How quickly we forget. Troy will never get another dollar from me.Here's a Troy for $650. If you're needing to stay under $700, buy this and be done with it. A hell of a lot nicer rifle than anything mentioned here at your budget so far.
Troy Defense CQB SPC Carbine AR Type Rifle, 223/5.56, 16" Barrel, Keymod Handguard, New.
How quickly we forget. Troy will never get another dollar from me.
Would depend on whether the dad or the lad wanted to go with chrome lined barrels or not. I know a lot of companies are choosing Melonite/Nitriding to bring the cost down. I myself bought a pistol upper from PSA that was nitrided just to have a a cheap truck gun. There is just not enough info from the OP as to what the gun will be used for to help.