Building an AR

Status
Not open for further replies.
H

htsht

Member
Joined
Apr 13, 2005
Messages
18
Thought about picking up a Mini14 here a week ago but decided the AR is more of what I am looking for. I have been over to AR-15.com but having a hard time getting it to except my email for registration.

I am wanting to build a good quality low dollar AR, if that is possible. From what I have read RRA looks to be a good company. Looks are somewhat important but I am wanting a good functioning gun. This will not be a hunting gun, strictly going to the range. Our range here is putting up a 600yd field right now.

Any suggestion would be helpful, thanks.
 
I'm working on mine right now. As of this moment, I have $140 in the lower reciver, and $20 into two USGI surplus magazines. I am most likely going with a Del-Ton kit, haven't decided on the config yet, buit it will be about $460. So I will be about $620.

www.ar15.com is a very good resource.
 
There was a guy on AR15.com selling Stag lowers for $85 or so, they are well made and functional. Get one, then pick up a kit complete with everything you need to build a rifle. The kit will be anywhere from the low $400's to up around $1000, it just depends on what you want out of the rifle.

I just built an M4, I have about $625 in it and it shoots great. I could have done it cheaper but there were some options that I wanted. I don't have many rounds through it yet but it appears to be MOA or close to it with cheap surplus ammo out to 200 yards.

My next one will be a standard rifle style, with the White Oak Armory 'service rifle' upper. That one will be about $1000 or so, but I will have a rifle that will be competitive and capable of winning high power matches on just about any level.
 
Question: do you have the tools to do the whole job yourself? If not, can you borrow them?

This is where you can save a ton of money initially, but spend more in the long run.

You see, IMHO there are only two parts on the AR that you really need to be picky about--that's the trigger, and the upper receiver.

Specifically, the triggers on stock AR's are typically horrible. Spend a few coins during the build, and get a good unit like a Jewell trigger.

Next, comes the barrel. If you are going to get into position shooting, spend a bit more coin, and get a DCM-legal free float tube. Otherwise, regular handguards will do.

The most important thing is the barrel. Most AR's will shoot very well indeed, to a somewhat limited range. Longer ranges (past 300 yards) will demand a premium for accuracy. Thus, a match quality barrel is called for. You can either buy a complete upper (no special tools needed) or build the upper yourself (a few special tools--and patience--needed).
 
I've built 2 AR's, and have been extremely satisfied with them. AR's are extremely easy to build, anyone with decent mechanical skills can do it, if you can assemble a bicycle you can build an AR. "Building" an AR really boils down to assembling the fire control group, installing the parts into the lower receiver and adding the stock, when you get a kit from a good company the upper receiver and top end parts are already assembled.

Here are instructions on how to assemble the lower receiver.
http://www.ar15.com/content/guides/assembly/lower/

Most of the tools needed are ordinary household tools, like a screwdriver and hammer, there are 2 specialized tools I recommend, roll pin punches, they are inexpensive and can be found at Brownells.

To assemble the lower kit the only special tools you need are the roll pin punches from Brownell's, the smaller one for the bolt catch pin and the larger for the trigger guard pin.

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=5551&title=ROLL+PIN+PUNCHES

3/32 is #3 Roll pin punch (for bolt release pin)
item #230-100-003
#3 Roll Pin Punch $3.75

1/8 is #4 Roll pin punch (for trigger guard pin)
item #230-100-004
#4 Roll Pin Punch $3.83

Small item shipping $3.70

total delivered $11.28

J&T Distributing 20" AR15A2 kit $459.95
http://webcats.net/store/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=J&Product_Code=C2AAK&Category_Code=K

J&T Distributing 16" Carbine kit $459.95
http://webcats.net/store/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=J&Product_Code=C1C&Category_Code=K

Stag Arms stripped lower receiver $85, Eagle Firearms is out right now, but he will probably have them back in soon.
http://www.eaglefirearms.net/stag_arms.htm

You will need a few magazines, Eagle Firearms has those also.
http://www.eaglefirearms.net/ar15_magazines.htm

I've done business with all these vendors and highly recommend them!
 
I dont have the tools but will pick up the ones that are needed. Would say that this will be the only one I build, but that would probably be a lie. :evil: Might end up getting a built ready to go lower though. The JT Distibuting kit looks pretty nice, will read into that some more.

Have no problems spending more money building one just because I am a hands on person, want to learn something in the process.

Which length barrel would you guys reccommend for long range shooting, 20" or 16"??
 
