AR15 Build, Please Advise

[helpless]

I will also try AR15.com but I feel more at home here so I will ask here first.

I am going to begin building an AR15. What are my options.

2 close friends and my little brother all have ARs, all bought theirs complete.

Better to build? Little experience, should I tackle a build from scratch? or just upper and lower?

I need some guidance.

I have settled on the AR for the .223 being the cartridge that makes the most sense for me for SHTF rifle.

Cost is defiantly an issue because I am buying a house.

I want to use only Iron sights, so the Carry handle uppers are OK by me.

Thanks in advance.

 

[R33P3R]

definatly try ar15.com, but i built an upper and recently purchased a full lower that should be here monday.

Cost savings are HUGE if you can do it yourself.

I was just in a hurry, so i bought the lower. it wasn't too expensive.

SEARCH ALOT.. tons of places to get parts.

 

[DnPRK]

Big cost savings by building your lower and buying an assembled upper. You can build up a lower sitting at your kitchen table with common hand tools in less than an hour. I've done it many times. Go review the build-it-yourself posts on ar-15.com

 

[Sawdust]

What DnPRK said.

Get a stripped lower and assemble it yourself, and then get an assembled upper - I've been happy with Del-ton's offerings.

Arfcom has all of the assembly instructions that you'll need.

HTH,

Sawdust

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

I'd also advise you get a flattop upper. They are generally cheaper than the A2 uppers new and they are much more versatile, even if you only shoot irons. With a flattop, you can chose between an H&K rear sight, an M14 rear sight, an M16 rear sight and about a dozen aftermarket rear sights. Plus if you ever decide you want to do more than shoot irons, you have that option.

 

[jerkface11]

You lose the cost savings of a flattop if you buy iron sights to put on it. I got an A2 and if i want a scope i'll buy a mount.

 

[DogBonz]

Arf.com roks

... Well when it comes to building an AR anyway. They have a great step by step guide with pics on how to do it. To assemble the upper you will need to buy special tools, which can drive up the cost of the build, but are nice to have around. I usually buy my uppers complete and build my lowers, but thats just me. The way I see it, I can buy an upper the way that I want it, but it is hard to find a lower (at a reasonable price, anyway) set up the wat that I like.

 

[helpless]

For those of you who buy complete upper and build your lowers, what is the average cost?

 

[rino451]

1. Get a 5.56 chamber and shoot both .223 and 5.56.
2. Flattop is the way to go and I also believe in fixed iron sights as a necessary added expense. You can find a carry handle used and hack it up as desired - don't have to buy new.
3. If you build, make sure you have access to all the tools. Buying the correct tools will add up fast.
4. Buying a complete upper and stipped or complete lower is probably the way to go unless you have access to all the tools already. Tools to assemble the lower might run $20-$30, and someone handy (and brave) might not have to buy anything special at all.
5. You can always buy a complete used rifle.

+1 for Den-Ton complete uppers. Also visit http://jtdistributing.com/index.html for uppers, but there are a bunch of others.

ETA Complete upper should run about $350+. Stripper lower about $100-$160. Lower parts kit, what, $70? Stock another $70-$150. Complete lower might save you $ depending on what stock you want.

 

[DougW]

I've built 9 different configurations of AR's . All except one were from complete uppers, and stripped lowers. One was a complete upper/lower build, including mounting a front sight. I have since mounted 3 front sight blocks, and moved 3 barrels around on various uppers. Cost to build is from a low of $565 to well over $1400. It all depends on what you want on it. I can't help playing around with them!

My Soldier son's CAR has been converted to an M4gery, complete with an Aimpoint ML2. His cost went from $575 to about $1200, after I bought his old upper. I used that upper and a spare lower, bought the LP kit and stocks, and finished out a nice CAR15 (#9).

In all cases I followed the instructions on AR15.com. They are precise and I never had any problems. All rifles function perfectly.

 

[Onmilo]

Thought you guys mike like to see some of the tools required to properly assemble AR15/M16 type rifles.

