AR build parties

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taliv

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i'm hosting a series of build parties. for probably 80% this will be their first AR, and for many their first gun. the basic structure is this:

1. initial meeting to discuss safety and do a show and tell so they can put hands on a variety of ARs so they at least get some sense of what strikes their fancy
2. wait a month so they can acquire parts, everybody gets their own
3. bulk order lowers for everyone through a local ffl,
4. second meeting, another safety lecture, ffl transfers to individuals, individuals all swap lowers around, then we do builds, cater bbq etc
5. third meeting at range, another safety briefing then zeroing and 3-4 hr carbine class


in prep, i'm sending out a 'parts list' where people can start accumulating parts ahead of time. I've got a couple complete parts kits on the list e.g. from Palmetto for basic m4 style. But I'd like your help coming up with a list of parts for more custom options.

so... given the "what parts did you get and why" sticky, if you were a new shooter or at least new to the AR15, what bill of materials / parts list would you choose for the following categories? (please include links to where the part can be purchased so i can pass along)


Basic home defense style

SPR/DMR style

varmint/bench style

3gun competition style

lightweight

pistol / pre-SBR style

others?
 
I would love to go fo finish my AR10 if apply, but it's lil far from the Sunshine State of Florida.
Next time.

Henry
 
I do a lot of buying on eBay for my rifle builds. Also www.vtsupply.com and www.jobobsoutfitters.com have good prices
I used
Adams arms upper
Phase 5 bcg with kies pin
Bcg charge handle
Anderson lower
Lpk and changed trigger to my liking(rock river nation match 2 stage)
Houge grip
Caa stock
Buffer tube
Jp silent capture buffer
1-7tw 18" barrel
Key mod hand guard
Muzzle attachment of your choice
78AA2D20-E878-46C8-9E89-1F73D07D5195.jpg
I got barrel, gas block, grips, buffer tube and stock off eBay. The rest from vtsupply
 
That's a more complicated question than it seems. It really, really depends on the builder's goals, budget, and realistically what's on sale when the build is happening.

Some folks are dabbling in black rifles, and just want something ~$600 to see if they like it, some folks are building the One Rifle To Rule Them All. Even for two rifles that are essentially M-Forgeries those will be vary different lists. Throw in different purposes, 3-gun/SPR/Varmiting and it gets longer than an easy internet post.

Which doesn't help you at all, I know. I guess the first question would be are they buying uppers, or will your parties include assembling and checking headspace? Assembled uppers narrows the field a bit, so that might help.

When I'm advising my friends on AR stuff:

Budget, or "I just want to build an AR, might change things later." Buy a kit, either PSA or Model 1. PSA has good prices, and good sales but you really have to stay on top of the website to catch stuff in stock. Model 1 has a lot of variety, can tailor your kit to a purpose better than PSA and have good prices. They also have sketchy customer service and were kinda crappy during the Great Shortage of 2008-09. Both vendors will provide you everything you need for a functioning, safe rifle, minus a lower, in one box, from one website without 65 hours of internet research.

Mid Price, or "I want to build an AR that I'll like forever, I'm willing to spend some money, and I've shot AR's a bit so I know kinda what I like." BCM upper with barrel and rail of choice. I like coated BCG's because they really are easier to clean, but parked ones work too. BCM or AIM actually have pretty good BCG's. I've heard decent things about FailZero, but haven't tried one. Stock of choice. Magpul is always a good bet, but there are plenty. Quality LPK from BCM, Grip of choice, ALG ACT trigger. I use BCM, Primary Arms, AIM, Rainier, and if I know what I want the manufacturer's sites for these. I usually end up spread across 4 or 5 sites on this kind of build.

"I know what I want and am building an AR to a purpose" level. Well they know what they want. Buy a nice barrel (Rainier again, I just bought a Black Hole .308 barrel I'm looking forward to testing), a forend/rail (I'm a fan of Odinworks, but DD, BCM, Troy-politics aside, Aero, there are a ton of nice rails), Stock, Trigger (Either drop in or not, use will determine. Gisselle, Timney, RRA are all solid choices. There are a ton of smaller names if one wants to experiment or read a bunch of reviews.), Safety if you want short throw, ambi, or both, Receivers; either a matched set if that's what you want, or a basic Anderson Arms set if they are just holding your nicer parts. I still buy a BCM or (sometimes, on sale) Spikes LPK just so I get all the detents and pins. One can go on for a while.

Don't even start on optics.
 
If I were doing a build party, I'd probably just bulk order LPKs for everyone from a decent manufacturer. BCM, Spikes, or PSA should be fine (though I'm not a fan of the trigger in my PSA kit I got a few years ago and it was missing the trigger guard retaining screw for the Magpul trigger guard, but that's a separate post). If someone is planning on doing a SPR, Bench, or competition type build you can add a list of a few upgraded triggers that they may want to purchase. The ALG triggers are supposed to be nice for the price, but if they have the money to go for it, it's hard to beat a Gisselle.