Y'all are renewing my desire and anxiety to build an AR. I'd put it out of my mind as monetary resources are not yet available, but now I'm getting excited about it again. HTSHT, let us know what you end up getting and how the build goes. Hope it goes well. :D
 
my suggestion would be not to build a the rifle until you become sufficiently familiar with the internal function of the rifle. (ie how the interior fire controls, gas system, rotating bolt fucntion.)


also I'd suggest standard 20" bbl and the solid stock for target shooting. I find a tremendous increase in accuracy with the extra 20" on the barrel. The solid stock is IMO more comfortable to shoot and produces more consistant results at range than the M4 type stock.
 
Ditto on that.

May I also suggest dropping a little coin on a few good tools?

The AR15 specific tools are pretty good across the board. Invest, and buy a good vise--not the generic tool shop specials, either. A good vise will evenly distribute clamping force. One with an adjustable base is a bonus. Secure it to the sturdiest bench you can find.

Also, invest in a good ft/lb. torque wrench, with adapters.
 
Go to the Equipment Exchange section of AR15.com and you'll see all the dealer offerings. I just got a nice Superior Arms lower.... I did need another lower, really, I did.... :rolleyes:
 
my suggestion would be not to build a the rifle until you become sufficiently familiar with the internal function of the rifle. (ie how the interior fire controls, gas system, rotating bolt fucntion.)
Click to expand...
There isn't any better way to become familiar with those than assembling, you get an excellent education on exactly how they operate. That's one of the biggest advantages with building your own, I know exactly how it works and have no fear of diving into the fire control group.

For barrel length a 20" is a good length, generally a 20" will be as accurate as a 24", the only benefit of the longer barrel is a bit more velocity. I have a 20" in a A2 standard configuration, and my target/varmint rifle is a 24" bull barrel.
 
I'm with G56. Assemble your AR.

They are very easy and it doesn't take a gunsmith to do it. If you can put together a bicycle, you can EASILY put together an AR.

Compared to the relatively pricey Bushmasters, the kit guns will save you at least $200.

I put together a White Oak upper on a RRA lower from Eagle firearms for less than $950. For a 1:7 match grade, free floated, pinned A2 sight gun there is NO comparable Bushmaster. You can have your cake and eat it too.....
 
So I just ordered my 20" A2 kit from Del-Ton, and total cost for it and the lower came out to $606. I'll let you know how hard she is to get together, by someone who has never built one before, and who is going to try to skip out on the roll pin punches.

I find a tremendous increase in accuracy with the extra 20" on the barrel.
Click to expand...

Man, you must have what, a 36" barrel? :p

On AR15.com, the general consensus is that the 20" is no more accurate than the 16". Shooting open sights, the 20" you might be able to shoot better because of the longer sight radius, but if you are using optics, it seems they shoot as accurate.
 
Well finally got an email account to be accepted at AR-15.com. Doing lots of reading over there the last couple days, looks like I still have a lot of reading to do.

Buddy of mine is building his with a Stag lower. Said they were one of the best out. Any opinions on them??
 
I built mine with a Stag lower, my buddy is building his with a Stag lower, and my dad is building his with a Stag lower.

I'm happy with Stag and would use them again if I build another AR.

ar.jpg


Chris
 
I build mine by buying an RRA stripped lower and a complete upper plus parts kit from J&T (www.jtdistributing.com). I'm happy with it and it was very easy to assemble using the instructions listed on ar15.com. You should definitely not be intimidated by building the lower. I think anyone who is even slightly mechanically inclined can handle it. I actually took it to the range for the first time today. Worked great.
 
A lot of those parts are mil spec parts, produced by ??? Bushmaster doesn't make the small parts, they buy them. There was a post (on another message board) a while back by a guy who was upset, he paid the extra bucks for a set of Bushmaster lower parts, he later found out that at least one of the parts, the bolt release, was the same as in the kits from one of the cheaper kit vendors, there was a manufacturers code on the back of the finger pad on the bolt release.
 
Got done with my build, see my thread around here somewhere. Total time took about 3 hours, including watching the race at the same time and searching for dropped springs. I just followed the directions on AR15.com, and made some up as I went along.

One thing: BUY THE ROLL PIN PUNCHES. Pivot pin installation tool wasn't necessary, but could be useful. Same thing can be esentially be done with a fine screwdriver.

Other than that, have fun. Can't wait to shoot mine.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

C
  • Locked
looking to build celebration AR
Replies
7
Views
602
captain obvious
C
G
  • Locked
9mm AR Build
Replies
1
Views
348
txgunsuscg
T
R
  • Locked
Abbreviations and Acronyms
Replies
5
Views
318
Smokey Joe
S
W
  • Locked
Building an AR
Replies
3
Views
352
rcmodel
R
T
  • Locked
What does it take to build an AR?
Replies
8
Views
463
trickyasafox
T
Back
Top