Friends' Budget ARs

[Candyman]

I have a bunch of parts that I have gotten for Free 99.
I have 3 slickside uppers, Tennessee Arms stripped lower, complete A2 buttstock and a Yankhee Hill free float quad rail.

I could get the rest of the parts for under $400.

I also have parts on hand to build 3 complete guns with parts to spare.

[rightisright]

Has anyone broken the 400 dollar barrier yet for a an ar build?

Under $500, no problem. But I haven't seen any new mil-spec builds close to $400 yet.

[Whirlibird]

Were I in the market for budget AR's, I'd be ordering the premium kits from Palmetto.
The included barrel is made by FN.

The PTAC blem kits (from Palmetto) are even less expensive, today's special of a 1-8, 16" nitride barrel M4 kit is $389, with blem lowers being $70. It's a flattop upper so some optic or buis is needed, better the price, not bad.

PTACs don't have the best reputation for quality. Although that may be getting better. I haven't done any recent research.

I have 2 of their mid-line stainless Freedom uppers and am quite happy w. performance for the buck.

The PTAC stuff are Blems, so the finish may be jacked, etc. But so far, inspecting 6 builds over the last year, they've all been functional, if not pretty.

It's a cheap kit, not a Les Baer.

For a cheap way to get into an AR, what the heck.
They'll do for many shooters just fine.

[Whirlibird]

Has anyone broken the 400 dollar barrier yet for a an ar build?

That depends on how you figure the cost.

My current build is at $64.00 for the complete lower.
But then I'm also using a bunch of take off parts from previous builds and abandoned customer parts. And a few bits from my parts bins since shutting the shop down.

The upper? Still gathering bits and pieces.
But its looking like its gonna run @$275 for the barrel, upper and bcg for what I want. I have the small pieces already.

We shall see how it turns out.

Pic to be added.