Where you going with this?
Because I wouldn’t cross shop a rimfire .22LR with a centerfire .223?
.22 is a plinking or small varmint round.
Guns are like cars. You get what you pay for.
I personally am biased and HATE the M&P15 It’s a cheap made AR. AR prices are also through the roof right now and buying vs. building isn’t much of a difference currently.
I think you were right on to begin with talking about an AK variant. As far as JT saying it’s WW2 tech built at low cost he’s right. The AR is 1960’s tech and just a little better. lol
Prices are going up on all the “evil” rifles right now. within 6 months you won’t find many cheap ARs and parts are on back order for a lot of things as far as building. My price to sell a bare bones AR starts at 800. I won’t even talk to anyone for any less. It’s not worth my time.
The BEST bang for your buck is to go with a Sagia 7.62X39 and convert it down the road if you like. It’s not hard and I’ll even help you do it. Stock up on cheaper steel ammo NOW.
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And if anyone says they’re not accurate is talking out their ass. Is it going to compare to a free float bolt gun? NO. With quality ammo and a good shooter will it group tight at 100 yards? Absolutely.
U can buy cheap corrosive 7.62x39. but I wouldn’t shoot that through my ak. .223 .556 is cheaper in comparison. I have 2 different ar15 platform guns and 1 ak47. The ak is fun to shoot but both ar15s are extremely reliable and the over all quality and feel when shooting is worlds different.
Liking this response. Thanks man.
Now when you say, ‘convert it,’ what exactly are you getting at?
They come like this
You can convert it to this
AK47: M&M M10-762, Saiga, or arsenal.
AR-15: Too many choices, for entry the M&P sport 15 for $600, you can’t go wrong with.
Ammo
Ar-15 decent shit is around $320-350 per 1k for reloadable brass.
Ak-47, buy the cheapest, dirtest shit, $200-230 per 1k non-reloadable.
ak47 $.20/round
ar15 $.35/round
Freek pretty much nailed it.
When it comes to both the AR and the AK you get what you pay for. Saiga’s are about the best you can get for an AK, but at the end of the day it is still an AK. I am not a huge fan of the platform but they do fling lead fast in one general direction… 
Before going much further, OP what do you want to use the rifle for? Recommendations will follow after you answer.
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BTW NEVER EVER DO THIS
That gun is illegal as fuck with that mag being used in it. No 922r compliance no standard cap mags.
Built my AR platform bull barrel 6.5 Grendel almost a year ago to the day. Haven’t had time to send one round through it. If memory serves parts and pieces ran me around $750. Friend helped me assemble it and it’s not like building a gaming computer. I already have two .223’s, one AR platform and one bolt action so didn’t want another. 6.5 ammo isn’t the cheapest but I plan to use it as a hunting rifle when the time comes. By the time I have enough time to hunt, they’ll be using laser guns so I guess the rifle is moot.
I recently bought a S&W MP15ORC, I absolutely love it, very reliable i love everything about it. Great for short range with the EOTech. Perfect entry AR.
I plan on getting an Remington 700 next for long range but once you buy one you will get the bug. They are an absolute blast.
As stated, occasional range use and zombie defense. I can however see myself getting the bug…
EDIT, sent PM instead
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Also i would join or at least browse nyfirearms.com, alot more traffic than nyshooters. and even do some reading on ar15.com they have a ar and ak sections.
Stag rifles are a great off the shelf gun, the best value going right now is the Troy industries rifle that dicks has an exclusive on. They were 799 on Black firday and the reg price is 1099, you get a lot for your money with the troy rifles for sure. Either gun would be more than enough for the avg user.
I’m actually in the market for a cheap rifle that is cheap to shoot. I was thinking .22 Rifle, are they really boring to shoot? What’s the next step up on the cheap chooch scale? I need to be ready for zombies too
Cheap to shoot .22 get a 10/22 can even get pre ban mags for decent prices still. Or a S&W ar15/22 if you want that platform but I’m not a fan of smith and Weston.
I love the .22 caliber. You can shoot 500 per trip for $30 or less. I would most definitely hands down start with a .22 rifle and move up from there. You can work on your shooting and spend some time at the range. The most import thing about shooting is shooting. Spending time on the range. If you find it too costly you won’t do it. Plus a $200 or less Marlin model 60 can always be sold for little loss.
Nothing like shooting this at 100 yards.
$250
SKS
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=319985535
Can look like this…
So glad I don’t have silly ny laws here.
Meh, with the new obama AWB scares you might feel it soon enough.
Certainly hope not. Guess I’ll have to stock up on 30 Rd pmags soon
Im in the exact same boat as you paul.Im looking into getting a gun myself soon. For taking the broad to the range because she loves guns as much as I do, and for home defense/ zombie shitt. At my uncles one day over the summer I put 250 rounds thorugh a stock ak47 and then a modded rock river slidefire ar15 223. Both guns were awesome. The ar is fully built and awesome and accurate as hell. But the ak was powerful and just straight up bad ass. The rounds were bigger and cheaper than the ar as well as the gun itself. I love the look and feel of the ar15, how it shoots and how you can customize the fuck out of it. But the lower cost of the gun and rounds for a more bad ass powerful weapon makes more sense to go with a decent ak. Im totally torn and dont know what Id really love more. i obviously cant afford both lol.
I will not even consider a 22, yes they are cheap and accurate as hell and economical but in my eyes they are not much more than a high powered bb/ squirrel blaster.Id own one for a week and be bored with it.
Guns ive shot : 40cal taurus pistol, modded sks, Chinese shorty ak47, fully built rock river ar15 w/ slidefire , 9mm glock, mossberg home defense pistol grip 12 gauge with home defense rounds, mosin sniper rifle, 22 rifle.