Does anybody have recommendations for the best local dealer for AR-15s? I'm not looking for anything fancy--just a "starter" AR. Price, selection, etc. are all factors, of course.

Thanks for your time and attention.

I bought a DPMS from Bill's a little over a year ago after a lot of thought and research into what I wanted. Currently, the best selection I have seen, and maybe the best prices are probably at the Gunstop in Hopkins.
J+S might be worth a look to see what the high end stuff looks like but they tend to be high priced and can come off a little aloof at times.
I looked a lot, researched [ar15.com is a great source!] and almost ordered it up before I found the one I got.

If I was starting over , I would likely buy from the Gunstop,even if I had to wait. Best prices,nicest people.

Old Dude! "Local" is all relative!

In my part of the tundra, in the Fergus Falls-Fargo-Moorhead area, there are few dealers. Scheels does not stock (nor will they order) those evil rifles; telling me that "we are a family store you know." Gander Mountain in Fargo also does not stock the guns (and I am not sure if they would order them.)

Sportsmans Warehouse in Fargo does stock them, but their inventory is spotty. When I was there last week they had some Armalite models, but no other brand at that moment in time. I assume they would order for you.

Maple Creek Sports in West Fargo has a nice selection. I called and e-mailed a few questions on Monday (it is now Thursday) and never got an answer, so they have no apparent interest in me as a customer.

Then, there is Gallery of Guns (Davidsons). For my part of the State they are a great resource using their gun locator device.

I looked at a Bushmaster model that I was thinking of buying (E2S A3 M4 Type Carbine, msrp $1230), and the GalleryOfGuns locator price was $960 out the door (i.e., after tax, shipping etc.) and from a local dealer in Detroit Lakes.

Now, I am sure had I looked at other places, perhaps in the Metro area, I would have had a better price...but, that is a 400+ mile round trip, and that adds up too; and in Fargo it is a 100 mile trip even if they had the gun in stock.

So, I bit the proverbial bullet and ordered through the GoG site and it will be delivered today I think (well, FedEx tracking shows it in Grand Forks)...that is a 2 day delivery.

Now, of course I have buyer's remorse! I just hate parting with $$. This better be a fun gun or it will be for sale next week!

H&H Sport Shop
Highway 55 Box 363
Maple Lake, MN 55358

Phone: 320-963-3818

Nice people, Bushmaster retailer. Price was competitive with prices listed at http://www.impactguns.com/store/

Basically I found the one I wanted at Impact, drove to H&H, asked if they would act as the FFL for the transfer from impact, and they let me know they are a Bushmaster dealer and could probably meet or beat the price.

Mostly-

They work great for dandelion removal! Much more enjoyable and nature friendly then some chemicals!

Mostly-

Dan White of Whitetail Firearms in Monticello will give some pretty decent deals on ARs. He has to order them, but I've found he's pretty decent on his prices. And in second place is Ralph's Gun & Pawn in Ramsey. He will give pretty decent prices, too. Not quite as low as Dan, but close.

Dan White
Whitetail Firearms
Monticello, MN 55362
email: Click here to email me
phone: 763-295-5601 evenings
cellular: 763-295-5750 Days

I don't have access to the other guy's info right now, but he's in Ramsey on Hwy 10, north side, right after you get to Ramsey from the cities or right before you leave Ramsey going TO the cities

Try Oak Grove Arms.
They're some good guys, and seem to know a lot about AR's.
http://www.oakgrovearms.com/home.html
763.434.2677

Call them first. They're a tiny shop, and I think there are only a couple of guys running the place; so they're not always open when you might expect them to be.

So no one gets confused, the GunStop is in Minnetonka.

There is construction on Excelsior Blvd at 494, so prepare to detour if you are headed there.

The GunStop is also a little off from where mapquest is going to tell you it is. It's actually ina strip mall perpendicular to the road where the map shows its address. Also, the sign is just GS and small. Once you find it though, you're in for a nice stop. Small shop but a LOT of different stuff and the guys seem very knowledgable.

Actually, I've been to GunStop. Missed it and had to backtrack. It is sure one of the more unlikely places to expect to find such a place. Funky with about everything you'd ever expect to find in the way or reloading equipment/supplies in the front and the guns in the rear.

Have you considered building/assembling your own AR?

It’s a project that I’ve been kicking around for the past couple days and my initial research seems to indicate that it’s fairly easy and fairly inexpensive.

It looks like you can get a stripped lower from Bushmaster for $195 (plus shipping to your local FFL) (http://www.bushmaster.com/shopping/lowers/9349102-s.asp) and the rest of the parts (lower parts, upper, barrel, etc.) as a kit for $465 from Del-Ton (http://www.del-ton.com/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=80). Some basic hand tools, a small degree of mechanical knowledge (the ability to read an Army or Marine Tech Manual) and about 4 hours – voila, a new AR for about $660 plus shipping.

