Custom AR 15 Pricing

[ClayCow]

Hey guys. Don't mean to be a thread whore, but I may be trading a gun for my computer. Wondering if you guys could help me get a rough estimate.

Here is what I know

Billet lower, spikes tactical trigger, spikes lower parts kit, spikes upper parts kit, magpul moe handguard, magpul moe buttstock, dpms 1/8 twist chrome moly barrel and upper receiver with a nikon 3-90x40 scope.

What would you guys roughly price this at?

 

[ClayCow]

Spikes tactical upper parts kit

Around 75 for all upper parts once ordered.


Spikes tactical Lower parts kit

$74.99

Dpms 1/8 twist chrome barrel 5.56

$175

Magpul fore grip

$29

Magpul handguard

$49

Nikon scope, monarch 3 or 5, can't remember but will look once home

Paid $299, not sure what they are now,


Cabelas gun bag

$79

Lower receiver billet moaon labe 

$160

Upper receiver

$100

Muzzle break

$39


Bolt carrier group

$129 can't remember what brand it was, got it on sale


Gas tube 

$24

Charging handle

$39

-----------------

Total $1273 round about

Other than the scope and magpul which is now cheaper, are the prices he mentioned about what they should be?

 

[MrG5122]

Confused. Do you own it and trading it for a computer or the other way around?

 

[ClayCow]

I own the computer. He gave me a list of what he thinks he paid back when he built it.

 

[cbvanb]

Those prices look about right, other than the charging handle and gas tube, which are high. There are other factors to consider however. If he thinks all his parts are worth what he paid for them, now installed on a used rifle, I think he's mistaken. In my neck of the woods, AR15 buyers fall into two catagories: Those who will buy a parts, or home built gun, and those who run away from "Frankenguns".
Most fall into the second category. If this guy built the thing you need to satisfy yourself that he knew what he was doing. It's kind of hard to screw up an AR15 assembly, but it has been done. Also, there is a huge glut of AR15 related parts available these days, and coupled with the Holidays, a lot of stuff is available at a bargain for the time being. I would spend a few days researching what it would cost to either build one yourself, or buy one already built. You'd be surprised at how inexpensive an AR15 can be.

 

[JJEH]

The foregrip is mounted wrong. Plus for that price I would stay away from home built projects, even though the owner might be experienced. There's just too many options available for factory guns with lifetime warranty and such. But that's just me.

 

[speedyquad]

pm sent..take it for what it is worth...some of his parts may be better than what i listed, or they just may be higher priced.

 

[MrG5122]

To me the value in "custom" building an AR is the fact that it's set up exactly like I want it. The chance of finding a buyer with exactly my tastes or needs is extremely slim so the value for someone else is not there.

Unless this rifle is set up as you would build it you may as well build one yourself.

One piece of advice is that if you do a build, buy a well known name brand lower. Whatever you pay extra for it you'll get back if you trade/sell it.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

It's a buyers market for ARs. The billet lower is of extra value, but most everything else can be found on fire sale these days.
I would not pay more than 50 cents on the dollar for what's listed used.

 

[ClayCow]

The foregrip is mounted wrong. Plus for that price I would stay away from home built projects, even though the owner might be experienced. There's just too many options available for factory guns with lifetime warranty and such. But that's just me.

Haha. I thought the foregrip was installed wrong. Haha if that's installed wrong it's kind of a bad signal.

To me the value in "custom" building an AR is the fact that it's set up exactly like I want it. The chance of finding a buyer with exactly my tastes or needs is extremely slim so the value for someone else is not there.

Unless this rifle is set up as you would build it you may as well build one yourself.

Yup. My computer is also highly customized too and I'm having trouble selling it also. I literally have a computer built for high end gaming or video editing which I Netflix and browse on.

I'm not too picky on parts and customization as at this point I just want to get rid of this computer since it depreciates everyday and a gun isn't something I wouldn't mind adding to my collection.

About what percentage should we ding for being used and customized. Would 10% be fair once I get actual prices? I know the scope already is 143 in amazon and the magpul is maybe 30 in parts.

