Home AR-15 A Practical AR-15 Build That Wont Break The Bank (My Philosophy)

A Practical AR-15 Build That Wont Break The Bank (My Philosophy)

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There is a big difference between “cheap” and “practical.” In this video I walk through a practical AR-15 build that wont break the bank – part by part, why i chose each item, how much I paid, and cheaper alternatives if you’re trying to shave costs.

This is about building a rifle that trains well, is reliable in the field, and gives you real world performance – not just a budget parts list for click.

Thank you guys for 5K SUBS! I honestly cant believe we got here so quick! Originally my goal was to hit that number by the end of OCT. THANK YOU!

Go follow my INSTA for daily training videos: @TheMormonMarauder

CHAPTERS
0:00 – INTRO
02:20 – My Approach
04:20 – Parts Breakdown
17:12 – Total Costs
19:47 – OUTRO: Training Thoughts

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33 COMMENTS

  1. If you’re looking for your first AR rifle, I recommend going with a complete rifle to ensure you get full warranty coverage directly from the manufacturer. Aim Surplus often has great deals on complete Sig AR rifles, which are known for their quality. Another solid choice is the IWI Zion-15, which typically sells for $800–$900 in 2025 and has received excellent reviews for reliability and performance. If you have around $2,000 to spend on a top-tier build that remains relatively affordable, the Geissele complete upper is hard to beat—just watch for sales. Geissele is known for some of the best build quality in the industry. Additionally, Sons of Liberty Gun Works (SOLGW) makes a very high-quality complete lower that features the A5 buffer system, offering improved recoil management thanks to its newer design improvements on the AR platform.

    This approach balances warranty, quality, and budget for a well-rounded first AR setup.

  3. LOL. Not a budget build AT ALL. You still haven't convinced me 95% of GunTubers (including yourself) and the people in the comments even understand the concept of a "budget rifle". $1k+ rifles. Bahahahahaa. You keep buying your $1k+ Gucci rifles. I'll keep building $400 rifles, that do the same thing, just as well… Too many kool-aid drinkers of complete bs in the AR world. The cheapest AR builds today are better quality than every single govt issued m16/m4 ever made.

  4. This is what people need. Train people. Geez

    Wars have been won with cheap gear. And in qwot a bunch of money was pumped in and I’m not sure how I feel about the outcome of that one. So be prepared, get what you can, train! Literally anything is better than nothing.

    Citizens need to be prepared. Don’t shame anyone for being prepared

  6. Im a firm believer in the idea that a guy should just go get a low cost PSA for his first rifle. Get some ammo and some mags, a cheap red dot and go train. Get 6our skills up, get to know the gun, and then figure out what your "ideal" rifle is. You can then be saving up for your "ideal" and still have a gun that you are getting hetter with. Once you finally get your ideal gun, take that cheap starter gun and squirrel it away somewhere as a backup. Every man needs two rifles.

  12. ****I Have Attempted to Post This 3 Times and it Keeps Getting Deleted Instantly. Will Try to Cut a Few Things Out To See If It Passes the autochecker***
    This is prolly gonna get lost in the sauce but if im looking to build or recommend a truly budget build I always go with the following:

    BCA Complete Upper – $230

    PSA Complete Lower as long as it says EPT its good to go as thats got their upgraded trig**r that in my opinion beats the newer BCM enhanced trig**rs – $150. (I have an old and new enhanced BCM, newer is junk compared to the old and the PSA EPT.)

    For sights either Irons or Red Dot – Magpul MBUS 3 – $75, Holosun ARO RD – $140

    Puts complete system with sighting solution to $455 for irons and $520 if you go with the red dot.

    UTG Super Slim T1 mount on Amazon is a dandy alternative to a UNITY for $25. I have it on this build of mine.

    Didnt post links as im unsure they will allow this comment to stay up if I did.

    I built this exact build with those irons but a Primary Arms cheap RD (the PA RD is more expensive and alot worse than the newer Holosun mentioned above, so its not recommended) for my wifes system and it runs flawlessly. Have 1 other guy ive recommended the build to and its ran flawless for around 1k rnds. Guy that originally told me about this build that local has recommended and built roughly 20 complete builds with this and they are all doing well.

    I by no means am saying this is equivalent to better parts as cheaper lower small parts wears 2 – 3 times quicker than quality ones, however many people arent willing to spend 3k-4k if they're hesitant to get into these so id rather they have something that works, stock up on high wear parts so they can readily replace them, or upgrade stuff over the years as opposed to not have one at all….

  13. My philosophy is getting the best bolt and bolt carrier group you can get some knights armament, SRC, bcm then get a nice upper+ barrel i went with lwrc then go mill spec on sale psa lower … nice lil primary arms, first focal plane LPVO a $4000 build for 1500-2k

  15. "Budget" setups:

    Complete Uppers:

    – Geissele Super Duty 16” Mod 1 FDE (when on sale, ~$999)

    – BCM MK2 Standard 16" 5.56 Mid Length Complete Upper Receiver Group w/ MCMR-15 ($864)

    – BCM MK2 BFH 16" 5.56 Mid Length Complete Upper Receiver Group w/ MCMR-13 ($915)

    – SOLGW L89 V2 16” upper ($900)

    – Sionics 16″ Premium Complete Upper ($1,000)

