What's your budget?

[Preacherboy]

I frequently get people who contact me looking for a firearm. Usually newbies who are nervous to go into a gun store. So they call the pastor to help them. I also help people build AR's quite often.

Had a guy contact me this morning to build him a second AR...built him one last year when prices where much lower. He says he wants a rifle...I say now? (He should have done this months ago, but people are people).

I say go get a kit on PSA and I'll build you a rifle. He says...I also need 1,000 rounds of ammo, 5 mags, 2 slings, and 2 rear sight assemblies (his other rifle didn't have a sight, he said he was getting a scope which he never did apparently)...if you have those laying around.

Hahaha! In this climate? I drop the real question, the most important question whenever these discussions come up, "What is your budget?" Much to my surprise he gave me a realistic number...keep it under $2,000. Most people will say $800 to $1000 on everything which might have been possible last summer with steal case ammo and sales...but my guy today surprised me.

I got him 1,000 rounds of m855, 2 rear sights, 2 nice vtac padded slings, a PSA CHF kit, 5 mags, and I have a stripped lower for $1,900.

Had another guy last week want a Mossberg shockwave and 00 buck...no luck on the shockwave, but I have some buck. He says he wants 50 or 100 boxes!!!! That will cost you buddy. Usually no one wants to pay the going rate or my replacement cost. My man today pulled through...good for him!

[red442joe]

"A stripped lower for $1900"?!?!?
Dang that's steep!

Joe

[Preacherboy]

"A stripped lower for $1900"?!?!?
Dang that's steep!

Joe

1,000 rounds of ammo, 2 rear sights, 2 slings, PSA CHF kit, 5 mags, stripped lower and assembly of said components...came to $1,900. And yes, that is steep...but he should have bought the stuff last year. I guess no one knew covid was coming...election was though.

when I said "I have a stripped lower" what that meant was...he didn't have to order 1 or find 1; I'll sell him one of mine and it is included in the entire package.

[Scoop]

"A stripped lower for $1900"?!?!?
Dang that's steep!

Joe

I guess I should raise my prices a bit, huh?

[Garymac]

$1800 seemed kinda high to me but it's been quite a while since I bought or built any AR stuff. Just took a look at PSA and they don't have much in stock except for pistol length uppers which are fairly expensive.

Deltateamtactical has some complete lower kits for around $200 and uppers for around the same price. I've used some of their barrels, gas blocks/tubes, fore arms and other parts for cheap builds and never had a problem with any of them.

So if you know anyone looking to build cheap, they are the way to go.

[dirtmcgirt76239]

not judging either way, just curious, are you marking this up, charging, or is this some sort of gun pastor community service thing where people are church know you are a gun guy ?

[Preacherboy]

not judging either way, just curious, are you marking this up, charging, or is this some sort of gun pastor community service thing where people are church know you are a gun guy ?

I do try to help folks out, but I do make a little bit. I this guy it would be $50 to assemble the rifle...this guy didn't want to order the parts, said he would pay $50 extra if I ordered everything up front and he would pay me later. Taking a chance there...could get burned; but I'd end up with a rifle. Not the end of the world.

PSA- kit and 5 mags, shipping and taxes $855
Labor and lower (plus the extra $50) $150
Midway USA ammo and slings $700
AIM Surplus backup sights $220

Actually it equals $1925, so I'm giving him a good deal on it! Not really making much off of this. It is a friend of a friend who I'm trying to help out. I take lots of people to the store or I help them build an AR. I don't really make much money. I sell ammo to church people sometimes too and I probably end up loosing money. Oh well, I want them to have the means to defend themselves.

I posted this thread for 2 reasons...1. Prices are insane right now. 2. Budget is really important.

[Preacherboy]

$1800 seemed kinda high to me but it's been quite a while since I bought or built any AR stuff. Just took a look at PSA and they don't have much in stock except for pistol length uppers which are fairly expensive.

Deltateamtactical has some complete lower kits for around $200 and uppers for around the same price. I've used some of their barrels, gas blocks/tubes, fore arms and other parts for cheap builds and never had a problem with any of them.

So if you know anyone looking to build cheap, they are the way to go.

Yes, $1900 is kinda high. That's the cheapest I could get the stuff for and in the end I'm selling him a lower and putting it together for $75. It's not just the rifle, it's the ammo, slings and everything. At least he gave me a reasonable budget.

[matt11]

I do try to help folks out, but I do make a little bit. I this guy it would be $50 to assemble the rifle...this guy didn't want to order the parts, said he would pay $50 extra if I ordered everything up front and he would pay me later. Taking a chance there...could get burned; but I'd end up with a rifle. Not the end of the world.

PSA- kit and 5 mags, shipping and taxes $855
Labor and lower (plus the extra $50) $150
Midway USA ammo and slings $700
AIM Surplus backup sights $220

Actually it equals $1925, so I'm giving him a good deal on it! Not really making much off of this. It is a friend of a friend who I'm trying to help out. I take lots of people to the store or I help them build an AR. I don't really make much money. I sell ammo to church people sometimes too and I probably end up loosing money. Oh well, I want them to have the means to defend themselves.

I posted this thread for 2 reasons...1. Prices are insane right now. 2. Budget is really important.

Are you FFL ? do you get better prices?

[dirtmcgirt76239]

I do try to help folks out, but I do make a little bit. I this guy it would be $50 to assemble the rifle...this guy didn't want to order the parts, said he would pay $50 extra if I ordered everything up front and he would pay me later. Taking a chance there...could get burned; but I'd end up with a rifle. Not the end of the world.

PSA- kit and 5 mags, shipping and taxes $855
Labor and lower (plus the extra $50) $150
Midway USA ammo and slings $700
AIM Surplus backup sights $220

Actually it equals $1925, so I'm giving him a good deal on it! Not really making much off of this. It is a friend of a friend who I'm trying to help out. I take lots of people to the store or I help them build an AR. I don't really make much money. I sell ammo to church people sometimes too and I probably end up loosing money. Oh well, I want them to have the means to defend themselves.

I posted this thread for 2 reasons...1. Prices are insane right now. 2. Budget is really important.

Interesting. Get him to pre pay if he is getting your vast knowledge on what good vendors are, where to order, save on shipping, buy in bulk, you front the credit card etc. Get him to give you that 2k cash, you are a pastor, you are not leaving town.

I agree on budget, they have to sit down and add up every part, tax, shipping, transfer fee etc, I think people whether its car, remodeling their home, look up 3-4 parts say thats it, and leave the rest out. At least when other people do the work, that way they can psychologically minimize other people.

You should have a parts list, not brands. But just you need LPC, receiver, barrel, sling, sights, optic mounts, rails, sling, sling mounts, blah blah blah so they cannot in their mind leave off rail, muzzle device, trigger, sling and then be upset when all that adds up to a decent bill on its own.