AR15 for 2 year old

R

ripnbst

New member
I have a son who is 2 years old. I am considering building another (I've already got one not bare bones) bare bones, no frills PSA AR for him so that when he is old enough he will surely have one. I am thinking of buying it and building it now just in case I cant in the future for lack of funds, prices skyrocket and it wont be reasonable, or because US politicians lack common sense and it will become illegal.

In the meantime the wife can shoot it if she wants. It would also mean buying another 5 PMAGS so that the rifle had it's own mags so add another $60.

I've also contemplated doing this just to keep it LNIB unfired to have a second one on hand in case another panic occurs and I can quadruple my money on it.

I can build it for $560+shipping+$10 FFL Xfer fee. Is something wrong with me for even having this thought?
 
I bought my grandson a Browning lever action .22 when he was about a week old - so - no, I think you're wise to plan ahead.
 
Somehow, I think any AR15, magazine, or ammo bought today will at some point be worth 2-4 times what was paid for it.

However; there is no guarantee just when that will happen. Maybe 2014, maybe 2016, and even possibly 2020. I wouldn't advise anyone to consider it a short term investment.

But I can safely say it will happen.
 
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Six months ago that would have cost hundreds more. The next panic, and there will be one, will raise the cost again.

So, yes, do it. I don't know anyone who has lost money on a gun if he bought it at a reasonable price in the first place. You make money when you buy, not when you sell.
 
For roughly the same price, you could pick up a nice pre-64 Winchester Model 94. IMHO, that's a quality piece that will i increase in value and would be far more unique than another AR. If I had a 2 year old, that's what I'd get him. Hmmm, I have a 10 year old, and maybe I'll just get her one!:D
 
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I too have been considering building one for each of our family members. We home educate and it would be an excellent project and learning experience for my sons and myself. We've never owned one. Which is truly weird considering the size of our collection. The wife has an AR15 on her xmas list this year as well. :)
 
If there is ever another federal-level AWB, there's no telling what absurdity will surround transfer and ownership rules. If one never comes, or he moves to a state where he can't own them, then you've spend the money today for nothing. If it does come, you may not be able to give it to him, he may not want it, there may be registration, there may be confiscation, there may be... yadda yadda.

You can buy a complete lower and upper from PSA for about $650... add shipping and your FFL fee, plus however much on some sort of sight, and you're looking more like $750 for the MOST BASIC shootable gun.

Instead, spend the $750 and get yourself a dozen stripped lower receivers... PSA currently has "blemished" lowers for $60, and you may be able to talk them into an even lower price for a bulk order. Then find an FFL who will cut you a deal... I wouldn't pay more than $10ea for transferring 12 at once. Hell, contact an FFL and see if he'll order you 12 and maybe get an even better discount.

Heck, every year on the kids birthday, buy him 12 of another part... next year it's 100x 30rd mags, the year after, it's barrels (get some 300blk for kicks)... when he's 6, it's furniture kits... 7, lower-parts-kits... 8, it's BCG's... 9, upper receivers... when he turns 10, you can give him one complete rifle, sell off a few to buy him a complete reloading setup and consumables to make 10k rds... and keep the rest in a safe for a rainy day. Yup, that's 8 yrs from now, but worth considering.
 
SamNavy said:
If there is ever another federal-level AWB, there's no telling what absurdity will surround transfer and ownership rules. If one never comes, or he moves to a state where he can't own them, then you've spend the money today for nothing. If it does come, you may not be able to give it to him, he may not want it, there may be registration, there may be confiscation, there may be... yadda yadda.

You can buy a complete lower and upper from PSA for about $650... add shipping and your FFL fee, plus however much on some sort of sight, and you're looking more like $750 for the MOST BASIC shootable gun.

Instead, spend the $750 and get yourself a dozen stripped lower receivers... PSA currently has "blemished" lowers for $60, and you may be able to talk them into an even lower price for a bulk order. Then find an FFL who will cut you a deal... I wouldn't pay more than $10ea for transferring 12 at once. Hell, contact an FFL and see if he'll order you 12 and maybe get an even better discount.

Heck, every year on the kids birthday, buy him 12 of another part... next year it's 100x 30rd mags, the year after, it's barrels (get some 300blk for kicks)... when he's 6, it's furniture kits... 7, lower-parts-kits... 8, it's BCG's... 9, upper receivers... when he turns 10, you can give him one complete rifle, sell off a few to buy him a complete reloading setup and consumables to make 10k rds... and keep the rest in a safe for a rainy day. Yup, that's 8 yrs from now, but worth considering.
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I appreciate your input but that's not even worth considering for me. Lets break it down:

First, I CAN build a complete gun lacking just a rear sight and mags using PSA parts for under $600, FFL and shipping included. For the cost of a quality rear sight I could get a PA micro red dot and I would only this rifle won't see enough use to justify any optic dedicated to it for at least ten years. I am betting that in 10 years optics both magnified and RDS will be better. No sense in buying one now.

Second, my kid, and most any kid won't be stoked about getting 12 magpul stocks or LPK's for their birthday, which means ill be getting another more immediately gratifying gift on top of that. I don't exactly have a monkey following me around sweeping up the money that falls out of my ass.

Third, your recommendation of grabbing a hundred 30 round PMAGS at today's price is more than $1000. I'll overlook the fact that it would cost another $1500 to fill them all. He will be ecstatic about all of this at most ages below 10 so again, another gift on top of that $2500. Sheesh these birthdays are getting pricey.

Will he be excited about the AR at 2? Doubtful, it is for later in life. I can swing it now and make sense of the purchase. I can't justify year over year spending the kind of money outlined above on top of a more age appropriate gift.

I think I've made up my mind.
 
While us dads are guilty of givin' our boys toys we ourselves would like to have, we can't always count on them being their favorite or preferred. My oldest boy (34) is into ARs, tupperware bottom feeders, auto shotguns and duo-toned earth tone JMB clones. Wasn't me that turned him on to them. My youngest(20) tho takes after me, he likes revolvers, lever action carbines, SXS shotguns and traditional 1911s. The main thing is to introduce them early to the sport correctly, and continue to nurture the interest and allow them to have the opportunity, even when things likes girls, high school/college sports and cars/motorcycles seem to be their priority. You'll find, for the most part in the end, rarely will you go to the range alone to shoot, and they'll bring others, like wives/girlfriends and grandkids along.
 
Short and sweet: just do it. It sounds like you want to do it and are looking for validation in your thinking. Just do it. If he doesn't want it later on when he's older, keep it for yourself.
 
Is something wrong with me for even having this thought?
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If you have to ask then you must have some reservations. What are your reservations?

Not sure what responses you were expecting from a gun site besides encouragement.

Your house, your family, your rights. Do what you think is right.
 
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I think that's too young but at the same time I wouldn't start him off with an AR either. Get a .22lr rifle and start him on that if you have to. Honestly a BB gun is usually first.
 
I think that's too young but at the same time I wouldn't start him off with an AR either. Get a .22lr rifle and start him on that if you have to. Honestly a BB gun is usually first.
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No one said he'd start with the AR, he just wants to build it for him to have eventually.
 
I would not shy away from buying a firearm from a son/daughter for for future use (no, not just so I can have another and say it's theirs).

I picked up a Ruger MK IV for my at the time 4 year old and can't wait to give it to him.
 
I would LOVE to have the funds to buy guns strictly for each of my kids now with them being young. I'd probably buy them each a bolt .22lr, 9mm semi auto handgun and an AK style rifle with four mags for each. But.. That would be another 12 guns!

My uncle (who is quite comfortable financially) just bought both his teenage kids AK style rifles.

I say go for it.
 
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