The Best AR 15 For Every Budget

From true budget builds to premium duty guns, this guide ranks AR 15 picks by price and purpose so you can buy once and shoot with confidence.

Why The AR 15 Wins: Choice At Every Price

AR stands for Armalite, but it might as well stand for America’s Rifle. Stoner’s design has become a favored rifle among civilian shooters for various reasons. It’s lightweight, it’s modular, it’s easy to shoot, and anyone can learn to shoot one fairly quickly. That makes it a good rifle, but what makes the AR-15 so popular with American gun owners? I think it’s because there is an option at every budget and price point out there.

You can purchase AR-15s at nearly every price point imaginable, from the cheaper, budget AR-15s to the expensive Gucci rifles that are packed with features. There is something for everyone, and everyone deserves to have the rifle they desire. With that in mind, we’ve tried to find the best AR-15s at every price point and for every budget out there. We want to maximize features for the money and really dig into the world of AR-15s.

So let’s dig in. We’ll start with our budget AR-15s and work our way up to the more Gucci models.

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PSA PA 15 Freedom Series – Best Budget AR 15 Starter

Palmetto State Armory has done an amazing thing for the gun world. They’ve produced ARs at varying price points and made the design so affordable that every home can afford an AR-15. They were a huge force in making ARs a common-use firearm. They still produce some of the best budget-friendly rifles on the market with the PSA 15 Freedom Series.

These are basic AR-15 rifles and carbines. They often feature varying furniture options, from the very standard polymer to the slightly fancier M-LOK MOE furniture. The MOE variant is perfect at its price point. It offers an M-LOK handguard and a Magpul backup sight alongside the FSB design. It’s ready right out of the box to hit the range.

The PA-15 series of rifles are a great spot to build toward your preferred rifle. They don’t come fancy, but you can very easily make them quite nice as you save and buy the parts and pieces you want. Personally, the MOE model is great out of the box, and I wouldn’t change a thing.

S&W M&P 15 Sport 2 – Mid Tier Value Workhorse

Mid Tier sounds a bit mean, but honestly, it’s tough to find a better and more accurate term. These are excellent rifles and will satisfy 99% of rifle users, and they can do that for an excellent price point. S&W is a huge company, so they can produce a quality rifle at a fair price point. The S&W M&P 15 series are basic but capable rifles.

The Sport series has always been an affordable option for shooters looking for an affordable rifle that’s well put together and backed by an outstanding warranty. These are very base-level carbines that do come with or without iron sights and with the option for Magpul MOE furniture. They are FSB rifles, for the most part, and all are optics-ready.

The M&P Sport 2 series excels in the basics. They have great quality control, are well made, and tend to provide a great base-level carbine for upgrades and customization. They won’t blow you away but will give you a capable rifle for home defense hunting or competition shooting.

Aero Precision M4E1 – Best Under 1,000 With Modern Features

If you want the best bang for your buck, it’s tough to beat Aero Precision. Aero Precision is a huge OEM manufacturer for several companies and knows a thing or two about the AR series of rifles. The E1 stands for enhanced, and they have used their updated and upgraded upper and lower receivers. These receivers offer numerous enhancements to provide a better-balanced rifle with a ton of modern features.

The upper uses a mid-length gas system which provides less recoil and wear when compared to a carbine gas system. The M4E1 uses an M-LOK handguard that free-floats your barrel. Some of the enhancements include a more rigid mounting system and a lowering of the number of components that put force on your barrel. This creates a true free-floating performance.

The lower features a flared magwell for quick reloads. It’s built into the magazine well and is integrated without issue. The M4E1 design also uses a tension screw to reduce slack between the upper and lower to create a tighter fit which, in theory, should lead to a more accurate rifle. The M4E1 is a very modern rifle with modern features, and it often comes in various colors with tons of furniture options. It is really beneficial.

BCM Recce 16 MCMR – Duty Ready Reliability

If you want a rifle that is duty-ready and well-made, durable enough for police work and even military operations, then BCM has you covered. BCM makes extremely nice rifles that are very well made with some of the highest levels of QC the industry has to offer. These rifles are extremely well-made, incredibly durable, and designed to last.

The BCM Recce 16 MCMR is a mouthful, but it’s a modern carbine variant of the famed AR platform. It has a 16-inch barrel, a modern M-LOK handguard, and BCM furniture. The Recce-16 is complete with tons of little functional upgrades, like the charging handle, the BCM compensator, the PNT trigger, and much more. My favorite is the beard-friendly BCM Gunfighter stock.

The Recce-16 is a rifle built by guys who tend to be picky about their rifles. Their reputation is unmatched. Add an optic, and you’re ready to go. This is a great choice for austere environments and for a rifle that will just last forever.

To be fair, it’s the SR-16 that is SOCOM-approved, but the NFA and Hughes Amendment have made it clear that we aren’t getting an actual SR-16 anytime soon. Knight’s Armament is the premier AR manufacturer on the market. They are a surprisingly small company compared to the big boys but continually pushes the AR platform forward. This includes working with Eugene Stoner himself before his death.

SR stands for Stoner Rifle. The SR-15 is one of the best AR-15s ever created. It’s extremely reliable and features the new E3 bolt design that is substantially more durable than the standard bolt. A proprietary gas system and barrel aid in making the rifle extremely reliable, durable, and easy to control. Ergonomically the rifle has ambidextrous controls, which not only sets up lefties but makes switching shoulders a breeze.

READ MORE: Upgrade Your AR: Meet The New Aero Precision Components

The SR-15 is also incredibly accurate. That proprietary barrel combines with a free-float handguard and a two-stage trigger with a 4.5-pound pull, making it easy to land shot after shot on target. The SR-15 is a premium rifle that wears a premium price point.

AR 15 Buying Guide Comparison Table

Pros And Cons At A Glance

• Pros: Clear picks by budget, easy upgrade paths, modern features highlighted, reliable options for defense and range.
• Cons: Premium models carry premium pricing, base rifles may need optics and small parts to shine.

An AR 15 For All

The AR-15 world is, without a doubt, massive. You could pick apart my selections daily and likely find an excellent option to fill each of these slots ten times over. To me, that’s a great thing. With that in mind, you’ve seen my categories and selections. Let me know which you prefer or which guns you think should be on the list.

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