At far left are hammers for installing roll pins, some lubricating grease and a brush.
top left is a receiver block for holding receiver in vise then clockwise is an action block and support for holding upper in vise while installing barrel assembly. Files for cleaning edges and roll pins prior to installation.
Next is a CAR buttstock wrench and a Barrel nut wrench, the BNW is also used to install flash suppressors.
Below these tools are a snap ring plier for assembling the barrel nut assembly and a multi bit screwdriver for installing buttplate screws and grip screw.

The small tool assortment includes headspace guages, fire pin protrusion guages, roll pin punches and roll pin holders, taper pin punch, front and rear sight tools, and special tools that make installation of hinge and takedown pins easier.
The knob looking tool on the right is a magazine catch tool that makes installation of the magazine catch easy and without marring.
I ran out of space in the picture so not shown are strap wrenches and special wrenches for installing free float tubes.

 

[DnPRK]

90+% of Onmilo's tools are used to assemble a stripped upper. The tool set to assemble a lower is much simpler.

Screwdriver or allen wrench (for the grip screw)
Small hammer
Small punch
Adjustable crescent wrench (for A2 receiver extension)
-or-
CAR/M4 buttstock wrench (although you can use a punch and hammer if you are careful)
Masking/duct tape (to cover the side of the receiver when installing the bolt catch roll pin)

 

[Ndenway]

look at getting one of the completed upper kits for J&T, del-ton, model 1sales, M&A, ect.ect.

or for just the completed upper

I can't remember the vendors name, but he's listed in the equipment exchange on ar15.com, he's selling rockriver complete uppers for $450,

then theres bushmaster, sabre, jtac, and many others that sell great quality products,


and look at rbprecision.com, ameetecarms.com, or essentialarms.com for a lower,

rb is selling a superior arms forged lower for $110, or a complete M4 superiorarms lower for $225 shipped if you don't want to put together,

ameetec forged lowers are $110 or for a complete M4 lower for $200 +S&H

and essential has forged lowers for $77 M4 complete lowers for $205 +S&H,


do some shopping and you might even find better deals on kits, with the standard model 1 sales kit + lower and you can build a complete rifle for under 6 bills easy,

or one of the RRA uppers with a complete M4 lower for just under 7 bills with FFL fees and shipping

I bought one of bushmasters ORC M4 uppers on their tax day specials for $403 delivered, I'm putting it on a superiorarms M4 complete lower I got for $233 OTD from a local shop, for a grand total of $636.

 

[DougW]

Onmilo, I only have a barrel vice block, delta nut wrench for my torque wrench, and various other punches, hammers, and sundry hand tools. Does that mean that my AR's are not "properly assembled"?

Hmmmmmmm. Don't say anything to my rifles; they all function 100%. I don't want them to get a complex!

 

[Zeke Menuar]

I took the coward's way out and bought a complete Stag lower and later bought a complete CMMG upper.
Then proceeded to tear it apart to add a FF handguard.

I used a Panther Claw to remove the barrel nut. CMMG was nice enough to make things tight but not super tight.
The aluminum jaws to hold the barrel in my vise were invaluable to get the FH off.
The Brownells sight block was great until I discovered it won't work with my new float tube. Oh well.

Gratuitous AR nudity



With carry handle


Next two AR's in training


ZM

 

[Onmilo]

Dougw sounds like you have the right tools.
I build AR rifles for customers who want something a little different.
When I say properly assembled I mean the right roll pins are in the right holes and there are no scratches or marring on the finished product.
I scratch one up or screw it up I end up eating that part of the project.
Lord only nows the number of rifles I have had to repair because they were not properly assembled by a kitchen table gunsmith.
I have had to repair factory made rifles that have made it out with some problems too.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Well, I've built an AR without an upper receiver block (used a barrel block instead) and without snap ring pliers. It wasn't a fun or satisfying way to build an AR and I wouldn't recommend it; but it can be done. Having the right tools makes any job a little more pleasant.

 

[helpless]

Wow guys thanks! I really appreciate everyones advice. I can not wait to get started.