You may also want to order a bunch of buffer tubes as well so you can specify that whatever stock they buy should be mil spec or commercial, that way you don't wind up with someone disappointed that they bought a commercial buffer tube and got a mil spec stock. Granted it's not a function issue, but I wouldn't be happy if I missed that while doing my first build and was the only guy in a group that didn't actually have a complete rifle at the end of the day.

If they are building their own uppers, they open up a LOT of options around what they want the gun to do and how much they want to spend. As I'm sure you know, you can spend $300 on all the parts or you can spend $400+ on just a barrel from Noveske or others, $100+ on a gas block, a few hundred on your choice of rail, the list goes on.

Also, don't forget sights. I don't know if I would go into optics at this stage (as dogmush noted, that's a huge topic that gets even further down the rabbit hole of "what exactly do you want this gun to do?") but BUIS are very easy to overlook or rationalize away due to expense (I know I always get to the end of a build and think "great, I forgot to get sights again!"). Some are $200+ per set (which gets you most of the way to something like an Aim Point PRO) but considering range time/a carbine course is planned at the end, it would be a good item to add to the list. Maybe a recommendation of the Magpul BUIS would be a good start, with a couple of upgraded options noted as well.
 
thanks nastynate!

guys, i'm really just crowdsourcing templates to make it easy for n00bs. for example, if they like the way nate's rifle looks, here's the list of stuff to go buy to build one like it.
 
"Build" Party :neener:

J/K, outreach & comraderie is always good. Be sure everyone knows exactly how many felonies they could be committing unknowingly throughout each step of the assembly; very effective way to turn someone against the moral authority of the NFA, GCA, and ATF.

TCB
 
The only trouble you might run into is letting people select their own parts. Every time I use some exotic new part I seem to have to buy a new tool to go with it. Not to mention you're going to get a lot of people who show up with parts that can't be installed on the same rifle.
 
if you're doing 80% why the ffl transfer? With the prices of ARs now building seems uneconomical unless you know enough that your can really optiimize for your scenario. I suppose there are lot of people who do know that much
 
if you're doing 80% why the ffl transfer? With the prices of ARs now building seems uneconomical unless you know enough that your can really optiimize for your scenario. I suppose there are lot of people who do know that much
the 80% was not in reference to the lower rather the % who would be building their first. Also while It is hard to beat a $500 M&P if I am truly after a 20" bull-barrelled tack driver or am a lefty who wants ambi everything or just wants the joy of rolling their own building is the only way to fly. With the added bonus they will know how to repair that rifle in the future.
 
Taliv my only concern would be with the part where you say they swap lowers around. I don't want some other n00b building my lower. Having only built 2 thus far I would want to be the n00b to blame IF something got screwed up. Granted outside of shooting a detent across the room I am honestly not sure how you could screw up a build assuming you take your time and pay a modicum of attention. Also since the lower is the firearm not sure on the legality of the above either but I am probably missing something.
 
Taliv my only concern would be with the part where you say they swap lowers around. I don't want some other n00b building my lower.

...

Also since the lower is the firearm not sure on the legality of the above either but I am probably missing something

I'm pretty sure the swapping of lowers is to break the paper trail from the 4473. I.e. You transfer one lower and then trade lowers with the guy next to you, and then you build your gun on that new lower. (Taliv, correct me if I'm wrong).

As long as TN doesn't have a UBC law (which they don't last I checked) private sales are legal and there's nothing illegal about swapping lowers.



As far as a parts list from my last build (.300 Blk SBR) I used a DD lower parts kit, Magpul MIAD (?) grip, and Vltor stock (I think it has a better cheek weld than some of the Magpul stocks).

Upper has a 10.5" Midway AR Stoner barrel (it's done well so far but I don't know about their current barrels), YHM hand guard, a Rainier arms BCG and a BCM charging handle.
 
yep, 80% noobs, not 80% lowers.
and breaking the paper trail.
we aren't breaking any laws. this is educational as much as anything. really new shooter oriented.

thanks for the parts list telek
 
If you're wanting specific build lists, here are some of my favorites.

Standard carbine, average cost.

Aero upper
BCM 16'' ELW mid length bbl.
15'' KMR Alpha
BCM BCG
Vltor A5 stock kit

Standard carbine, budget version.

