Quality AR/AK

How reliable will a rifle under $1,000 be? I have to wait a long time to work up enough money to get firearms as it is, but when a statisticaly good rifle is +$1,000... That's a better way at keeping rifles out of poor boy's hands than adding laws. So my question is, can you trust your life with a rifle that didn't cost you a semester's tuition? Will a $600-$800 AR/AK be as reliable or as adequate as a $1,000 AK/AR?

DTI has a fairly good AR They run around 700.00 and hold up well. Go to Del-Tons web sight and check check out their catalog. Im looking into getting one. Ive not heard anything bad about them from anyone yet.