Friday's Thoughts and Other Stuff (The $75 Defensive Rifle)

Dear Preppers and Survivalists,

Sgt Jim Meek armed with a C7A1 assault rifle,
during Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) training  (ca 1996)
photograph by
LCpl. R. L. Kugler, Jr.

Previously
In the past, I have advocated for you and your family to purchase a SKS rifle because they are inexpensive, generally available, don't look like a typical defensive rifle, especially with the spike bayonet removed, and don't require expensive magazines.

Well, ...

History
Many decades ago, a SKS rifle could be purchased for $75, maybe $100, so it made financial sense for a family of four to purchase SKS rifles, until President George Herbert Walker Bush, Bush 41, banned the importation of certain semi-automatic rifles.

Fast forward a decade, the Democrats controlled the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the Presidency, so they implemented several gun-control measures, notably the Public Safety and Recreational Firearms Use Protection Act, in 1994.

Because of these gun-control measures and inflation, now a days, SKS rifles start at $350 and quickly increase from $450 to $900, per rifle.

Ouch, ...

Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, I know the more expensive rifles are so-called collector-type rifles from the former soviet union that should be avoided by preppers and their families.


Currently
I still stand by the suggestion for a family to purchase SKS rifles, but these United States has been in a worldwide armed conflict for the last 18 years, the sunsetting of the 1994 Federal Assault Weapons Ban, and a gun-control push by President Obama has increased the supply of inexpensive AR-15 style firearms and their standard capacity magazines.

So, ...

It might make financial sense for a family of four to purchase an AR-15 style rifle for everyone in the family, especially 'If' you and your family focus on, as Uncle from Say Uncle says, the Ford and Chevy of AR-15 rifles, such as the Bushmaster Patrolman's Carbine, Smith and Wesson M&P 15, the Ruger AR-556, but, these rifles are still in the $700 range.

Plus, you still have the cost of, at least, seven magazines.


Cheaper
If you are thinking about purchasing an AR-15-style rifle, I prefer the M4A3 Patrolman's Carbine, from Bushmaster, This rifle has a chrome-lined barrel and chamber, and it has the detachable carrying handle with attached sights. This means the rifle is ready to use because you don't have to purchase a separate sight.

With that said, ....

You and your family could build an AR-15 style rifle for about $75.


Receiver
To build your rifle, the first thing you are going to need is the lower receiver. This is the part that has the serial number, so you will need to buy it from a Federal Firearms Licensed dealer.

Now, ... This isn't exactly true.

As a citizen, you have the right to purchase from another citizen at a gunshow, from a newspaper advertisement, or a friend. This is known as a private purchase, but it has to be in person, no going through the mail or shipping the lower receiver directly to your home.

With that said, ... Most people will purchase their lower receiver from a local FFL dealer, like I did.

Aero Precision AR-15 Lower Receiver

The above receiver cost $75, plus taxes, for a total of $82.32, from a local gunstore. I could have purchased a less expensive receiver from Palmentto State Armory for $49.99 with a transfer fee of $30, for a total of $80, but I would have had to wait a few weeks because of shipping times.

Either way, ... Once you have your lower receiver, you can purchase all of your other parts directly from a retailer. No need for a FFL dealer to transfer the parts.


Lower Receiver Parts
The next items you are going to need are the lower receiver parts. These parts are the various springs, hammer, trigger, buffer, buffer tube, pistol grip, buttstock, and other assorted parts.

Now, ... You can order these parts individually or as a set, from various retailer such as Palmetto State Armory, Brownell's, or several others.

Palmetto State Armory Lower Receiver Parts Kit

For me, I decided to go with the above parts kit, with free shipping. It had the collapsible buttstock, pistol grip, and all of the other parts to complete a lower receiver.

O.K., ...

Once you have your lower receiver parts kit, you are ready to assemble the lower receiver.

Needless to say, ...

There are a bazillion videos showing you and your family how to assemble a lower receiver, such as ...

Link:
YouTube: nsz85 - Build Your AR-15 Lower Receiver!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1omm6jY7Gg

Brownell's - Assembling Lower Receiver
https://www.brownells.com/aspx/learn/learndetail.aspx?lid=11011

Full360: IraqVeteran888 - How To AR-15 Lower Receiver Build
https://www.full30.com/watch/MDEwOTc2/how-to-ar-15-lower-receiver-build


Of course, once you have your completed lower receiver, you need an upper receiver.


Upper Receiver
You have several choices for an upper receiver. You can buy it as separate parts, the actual receiver, barrel, bolt carrier group, charging handle, and several other parts, but you are going to need several tools.

Or, ...

You can purchase an almost complete pre-assembled upper receiver, ready to place on your lower receiver.

Me, ...

I want with an almost complete pre-assembled upper receiver

Palmetto State Armory M4 Freedom Upper Receiver

Needless to say, you can purchase these from several places, like Brownell's, Palmetto State Armory, and ... Many Others.

Heck, you can purchase a whole rifle, minus the lower receiver, from Sarco, Inc, ... as parts


But, ...
That's right. I told you; you could get a rifle for $75, and it's true.

Once you purchase your lower receiver, you just have to save you money. At $75 a week or a month to purchase these items, you will have a rifle ... for $75, and another $75, and another $75, and another ...


Lies
Needless to say, ... Some folks will say that I lied to you and your family. They will say that you can't get an M-16 series rifle for $75.

And, ...

They are wrong, very wrong.

Think about this scenario.

Soldiers are hungry, or they want to get drunk but have no money. What can they sell to you and your family?

Their uniforms? Na, they need them for the walk home.

Their tools? Everybody already has enough tools.

Their rifles? Of course, especially if it is stolen during a training exercise.

Needless to say, ... The lower receiver is the part with the serial number, so you buy their rifle, dump the government's lower receiver and build up an AR-15 with the parts on your lower receiver.


Lastly
There are a lot of dark clouds on the horizon for owning an AR-15, so buying a few lower receivers, now, will give you and your family an opportunity to build one when money isn't tight.

So, ...

Think about it, and get ready for the tough times ahead.