Thread: AR's - the usual suspects??

I've been looking at purchasing a semi-auto .223 for a number of years but funds have held me back, however after saving hard I'm now actively looking at options. I've never liked the Ruger mini 14 so it seems the only other practical choice is the AR platform. I can see and understand the lego-block assembly mentality but I'm somewhat unsure where to start. So for the wise, I have a few questions if you don't mind:

My requirement is for small game hunting and pest control. A-cat only at this stage.

1. Is it cheaper to rock up and buy a complete AR15 that has been assembled from parts or cheaper to buy the parts and assemble it yourself? I guess we're talking about purchasing from the likes of NZAR or similar?

2. Is the resale value of a "bitsa" going to be better, worst or the same as a branded rifle?

3. If I purchased a good quality branded rifle, would it be typical to then find it necessary to start swapping out parts in any case? Or does it by definition mean that having purchased an expensive branded rifle that the quality is such you're unlikely to need to change things like barrels and triggers?

4. Thoughts on best uppers and lowers? Barrels? Most of the planned use is goats and I'd like accuracy out to 200m.

5. When the desired outcome is a free-floated barrel (which I assume would be necessary to hit something at 200m), do I need to start with that in mind or can that be easily swapped over from a standard rig? ie. without a workshop full of tooling.

I look forward to hearing people's thoughts. It's a learning curve for me and one I should have started 20 years ago. Such is life. I've used a few over the years, such as the H&K, Armalite, Voere and Sig Sauer, just never owned one.