Thoughts? What's the best bang for your buck AR under a grand? Uses are fun at the range and preparation for the zombie apocalypse. 

Now you have a lot more options than a couple months ago. Windham are good rifles as well as the Smith and Wesson.

My vote save another couple hundred and get something a little better than anything below average.

S&W makes a decent rifle, just know that while it may be mil-spec dimensions, it is not all mil-spec materials.

 

If I was buying a rifle and could not afford my first choices - BCM, DD, Colt, Noveske, LaRue, LMT, Defensive Edge - and was looking for a low cost AR it would be a basic S&W AR model. Then I would upgrade a few parts (BCG, receiver extension, handguards) as $$ allowed to get it where I wanted it. I would have no issues trusting a S&W to get the job done whether for competition, plinking, training or HD/SD.

 

I would avoid Windham, Bushamster, Oly Arms, Rock River, Armalite. You will need to spend more than you paid for the rifle to get them reliable enough for my tastes.

I built both my AR lowers but I really liked the Stag upper I first got.  I don't know if you will be able to get one any time soon, though.  If you do, go for the plus package. 

Ain't nothing wrong with a Stag

Very happy with my windham MPC.

Stags are good! and M&P 15 Sports. 

Very happy with my M&P15 Sport...

I say BCM

My vote save another couple hundred and get something a little better than anything below average.

I read your statement as you are looking for a M4gery type of rifle.

 

I would save another 100 or so and get a Colt 6920. Yes it needs a little neutering. But, all in all a great rifle. Hey, I was not always a Colt fan, but, over the years the product has proven itself over and over again. Not a Smith and Wesson fan at all.

 

Otherwise, I would and have built Palmetto State Armory from pieces. Lower here, upper there, lower parts kit, all purchase when on sale from the website, and assembled very easily. PSA uses FN barrels made across town from them, very reliable. By piecing the rifle together, you get what you want and avoid the 15% Federal Excise Tax built in to the cost of every completed firearm from the manufacturer.

 

PSA is have an upper sale this weekend, take a look.

 

Will you save money? Who knows, but you will have the rifle you want without a bunch a parts in the drawer you don't want.

 

I have pieced together parts from JSE surplus as well. Wilson barrels here very good also.

I have a Rock River Arms Elite Comp and love it. Not sure why people bash RRA, they produce a nice weapon.

M&P Sport.  $650. 

Smith & Wesson, Stag.  These brands are my biased opinion based on what I regularly shoot.  You can grab the NJ legal M&P 15 Sport for a little over $600 and its rock solid reliable.  Most here will tell ya to spend more, but for range use and zombie defense, you really dont have to. 

Smith & Wesson, Stag.  These brands are my biased opinion based on what I regularly shoot.  You can grab the NJ legal M&P 15 Sport for a little over $600 and its rock solid reliable.  Most here will tell ya to spend more, but for range use and zombie defense, you really dont have to. 

I agree...

M&p-15

Build it... Get exactly what you want... I personally prefer mid length gas system ARs...

Build it... Get exactly what you want..

^^This.  Find a stripped lower that you like, install a LPK, upgrade your trigger if you want (optional).  This way you can get the buttstock that you want and pin it in the position that is best for you.  Then get a pre-assembled upper or assemble one yourself to your preferences. 

You can always buy my rifle, DPMS lower mated to a 14.5" all BCM Rifle length upper $950

Don't buy crap

 

Save up and buy a colt/dd

Don't buy crap

 

Save up and buy a colt/dd

why?  What do they do that my M&P Sport can't do?

Nothing. Quality of internal parts can vary. Quality control on high production ARs may be hit or miss. DD, Colt, BCM have a reputation for excellent fit, finish and reliability.

why?  What do they do that my M&P Sport can't do?

Exactly...  Nothing wrong with a MP15 Sport...  Oops and I have one hehe.

I hate when people look down on other products if they are not Noveske, LMT, DD, BCM, etc. All of the lower tier weapons go boom and put holes in what they are aiming at. We are not all SWAT team members or LEO's. Some of us just like to shoot. I completely understand guys like Shane and HE. I have learned more from those two guys here than anyone on other sites. They use their weapons for thier jobs, but to call other people's choces crap is wrong. Guys like mge_1 love their M&P15 sports, as I love my RRA. Just because we don't spend $3k on an AR does not mean we have "crap" weapons. I would love to have a Noveske and maybe someday I will, but for now my Elite Comp kills paper just fine.

 

 

*edited for spelling

What do they do that my M&P Sport can't do?

 

for me personally...

 

I prefer mid length gas system....

some people may not like the standard front sight post...

I also prefer to have a forward assist..

I also found the M&P trigger to be OK at best...

 

while others may want a different handguard.. stock,.. etc..

 

the point being if an M&P sport exactly as it sits off the shelf.. is your dream gun.. then sure.. buy it.. its made for you... but if you plan to swap out the handguard.. stock.. trigger.. etc.. then don't waste your time.. just build the gun you actually want.. 

I hate when people look down on other products if they are not Noveske, LMT, DD, BCM, etc. All of the lower tier weapons go boom and put holes in what they are aiming at. We are not all SWAT team members or LEO's. Some of us just like to shoot. I completely understand guys like Shane and HE. I have learned more from those two guys here than anyone on other sites. They use their weapons for thier jobs, but to call other people's choces crap is wrong. Guys like mge_1 love their M&P15 sports, as I love my RRA. Just because we don't spend $3k on an AR does not mean we have "crap" weapons. I would love to have a Noveske and maybe someday I will, but for now my Elite Comp kills paper just fine.

 

 

*edited for spelling

We all know there are a lot of folks with different opinions about this issue.  I could care less really!!!  And I have to be honest, I'm not the AR expert, as this is my first AR and I clearly bought it due to my budget and price point.  And yes for those wondering, I've fired colts and bushmasters that costs twice as much as my MP15 Sport before I actually bought mine.  Honestly, its the same shiet lol.

 

Take care folks!

I have had Bushy, Oly Arms, Stag, PSA, Remington and DD. Ilove em all. To each his own. I want a S&W just because.

I have had Bushy, Oly Arms, Stag, PSA, Remington and DD. Ilove em all. To each his own. I want a S&W just because.

To each is own is correct. But wow all those ARs to have is awesome! Must be nice lol. What are the price ranges on them? Over or under 1K?

I own or have owned just about everything from dpms oracle all the way up to lwrc.  There are good and bad in every brand and I've had a $200 bushmaster outperform my Noveske in accuracy and reliability (had to send Noveske back).  In fact, my most accurate ARs were Bushmaster, DPMS and LWRC (6.8 one). 

 

I like to build them now but if buying for under 1k, I'd get a bcm and over 1k, I go lwrc, kac, or DD

Most were under $1000. I bought my first one a Bushy M4ergry A3 for under $900. The DD and Remington were over.