 

[ClayCow]

Those prices look about right, other than the charging handle and gas tube, which are high. There are other factors to consider however. If he thinks all his parts are worth what he paid for them, now installed on a used rifle, I think he's mistaken. In my neck of the woods, AR15 buyers fall into two catagories: Those who will buy a parts, or home built gun, and those who run away from "Frankenguns".
Most fall into the second category. If this guy built the thing you need to satisfy yourself that he knew what he was doing. It's kind of hard to screw up an AR15 assembly, but it has been done. Also, there is a huge glut of AR15 related parts available these days, and coupled with the Holidays, a lot of stuff is available at a bargain for the time being. I would spend a few days researching what it would cost to either build one yourself, or buy one already built. You'd be surprised at how inexpensive an AR15 can be.

Yup he understands that it won't be worth it now. But he is willing to throw in ammo to make it right, I can't be high and righteous when I ding him for prices as I want this sale and mine is highly customized too. Thanks for the note on Frankenguns, I guess if I ever end up selling anything, this is one I'd keep.

 

[MrG5122]

If you have a $1200 dollar computer you can't move and he has a $1200 rifle he can't move it might be a good swap. Just don't expect to flip it for anything close to that.

 

[ClayCow]

Actually I have more of a 2300ish value computer I've been trying to sell that I've knocked down to 1650 because it's so customized. He has a probably 900ish ar that he is trying to throw in more ammo for to make it even. That's a lot of ammo he would have to add and I'm not sure he either has that much or willing to part with that much. He has acknowledged that his rifle may not be worth as much as he paid.

The wrong placement of the foregrip does worry me a little bit.

Sorry you did provide have great advice and I greatly thank you for it, just providing a clearer picture.

 

[JJEH]

Actually I have more of a 2300ish value computer...

Ain't there a website where you computer geeks get together?

Just take cash for it and buy a firearm to your liking.

 

[Arik]

$1200 for a Spikes mut [emoji33]

 

[WR Moore]

I'll bet money the barrel isn't chrome lined. That makes it a $35 tomato stake. DPMS used to brag about not plating bores because it "degrades accuracy".

The Monarch scope may be decent. I don't see $600 in the rest.

 

[Arik]

Chrome isn't really relevant unless you shoot A LOT of corrosive ammo. And none chrome does tend to increase accuracy

 

[ClayCow]

Ain't there a website where you computer geeks get together?

Just take cash for it and buy a firearm to your liking.

No idea what that website is, I can't sell it for cash because no one wants to buy it! And when I state prices for my computer I'm not one to over inflate. I just don't have the market here, that and like ARs, people want to customize their own

I'll bet money the barrel isn't chrome lined. That makes it a $35 tomato stake. DPMS used to brag about not plating bores because it "degrades accuracy".

The Monarch scope may be decent. I don't see $600 in the rest.

No monarch scope, just the Nikon mentioned

 

[Rastoff]

Actually I have more of a 2300ish value computer I've been trying to sell that I've knocked down to 1650 because it's so customized. He has a probably 900ish ar that he is trying to throw in more ammo for to make it even. That's a lot of ammo he would have to add and I'm not sure he either has that much or willing to part with that much.

You two are extremely far apart if you're trying to get equal value. I can buy 1,000 rounds of decent .223 ammo for $315 and 1,000 rounds of good ammo for $400 shipped to my door. So, does he have 2K rounds of ammo?

Further, you can buy a full up rifle, with the same ability, from Spikes for about $900. The fore grip being on backwards makes me question his ability to assemble the rest of the gun.

So, unless you really want this gun, don't do the trade. Honestly, I think you'd be better off selling the computer for $1,400 and buying your own gun, made to your specs, from Spikes.

 

[ClayCow]

You two are extremely far apart if you're trying to get equal value. I can buy 1,000 rounds of decent .223 ammo for $315 and 1,000 rounds of good ammo for $400 shipped to my door. So, does he have 2K rounds of ammo?

Further, you can buy a full up rifle, with the same ability, from Spikes for about $900. The fore grip being on backwards makes me question his ability to assemble the rest of the gun.

So, unless you really want this gun, don't do the trade. Honestly, I think you'd be better off selling the computer for $1,400 and buying your own gun, made to your specs, from Spikes.

I was thinking of that last night. 900ish is what I was thinking. But then thinking about lowering the price to 1400, that's if I can even get a buyer at that price.

I'll see if he can come up with all that ammo and also check on the actual ammo. I only have the cheapest Russian ones at about 22 cents a round to my door.