I have been looking over the past several weeks and basic entry level M4 is running $1,100-$1,200. Stag Arms, Bushmaster, DPMS, S&W, RockRiver, all seem to be about the same quality. These prices are probably about $400-$500 too high, but everyone is freaked out that the current administration is going to ban semi-auto and "assault weapons", thus the old supply and demand game. Ammo is even worse.
"Politicians prefer unarmed peasants"