Black Rifle bug bites hard

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absolute0

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I was never specifically interested in AR's but decided this year would be a good year to buy a lower and start a build up considering this years elections.I decided to do an AR build last month, it started innocently with me buying a stripped lower at the local gun show with the idea of building up a reasonably priced but decent quality rifle.

After buying my stripped lower and a parts kit, I'm suddenly finding myself mercilessly cruising ar15.com et al for deals on components and info. Uppers, barrels, bolts, kits, crazy crazy crazy

My plan was to buy and build slowly but I'm starting to want hard for a complete rifle after just a few weeks. Should I hold out for a good deal on a used but complete upper or keep hunting for components either new or used?

I'd be interested in hearing from those who've been here before...
 
All I know is, stripped lowers are a great way for complete rifles to begin multiplying in your safe.......
 
I was in the same boat as you. What was supposed to be a 6 month project only lasted 3 weeks. I am now on my second build.

Build it now, so you at least have one AR to shoot. If you see any good deals on parts, then buy it. You can keep those extra parts as spare or use them for your next build.
 
Just yesterday morning, in anticipation of the arrival of some folks, I put my bedroom 1911 away in the safe. As I put it in the dark space on the upper shelf where it goes on its rare safe sojourns, I bumped into something.

That something is an AR lower I'd completely forgotten I have. It's a DoubleStar with a Chip McCormick trigger, RRA winter trigger guard and no stock. It appears unfired. It is on my list of serial numbers, so I know it's not something the cable guy dropped while he was here.

I had no plans for it. Sheesh.
 
I build custom AR's in my shop. If you have questions just shoot me a message. I'd be glad to help out.
 
Don't worry, there are plenty of lowers out there for you to keep building.. but take your time find out what works for you, put a list together of what you would like then shop it out.
 
Thanks for all the good avice guys. Although I'm already jonesing for a completed rifle I'm enjoying the component acquisition process quite a bit so far...
 
I began a AR build last year because I wanted to do it...before I wasn't allowed to anymore. Huge fun, very rewarding & now I have the ultimate coyote rifle I always wanted. But it's a fever that's hard to break. I now need a nice M4 upper (and an EOTech, and a multi-railed Surefire handguard, and a...), well, you get my drift. Good Luck!
 
DAMNIT PEOPLE

I'm a college student, and I have my next purchases all thought out very carefully.

Why do you make me want to start collecting AR parts? Why?
 
Why do you make me want to start collecting AR parts? Why?
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That's one of the appealing aspects of buying components piecemeal, it CAN be done a little at a time without breaking the bank IF you can contain your enthusiasm :evil:

PS - my lower parts kit came UPS today :)
 
Lowers are cheap. It's barrels, FF tubes, optics, and match triggers that are expensive...

I just ordered a lower today for my wife's rifle. It's a 1st anniversary present (don't tell her!) and will have pink furniture.
 
I was never specifically interested in AR's but decided this year would be a good year to buy a lower and start a build up considering this years elections.
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This describes my feelings about the AR also. I never seriously considered one, until I began thinking about the upcoming election. I didn't want to take the time to build one, and also didn't want to sink a lot of money into a complete gun either. A friend had a very lightly used High Standard AR with 16in barrel and collapsible stock. He offered to let me try out, and said that I could keep is as long as I'd like. He had no plans for it, and if I wanted it, he'd sell it for $500. Well, I've been playing with it over the last week or so, and I have to say, I like it much better more than I thought I would. It seems reliable, and I like the ergonomics, compared to my AK. I plan to keep it. Good luck on getting yours together, I know how hard it can be to wait on something you really want. Maybe go out and buy a base model in the meantime, and finish the other at your leisure;).
 
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Deer Hunter, I'm in the same boat.

Next paycheck is going toward the lower. Two paychecks after that should net me a LMT upper and bolt. With a 20" barrel, rifle length gas system, 1/7" twist...my 'smith will build it up how I want.
 
I bought 2 lowers in the summer of 2005, buy the end of '05 I had my wifes National Match Build, then I returned from deployment to build my M4-gery in early '06... the 1911 bug came hard for a few years and I ended up were I wanted to be on the handgun selection, after alot of parts ordering, home gunsmithing and paying gunsmiths, although I'm still looking for a 9mm SS Commander to bob tail. The AR Bug came back when I realized I had alot of extra parts and discovered the ARF Equipment Exchange, so I build an 18" SPR for $60.80 out of pocket expense, I only bought one part retail, a single railed gas block, the 18" upper was supposed to be for my wifes NM rifle, to go on her lower and use cheap ammo vs the expensive match rounds she usally shoots and be tactical, but I decided I liked it. Took some vacation time in Jan and bought a Fulton Armory .308 stripped lower reciever, which now has a RRA trigger, DPMS LPK and A2 stock with a TAC-20 upper on order, with a single railed gas block, I think there is about 10 more weeks to wait for that to come in... and in the mean time I have; an upper reciever, BCG, Chargeing handle and MI BUIS... to build a SAM-R clone for the wife, just need to order the barrel, FF hand guards, gas tube, gas block/flip up front sight and some small parts.

To top off the insanity... I have a complete 4 possition stock here, a DPMS FCG and some other odds and ends that I just keep thinking would make a good cheap AR for my father... I'm thinking of building another upper on the cheap and a $40 LPK and a EA lower $86 and giveing it to my father... or maybe just keep it and finially build a CA legal AR just for giggles. :neener:
 
i started out buying an a1..now with the peer pressure af a good friend, i am up to 3, and thinking about a 4th, an sr25...sheesh,, gonna get divorced
 
Lowers are cheap. It's barrels, FF tubes, optics, and match triggers that are expensive...
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True words.

You can build a lower for less than two bills, if you try hard and are willing to live with an M4-style collapsible stock and USGI trigger for a while. You'd be hard pressed to find a decent railed forearm for that little scratch.

I tend to build lowers in batches, two or three at a time, and then set them aside while I figure out what they'll grow up to become.
 
I tend to build lowers in batches, two or three at a time, and then set them aside while I figure out what they'll grow up to become.
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Same here. I've got 3 sitting waiting to be finished. I know what I want to do just gathering parts.
 
Forget the free-float tubes and match triggers. When I build my first, it's gonna be bone-stock and hopefully the cheapest build I can find. The only thing I specifically want is an M4 feed ramp. Past that? Nothing.
 
Forget the free-float tubes and match triggers. When I build my first, it's gonna be bone-stock and hopefully the cheapest build I can find. The only thing I specifically want is an M4 feed ramp. Past that? Nothing.
Click to expand...

Same here...I've got a few specs that have to do with internal parts, but hand guards, triggers, grips, and stocks can all be upgraded later quite easily...

Lets see...

Probably a Rock River lower (my dealer has plenty in stock...I don't order stuff off the internet at the moment- no credit card)
Like I said, LMT upper and bolt set, plus a chromed 20 inch barrel, if I can get it...or maybe a 16 inch barrel with a mid length gas system. Either way, 1/7 twist barrel.
Probably M4 feed ramps.
Standard hand guards, nothing fancy. Double shielded, if I can get a good deal.
CAR buttstock, standard grip and trigger. Nothing fancy in the lower receiver.
 
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