Budget AR for 'yotes?

[wgg]

Look at Palmetto State Armory, they have reviews as well. I bought an upper and a lower from them and have been happy with it.

 

[troupe]

The AR is not hard to build at all. Spend the money on a decent barrel and trigger. Wilson barrels are used by many companies and renamed with the companies brand name. Larue sells a very good trigger for less than $90. You will want a Float tube(hand guard). You can go from $50 to $350 on a hand guard. I have used Anderson uppers and lowers for many years along with the pins and springs. Good barrel, hand guard that does not touch the barrel, and a good trigger. Furniture as you see fit. Don't get caught up in the hype with brand loyalty and one grip does better then the other. It is all personal on the grips, stocks, etc. Once you do a decent shooting 223 in the AR, you will not look back. Follow up shots are great. Also find a 20 rnd mag so it works better from the bench as well as in the field. Enjoy and good luck in finding the parts to build.

 

[afret]

Like others have mentioned, RRA.

https://www.pkfirearms.com/node/12508 RRA website states 1 MOA accuracy.

https://www.pkfirearms.com/node/12478 RRA states 3/4 MOA accuracy

 

[Jangle]

***UPDATE: 7/10/2020
Thanks for all the great advise guys.
I went with Rock River complete upper and complete lower. The upper is a factory stock flattop with a floating handguard ($310). The lower is RRage with a match grade trigger (not by Rock River) ($230).
Complete, with a Magpul 30 rd mag = $560.

I couldn't come close to that by buulding my own. No matter how or where I priced parts and tools, I was about $850, or more, to build my own.
By going with Rock River, I still have room for upgrades....like the barrel.
I mounted a Vortex Crossfire II 4-22X44 BDC on top.
Currently, with bulk ball 5.56 ammo, it is shooting 1.75" at 100 yards. I bet with handloads that it will settle in sub-MOA.
I think next I need to find a good bipod...

 

[yotehater]

That sounds like a good package you put together. Stack those yodel dogs high.

 

[Cemetery21]

Good prices too in today's market. Give that RR barrel a chance before using as a tomato stake. They can be very good.

 

[remy3424]

This past winter my cousin had AR10s in 243 Win (guessing they were DMPS, not sure), selling for $700, would have been perfect for your needs. I couldn't get myself to "pull the trigger", have 223, 20 Pract and 204 in AR platform, just not sure what I would have done with it. Great caliber for yote hunting and speed goats. Search that caliber, maybe someone still has some of those that they "bought right" in their inventory yet.

 

[Knifeman]

Get a Dtech upper!!!!! Ton of calibers and build your own. Above what you want to spend. BUY once CRY once.

 

[Vertigo]

Jangle, congrats on your first AR. Like bolt guns they can be addictive. Especially when it's so easy to swap uppers/mags to change cartridges.

I think you'll be happy with RRA. I've had 2 RRA uppers in the past and both shot well. I'm a big fan of their 2 stage Varmint and NM triggers too, have several in different ARs.

Out of curiosity, what barrel length/twist did you go with? Most bulk pack mil-spec ammo does 1.5moa or more so don't let that discourage you, these little rifles can shoot. Factory match loads will get you better groups and since you reload you can get the most out of it.

 

[Jangle]

Jangle, congrats on your first AR. Like bolt guns they can be addictive. Especially when it's so easy to swap uppers/mags to change cartridges.

I think you'll be happy with RRA. I've had 2 RRA uppers in the past and both shot well. I'm a big fan of their 2 stage Varmint and NM triggers too, have several in different ARs.

Out of curiosity, what barrel length/twist did you go with? Most bulk pack mil-spec ammo does 1.5moa or more so don't let that discourage you, these little rifles can shoot. Factory match loads will get you better groups and since you reload you can get the most out of it.

16"....1:8 twist....free-floating handguard (Mlock)

 

[Jangle]

After considerable tinkering at the reloading bench, I was able to dial in sub-MOA. Not by much though. The best I have been able to get is .85" (3 shot groups) @100 yards. And every once-in-awhile it will send a flyer out to 3.5".
Considering the initial cost, I don't view this as too shabby. Could it be better? Of course. But I think it will suffice for my needs. Might have to be a bit better with patience and call them in a little closure.....
Maybe, in the future, it will get a Geissele trigger and a better barrel????

 

[Siko12]

I have a Wilson Combat AR 15 chambered in 6.8spc. It is a high quality firearm for sure.

 

[bullseyeshtr]

If your going to drop the money on a Geissele which I have one in my RRA NM service rifle take a look at triggertech. I put a triggertech diamond in my lower for yotes. Easy to adjust the weight and now my favorite trigger for an AR.

Barrels is another topic. A lot of barrels for the AR will shoot good and haven't found a bad one even the cheap ones. I have a wilson, saturn, mccgowen, and a faxon. All shoot very well the wilson probably shoots the best of them all by a good margin. Buddy has a couple cheap uppers from cbc industries and they shoot around 1/2 moa. I think you may want to try a different bullet and it may shoot better. A better trigger doesn't hurt anything either.