The title says it all. What are the best low budget, factory built, off the shelf AR-15's? I'm talking around $600.
With everything thats's going on these days I find myself being asked pretty much daily which AR-15 to buy. I always go through my same routine of asking questions about what they want to do with it and how much they want to spend. Most never really know but still want to buy. I mention PSA and other manufacturers. I talk about how easy they are to build and how cheap it can be but most shy away quickly. I've even talked with guys who work with their hands daily in maintenance and HVAC and they aren't even interested in building one.
After all that I'm left with recommending rifles that I don't have any hands on experience with but I've read enough about to give the thumbs up. I'd like to change that. I plan to buy myself an off the shelf $600 or so AR and prove what I think I already know will be the case. I think there are some pretty decent budget AR's out there right now.
I know it is inevitable that this could turn into a "this maker is better" or "just spend a couple hundred more and get a Spikes/BCM or whatever" thread. Those statements are true but not the point I'd like to make. Most new buyers who aren't on this forum want a low budget rifle and unfortunately on here we rarely here about them.
So, what are they? Who has them and actually shoots them? That's the key. Many of us have AR's but not all of us make sure they're actually good to go and will run when we need them to.
Again, I'm looking at the $600 range. Factory built and off the shelf of a local shop.
A few I'd like to learn and hear ACTUAL real life INGO experience about:
S&W M&P Sport 1 and 2
Anderson Manufacturing
New Bushmasters
This has my vote:
AERO AC-15 Complete Rifle | Aero Precision
and we will have a dozen arrive Friday.