New to this style of rifle. Looking at bushmaster, dpms, s&w in 223. Any advice on what specs I should be looking for. Any brand I should steer away from. My budget is biggest hinderence 600-800$. Used for target, hogs, etc. not really looking to build or rebuild. Just want something I can put a decent scope on and have fun with it. Thanks in advance. Nick.

I bought a S&W M&P Sport for $549. I was very pleased at how well it shot. I put a new trigger on it, a CMC 3 1/2 lb and that helped too. For the price you can't beat it. I wasn't expecting much but couldn't be happier.

Id say anything that doesn't have a plastic lower will due just fine.

I agree. Heck, I saw some today with a poly lower for $500 new, and I would be tempted to try one. You could buy one of those and a good trigger and be fine, I would think, for most applications. For as little as they cost, you could buy a metal lower later on and be ok.

Check Buds guns. Saw an Adam's arms rifle for $750 just now.

This X2. I wasn't expecting much more then a working rifle when I bought my wife one last year. I was thoroughly impressed. Having owned many higher end AR's this little cheap rifle was great. Had her shooting a full magazine into about a 2 inch group @ 100yds.

I just bought one of these to try. http://www.karrisguns.com/catalog/product/cdcd3cb4a5d94b00ba601202e845019c
Figured the price was right and a good platform for a truck gun. I picked it up yesterday and am pretty impressed. It came needing oil, not a problem, and a rather cheap buttstock but that's fine. The gun doesn't rattle, the figment of the upper and lower is as tight as I've ever seen. I shook this thing around for a while and couldn't get the usual rattle that AR's have. Whenever I decide on a scope I'll give a review on how well it shoots.

Where is the M&P sport 549? It's 699 at academy. Thanks

Checkout Palmetto State Armory. You can pick up a complete blemished lower and a complete blemished upper right one for $410.00 for both.

I'll second Palmetto state, I'm buying another upper from then today for $296 complete shipped to the house.

$549 for M&P Sport is a fantastic price! I found a local pawn shop that ordered me one for $611 and I thought that was a bargain.

At $410 that really is a deal! I've always received good stuff & service from Palmetto...

FWIW

Kentucky Gun Co has them on sale for $529. www.kygunco.com That was this AM. That is a great price for a very functional starter AR.

No tax and free shipping on that at Kentucky Gun Co. I've bought several firearms from them and each experience has been good.

Check sota arms. I've bought and sold nine of the 7.62x39 uppers. We all shoot nothing but brass ammo with zero problems. Plus you get double the fire power of a 223/5.56