I wanted a project (and a new gun!) so I decided to try one of the CDNN AR-10 build kits. The kit itself (which is now sold out) came with the following:
- DPMS LR-308 Lower
- Remington Slick Side Upper (No forward assist, no dust port cover)
- CMMG Key-Mod Handguard (15")
- MIL-SPEC lower parts kit
- Bushmaster 6-position stock (with buffer, tube, spring, castle nut)
- Bushmaster BCG
I added a Ballistic Advantage 16" .308 Tactical Government Midlength AR 308 Barrel, Modern Series with a Low Pro pinned gas blcok and melonite gas tube, and a CAA UPG grip.
Packaging and Delivery
The kit came well-packaged. All of the lower parts were in two plastic containers, with a lid and individual compartments for each part. Parts that went together (like springs and detents) were right next to each other. The larger parts were well wrapped in bubble wrap.
Delivery took a little longer than I had hoped - about 10 days. It was shipped Fedex ground (and Fedex did manage to lose it for 10 days). But even though it was going to my FFL, CDNN included me on the FedEx info so I got regular updates.
Parts Fit & Finish
No surprises with any of the parts. The upper, lower, and handguard are all good quality. Some of the other parts (like the Bushmaster charging handle) aren't high grade, but they work. The fire control group looked fine - no obvious burrs or finishing defects. One surprise (at least to me) is that the handguard came with its own barrel nut. I had bought one and already installed it before I checked the handguard. (And it wouldn't fit over a standard DPMS barrel nut). The CMMG nut has a knurled surface, so tightening and torquing it is problematic.
The only real issue I ran into was that the roll pin for the bolt release latch was undersized. It looks to be about a 3/32" pin. When I installed it, it just slid right out. I tried a 1/8" pin, but it was too big. It looks like it should be a 7/64" (?), which just seems strange. I ended up expanding the 3/8" pin to get a solid fit.
Overall Impressions
Overall I was pretty pleased with the kit and the build. It was my first time with an AR-style build, and I took advantage of the various YouTube videos available. (I did use several -- there wasn't a single video or series that I found that covered everything in the detail I needed. Having an iPad on the bench with me was very handy!!) The proof will be in the pudding when I take her out back to the range this weekend, but the process itself was pretty painless. A complete kit like this may be too basic for an experienced builder, but for someone like me it was perfect. Even with some of the "extra" parts (like the A2 pistol grip I will never use), it still came out cheaper than buying the parts separately (or even buying one of CDNN's kits with fewer parts). CDNN was good to deal with (I've never had a problem with them) and I'd certainly consider them again for a future build kit.
I hope that helps anyone who was on the fence about buying a kit!
- DPMS LR-308 Lower
- Remington Slick Side Upper (No forward assist, no dust port cover)
- CMMG Key-Mod Handguard (15")
- MIL-SPEC lower parts kit
- Bushmaster 6-position stock (with buffer, tube, spring, castle nut)
- Bushmaster BCG
I added a Ballistic Advantage 16" .308 Tactical Government Midlength AR 308 Barrel, Modern Series with a Low Pro pinned gas blcok and melonite gas tube, and a CAA UPG grip.
Packaging and Delivery
The kit came well-packaged. All of the lower parts were in two plastic containers, with a lid and individual compartments for each part. Parts that went together (like springs and detents) were right next to each other. The larger parts were well wrapped in bubble wrap.
Delivery took a little longer than I had hoped - about 10 days. It was shipped Fedex ground (and Fedex did manage to lose it for 10 days). But even though it was going to my FFL, CDNN included me on the FedEx info so I got regular updates.
Parts Fit & Finish
No surprises with any of the parts. The upper, lower, and handguard are all good quality. Some of the other parts (like the Bushmaster charging handle) aren't high grade, but they work. The fire control group looked fine - no obvious burrs or finishing defects. One surprise (at least to me) is that the handguard came with its own barrel nut. I had bought one and already installed it before I checked the handguard. (And it wouldn't fit over a standard DPMS barrel nut). The CMMG nut has a knurled surface, so tightening and torquing it is problematic.
The only real issue I ran into was that the roll pin for the bolt release latch was undersized. It looks to be about a 3/32" pin. When I installed it, it just slid right out. I tried a 1/8" pin, but it was too big. It looks like it should be a 7/64" (?), which just seems strange. I ended up expanding the 3/8" pin to get a solid fit.
Overall Impressions
Overall I was pretty pleased with the kit and the build. It was my first time with an AR-style build, and I took advantage of the various YouTube videos available. (I did use several -- there wasn't a single video or series that I found that covered everything in the detail I needed. Having an iPad on the bench with me was very handy!!) The proof will be in the pudding when I take her out back to the range this weekend, but the process itself was pretty painless. A complete kit like this may be too basic for an experienced builder, but for someone like me it was perfect. Even with some of the "extra" parts (like the A2 pistol grip I will never use), it still came out cheaper than buying the parts separately (or even buying one of CDNN's kits with fewer parts). CDNN was good to deal with (I've never had a problem with them) and I'd certainly consider them again for a future build kit.
I hope that helps anyone who was on the fence about buying a kit!
