Home AR-15 Hop vs. James Cheap AR-15 Budget Build-Off PART 2

Hop vs. James Cheap AR-15 Budget Build-Off PART 2

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The long-awaited conclusion to the budget build faceoff: In this episode of TFBTV, @JamesReeves and @Hoplopfheil roast each other’s budget AR-15 from episode one. The boys have a $1,250 budget to build the best, cheapest, most complete AR-15 possible while staying under budget.

What’s the next build off going to be?

««« APPAREL AND GEAR IN THIS VIDEO »»»
• SIG Romeo + Juliet Red Dot/Magnifier Combo:
• Holosun 407:
• Primary Arms SLx 3X MicroPrism:
• Primary Arms Offset Mount:
• Blue Alpha Sling:
• Blue Force Vickers Sling:
• Cheap Magpul Furniture and Mags:
• Noveske H-Buffer:
• Cheap AR-15 Mags from Top Gun Supply:
• Cheap .223 Ammo from Ventura Munitions:
• Apparel: All TFBTV apparel is sponsored by 5.11 Tactical and you can get it at www.511tactical.com

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48 COMMENTS

  1. In my honest opinion, I feel that both James and Hop have an excessively high opinion of their abilities to build an economical self-defense MSR. There were some frilly accoutrements which both chose when G.I. or similar civilian parts would have done spendidly. Good video and thanks!

  2. Expo chrome lined bcg/barrel: $170
    Aimsports wraith handguard: $50
    Aero receiver set: $160
    Warhammer charging handle: $35
    Trinity force 15°grip: $15
    Rise armament trigger: $100
    LPK minus FCG: $20
    Buffer system and stock: $50
    Sig Romeo 7: $150
    6 pmags: $50

    Total: $800

    Yeah, I'd say $1250 was a bit excessive for "budget builds" that are already falling apart. Even if you were to include the price of the vice, vice block, armorer's wrench, wheeler punch set, and hour of labor plus brisket and a beer for lunch then I'm still under $1K with my setup.

  3. Btw James absolutely could have gone with an LPVO. Burris RT-6 with the chonky but functional Burris PEPR mount can be had for $370 from Cabelas. Way less than the prism magnifier + offset red dot setup he went with.

    That would have left plenty of spare $$ for a decent weapon light without going over budget.

    Heavier gun, though, to be sure.

  4. A jolly good nice entertaining interesting and informative video. Did Hop say "a BADAR" for James' rifle? Yeah I guess he was right to say the budget firearms are out of James' league.James is like a fish on the ground when it comes to budget firearms. However if you do not mind me asking : was that budget sufficient for any iron sights?Was it possible to include a bipod? If a person is on a budget what is wrong with an M16A4 why do you need lots of holes for optics and electronic devices one cannot afford?Is something wrong in buying uppers and lowers from the Ruger S&W Colt etc? A 7.5 inch barrel might not be legal but it would be much better for the CCW inside a shorts.Was it not possible to have a threaded barrel on a budget?Have a good one.

  5. I just got done building out a 16in upper and accessorized a lower for it, and I mismatched the furniture on purpose. I think the 50 shades of green is the new hotness

  6. The AR platform has played itself out, it has been developed as far as it can go. We need a rifle platform to come out that can take rifle design beyond where it is now. Even the new rifle the military has chosen is basic AR design. Front heavy, unbalanced, unable to be used one handed, a liability to an injured man. What is needed is a rifle that is adaptable, modular, simple to clean, fewer moving parts, idiot proof (sorry James you are a lawyer🤣), something that has zero recoil or near zero recoil but hits the target like a 30 06. This is the rifle we need in a cartridge weapon. That is before energy weapons are developed.

  7. At every job I've ever had, there is always a grumpy old man that just rips everything apart. He is usually really smart, one of the best at the company, and absolutely painful to work around. But it is fun to watch them go in on someone and just be generally unimpressed and crabby. Hop has reached this status at a very young age. Years later people will study how this happened.

  8. Fyi to those watching: Sig now has a Juliet 5 combo for 40 bucks more than the 3. The blurry dot has to do with the emitter placement in the Romeo MSR, not the magnifier itself.

  9. Is the Ruger MPR 18" 556 with Romeo n Juliet optics and a Odin Olight mini considered budget? I think my total is about $1500 after all said n done. Seems like a better option than these franks 😅 But I'm a noob

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