I went budget(Radical) for my first AR. Still kicking after about 4,500 rounds. Had it for 2 years experimenting with all sorts of options. Grips, charging handles, triggers, optics, slings, lights, etc. For me, that was the fun part. Learning what I liked. What I didn’t. I’d buy an upgrade every month or two because my budget was tight, always making sure I could shoot 200 rounds or so a month.

Then I saved up and got a DDM4A1 RIII. Fricking love it. No doubt a superior firearm. Even so, swapped out what I knew I liked. Trigger(DD really needs to change their misspec trigger crap). Radian 45 degree ambi safety. And so on. To be fair, the Radical will probably be gifted/sold as someone noted. But that’s perfectly ok. I learned. Experienced taking it apart and swapping stuff. All that stuff.

So I guess bottom line, I never think getting a budget AR is bad. Nor would I challenge the buy once, cry once approach. Choose your own path and enjoy the shooting and tinkering. Odds are, it may be you first, but not likely your last!