helping a co-worker pick out his first AR and his first firearm
I only bought 1 AR off the shelf many years ago just your basic mil spec AR, the rest I built from stripped lowers so I'm not too sure what is a good off the shelf manufactured AR I would recommend to him
there are some that would not recommend like those budget AR's from a not so reputable company
after several years of building several AR's, there are certain upgrades that I like to do when I build it: good lower like Aero, good trigger, Magpul furniture, better barrel, M-Lok hand guard, better muzzle device, ambi CH, optic (LPVO)
if he gets one with all those upgrades from the factory, it'll probably be pretty expensive, not so bad if you build yourself
I don't like the milspec handguard, bird cage muzzle device, A2 front sight, milspec stock.  I would recommend to him to not get those things on the AR, although some things are easily changed out, but he probably wants to run it as is from the factory at first

right now, I'm thinking either a Springfield Saint, Ruger MPR, PSA Sabre, Daniel Defense, Aero Precision, BCM, Faxon Ion
any AR's you all can suggest for a good starter AR?

As with most of these discussions, setting a max budget will help whittle down the pool of candidates.

Most people just starting out are looking for the sweet spot defined by the least amount of money for the rifle that will satisfy their "needs."

Someone wanting to just keep it ready for intruders and practice a few times a year has different needs than someone wanting to practice every weekend and participate in advanced training and competitions.

If it's his first firearm ever, then stick to pure MILSPEC.  No proprietary anything.  Makes things simpler for replacement and upgrade parts.

Colt is out of the civilian market, but you can still find them for sale on Gunbroker and other sites.  I'd recommend the OEM 2 version of the Colt LE6920.  It doesn't come with the furniture, so you're free to pick and choose the type you like without starting a "box of old parts" collection.

Otherwise, I'd avoid anything that isn't already a free-floated barrel.  You have to do too much to convert one to free floated if you all you want to do is upgrade the handguard,  A lot of people are also not thrilled with the fixed post front sight/gas block on a standard AR.  They might want a flip up sight so it's out of the way for a scope or red dot.

Handguard, iron sights, and butt stock are the most subjective parts of the rifle, which is why Colt introduced the OEM1/OEM2 without all of those included.  I think the OEM1 has the post front sight, but the OEM2 is a free float design.  Since it's tough to know if you can get one and what the price would be, you might want to pick something that already comes with the options your friend would prefer.  Buying parts to upgrade often cost more than getting them factory installed from my experience -- not to mention the wasted money the replaced parts represent, plus tools, plus time shopping and learning to do the replacements if you don't want to pay someone to do them.

Just things to consider.   

I was a new gun owner in 2016. Got a handgun and MRs. CMO said might as well get a rifle cause we gotta go HPD anyways. She then said might as well get our Vegas CCW's since we go often. Mrs. CMO for the win.

So I bought off the shelf because although many friends and gun store workers said to build my own or find a better one on line and FFL it over. I felt it was very overwhelming. You don't know what you don't know. I didn't even know what a FFL was, so I had to ask. So keep this in mind when talking to your friend about their first rifle.

Over the years, I changed/added stuff to it to fit my needs once I figured out what I require. So overall, I spend more than just building my own, but building is too overwhelming.

We got a S&W MP Sport II. $500 at 808 Gun Club.  Our purpose is self defense. So I don't need a tac driver at 100yrds. Then the 2nd purchase was a RDS from Kaneohe GS. I wanted 1 brand that I read about online, but after explaining to Daniel, he said "would you be Ok with something better and cheaper?".  I said yes and got a SIG Romeo 5 for like $120.  At this time, we were on a budget due to our work situation, so I couldnt afford to buy a Noveske or even understood why it's better.  IMO, it's the indian, not the arrow for noobs.  How many skill builders I've taken where my $500 AR out performs the guy with the $2200 DD or Noveske.

