Need some opinions/ advice from some of you "gun hands"

The best bang for your buck would be a Smith and Wesson M&P15, about $600ish for a complete ready to run rifle. Palmetto State would be the next cheaper option, Aero Precision would be the next better option. If you are able to assemble parts, buying exactly the parts (stock, handguard, trigger) that you want is a good option. I just recently assembled a Wilson Combat AR, including a Geissele trigger, it was ~$1300 cheaper to assemble it myself than it was to buy it complete.