Major Woods

I got one when they first came out. I use it for plinking fun and intend to get the 6.5mm upper for deer in the future.
No complaints so far.

Nomercy448

I bought my second Bushmaster Varminter Special Stainless AR-15 about a year ago for $1,100. Bought my first one in college 8yrs ago for $900. Not much inflation...

The Remington R-25's I've seen are in the $1200-1400 range around here. Personally, I like the camo coat, but it's not worth $200-400 to me.

The Ruger SR-556's are fantastic, and the price tag is about $1400. If you were looking for a 4 rail, piston driven AR-15, the Ruger SR-556 is probably the cheapest, and best route to go. Buying a bushy then adding a 4 rail forend and a piston kit EASILY makes up the price difference.

fritz1

You got a hell of a deal! There is one in the local Thrifty Saver, its in Lewiston Id. Listed as a Bushmaster Varmiter Special with the 24" heavy stainless barrel, like mine, they want $1000 for it and its used!

DeerandbearhoG

funny how much has changed in a years time, last year I could hardly find enough parts to build one, now theyre everywhere again. I guess people decided they didnt want em as much as they thought. Personally I love mine, the only regret I have is that I dont have enough time to load for it and shoot it. Im planning on eventually building a really nice one someday from a colt upper/lower

fritz1

You get what you pay for!

fritz1

Where are you getting custom AR's for less than $1200???? Must be some real dandies! A factory Bushmaster Varmiter Special runs about $1400, a DPMS Prairie Panther is $1150, a Remington R-15 is $1000 and the R-25 is $1389, and if you want to spend money you can buy a POF Hunting rifle anywhere from $1999-$2599. How long ago did you buy these customs, and who makes them? Prices that I mentioned ARE current prices.

jeepkid

I did my own, it came in under $1100. CMMG lower, RRA parts w/NM trigger, hogue grip, prince50 kit (CA thing), winter trigger guard, and then a Bushy Varminter upper (the black fluted one, not stainless)...shoots as good as any other AR...

I see ZERO reasons to buy a complete AR these days...

fritz1

A little thing called resale value! When you go sell that it isnt going to be worth as much as a comparable rifle that is factory built versus one that has been thrown together inside someones garage with a conglomeration of various parts. The same applies to Harley motocycles, yes you can put one together cheaper than buying one, just buy a after market rolling chasis, and a motor and trans from someoneone like S&S, you will have a nice bike but it isnt a Harley Davidson and you will not get Harley prices for it.

You can build a Varmiter Special cheaper, and it will be a Bushmaster. Here is the costs, Complete Bushmaster lower - $345 Complete Bushmaster Varmiter Special Upper with the 24" match grade stainless barrel - $785. For a total of $1130, you save a whole $235. Now you have shipping costs and have to have the lower sent to a licensed firearms dealer, and they are going to charge you something for that. If your time and effort is worth nothing and you dont mind waiting to get it, go for it. Myself I will pay a tad more and go to the gunstore and buy one off the rack.

Nomercy448

I gotta agree with Fritz... Yes, jeep saved money on building the rifle for himself, but that rifle will forever be a "numbers not-matching" rifle, and was assembled by a no-name "gunsmith".

Around here, a NEW Bushy Varminter Special Stainless runs $1150. A LIKE NEW Bushy VSS runs $950. A LIKE NEW heavy barreled bushy-equivalent kit rifle runs about $500-700 (usually costs about $1000 to build one). So if I buy and sell a factory Bushy VSS, it costs me $200. If I build and sell a kit rifle, it actually costs me $300-500.

If you intend to keep the rifle for a LONG time and/or don't mind taking a pretty big hit on resale value, then yes, it's a way to save money. But the total cost of ownership for a kit rifle is usually HIGHER than the total cost of a factory rifle.

A 64 1/2 stang original Mustang in show room condition is worth a LOT more than a refurbished 64 1/2, and WAY more than a Kit-Kar 64 1/2.

DeerandbearhoG

Thats who I bought my lower parts kit and BCG from. I think its the same stuff(doublestar) DPMS, olympic, stag, etc. are using in their rifles.

Oh and a AR(assmbled @ home or "thrown together" is the same as a one youd buy complete in a store, the guns are completely modular, it doesnt matter who assembled it. Its no difference than buying an 870 in parts an assembling it.