Building an AR from a kit

[Samuraigg]

So I've been thinking about using J&T's to order a CAR Kit, but I had a few questions that I wanted to post here and on Ar15.com first.

I was looking at the J&T COMPLETE 16” CAR Kit, but the site also lets you modify a lot before you order. I think I want to go stock on everything, but what I was wondering about were the sights. I may someday want to put a scope on the rifle, so I want to leave myself open to that. What do I need to order for that then? I know I should probably get the flattop upper, but should I get the forged front sight base or the picatinny rail gas block?

I know that I need to order a stripped lower to put with the kit. would pretty much any stripped lower work with these kits?

Thanks for the help guys.

 

[nvshooter]

Picatinny gas block! That big, triangular sight base is so 1960s. And get the heavy barrel-- the kind that's .936" under the gas block...

The very best lower out there is by Tactical Customs of Carson City, NV. It is a forging that is then all-CNC machined to one-half the tolerance of every other lower out there-- even Colt's. These guys are aircraft machinists. They know how to machine aluminum. I've been in their shop. It's pure class all the way. Hit www.mreguns.com and look toward the top of the first page. Click the AR15 Tactical Customs link...


I've seen and handled that AR with the Beta mag. It was specially built by Tactical Customs for a young Marine who took it to Iraq and assumably kicked some tokhus with it...

 

[Samuraigg]

Cool, thanks for the suggestions.

If I get the Picatinny rail, will the gun have any iron sights at all? I'm a little bit confused about what to expect with that.

 

[Frog48]

I've seen and handled that AR with the Beta mag. It was specially built by Tactical Customs for a young Marine who took it to Iraq and assumably kicked some tokhus with it...

Who fed you that line? Personally owned firearms are not allowed to be brought on deployment.

would pretty much any stripped lower work with these kits?

Yes. There are only a handful of companies that actually manufacture AR15 lower receivers. The vast majority subcontract to the other companies. So regardless what brand you buy, it was probably made at the same place as several other brands.

 

[Canuck-IL]

DPMS lower part kits are good ... there are several on gunbroker now for under the normal $60 price.

Consider getting fold down front and rear sights...I think M&A offers them at a decent price.
/Bryan

 

[tkcomer]

If you ever plan to put a scope, red dot, holo sight, etc, you want a flat top with the removable carry handle and fold down front sights. From what I've read, once an optic goes on, that carry handle ends up in a drawer somewhere. Since you mentioned ar15.com, you might want to get the stripped lower first and put that together. I see a lot of used stocks for sale on the Equipment Exchange section of that site. Plus a lot of used uppers. That's a good price on a kit. Just make sure it's what you want. It's what I did years ago. But then I spent a lot of money changing it around to make it what I should have done in the first place.

 

[DougW]

Keeping it simple, I would suggest starting out with an A3 variant, 16" barrel with some sort of standard muzzle device (you have some issues being in Illinoise), and a government profile barrel. The standard front sight with a removable carry handle will give you plenty of options to scope later or not. JT kits are great, but also check Del-Ton. I have used M&A and Model1 Sales also. I have built 9 various AR's from carbines to 20" Bull Barreled rifles. My $.02 is to start with a basic carbine, then move up to more later.

Just in case you are interested, here is a pic my son (serving in Iraq), sent me of his current weapon, an M4. The handguard is a CAA, the grip is a CAA, the sling is a Mamba from SOG, and the light set up is a Surefire. All those parts belong to him, and will return to the US with him

 

[Samuraigg]

When you say standard muzzle device, what do you mean?

I do want to make sure I stay legal in Illinois.

I'm looking at model 1 sales right now.

EDIT: Model 1 has ban compliant ARs, should I think about getting one of those?

Also, do I need to get the removable carry handle or could I just stick with the A3 upper. I don't really want the handle.. just the flat top and the ability to mount scopes later.

 

[john paul]

my first was a model 1 flattop with steel sight base. put folding buis on it and use whatever optic you want

 

[MisterPX]

"Sothwest suburbs of Chicago"
Make sure which version of an AR15; ban, or no ban, is legal where you live first.

As far as a kit, if you plan on eventually running a scope, take the picatinny upper, and regular front sight base. That way, with teh detachable carry handle, you can run traditional iron sights, and if you choose to run a scope later, the front sight won't affect too much of your vision on lower powers, and will be completely invisible on higher powers.

 

[Samuraigg]

Haha, yeah I live in home ruled Tinley Park. I checked with a gunshop in my town about the law. I actually think I saw them have an AR 15 in stock last time I visited... but of course I'll double check with them about the legality tomorrow before I order anything.

 

[asknight]

And if you get the super-HBAR (.936")as recommended by nvshooter, don't expect to shoot from anywhere other than the bench, as the carbine will weigh over 10 lbs. Good luck humping that 'bine!

With the 16" CAR, you can specify an A3 configuration with detachable carry handle and standard front sight. When you remove the carry handle and mount your optic of choice, you won't be able to see the front sight in your view due to it being too close to the objective lens to focus on. You can empty Bill Gates wallet with all the tacticool goodies... so any of that is strictly your own personal preference.

 

[rino451]

My advice would be to get 16" or 14.5" CAR or midlength barrel (w/ permanent muzzle "device"), flat top upper, CAR or midlength handguards. A also advocate permanent front sights and either a carry handle rear or a permanently affixed backup rear sight (looks like a cut down carry handle for the most part). That'll get you up and running.

From there, go shoot it. A Lot. That'll help you figure out what you "need" vs. what you want vs. what the hype tells you to buy. Meet people and shoot their AR's with different configurations to see what you really like. (Notice the weight...) Shoot a lot, though. I thought the Eotech was the cat's ass until I tried shooting all day with one. Became dead weight really quick - weight exceeded benefits unbelievably quick but I have the AA kind. (And screw heavy barrels unless you're into target or varmint shooting.) Free float tubes, also too heavy with no real benefit unless target or varmint shooting. Rails systems (aka the cheese grate) are cool, but just allow you to drop more stuff (dead weight) onto what was a light rifle/carbine. Oh, yea, they're also usually heavier than standard handguards.

I bought into all the hype and wound up with the following which I rarely use:

20" A3 upper w/ JP freefloat tube - heavy, used once at range and sitting in the safe.
ACOG - 7 months old and never used sitting on the upper above.
(So, that's something like $1200 retail sitting in the safe...)
Eotech - used a bit and removed in favor of (lighter, and equally affective IME at close range) open sights. The wife will use it if I can get her to shoot rifles with me, but she sticks to pistols usually.
(There's another $400 or so...)
16" A3 upper JP free float CAR hand guards - less than 500 rnds and attached to the Eotech above. Also in safe. And don't buy that JP front sight pocket extender. Looks WAY cool, but serious dead weight.
(<tears> Another $500+ </tears>)

Even after two tactical carbine classes, I always stick with my 14.5" M4-gery CAR with A2 upper. Only accessories that I'd buy at this point besides an AK are A1 uppers (w/ A2 apertures and cost permitting) and 16" superlight CAR barrels. I find the A2 unnecessarily complex.

 

[sandman608]

Check this link for IL firearms info

http://www.isra.org/links/illinois_firearms_info.shtml