Hey guys thinking on building a ar15, and need some help. With how much money can I do this with, and also where is a good source for instruction and a good source for parts. Also I would love to build one but would I be better off buying one? Thanks
Building an ar15
- Thread starter tango3065
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gun-fucious
Member
buy the first
build numbers 2 thru 15
build numbers 2 thru 15
This subject has been covered extensively. A quick search and you will be likely get the whole story. Also you need to check out AR15.com. They have a whole forum on building ARs. They also have instructions for assembling a lower and links to other sites that allow you to download military armor's manuals and such.
If you are trying to save money by building an AR, forget it, you won't. Unless you really shop around and get some really fantastic deals. If you want to know your weapon inside and out, if you like to tinker, if you are looking for a fun project, if you take pride in doing things yourself, or if there is an AR configuration that you don't see made by any major manufacturer, then jump on in, the water is fine.
If you are trying to save money by building an AR, forget it, you won't. Unless you really shop around and get some really fantastic deals. If you want to know your weapon inside and out, if you like to tinker, if you are looking for a fun project, if you take pride in doing things yourself, or if there is an AR configuration that you don't see made by any major manufacturer, then jump on in, the water is fine.
Like 444 said, you aren't going to save any money on your first build-unless you know someone that has the tools.
However, if you plan on aquiring more than one AR, then subsequent builds will save you money once you have made the initial tool investment.
There certainly is something to be said about knowing your weapon inside an out.......
Check out the build it yourself forum over on AR15.com.
Regardless of what you decide, good luck, and enjoy.
However, if you plan on aquiring more than one AR, then subsequent builds will save you money once you have made the initial tool investment.
There certainly is something to be said about knowing your weapon inside an out.......
Check out the build it yourself forum over on AR15.com.
Regardless of what you decide, good luck, and enjoy.
Redlg155
Member
You are looking at about $600.00 to build and AR from kit form.
$110 for a lower shipped. Rock River, DPMS and Eagle Arms fall into this price range.
$30 for your dealer to do the transfer and bg checks.
$460 for the kit shipped to you. Many places have their kits with the upper fully assembled. All that it required is that you assemble the lower. Assembling the lower requires no special tools other than a punches, small hammer and a crecent wrench. It will take you about 45 minutes to an hour to build. It will definitely help if you have a basic understanding of just how the internals are supposed to work.
There are some companies that have kits for a bit less. The price I gave you was from someone like JT distibuting.
Good Shooting
Red
$110 for a lower shipped. Rock River, DPMS and Eagle Arms fall into this price range.
$30 for your dealer to do the transfer and bg checks.
$460 for the kit shipped to you. Many places have their kits with the upper fully assembled. All that it required is that you assemble the lower. Assembling the lower requires no special tools other than a punches, small hammer and a crecent wrench. It will take you about 45 minutes to an hour to build. It will definitely help if you have a basic understanding of just how the internals are supposed to work.
There are some companies that have kits for a bit less. The price I gave you was from someone like JT distibuting.
Good Shooting
Red
Rob96
Member
$600 to build? I bought my DPMS 16" carbine fpr $675 NIB.
Redlg is pretty much on about the prices. You can save a few bucks by picking up a lower at a gunshow, but you also have to figure in the cost of a cheap sling, a mag, and sometimes a case that comes with a new rifle. That's another $10-15 on top of the cost of building it yourself. Additionally you don't get a factory warranty that you otherwise would with a complete rifle.
The cheapest way might be to get a Model 1 kit ($400 + shipping) and get a lower from a gunshow ($100 + $5 admission) - there you're probably looking at around $525.
The cheapest way might be to get a Model 1 kit ($400 + shipping) and get a lower from a gunshow ($100 + $5 admission) - there you're probably looking at around $525.
I am an English teacher with zero mechanical apitude.
I have built two AR-15s.
If I can build one, anyone can build one.
I got my first lower receiver, an Olympic Arms, for $105.
I had no special tools, and built the first one in about three hours in my living room floor.
Be sure you get the Marine Corps M-16 Armorer's manual. Its diagrams really help show you what goes where.
The worst part was the detent in the front hinge pin....where upper receiver attaches to lower receiver. That spring and pin just kept popping out and I had to keep looking for them.
hillbilly
I have built two AR-15s.
If I can build one, anyone can build one.
I got my first lower receiver, an Olympic Arms, for $105.
I had no special tools, and built the first one in about three hours in my living room floor.
Be sure you get the Marine Corps M-16 Armorer's manual. Its diagrams really help show you what goes where.
The worst part was the detent in the front hinge pin....where upper receiver attaches to lower receiver. That spring and pin just kept popping out and I had to keep looking for them.
hillbilly
How does the panther arms, rock island,olympic arms, compare to the qaulity and most of all the durability of companies like bushmaster, and armalite? I really want a ar15 but I dont have a lot of excess fun money to spend being since I have a family and am paying college money, but I want somthing dependable that I can keep a lifetime. Thanks
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You can learn how to build one from the info at arfcom ( http://www.ar15.com ) or buy the USMC manual. It's not hard and you only need a few specialized tools (that $40 barrel nut wrench combo tool) and some pin punches. Biggest thing is to tighten the bbl down to the upper and then checking for headspace (you'll need both the go & no go gauge).
As for quality, they're all pretty good but BM seems to lead the pack. The different companies do a lot of trading among themselves though and when Olympic Arms had a fire, many of them pitched in to help Oly get back on its feet.
As for quality, they're all pretty good but BM seems to lead the pack. The different companies do a lot of trading among themselves though and when Olympic Arms had a fire, many of them pitched in to help Oly get back on its feet.
OLY has great prices AND a no questions asked lifetime warranty. For a budget rifle thats a great safety net and their are plenty of people who have purchased an OLY when they could afford to pay several hundred dollars more (myself included) for something else.
I have a Colt SP1 and the Oly "Plinker" (that wicked CAST receiver
), you know what, they both perform equally well and do a great job. Neither was intended for competition but the "Plinker easily outshoots my SP1, life just ain't fair sometimes.
I have a Colt SP1 and the Oly "Plinker" (that wicked CAST receiver
), you know what, they both perform equally well and do a great job. Neither was intended for competition but the "Plinker easily outshoots my SP1, life just ain't fair sometimes.- Status