A few years later, Mrs. CMO wanted her own and now that we got some reps in, she spent almost a year finding each part that she wanted and we had it built and cerakoted. I would come home and she goes online and spends like 4 hours looking at diff parts. The only input I had was we got an Aero lower from Dwayne. ACutally, bought 2 because why go HPD for 1 item.

So which one, depends on what the budget is.  Is your friends rich and their budget is $5K, then might as well go with Noveske. But if they're like me and pake, then S&W works. Don't worry too much about mods, as stuff like a handguard is subjective. Maybe 1 looks cooler than the other, so no sense spending the money if on a budget getting an AR that comes with one, when a milspec one will just be replaced.  Also explain why a free float handguard is beneficial. But remember HI's max distance is 100yrds at KHSC, so gotta know what the persons goals are as well.  Young Guns helped explain this when I was looking there.

If they can spend a little more, then Aero is a good 2nd off the shelf choice.  I don't like the way the Saint looks, which is why I don't recommend it.  Not a fan of BCM's either due to looks.

From what I understand there are only about 3 forging houses from where upper and lowers are forged from. Then they go onto machining by various brands. The worst machining I've seen was from early DPMS and Rock River (circa 2000s).  Aero has nice machining. A lot of good brands out there. It's an AR buyers' market. I'd get a Geissele. They make their own barrels now.
https://geissele.com/el-jefe-16-5-56mm-black.html

his use for the AR will be for home defense. I'm not sure he will be shooting it that often

I have a couple AR's that I recently built and only shot once each to test function and sight in the optics. both have some nice upgrades: trigger, barrel, free float M-Lok hand guard, muzzle device, CH, Magpul furniture, LPVO and RDS, both built on an Aero lower. I'll offer to sell one to him, but I think he wants a factory one that's brand new.

I'm assuming for his first firearm and first AR, he won't want to spend a lot, but I would advise him to not go too cheap.  from doing some pricing today, probably 700-1000 will get a acceptable starter AR.  who knows, he may want to spend more.  I'll try ask next time I see him

If you're looking at a budget friendly option with good quality, I think Palmetto State Armory is a good choice.

They are like the Chinese menu version of firearms, where you often have the choice of certain furniture, barrels, triggers, and so on.  I've purchased a few blemished items and a full upper, all with undetectable blemishes as far as I could tell -- but the discount was significant.

No matter where you/they choose to shop, it's always a good idea to pull the trigger around a holiday.  The specials and promos are usually a better deal than the everyday prices.

I recommend you sign him up for mailing lists from PSA and others, so when a sale comes around, it might help him save some money and/or get something with higher end components.

Mailing lists might be a good method of helping him figure out what's what in ARs.

PSA would be a good starter.  I've used a few of their uppers, their lower parts kits are very affordable and I've never had any problems with them, also used their triggers which are very good for under 100 bucks
their higher end Sabre models look really good too

have him buy a high-end lower, with a low-end upper. then when/if he steps up, he is good to go, just chuck/sell his upper and replace with something/style he wants.

For a first AR-15, the budget milspec ones, $500 to $700 is fine for learning and home defense.  The extra cost doesn't translate to better performance for those things.

Like Flapp said, blemished PSA is fine.  milspec trigger, mid weight barrel, and stock furniture is good.  It should have a mlock rails to attach a flashlight and flattop for a $150 red dot optic.  The birdcage flash hider is actually the best part of a milspec AR-15 that doesn't need upgrading.  You can buy more expensive ones but they won't make a noticable difference.  Definitely do not get a muzzle brake for home defense.  Skip iron sights unless it comes with the gun.

Save the money and buy ammo and take a defensive rifle class instead.

But overall, I'd recommend him buying a midsize handgun instead if he is only getting one gun.  Can use it for home defense and CCW.  A rifle in the closet won't do him any good away from home.  His second gun should be the AR-15.

I don't recommend shooting an AR15 inside of a house for defense.

