AR M4 recommendations for under $ 750

[MillCreek]

If you had up to $ 750 and wanted to walk into your LGS and get the best pre-built M4 for your money, what brand and model would you choose?  Just a stock model, nothing to assemble or build yourself, and no optics or electronic sights.

I am pondering this, and thought I would enlist the brain power of the Collective.

[Andiron]

Smith M&P

Going further afield from your original boundaries,  I picked up a barely used Colt 6920 last weekend for $700 on Armslist.  And those come with Magpul furniture and perfectly serviceable iron sights on em.  And that was the ask price.  Seriously,  the AR market is saturated,  shop a bit.  That $700 M&P is like 500-550 all day long on the secondary market.

[BlueStarLizzard]

*shrug* Probably another Bushmaster. I know some people have issues with them, but our two have been perfectly good for what we wanted.


edit: Scratch that. Wyndham.

[MillCreek]

The Springfield Saint looks interesting.  A bit more than $ 750, according to MSRP, but that is not a big deal.

[MechAg94]

I have seen sale prices on the S&W for $500.  Get it and buy some ammo and mags.

At the gun show in Houston weekend before last I saw Colt AR rifles for $700 to $900.  I saw $500 name brand AR rifles at that show also.

[RoadKingLarry]

I picked up a S&W M&P 15 Sport II Sunday for $579 + tax.
It comes with 1 P-mag and a magpul MBUS flip up rear sight.

https://www.smith-wesson.com/firearms/mp-15-sport-ii

S&W warranty is reported to be good to very good.

[Scout26]

Any of the major name brands.  It's really about what features you want.  Handguard styles, twist rates, barrel length, sights, etc.  And if you are planning on walking into your LGS with $750 in your hot little hands, you are going to get whatever they have on the shelf.

Or you can go to CDNN and check out their offerings.  But have an idea of what you want it to do.

[Grebnaws]

I'm not a serious AR user but my M&P Sport15 has been excellent. I was going to try the Ruger until I learned about the proprietary parts, all I wanted was a quality no frills AR platform and it delivers.

[Jamisjockey]

I've heard nothing but good things about the S&W.  
LGS can be a mixed bag of what they might carry that's going to fit the bill.
I'm not a fan of that most rifles in that range don't have a free float option.  They're all the fixed front sight post design.

[Ben]

I'm not a serious AR user but my M&P Sport15 has been excellent. I was going to try the Ruger until I learned about the proprietary parts, all I wanted was a quality no frills AR platform and it delivers.

I'm not a serious AR guy either, and currently don't have one, but right after my move out of CA, my plan is to celebrate and get the M&P in a carbine. Yes, I could get one now, but "featureless" in CA costs more than "Featured" in the rest of the country.

Since I'll likely only ever have one, I might toss out a couple hundred extra for this:

https://www.smith-wesson.com/firearms/mp-15-moe-sl-mid-magpul-spec-series-flat-dark-earth

It'll be nice to have something with a flash suppressor. The "CA compliant" muzzle brake on my M1A is ridiculously loud.

[T.O.M.]

I'm saving for the M&P Sport II myself.  Reviews are very good, it has the features I want (forward bolt assist, dust cover, barrel, Picatinny rail on the upper) and the furniture will serve me fine unless/until I want to change it out.  At my LGS, it's listed NIB for $637.  So, if I had your $750, I could get the rifle and a few PMags, and walk away pretty happy.

[MillCreek]

I should point out that I already have a pre-ban Colt SP-1 Sporter and a Ruger stainless Ranch, so I don't really need a new AR or .223, but maybe it is time to feed the inner mall ninja.

[Fly320s]

I should point out that I already have a pre-ban Colt SP-1 Sporter and a Ruger stainless Ranch,.

So, you do need an AR.  

A modern AR is a much better rifle than the two you have.  Since the prices are so low right now, you might as well buy one.  

[Boomhauer]

Easy, PSA. They are 10 minutes down the road from me

[MillCreek]

I was chatting about this with my neighbor, the gunsmith, who recommended a DPMS recon, but said that he could build something much better for me in that price range.  So I am going to see what he is thinking about.

[RevDisk]

These days for absolutely cheap but functional AR, I point to PSA. At least on the lower. If you have a good gunsmith buddy who is willing to do the assembly for cheap, might be worth considering.

[RoadKingLarry]

I was chatting about this with my neighbor, the gunsmith, who recommended a DPMS recon, but said that he could build something much better for me in that price range.  So I am going to see what he is thinking about.

What kind of factory warranty does he offer?

[tokugawa]

Better buy it quick- WA state just went full California yesterday. - the left now has both houses and the Governors office. 

[MillCreek]

I was just chatting with my neighbor, and he recommended using the 'AR-15 builder' tool on Brownell's to come up with a configuration that I want, and then he will recommend specific manufacturers and parts, get them via his FFL and build the rifle for me.  We were also talking about off-the-shelf models, and he mentioned that he is very impressed with the S&W M&P series, especially the Tactical and Sport series.