Talking myself into my first AR (223-5.56) for fun and maybe an upcoming Hog eradication hunt.
Are there any low end brands y'all would recommend I avoid? I thinking around $750 to $800 for a starter setup. I want something reliable and durable, that doesn't need $500 of add ons to be serviceable. Any ideas or opinions would be appreciated. Thanks!
Also ideas for good starter red dot type optics would be appreciated.

Dpms oracle
CMC trigger
Bushnell ar optics 1-4

Check out palmetto state armory. You can build a solid AR either from scratch/parts or with complete uppers and lowers they offer for 600-700.

Palmetto State Armory
$15 trigger and hammer springs
Vortex Strikefire red dot

No other info needed.

I purchased my first AR 2 weeks ago from Primary Arms. They ran a deal on a Troy Defense AR's for $550, normally this rifle list for $675-$700. Check Primary Arms web, they are always running deals.

I just picked up a PSA build kit for $399 and a lower for $49. Shoots great.

Get an entry level AR and spend money in training. Really opens your eyes

My first was a diamondback. Cheap furniture but overall I am happy with it honestly.

CDNN is runnng the Ruger AR556 for $499. Prices are going the right direction!

We have one and it has become one of my favorite firearms.

Grab a Gun in Coppell advertised the Ruger AR556 for $475 yesterday. That's approx. $500 out the door. You can order online and p.u. there and forgo the FFL fee and shipping. Solid little gun.

buy one from the classifieds. You will get a better gun if you dont pay retail.

You could be right but it's the first AR. He doesn't need a Frankenstein. I agree if there's a good and only slightly used rifle available. Hard to beat a Ruger at that price for the first one.

My choices would be Windham or Ruger.

I'll also suggest the Ruger AR556 at that price. I don't own one, but did shoot a buddy's quite a bit. I bought my first a little over a year ago and it was down to the Ruger and the S&W M&P Sport. Ended up with the Smith just because I got a better deal at the time. Like the Smith too, but would have been more than happy with either for my first AR.

OK Trenton figure it out and report back. There's no better time to get one than now. Supply and demand is way off but that could change now that the Holidays are over and some folks, not all, will be getting a tax refund. If you can pry that away from a spouse then it's "gun money". Add the craziness going on in Maryland now and that could start more buying in the rest of the US. If you're not sure what I am talking about just google Maryland assault rifle ban. The 4th circuit just pissed all over the Heller decision from the Supreme Court and now are apparently doing whatever they want.

Good luck

So I decided to go with a Diamondback ($559) from Arachnid firearms in Plano. Once I started looking around I couldn't get past the FDE color scheme. All the reviews I found on Diamondback ARs were positive.
I added a vortex strike fire red/green dot from optics planet -$179 no tax/ free shipping. A magpul front grip and some MFT magazines. Side note the Magpul FDE mags are almost white in color. I put the scope on and I was maybe an inch off at 50 yards, ready to roll. A ton of fun to shoot. I took it on my lease helicopter hunt and had a blast. Way more fun than using a 12 gauge.
Thanks y'all for all the ideas, opinions, and input. It helped a lot.

Nice rig neighbor.

Very nice I like my diamond back so far too

went through the same thing about 10 days ago ..weighed all options..i really didnt want a weapon that i was gonna play army with.wanted something that would put the hurt on some hogs...was thinking of the s&w sport..windham..looked everywhere..online local..did my due dilegence..had lots of help from a couple of guys on our deer lease..thanks justin and dustin..but finnally found a great deal on the dpms oracal 308..765$ i had already ordered the 6.5x20x50mm vortex viper to put on my 30-06..but decided to hang it on the 308 ar 10..man this was a wise choice..just came back from the deer lease..its a lot of fun..now i must preface this by saying the only thing i knew about ar's are from the 2 guys i mentioned above..but when i saw justins ar when he came back from a 250 yard shot on a 300lb hog..i was hooked..side note..i videod my first outing with it..i set up a target at 25 yards..and because i didnt know what to expect..its a right handed ar and i shoot left handed..i just knew i was gonna get a face full of hot brass..i set a bag of corn on back of the tailgate and prepared for the worse..i squezzed of a round click forgot to chamber a round..and acording to the video..i flinched like a sissy ..lol i put a round in it and boom! no kick..pleasantly surprised and the deflecter did its job..no brass in the face but blowback from the end of the barrell burned a hsix inch hole in the palstic bag the corn was in,,i had the barrell resting on the bag..instead of extending over the bag..lesson learned..lol..i was on paper..real low..but a solid group of 3 about a foot low..moved it out to 100 yards..group of 3 about 1 inch high 3 inches to the left..did my adjustments..bingo..1 inch high dead on windage..sweet shooting ar 10..very proud of my first ar..only drawback i can find..its heavy..i had no sling..i did walked the 400 acres with ar in tow looking for sheds..all free handed..what brand of sling do yall use on your ar? thanks guys for yalls help..that was fun..im hooked..fyi i was shooting 150 gr. remington core lokts fun fun..also i will never fully load the mag 19+1.. too temping to let rip..i shot 14 rounds..anothe negative..ammo is about double price as 556..but im hoping to only use it strictly for hogs..corelokt were 17.99 a box bought some cheap wally world brass fmj for 12 bucks