    – Argos Ordnance A115 R Complete Upper Forged 18” SPR ($1,050)

    – White Oak 16” SPR Complete Upper ($680)

    – Luth-AR Complete 16″ .223 Rem Bull Barrel AR Carbine Kit ($660)

    Complete Lowers:

    – PSA Complete lower with B5 Furniture ($220)

    – BCM Complete MK2 Lower Receiver Mod 3 Blem ($415)

    – SOLGW Semi Complete Lower ($160)

    – Aero Precision M4E1 Complete Lower (no stock) ($294)
    Red Dot/HWS:

    – Holosun AEMS Core Green Dot ($240)

    – Holosun AEMS Pro X2 Multi Reticle Red Dot ($400)

    – New Holosun Red dots with T1 footprint (SCRS, etc)

    – EoTech 518 HWS QD ($467)

    – Primary Arms MicroDot MD-21 GLx (# 810026) (T1/T2 footprint) ($220) (get a QD mount with T1/T2 footprint)

    – Primary Arms SLx 1x MicroPrism Green Gen2 ($260)

    – Sig Romeo5x Gen II ($150)

    – Sig Romeo 4T Pro ($560)

    – Trijicon MRO HD ($620)

  16. Good idea upgrading over time, sometimes you need to just get out there and start shooting. Some of the first things I'd upgrade would be the trigger to a LaRue MBT (wait for sales) for around $80 (or Geissele G2S for around $110) and if needed the BCG. My fav "budget" ambi CH is Breek Arms Warhammer Mod 2 Micro Latch for around $50. Here's my list of best bang for buck BCG":
    Best value phosphate/chrome lined BCG:

    – Microbest Phosphate+ BCG (has sprinco springs & OKS screws) ($92)

    – AO Precision Phosphate BCG ($85)

    – Toolcraft Phosphate BCG ($99)

    – Sionics Phosphate BCG (has sprinco springs & OKS screws) ($160)

    Best nitride BCG:

    – AO Precision Nitride BCG ($85)

    – Microbest Nitride+ BCG (has sprinco springs and OKS screws) ($110)

    – Toolcraft Nitride BCG with 158 bolt ($89)

    – Rubber City Armory M16 BCG (Alt Link) ($190)

    – Lantac Enhanced BCG Black Nitride (for accurized builds) ($202)

    Best all chrome:

    – Microbest Premium All Chrome BCG+ (has sprinco springs and OKS screws) ($120)

    Best DLC:

    – Microbest DLC BCG (has sprinco springs and OKS screws) ($145)

    Best NP3 BCG:
    – Sionics NP3 BCG with OKS Screws ($230)

  18. AR-15s are easily upgradable. I had " brd" bad and bought a Spikes Tactical m4LE, a Colt LE6940, a Daniels Defense M4v7and a BCM Haley Jack carbine- almost $6k in rifles; my 3 other favorite rifles? All PSA midlengths with FN " premium" barrels and a PSA freedom carbine – the " poverty " ar-15s I have keep pace with my expensive ones in terms of accuracy and as I don't run my guns into the ground, I dont see them falling apart anytime soon

  20. My current main rifle is a BLEM BCM upper that barely had a scratch and came with a free bolt carrier for like ~600, a PSA lower that was a daily deal at like ~150 with a vortex crossfire that was also a daily deal for like 120. Only thing I’ve changed was the stock for the same reason. All in all I think I have like ~1000 into it.

  22. This isn't cheaper but this is the best longevity to 1$ ratio i think you can get. Get an Anderson or palmetto lower complete at cheapest price available then buy a geissele 14.5 super duty upper. The upper is 1300 but will last most dudes their life time without parts breakage. Its more expensive up front but will likely save you money in the long run. Especially if we are talking a training rifle.

  23. Here's a few budget brands that workhorses:
    *Ruger
    *Smith and Wesson
    *IWI
    *PSA
    * Police trade-ins

    A few things to mention:

    Magpul polymer handguards protect your hands from better than m-lok handguards and attachments are easy.

    Choose companies that have a great warranty in case of repairs. Trust me, you'll need it.

    If you're patient, you can piece together a rifle for cheap with clearance and holiday sales.

    Take classes and chase excellence.
    Thanks again

  25. I just turned 17 and I really want to go get some reps in with a rifle and I want to own a rifle just for defense and whatnot (or just to own one just to spite the government) and I could afford a sorta nice rifle, I just can’t afford ammo. My plan right now is to buy a $600 gas blowback airsoft rifle that is a near perfect clone of my $1500 planned real steel build which costs and then I get get some good weapon manipulation training down for basically free when you compare ammo price to bbs

  27. "training rifle" it does not take long to get well versed in an ar15 with a risen dot. get yourself a 5x prism and canted dot (or just an lpvo but this is faster and redundant) and train for accuracy/time/distance.

  29. Wait?!?! So your saying my LMT/knights build with an atacr, acro piggyback, MawlC1, surefire can and light is not necessary!! It sits in the safe but because I own it i am basically an operator

  30. From what the I’ve learned on the internet, if you buy a BCG that is less than 100$ you will instantly transported to the jungles of ‘Nam in 68 where you’re cheap BCG wont last 10,000 rounds with all the mud and blood and it definitely wont survive the explosion that happens within 5ft from you. You will then regret your purchase. So, buy once cry once or something.

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