For budget grade, best value and bang for your buck get a nitride Palmetto State Armory AR.

For a solid easy option that is one of the best values in what I would call the higher level of mid tier and very reliable I would recommend BCM Recce 16” with an ELW barrel.

I don't recommend shooting an AR15 inside of a house for defense.

I know some guys who bought an AR because they didn't have time for the handgun safety class.

For base rifle, I typically recommend Colt, LMT, and BCM if defense is included as potential use.  Those are generally tried and true, as well as pretty good CS if issues arise.  It's been a while since I've seriously looked at base/complete rifles, so there may be more. 

As mentioned above, the Colt OEM models may be of interest, if readily available.  I have two based on OEM2 and have been excellent.  Not that hard to change out basic stuff like A2 birdcage, A2 grip, etc, but can be waste of money. 

For those new to ARs, I say start with basic, spend more on ammo, and shoot a lot.  Things you like or don't like will come out.  I was the same way.  Had in my mind what I wanted, and changed a LOT over time, especially after attending rifle courses.  I continue to change stuff here and there, but not often these days. 

Out of some models mentioned, I'd stay away from DD.  I think quality, but currently way over priced and I've had a few really bad experiences with their CS.  Maybe the CS has improved, but there are a ton of good ARs available for me to consider them.

I have a few PSA uppers and they've all shot well.  They are generally over gassed, which can help with shooting underpowered ammo.  I don't have any experience with their lowers.  For budget lowers, I have friends who have had good experience with Aero. 

Thinking of overgassed uppers, one things to consider is what type of ammo the individual will be shooting.  If all 193 or similar, probably doesn't matter.  But if lower powered cheap ammo like PMC Bronze, and steel cased ammo like Tula, those typically have issues in many mid-lengthed uppers.  Or at least had many issues in my LMT and BCM middy uppers. 

I'll have check what his budget is.
He does want a handgun too but wants the AR first. I told him to get both bc why go to hpd twice when you intend on getting both, save time.

  But if lower powered cheap ammo like PMC Bronze, and steel cased ammo like Tula, those typically have issues in many mid-lengthed uppers.  Or at least had many issues in my LMT and BCM middy uppers.

My S&W shoots everything. But I stay away from the steel cased I got from Vegas because it was so dirty. 1 mag worth is like shooting 500rds any other ammo.  I think it wasn't Tula, but I can't remember what brand it was. IIRC I got 440rds for $80 in 2017 or so. 440rds cause that's almost 11lbs, the amount the airline allows to bring back in the checked luggage.

I'll have check what his budget is.
He does want a handgun too but wants the AR first. I told him to get both bc why go to hpd twice when you intend on getting both, save time.

He could get a completed lower for $200 + fees from KE Arms. Then get an upper and/or a pistol.

https://www.kearms.com/kp-15-polymer-receiver-milspec.aspx

A fellow shooter let me run a mag through his KP-15 awhile back. Lightweight, decent trigger. Fixed length of pull was only a minor inconvenience.

My S&W shoots everything. But I stay away from the steel cased I got from Vegas because it was so dirty. 1 mag worth is like shooting 500rds any other ammo.  I think it wasn't Tula, but I can't remember what brand it was. IIRC I got 440rds for $80 in 2017 or so. 440rds cause that's almost 11lbs, the amount the airline allows to bring back in the checked luggage.

The M&P Sport II is a carbine length gas (or at least the specs online note that).  I was referring to mid-length gassed uppers.  Also, there's lot of ammo that "runs dirty" that functions and shoots well. . .

The M&P Sport II is a carbine length gas (or at least the specs online note that).  I was referring to mid-length gassed uppers.  Also, there's lot of ammo that "runs dirty" that functions and shoots well. . .

Talking about length is above my pay grade. #inb4thatswhatshesaid

My OCD causes me to clean the rifle after every range day. And the dirty steel ammo I shot took 4x as long to clean as well.