Best AR option for $1k

[Arrowthreat]

Colt, Seekins, BCM, Daniel Defense, LWRC, SIG, Larue all high end quality made guns. There's probably a few others. I would look for used ones in your price range.

I know you can find Colts and Sigs for under 1k. Doubt you can find the other brands in that range.

Daniel Defense got some special operations contract. Seems their prices have gone up a little. My buddies in the Ranger battalion. His primary is a Daniel Defense.

[Hudson05]

Depending on the use, I'd say the best bang for your buck is going to be a lower and then upper from Palmetto State Armory. They sell uppers with CHF FN barrels, stainless, CMV, etc. in all lengths and configurations. I have BCM, have made several with extremely expensive components, and have some PSA's and in your price range you get a lot of bang for the buck if you wait on a PSA sale.

[bowaddict40]

I’m happy with my Ruger AR556. No issues to date. I just put in a Rise drop-in trigger and upgraded to a Leupold scope. It’s a whole new gun. With the upgrades I probably have $1150 in it.

I have the Ruger AR556 in 300blk pistol. I want to say that it was right at $650 plus tax and I put a Sig ASR red dot on it I got from PSA for $100 plus tax. It is a great run and gun pig gun. Now since then I have also bought a 6.5G upper and Wraith to go with it. Best of both worlds in my opinion. Just depends on what they are wanting to do with them. I can shoot the red dot out to 100yds pretty well. Some may not like that.