Definitely not Colt. For an assembled rifle, the cheapest you'll find is probably going to be the "bargain bin" rifles from CMMG. They sell for $599 (plus shipping and receiving).
How much you pay depends on what you want.. if you want a chrome lined barrel (which is going to be a bit pointless), that'll cost more, for example.
If you have the know-how and the tools to build one up yourself from components, Del-Ton used to (and still might) have a complete parts kit (minus lower receiver) for $450.
Check around gun shows and gun shops for used rifles, as well. There is a glut of AR-15s on the market, and sometimes you'll find some smoking hot deals.
A verison of the AR15 made by Bushmaster.
Rifle made by Armalite Well yes and no, also Colt, Bushmaster etc.... its like saying coke instead of soda or Kleanex instead of tissue. It describes the style of the firearm, if you say my AR and you point to a Bushmaster everyone knows what you mean.
ARmalite Model 15 but it very commonly thought to be automatic rifle.
The US Army presently uses the M4 carbine, a shorter and much modified version of the Armalite AR15.
Eugene Stone, from the ArmaLite corporation. After that, Colt "bought" the project.
The Bushmaster AR15 was first in service in the USA 1958 and is still used in present day. It was designed by Eugene Stoner and manufactured by various companies including Bushmaster.
ArmaLite was a division of Fairchild, and made SEVERAL rifles that used the AR (ArmaLite Rifle) prefix. See the link below to a history of the company. Eugene Stoner was the primary designed of the AR15 series of firearms.
Armalite was a division of Fairchild Aircraft. The AR15 was designed by Eugene Stoner. The story that the firearm was named after a Filipino inventor called Armando Lite is just a myth.
The NORINCO CQ5.56.
It is the Carbine (short rifle) version of the AR15. AR stands for Armalite Rifle. It is a semi auto rifle.
Both are assembly line weapons. Stag in my opinion also has a better reputation. Unless you decide to go tactical, they are all pretty much the same. Bushmaster, dpms, stag ext..
DPMS sell a complete kit for $68.