If you have to ask, you likely can't adequately inspect a used AR well enough, and I'd recommend buying new or building your own.
Lots of bubba'd AR's out there. Remember, they're like adult legos, and even if you're buying a "factory" built used AR, someone could have swapped out all of the expensive bits and pieces and put junk inside it, hoping to sell it to some fud that doesn't know any better. Or maybe the seller has done some awful dremel gun smithing on it. Are you willing to take their word for it that their rifle only shot 500 rounds? Did the seller really run 10 cases of ammo through it? Do you really know what to look for?
Only exception to this would be buying from someone that is extremely reputable on here, or if you can take a friend that knows what they're doing.
Dont necessarily trust buying on here, some of the ARs I've seen bubba'd up in the classifieds are sketchy, on a good day! Without causing yet ANOTHER AR builders feud, PARTS AIN'T PARTS!If I bought used, it would only be from someone on here. But its hard to beat some of these deals out here new. I just like the thought of getting the package deal with the ammo and accessories but will probably end up creating my own package deal in the end.
Dont necessarily trust buying on here, some of the ARs I've seen bubba'd up in the classifieds are sketchy, on a good day! Without causing yet ANOTHER AR builders feud, PARTS AIN'T PARTS!
The use would be primarily range but it would be utilized as home defense in conjunction with the mossberg 500a. Seen some great deals on used ones here with ammo which surprises me.
Just head over to Plainfield Shooting Supply and tell Bob what you want, he will fix you up. I took my Grandson there last week. Bob took good care of us and gave us as good a deal as I could find.
Dont necessarily trust buying on here, some of the ARs I've seen bubba'd up in the classifieds are sketchy, on a good day! Without causing yet ANOTHER AR builders feud, PARTS AIN'T PARTS!
Since you also want to use it for self defense, buying used is fine as long as you know the quality of the parts used in it and it has a proven history of reliability.
Seems to be the common theme. Thinking new is the sure way to go.
Ya got me there, they do come from mostly the same sources. The ones that are cheap, didn't make the MINIMUM spec to be sold to the good guys! But that doesn't matter, if you've only listened to half the song, keep on keepin' on. The gunsmithing forum needs more threads anyway!What? Didn't you know all parts come from the same couple of factories.
'off the shelf' will carry with it a warranty...especially if you are going for sub-$1000 iron...no matter how you are using it....that's a good thang.
I'd go with off the shelf.
Thats how I am feeling on it. I think warranty and comfort of having something built correctly is where I am leaning.