Building an AR

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Mavrick12

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It's been awhile since I posted, and I have learned a bunch about guns in general. I am really thinking about making an Ar-15my next rifle purchase. I am wondering if anyone could help me chose the parts to build it with AND what all parts I need to purchase for the build. Also does building it outweigh the already built Ar-15 in the gunshop in price? Should I attempt to assemble it myself? How much can I expect to save?

Thanks for any help you can offer.
 
I'm currently building my first, with the help of a veteran. I've done a ton a research and found you can buy one cheaper if your not overly concerned about accuracy. Don't forget, you don't have to make it a .223...
 
gunbroker.com is a good spot to check prices and get stripped lowers. i used model 1 on my build (just bought the kit with options i wanted) and put it together on my kitchen counter. by the time my buddy got back from the local gunstore with a magazine for it, we had it built. you can save a few bucks that way and still get what you want.
 
Building a rifle allows a person to customize all options that they may want to incorporate.
Building is not cheaper than purchasing a completed upper or lower but you will end up with a high quality rifle that has all the features you want.
 
Still fairly new to shooting, I'm gathering the goodies to build an AR for myself. I have little doubt that it will come together and function well, and when I'm done I think I'll have a much better understanding of how my rifle functions. And it will not be cheaper than buying a complete rifle, but I don't think I could buy one the way I'll be putting this one together.
 
If someone wanted to build an AR with a completed upper and lower, how difficult would that be?

I've been toying around with purchasing an AR but I might only have about 600 to spend, so it seems like building would be my best bet.
 
I bought my first one complete for $962.00 plus tax. i built the next two and they cost me about $750.00 a piece. all three are awesome.

I'm hooked
 
If someone wanted to build an AR with a completed upper and lower, how difficult would that be?
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If you used a completed upper and lower there'd be no "building" to it. More like assembly, 2 pins to be exact.
 
Do I understand it correctly that you dodge some tax levee by buying an upper and lower separately as opposed to just buying a complete firearm?
 
I'd buy a complete rifle from Stag. you can get a 16" M4orgery for $750 - $850 and have a great lifetime warranty. If you get a separate upper & lower you can get it for $750 $850 complete. The separate upper & lower will come with a 1 year warranty.

I bought the complete model because for $100 extra I got a better warranty, case & some promotional items.

Check out www.lanworldinc.com
 
Oh, cool.

I was wondering something else...

How do you know which uppers and lowers are compatible, other than checking to make sure they are for the same calibre?


EDIT: For instance, if I purchased this upper and lower, would they work together?


It might just be time for me to make an impulse purchase :D
 
Colt is the only manufacturer who uses off standard dimension pin holes.
Everybody else I know of uses standard mil spec dimensions for the pivot pin, takedown pin, and the hammer and trigger pins.
 
For your first AR, I would suggest that someone buy one complete Then tinker on that one and build the next one. And the next.... ;) ARFcom has a Build It Yourself forum.

The cost of tools will roughly equal the savings for the first one.

As to whether you can just buy random upper and lower and attach them, Colt used a different pin size on some rifles, but I believe they are the only one. Most should go together. The 223 and 308 uppers/lowers are not compatible; the magazine opening is different.

dodge some tax levee
Click to expand...
In the USA, there an excise tax (FET) of 11% on firearms. Sales of individual parts (such as receivers) are not liable. http://www.ttb.gov/firearms/faqs.shtml

Lee
 
If you head over to AR15.com and do some studying, they will tell you everything you need to know about building one. Also, if you spend some time on the Equipment Exchange, and have a little patience, you can pick up parts cheaper than new. The big decision is what type of sights do want to run? If you want to scope it or stick a red dot on, you really need to be looking at a flat top upper. My last upper, a varmint style, came from http://www.model1sales.com/. I stuck one of my bolt carriers in, stuck it on one of my lowers and so far it has been flawless. Triggers on these guns are pretty rough but the aftermarket is there to correct that if you so desire.
 
Just one thing here, the new DPMS low-pro uppers (no dust cover or forward assist) do not fit up very cleanly with other manufacturers uppers. Also, S & W custom shop makes a unique upper and lower, it's a new look...
 
What all tools will I need for this? Hey i dont know about anyone else, but I will put effort into it, really so if it will save me money :neener:

Thnaks for your help.
 
Personally, I just found out about, and decided to use, J&T Distributing. I think I'll get one of their CAR kits found here, and then put in the stripped lower receiver.

The site lets you customize quite a bit and I did have a question...

Should I go for the forged front sight base? I want to leave myself open to putting a scope on the rifle at a later date. I suppose I should make sure I get the flattop upper for that purpose.

I think the only other upgrade I would get is the chrome lined lightweight barrel...
 
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