Could someone point me in the right direction.. I shot a buddy's ar-15 today and now I have to have one I don't eat to spend a ton of $ on one just a starter ar
Shoud I build my own..?.. Or is there a cheap but good quality complete ar I could get

Nothing "AR" is cheap right now. If its available then it's priced 2-3 times higher than things that are out of stock. It looks like prices are coming down as stock is getting resupplied and empty shelves are filling back up. Cabelas are selling AR's between $850-$1200 which is your best bet for a "cheap" AR.

Just pick a town and start visiting gun shops. I have been in several over the last couple of weeks and seen new AR's for less than $1000. DPMS/Windham/Bushmaster.

No real need to pay someone $1400 for a $799 gun.. just be patient and do some legwork.

I think you should build your first AR15 regardless. There are so many options out there it really makes you think about what you really want your rifle to do for you and what it needs to have, and putting everything together forces you to grasp how the rifle functions and you will be able to diagnose and treat some problems that would likely stymie the uninitiated.

You can get everything you need at pre-craze prices (if you are really patient) with the possible exception of high capacity magazines and lower receivers.

This is really a terrible time to try to build or buy, but you do not have to pay $1800 for a DPMS oracle as everyone on Gunbroker seems to think.

I would probably be willing to pay $175 or so for a stripped lower if I could have it right away, otherwise I would be on every "notify me" list out there.

Keep in mind that we may see some restriction on magazines, but I seriously doubt that this combination of congress and executive has the steam to ban AR15s in general. I will be amazed if you can't build an AR from parts at normal prices and NORMAL AVAILABILITY in September.

If you want a nice AR for a cheap price and don't mind waiting a few months (and spending some money on gas) then go for a Windham Weaponry AR. They sell for $758 at Wal-Mart...but you have to have the planets align for you to be in the store when it goes on the shelf.

You have to realize that Windham is small compaired to the bigger guys like Sig or Colt. So, they are having a rough go at it trying to keep up with the demand at the moment.

Do not go with anything DPMS or any new Bushmaster product. New Bushy is not the quality that it was when they were originally manufactured by the founder of the company in Windham (remember that word from somewhere else? If you do then you can start putting two and two together as to whom may have opened "Windham Weaponry).

If you decide that you can't live without one right this minute, then try the classified section here at THF. There are a couple for sale for non-inflated prices...but they go fast if they are not inflated.

If you decide to go that route let me know because I happen to have a vintage Colt that I put in the classifieds yesterday for a non-inflated price.

Good luck to you either way...and welcome to the funniest obsession in the world.

AR Ownership.

you get what you pay for...get a good quality rifle backed by a lifetime warranty and dont look back

Buy an entry level like everyone says. A used one with a lot of bells and whistles is just somebody else's project. Go for a utility gun, then ad on from there. Less crap you have laying around that you took off. Imo, and I have five used ones.

Good advice above. I wouldn't build until you know what you want in the rifle and have become familiar with AR's. I have several, from a Bushmaster up to a Daniel Defense with a Larue on order (those take a long long time to get FYI). There's no need to get the most expensive one right off the bat but I also wouldn't get the cheapest either. Go with a reputable manufacturer, not one you have a hard time finding out about. Colt, Sig, S&W, Windham, Bushmaster are all good brands with AR's that can be had for $1000-$1500 with Windham and Bushmaster being less than $1000. With the market the way it is you'll have to shop around to find a good deal. I've had more luck buying from individuals in the last year or so. If you want a colt I've got a brand new in the box 6920mp-b in the classifieds for a normal price. You also have to decide, based on what your uses will be, the length and optics you're going to want. For example, If you want to use a red dot don't get one with a fixed carry handle.

Cabellas in Allen has quite a few right now. Even a colt and some Smith and Wessons. They have some really nice high end ones too but like others said you don't necessarily have to go that route yet

buy a flat top, they seem a little more versatile if you decide to add an optic down the road.

For an inexpensive, first AR, I would recommend the S&W M&P 15 Sport. It is a basic, no frills rifle and have come back down to normal prices. I am seeing them available on the net from $650 - $750. This is for a complete rifle, from a reputable manufacturer, with a lifetime warranty.

These are a little different from the "mil-spec" (I'll use that term loosely) rifle. They do not have the forward assist or the ejection port cover. If you have to ask what that is, then you don't need it, IMO. They also do not have a heat shield in the handguard, but most change the handguards out to Magpul or a rail anyway. And on the lower, the trigger guard is a one piece, integral trigger guard, vs. the standard pinned one that can be opened or changed. The one on the Sport is enlarged and has a similar profile to the Magpul winter trigger guard, so you can shoot while wearing gloves. The Sport also has a Melonite treated barrel, instead of chrome lining, and uses a semi auto bolt carrier instead of the full auto carrier.

The rifle is built to "mil-spec" dimensions, and you can swap any part out. Inexpensive starter gun to learn with and build on.

Try to look at a few more and try them out if possible.
At least shoulder them as they do feel different.

If you want to spray bullets and shoot 2" to 3" groups at 100 yards, any pencil barreled AR will do.
If you want to drive tacks and shoot pigs in the eye, look at an upper with a Bison, ARP or Wilson Combat barrel, they are accurate and around 200.00 for the barrel - as good as you can get unless you spend two or three times as much for just the barrel.

It's also not a sin to have a single lower and a couple of uppers - that way you can have multiple calibers or a spray gun upper and a tack driving upper.

Do your homework before you spend your money.
It's very easy to spend good money on a bad AR...

Over two days last week, Wednesday and Thursday, I was able to order a BCM lower and a 16" mid-legth BCM upper for pre-craziness prices. The upper was delivered yesterday, and I picked the lower up from my FFL yesterday, too. Handguards and rear BUIS ordered Thursday and arrived on Monday. This is a KISS rifle, but I'm sure that I'll add an Aimpoint pretty soon.

Hobby ARs are finding their way back to local gun shops, Cabela's, etc, but the Tier 1 ARs are also out there for just a little bit more money if you do some homework. The quality you'll see in setting your sights a little higher makes the slight cost increase more than worth it.

All good stuff. I wanted a Rock River Coyote, but didn't want to wait a year, so I bought a RR with a 16" barrel for 625 used with 20 rounds down the pipe and picked up a complete 20" Coyote upper at the FTW gun show for 600. I've bought used ones from Colt to DPMS and a complete Zombie lower. I have different uppers for different jobs. (all have forward assists and covers) None of mine are safe queens, I bought them to use, but they are well taken care of. Its a sickness, I tell you.