[buckhunter]

If you had $1200 and were looking to add AR's to your collection would you buy one Colt carbine AR15 or buy the parts from PSA to build 2 AR15's? If you choose to build the 2 AR's with the $1200 can you match the quality of the Colt minus the name? Please explain your answer, thank you for your feedback.

 

[TerragonSix]

If I had $1200 to spend, I'd do a Franken-AR, using the best parts I could afford to build, put a good piece of glass on top. Probably have some money left over for ammo as well.

 

[MagnumWill]

I think the title is misleading, just because it's a Colt doesn't mean you won't get a bad one. Build two palmetto's, hands down.

 

[Unobtanium]

Colt is good, but I prefer other brands for $1200...but let's not turn this into brand wars. I get your point.

When I was growing up, my parents had several cars. None were newer, none got great gas mileage, and only one if two had a working airconditioner. But, they were reasonably reliable and got us from A to B. Now that I'm an adult, my car has nav, ac, satellite radio, and pulls about 1g in the corners and accelerates decently. I prefer it, even if I don't have several of them to steal parts off of.

That's how I view this. You can only "drive" one at a time, and I want it to work perfectly. PSA and others usually get you from A to B pretty well, but are often overgassed, or maybe this or that isn't quite as squared away. Most likely, you won't wear any AR out. So...buy once, cry once, get one that has all the correct dimensions, torque values, etc. and be done with it.

 

[Glock19 RTF]

I like PSA but you aren't going to match the quality of a colt. A Colt is a better investment. $1200 is a little steep. They can be had OTD for $1100 around here if you look around. That said you still need ammo and mags. I look at my colt as an investment while I look at my PSA as expendable. If this is meant to be heirloom quality I'd get the Colt.

 

[SCPigpen]

Didn't Stalin say quantity had a quality of its own?

If you wait long enough prices may drop and you can get two quality guns under 1200$.

 

[buckhunter]

Didn't Stalin say quantity had a quality of its own?

If you wait long enough prices may drop and you can get two quality guns under 1200$.

Last year when things went nuts I told myself when things got back to normal I would start stocking up on some things here and there. Prices are pretty near where they were. All it will take is another shooting splashed all over the news and they'll start trying to push new laws and prices will jump again. Plus if they ever pass the new laws it seemed like what you have is what you'll have so I'd rather pick up a few things now then end up wishing I had.

 

[SCPigpen]

Last year when things went nuts I told myself when things got back to normal I would start stocking up on some things here and there. Prices are pretty near where they were. All it will take is another shooting splashed all over the news and they'll start trying to push new laws and prices will jump again. Plus if they ever pass the new laws it seemed like what you have is what you'll have so I'd rather pick up a few things now then end up wishing I had.

Good point.

 

[tsherry]

I'd build a couple from 80% complete lowers, from http://www.eparmory.com/ and probably Palmetto or Del-Ton parts kits, and keep them nice and paperless.

 

[ImbriD]

Considering I've build a few PSA's I'd say do the PSA rifles. Just stay away from their PTAC crap. You know it's bad when the people selling it tell you it's junk.

 

[Wild Bill H]

I'd do two builds even though I like Colt AR's.

One tip on parts: use a Colt extractor, they don't break like DPMS.

 

[ecocks]

I'd do two rather than one as long as they are solid. So many reasons: hook up with others, position a tactical backup at another window or door, deal with a malfunction, drop/lose/have one confiscated by superior forces, stock a cache,etc.

 

[H2OMAN]

Quality or Quantity?

.... Quality.

 

[Unobtanium]

A firearm is like a condom. You don't think a lot about it sometimes until you are counting on it. Would you rather have 1 Trojan, or 2 truckstop quarter-machine condoms?

 

[Inazone]

Whether you build your own or look for deals on complete guns, you can probably get two perfectly good ARs for the kind of money your talking, so I think you should consider whether your priority then becomes redundancy or expanded capability. For example, you could build/buy two virtually identical ARs, leaving one as-is (iron sights, 100% factory hardware) and modifying or accessorizing the second for hunting, CQB, etc. The second gun could always be "stripped down" back to the same condition as the first or vice versa. Whatever you chose, the core components would be interchangeable, plus you'd have the obvious abilities of sharing ammo, mags and parts. On the other hand, you could opt for two different calibers, losing the ability of sharing ammo, mags and some parts but having two purpose-built guns. Each caliber has its own strengths and weaknesses, so you could do "situational" builds. You would still have at least some shared parts if sticking with the AR platform.

