Which AR for a beginner?

A couple of good threads running around on this topic already, you might want to search for those.

BUT since you asked.. you're looking at a build more than likely. DelTon, STAG and a few others are going to be in your price range. You're looking at getting a stripped lower, a lower parts kit (trigger and the other pieces parts), buffer tube, buffer and spring, stock and a complete upper assembly.

This thread wandered a bit but there is a ton of good advise and vendor recommendations

http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42938


Another one that covers the build or buy quandary

http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36544&page=2

This is the guy that I trust when I'm buying parts and don't have time to price shop every part. Also a great deal on the STAG uppers and even a kit.

http://ar15sa.fatcow.com/store/page2.html

So to me, just for an entry level weapon, you can do it new for under $800. You might only have a few mags to start with which by the way MagPul is the best doing this right now, especially for the price:

http://www.44mag.com/searchprods.asp

STAG Kit from AR15Sales.com: $633
Spikes Tactical Lower: $138 (you can go lower priced, but Spikes has a great rep and some fun stuff etched on them)

That there will run you just under $800 and you'll get 1 USGI mag to start with. I can't recommend the MagPul PMags enough. Consider they cost less than most new mags from C-Products or even the way over priced HK and are a ton more durable. You won't have to worry about sights with that STAG kit, it comes with a flip up rear sight which most complete uppers don't.

Hope that helps

I am a n00b in the AR realm myself. I have wanted an AR since I was in 8th grade. I decided that I wanted to start my mid-life crisis a few years early, so early this year I started seriously planning my first AR rifle.

I had been lurking at AR15.com for on and off for a number of years prior, but finally registered and ramped up the frequency of my visits. As far as AR15.com goes, There is a lot of great info available there, but sometimes you do need to wade through some crud to get to it. Anyhoo, cruise that site for a while, and you'll pick up some good info.

Being n00b, I originally thought about purchasing a complete rifle. But the more I read about the AR, the more the vision of MY rifle took shape in my head. So instead of a complete rifle, I have decided to assemble one - not build, but assemble - by putting a complete lower together with a complete upper. That way I could order the upper exactly how I wanted it. And by doing that, the rifle is more or less set up the way I want it, and I don't have to order a new accessory every pay period for 8 months trying to complete my 'dream' setup.

Purchasing your rifle in parts also makes it easier to spread the cost around. So, $800 may be your limit for a complete rifle purchase, but if you spread that over 4 months or so by buying parts, perhaps you can maybe spend a little more on your setup. Money is always a concern of mine, so the complete lower + complete upper route has helped me manage the rifle budget.

Build from the ground up, assemble complete parts, or buy a complete rifle - either way, I'm sure you'll enjoy whatever you get. But realize that it is a disease. I haven't even completed my first AR project, and already I'm thinking ahead to my next one.