Anderson upper
Faxon Gunner bbl.
15'' KMR Alpha
PSA BCG
Brownell's M4 stock kit

Premium carbine build/SPR

15'' Vltor VIS keymod upper
16-18'' Black Hole Weaponry bbl.
Vltor A5 stock kit
LMT enhanced BCG
Syrac Gen II gas block

The Gunner barrel also makes for a budget friendly lightweight build with a glue on carbon fiber handguard. I think the total weight on that one is right at 6 lbs or under with mil spec receivers, BCG, and carbine buffer.

ETA: Forgot about a varmint/bench rifle.

Mil spec upper
24'' Black Hole Weaponry bull barrel with target crown
Any free float tube 12'' or longer, suggest Model 1 Sales or Double Star
Any gas block, adjustable preferred
A2 stock

If you're going to be letting people build varmint/bench rifles, then you might want to make them bring a carbine for the class you're running afterwards, or alternately provide a few carbines. People also tend to get carried away with SPR builds and they tend to turn into boat anchors pretty quickly.
 
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thanks grampa! just what i was looking for

got any pics of those builds?
 
Laundering lowers! The horror...the horror...

:D

You just toss 'em in a hat, and tell people to grab one what wasn't brung with 'em? Such ineffective and tangled webs we weave.

TCB
 
Laundering lowers! The horror...the horror...

:D

You just toss 'em in a hat, and tell people to grab one what wasn't brung with 'em? Such ineffective and tangled webs we weave.

TCB
Just playing the devil's advocate here, but given that people are swapping around lowers with their neighbors I wonder if this isn't mostly symbolism.

Bedsides, if I ever decide to smoke some guy down the street I'm pretty sure I would do it with a gun that has the 4473 in someone else's name. :D
 
Taliv, the fewer different configurations at the build party, the smoother everything will go. I suggest getting everyone a PSA middy kit and build them as a KISS style AR. It'll get them shooting with minimal effort & cost and they won't really know what "upgrades" will drive them best until they do shoot their AR.

Barrels are usually more than accurate enough when using quality ammo, so there is no real need to pay extra for a special barrel.

The only significant changes will be to swap out the handguards for free float tubes and a trigger upgrade. Handguards & stock triggers don't add much to the cost of a kit and the FSB can be cut down if a low profile gas block is wanted.

Go to the PSA website & check what's available. One source shopping will save you a lot of money on shipping
 
yeah, Mist, i expect everyone to build something pretty similar, either m4 or recce. the only thing that really changes much is the choice of handguard. if they pick one that requires funky tools or a little bit of extra thought and instruction-reading, then it will slow things down. but not really a huge deal.

but worst case they all pick something different... i'll just spend a bit of extra time with them to get it sorted after everyone else is done. if several pick complete uppers, it will be a walk in the park

i'm kind of a fan of KISS rifles anyway, so that's what i'll be recommending
 
I built this one for 470(minus stamp)
Mag lower
Anderson upper
Rock river bcg
10.5" 300blk barrel from midway
FF quad rail off eBay
Anderson lpk
Caa grip and stock
Standard buffer
A12E0EEF-6A58-446D-B90D-999BAE24D900.gif
You don't need a kit rifle to get a good quality rifle under 700 for now.
 
Sorry, no pics. Some of the rifles I no longer have. I also adjusted the parts based on what's now available and for price. Those are the parts or types of parts that I've used and thought were intelligently designed. For the most part, all you're going to care about are the handguards, most of which come with a barrel nut wrench.

If you're going to allow free float tubes, then I would dictate ones like the KMR Alpha and Vltor VIS because you just torque it to 40 ft lbs and don't have to align the gas tube, which will save untold amounts of time. If you're going to allow varmint rifles, then you could make an exception in that case, although I'm still not sure how that's going to work with the carbine course.

If you allow any billet uppers, then you'll also need a reaction rod from Geissele. I would also suggest a dimpling jig, or you're likely to have gas system problems during the shooting portions. The more popular handguards require set screw gas blocks, and some of the cheaper barrels don't have dimples from the factory, including Faxon. You'll also want a dremel to beat down the surface hardening on nitrided barrels, or you won't be able to dimple them. You'll also need a torque driver and assortment of allen and star bits for the handguards. The KMR in particular requires correct torque.

I think it's good though that you're letting people pick what they want. There's no savings building an M-forgery. I would highly suggest though that you make people turn in a build list in advance to make sure that they their parts are going to work and that you have the tools you need.
 
nate, very cool build! i'm working on something like that myself


grampa, yep and thanks. I'm a big fan of the KMR and have built several rifles with them. You lost me on the billet upper comment though. Why do they need a reaction rod?

definitely allowing all types including varmint. the "carbine course" is really just a couple hours to familiarize them with the concepts of mag changes and malfunction drills. I'll loan them a carbine if they can't safely manipulate their 20lb bench gun :)

will definitely review people's BOMs to make sure they are going to work.
 
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