I’m looking at getting an 80% receiver from DSA (http://www.dsarms.com/item-detail.cfm?I ... rgings.gif) for $24, the drill bits, taps, etc. from KT (http://www.ktordnance.com/kto/order.php) for $90, and the A3 kit with the YMH 4 rail hand guard Del-Ton (http://www.del-ton.com/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=80) for $553. So mine should cost about $667 and take more work to finish the lower, but no FFL involved and I get to put my own name and serial number on it.

I’ll probably also buy a receiver block from CNC http://www.cncgunsmithing.com/tooling.html for $89.95 and see if I can con the wife into letting me get a cheap drill press (I think a mill is out of the question).

Here’s a couple good write-ups on how to build your own: http://www.riflewarrior.com/building_th ... i_tool.htm (the link to Kristi Tools in the article is bad – this is the correct link www.ktordnance.com) and http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=4&t=210572.

Of course this isn’t a project for many people, but it seems kind of fun to me.

HUGE DISCLAIMER… I have not done this (yet) and I only have a couple hours of internet based research into the project – I could be missing a critical and/or expensive part of the process. I also haven’t finished the “legal” BATFE research.

Going this route will cost you more in the long run than just buying one.

There are some things that you forgot - you have to finish the receiver - if you dick up a hole on a Drill Press - well you are screwed - you have to do a lot of finishing work that the normal every day joe really should not try to do. There are a lot of tools required to do a good job that you will have to buy.

There are some holes on that thing that are impossible to drill. My froned is an 07 and he will not even try to build one ad trust me - he KNOWS how to build an AR.

You can buy a finished forged lower from DPMS for like $100 - building one is a good way to go - but it will cost you more in the long run going down the 80% road than the 100% Road even with the FET and 4473....

You are many $$$$$$$$$$$ ahead buying a finished gun.

Another thing

Once you build one - and you can build one a year wihtout engaging int he trade - you put your name on it - it is yours for life. ANd that is about it.

There is finishing that is another $100 or so bucks for hardcoat annoizing per MIL-STD

There is the cost of the tools (that you can use once a year)

There is the fact that if you make a mistake - you buy another overpriced unfinished receiver.

Sure it all sounds easy - very easy - but there is a lot to it. The tools and gauges that you will need - a wrench - action block - vice (parrallel jaws are recommended.) Engraving, finishing, etc....

Cheaper to buy one that is already done to 100% about 1/3 the cost in $$$$ and about 1/10 th the cost in labor and frustration.

Not to hijack the thread but....

I'm still working on my research regarding building an 80% AR.

Pinnacle - you should contact BATFE regarding the one per year and owning it for life comments. I spoke with them today and got slightly different info. The investigator didn't want me to post a quote as it wasn't a legal opinion, so you'll have to make the call. If a manufacture makes less than 50 firearms per year, they are excempt from the FAET - so that's a place to start. Also, a lot of it has to do with manufacturing with the intent to sell - and as I am maufacturing for my own use and don't intend to sell there should be no problem, but I still retain the right to sell at some later date. The downside is that I have the burden of proof.

That said, I'm doing this more for the fun of it than to save a ton of money. However, I'd bet that I can pull it off for less than $1000 and with little or no frustration (my actual numbers are running about $850 including the bits and receiver block). This is significantly less than your estimate of 3 times the cost of a new AR. So if you want to put some of your toys on the line (I think I saw a thread about a surefire that you got as a demo), we should be able to work out a small, friendly wager.

I figure that I'll wind up making 2 or 3 AR's - different configs, learning and trying new stuff, so I'll amaterize the tool cost over a couple of builds.

You're abosolutly correct about the finish. But I'm not making a MIL SPEC combat rifle and the environmental conditions in my closet and the range are a little less hash than what I exposed my M-16 and M-4 to, so I won't need the hardcoat.

If I make a mistake on the 80% lower... I'll just spend another $24 and order a new one (in fact, I'll prob buy a couple right away so that I don't have to wait impatiently for the UPS guy).

Again, I'm not Uncle Bernie with an 07 bulding top-notch combat worthly rifles, I'm just looking to have some fun with a little project in the garage making a neat little toy. Another part of this is that I'll be able to say that "I made this AR", and that's kind of cool.

If this turns into a huge pain, I'll have some scrap metal and a box of parts - but I'll still have a funny story and a new experience.

If you want, I'll let you know when the parts show up, and you can stop by the house, drink an adult beverage, smoke a cigar and make fun of me while I try to pull this off. I'm figure that Andrew will swing by - he's always good for a couple of smart comments.

Good luck to you.

I am not making fun of you - I would encourage you to try to build something for yourself. You had better be cautious of anythin gthat the ATF TELLS you - better look up the laws....



Let me know how it all turns out. I am cheering for ya - I really am....