I have $1,000.00 to spend on a .223 cal. AR style rifle. What's the best "BANG" for the buck?

Comparison Chart of major brands:

http://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=6642

If I was planning on using the rifle in 3-Gun competitions/ Duty weapon/ home defense, I would get a Bravo Company Machine Mid length or a LMT.

Varmint/Hunting - look at RRA, DPMS, Bushmaster, STAG

All AR 15 rifles are customizable. However, you need to consider the use of your intended rifle. Do you need a longer barrel, will you use the gun for hunting? Some states do not allow .223 to be used for large game, but many do. Will you be mounting a scope? Some have a picatinny rail that makes mounting any scope very easy. Triggers vary, but even the base trigger is quite good.

Right now, many AR rifles can be purchased for the 1g you quote. I would look on www.gunbroker.com to see the many types. I was on there last night and saw a demonstration model DPMS with a custom trigger for only about $650. Once you get the base gun, you can customize to your hearts content, albeit at a price. This is why you should consider what you want in advance of purchasing.

The price might be a bit higher, but you might also look at the new AR made by Ruger. It is gas piston driven with 3 different gas settings: off (each cartridge needs to be ejected manually) 2 - Soft ejection that will be easy on the gun but also best used with a clean gun or with good ammo. 3 - robust ejection intended for a very dirty gun under adverse conditions. (the last setting is doomsday mode in my opinion, where your gun has fallen in the water, sand, or mud, and you are being actively hunted by mutant hillbillies--lol). This gun is also a carbine, so it is very compact and could be used for home defense.

It is more like $1400

I build Match AR-15's.

Don't let that money burn a hole in your pocket. Too many guys run out and buy the first decent AR they find - then end up replacing 40% of it in accessories - leaving the 40% to sit in a closet or drawer totally useless. Even if you sell the 'take off' parts on ebay or ar15.com you will only get 10 or 20 cents on the dollar.

The #1 smart thing for you to buy is called a 'Service Match' rifle. This will be totally legal for NRA Highpower Rifle competition - something that is done in every state at local civilan and US Army ranges. It will have a nice crisp 4.5lb trigger, adjustable sights for 200 to 800 meters, and a 20" match barrel. Later on in life you can buy a new upper, or, have one made this is totally pimped out. Most folks thow a light weight carbine upper to round out their AR-15.

It is very hard to take a standard AR-15 and make it into a good usable service match rifle that shoots correctly at long distance and meets all the equuipment rules. Eiether the upper and lower don't fit right, the trigger is too light or too stiff, or the receiver won't accept a handle that is rules legal. You can spend more than the rifle cost to make it right - and - in the end you won't have much confidence in the gun. Although rifles and thier triggers are weighted and inspected at the begining of each match ......At the end of a match people always look over the class winners rifles - you don't want to get disqualified on a technicallity.

90% of AR owners are stuck blasting cans at 100 yards and that is the best that they can do. Kinda like owning a sports can only being able to use it in your driveway. With a service match rifle you can do monthly shoots - normally at 200 yards, 300 yards and 600 yards - twenty rounds or so at each distance. It is a real hoot to shoot at 600 yards open sights. With a service match rifle you can enter your states regional and state championships - teams always require a 'new shooter' so newbies are always welcome. This will put you into contact with the best shooters in your state and you will learn allot.

Hope this helps.

You are in luck because centerfire systems has a great deal on an M4 Style (Most popular) type of AR-15. It is a Double Star which is a great brand. It is only $750.

http://www.centerfiresystems.com/ARSTARCAR-A3.aspx

You may be able to get the Quality Parts Bushmaster for that money. I think they are best, though my lower assembly is a Colt's.

Bushmaster or DPMS both in a A3 (flat top w/removable carry handle) configuration.

colt would be your best bet they make the m4 and m16 which is the military ar15 so they know what they r doin