If you've always wanted an AR-15 but have always balked at the price of the more expensive models, we have good news for you: you can select a cheap but reliable model and upgrade it to rival the quality of the pricier versions, saving yourself hundreds of dollars in the process. Learn how below.

A required assumption here is that a reputable company that builds ARs will make them more affordable though a handful of shortcuts rather than some massive oversights in quality. The difference between a $599 and a $1299 AR by the same company will be in the details across three main areas:
1) Those small parts where a few pennies are saved here and there
2) In finishing work done both by machine and by hand especially the trigger group
3) The number of minutes of quality assurance inspections along with accompanying lower standards of acceptability.
Companies known for making better rifles will not make cheap barrels and bolts. That’s too risky and expensive for them. Instead they will use the good stuff and cut costs elsewhere. On the other hand if the AR company is known for inexpensive or poor quality guns with a few or no upper-end firearms in their product catalog, then those better ones are the exception to their rule so upgrading will be, as they say, lipstick on a pig.
Picky Begging
To begin, hand-select the best inexpensive AR on the shelf. Or better yet, if the gun store really wants to make the sale, crack a few boxes in backstock. Concentrate on the upper and lower receivers mating, the action of the bolt, and alignment of the gas tube any and rails. There’s no point upgrading if the AR is already damaged goods. Also avoid fixating on any part that will be swapped out.
Next, plan on swapping out the trigger, buttstock, handguard, mag, sights (as needed), and make a few additions while you’re at it. Each replacement part has an important upgrade purpose, and each addition will take the AR up a pay grade or two in stature and use.
Breaking Glass
Rather than spending your day trying to polish up the already crippled fire control mechanism, just get one of the newer but affordable drop-in trigger kits. While not perfect, the inexpensive kits will put you much closer to the cool kids. One of the $70 ALG triggers would make a good option, or a Mil-spec enhanced trigger group from Rock River.
Butt Out
For the cost of a few boxes of ammo, the Magpul OEM stock can be had for less than $40 and will get you up to speed where your stock will work better, feel better, and hold up to abuse especially if your need pummel something or someone with your buttstock.
Hands Off
The hard plastic two-piece tubes that form the handguard on budget ARs are heavy, slippery, and often lack any attachment points for rails, etc. Again, the sub-$40 Magpul OEM handguard fits the bill and moves you and your rifle into a more productive tactical position.
Black Box
The main points of failure for the cheap mags, assuming they even fit and work in the first place, are with minimally functional followers and springs of marginal quality.
Zero Me
Since the point of the rifle is to land a projectile on a target from a safe distance away, the sighting mechanism is as important as any other critical part of the gun. Might be the best $40 spent thus far.

Of course, this leaves out the fun stuff like the red-dot sight, clip-on lights, bipod, and enormous drum mag, but by following the steps above, you'll have a reliable rifle that'll serve you extremely well.
The fun upgrades can come later when you can afford them.

Also, by following the steps above, you can purchase upgrades that will suit your individual needs and tastes.

To save money on your next purchase and to get a gun you'll love to own, follow the steps above. To learn more about how you can modify your gun, read more at SHTF Blog.