Looking to get a good entry level AR.
Just a basic flat top with open sights and scope rail.
Will be used for nothing in particular. Maybe killing varmits and pigs when opportunity presents itself.
Any suggestions?
I noticed academy had a Smith I believe for around 5 but doesn't have a forward assist or dust cover.
Also have a dpms for cheap but was told the lower was made of plastic of some sort.
I'm not opposed to buying second hand.

If I were spending my money; it would likely be this:

http://www.kygunco.com/ruger-ar-556-autoloading-rifle-556nato-161in-black-30-round-81700

Can you evaluate the reasons for beginners?

I just got a S&W M&P Sport- the AR without the forward assist and dust cover. I shot it for the first time Saturday and...I love it!

Iron sights- nothing fancy- but it is accurate and just plain fun. I wanted an AR for basically the same reasons you give.

My son who has a $1400 Rock River set up and my BIL who has a high dollar AR-10 set up were quite impressed (maybe even a bit jealous) with what I got for $610 before tax.

I did a lot of research and for MY purposes the M&P Sport is exactly what I wanted.

I will say that it did come down to a choice between the S&W Sport and the Ruger AR-556 and I picked the S&W.

Don't think you can go wrong with either one.

The price is right and Ruger has a reputation for producing quality firearms. It also includes a rear site; many manufacturers do not. The front sight is also "F" marked; meaning it is of the correct "mil-spec" height. It is also one of the few rifles in the price range with forward assist and dust cover; if those are important considerations.

The M&P line is also an excellent rifle. I happen to have the big brother in .308 with hundreds of flawless rounds fired.

In all my years carrying the old m16A1 I can't recall ever really using the forward assist except with blanks.
That being said I still want the forward assist and dust cover.
I'll look at the ruger this weekend.
Not really wanting a gun fighter/operator type at this point.
I guess everything new is M4 style now.
Wouldn't mind having a old school A1 or A2 but if I scope it ( which I will) the handle looks silly and ya gotta raise your head to see the optics. Or at least I did with the old starlight NV scope on the A1.

I liked the Ruger when I was looking a few months back. I did not like the front sight because it has the set pins on top of the barrel, it's not all that bad, but requires the use of a clamp on gas block of ever changed. Other than that, I liked it over the M&P sport which my wife has. The M&P has been flawless though

DPMS Oracle at Buds for $500.

I picked up a Delton Sport this past Saturday. I paid a good price for it at WebyShops in Arlington. I'm quite happy with it.

Yep. I have on old a2. No scope here.

I added an A2 handle because it's just right. Don't need a scope when the other works fine.

BUILD YOUR OWN from a kit or parts, much cheaper in the long run. Den-Ton makes good stuff.

Mine started life with a 20" barrel, A2 sight, and removable carry handle. Long barrels are out there; they're just not as common.

I have a 20. I like it because I can reach out there a LONG way. don't know the twist though.

Radical Firearms. They are having some awesome deals right now on some pretty nice quality guns, they are located in Houston but will ship. I have bought probably 5 or 6 from them.

http://www.radicalfirearms.com/

Ive never used the forward assist while shooting, but that dust cover sure comes in handy out here in the desert. Our desert doesn't look like the Sahara or anything, but if you are shooting close to the ground that damn sand finds a way to get into everything. I really notice when I shoot my bolt action 22. You can feel every little grit of sand when shooting with that.

I put a really nice Leupold scope on my Colt 6920 because I justfied buying it by telling myself it would be my varmint rifle. In hind sight, I wouldve saved all that money I put into my scope and mounts and just shot the Magpul sigths that came with the gun. They are great in the daylight and the they are right in line with my eye.

Forward assist, dustcover, and brass deflector are all on there for a reason.

Why do you need a forward assist and dust cover? I bought the M&P Sport from Kentucky Gun Co for $549 and it has performed flawlessly. I clean it on a regular basis just like I do with all my firearms. I have owned numerous semi-auto shotguns and none had a dust cover or forward assist. They have worked for me for 50+ years in various hunting conditions. It is why they call it the Sport. When you get down to it, eliminating them results in a cost savings. Use the money you save and put it towards a trigger. I'm sure you'll be pleased with whatever you get. The AR is a neat platform.

Brand is not as important in AR-15s as we would like to believe. Forged upper and lower receivers come from just a handful of manufactures, and are simply rebranded by the dozens of different companies that sell ARs. Most of the "entry level" guns are going to have very similar specs and parts.

I would just recommend purchasing a gun that you can get for a good deal from a reputable company. I wouldn't purchase anything with polymer receivers, and I would try to get a chrome lined barrel. For what you are looking to do, even a barrel that isn't chrome lined isn't the end of the world. The forward assist and dust cover really are not a big deal if you don't mind the look of a gun that doesn't have them. The brass deflector is important if you are a lefty.

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Those semi auto shotguns DO have a forward assist: it's referred to as a "bolt handle". Also, those don't shotguns don't have a very large carrier that is very close to the receiver. If you had a choice, would you WANT to put dirt and gunk in your action? The dustcover sure it's nice when your rifle is on a gun rack on the front of a four wheeler.
A DPMS with dustcover, etc. costs less than a slick side. Why would you want to pay more for less gun?

The biggest mistake I see people make is buy an entry level AR then go replace a bunch of the parts on it.
They are paying for everything twice and most do it for cosmetic reasons.

Don't sweat the brand. Mine is an Olympic arms with the sgw stop sign on the lower. By all accounts its supposed to be a pos. Never had a single issue with it. Every time I pull the trigger it goes bang.

The Ruger, DPMS, and S&W are all great options. I've heard good things about the Olympic like Bob has and Wyndham Weaponry as well (although I'm not sure they have a $500-$600 model).

Go with a Smith and don't look back, but I would get one with a forward assist and dust cover though. Have used them both many times.

At the entry level, I don't think you can beat it.

Trigger can be fixed for less than $10.