I personally have made the investment in .223 ammo, but could convert to another caliber if so inclined, because of the nature of the AR platform. Although all my shooting is recreational and (unfortunately) infrequent, I do keep a couple of parts kits and a spare BCG, and could theoretically scavenge parts from two broken guns to piece together one working one. You could always mix and match uppers too, or maybe pick up a .22LR conversion kit if that suits your needs. So many options . . .

 

[old doc]

Didn't Stalin say quantity had a quality of its own?

If you wait long enough prices may drop and you can get two quality guns under 1200$.

Yep, they mentioned that yesterday on the Military Channel during a segment on the T-55, the most produced tank in the world.

 

[TinCanMan]

It depends on your personal circumstances.

I´ve built my first AR from parts and it runs like a champ. I would get the PSA´s and toroughly check them over for function.

All around, they´re good to go IF you are able to check them out once you get them. Like with most manufacturers, sometimes lemons make it out the door!


For the Price of a Colt, you can get one PSA with another one as a complete spare parts kit.... : (or loaner rifle)


Something to keep in mind though:

*I* would like to have at least 10 magazines for each and 500-1000rds emergency rounds that you don´t touch for each.

That single high Quality rifle or the 10 lower Quality rifles will help you absolutely nothing if you don´t have the means to feed them. Can´t stress that enough.

So that´s expenses you gotta keep in mind too.

If 1200 is your total Budget, i´d rather get one gun and spend the rest on mags, ammo, a good sling, red dot sight, spare parts!..... you get my drift!

If i was feeling like cheaping out, i would forego the RDS first because i´m comfortable with Irons.

Maybe a used Colt, that already comes with a few extra mags and good Irons or maybe even an RDS.

Or: PSA comlete lowers with BCM uppers. Not sure if your Budget would do, but the Upper all around is a lot more important for proper function!


For disclosure: my Franken AR is made out of Colt, DPMS and Aero Precision parts and it wears an older Aimpoint CompM2 which can be found for a good Price nowadays. As well as a very good Daniel Defense A1.5 fixed rear sight.

I also have one spare barrel (another Colt), a spare bolt carrier Group (for quickchange should the bolt go south), and spare kits for all pins and springs. I can almost build another rifle from the parts.

Keep in mind, it´s not solely for end of the world SHTF but also for the purpose that my kid can rebuild the gun 40 years down the road when he might not be able to buy a new one but is allowed to still have the one that´s been grandfathered in.

I´m comfortable with that. It´s not the newest stuff out there but it gets the Job done.


My advice is: read alot about AR´s preferably on AR15.com and make up your own mind on what will get the Job done for you.

Safe the 1200 for now and do a couple of weeks of Research, maybe add a couple more Dollars over this time. Don´t rush it. Then make an informed decision and a well rounded purchase including mags an ammo.

cheers, TCM


Post Scriptum: I am low speed, high drag (as opposed to a high speed low drag Operator), not bad with guns but i´m not the ultimate warfighter. So my guns gotta do. I´m also not a Pro-Racer, so while i would like to own a 600 horseower car and drive fast, i know i´m not THAT good. So it would be a waste. My 150 HP commuter does fine for me.

Buy your gear according to your means and experience, don´t go tooo overboard. You will get much more outta that Approach when it Comes to prepping and free up funds for other important things.

I´d rather have a 2 year food supply and a source of clean water then the XX gun. Then lay low and try not to be seen.

Take that from a gun nut with more then 20 guns. I love guns. But when it comes to prepping, they are but one imortant Piece of the puzzle.... important BUT still an afterthought at least if you have at least a minimum like a pistol (good to hide and Keep on all the time) and a rifle for the more serious stuff.

 

[buckhunter]

Appreciate all the responses, just to clarify I already have an AR with many, many magazines and ammo which I will continue to add to. So whether I would go with the one Colt or the two PSA builds, it would be in addition to what I already have.

 

[13Fox150]

I have a lot of experience with the Colt AR or more specifically the M4. While a Drill Sergeant I was also given the Arms Room as an additional duty. We fielded 88 brand new Colt M4's and during their first cycle of trainees I had to make repairs on 5 of them for things that stopped them from functioning. While the Colt name does help ensure resale value it doesn't necessarily ensure quality. If it were my money I would build the PSA's.

 

[Grevlin]

Appreciate all the responses, just to clarify I already have an AR with many, many magazines and ammo which I will continue to add to. So whether I would go with the one Colt or the two PSA builds, it would be in addition to what I already have.

Quality AND Quantity.

$1200 gets one good quality AR and a few goodies you need for it.


...then you have two solid rifles. A better quantity then 1. :

Just my opinion.