upgrades you like. If you just want a basic, inexpensive upper, check out the 3H. $465 w/o sights but NJ compliant. www.stagarms.com/model-3h Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisJM981 924 Posted April 15, 2016 You can also check out Stag. They'll build you a NJ compliant upper with whatever upgrades you like. If you just want a basic, inexpensive upper, check out the 3H. $465 w/o sights but NJ compliant. www.stagarms.com/model-3h Are they still in business? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Budasac 13 Posted April 15, 2016 Are they still in business?Yeah, why? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
n4p226r 105 Posted April 15, 2016 All that needs to be done is to pin the brake. And buy a brake Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Budasac 13 Posted April 15, 2016 And buy a brakeYou are correct. I thought that was a Medieval Brake but after looking at the description I see it's a Medieval Flash Hider. That's one positive about the Stag. They'll do the compliance work for free. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Krdshrk 3,878 Posted April 15, 2016 Are they still in business? Stag's team addressed the legal issue they had and assured everyone they're still open during SHOT show this year. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
misterwhisker 4 Posted April 16, 2016 Thanks for all the info, lots to learn about the AR platform. Today I spent an hour just learning about the difference between a flash hider, compensator and muzzle brake. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Golf battery 1,223 Posted April 16, 2016 Try palmetto state armory. They hit me with atleast 2 emails a day of uppers lowers and everything else for sale. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rightisright 3 Posted April 17, 2016 Last year, I wanted to build a reliable, yet inexpensive AR to use as a beater/truck gun (when out of state, of course). I bought this setup for $379 w. free shipping: http://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-16-stainless-mid-length-1-7-freedom-rifle-kit.html From what I can glean, their Freedom series is a step up from their PTAC series (which does not have a good rep) but below their FN CHF barreled uppers. Is it as nice as my better ARs? No. The bolt carrier has some machine marks on it, the gas key screws weren't staked very well (easy to fix) and the trigger wasn't so hot (I did recently upgrade it to PSA's polished trigger pack.. it's better now). But it goes boom every time and the accuracy is fairly good. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mipafox 438 Posted April 17, 2016 Thanks for all the info, lots to learn about the AR platform. Today I spent an hour just learning about the difference between a flash hider, compensator and muzzle brake. 3 to 5. Should have just asked Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites