Finally finished my AR build after a year of saving and buying it one piece at a time. I am sure some of you may not agree with some of the pieces I chose but I am happy with what I have. I also understand what I need to upgrade in the future if I choose to do so. Having never done this kind of thing before I went in completely green and not very sure of myself and am completely satisfied and then some with my results.
I am posting this not to boast but to give my experiences and my build so those who are thinking about building themselves they can have a “greener’s” perspective. So here is my list in order of purchase.
• Mag Tactical stripped lower
• PSA classic LPK
• 2 magpul 30rd Pmags
• Buttstock – Traditional A2 (originally a PSA classic m4 kit)
• fully assembled Double Star upper w/20” Hbar 1/9twist M4 feed ramps
• A2 style detachable carry handle/ sight
• PSA BCG HPI/MP tested, with charging handle
I’ll start by saying I first purchased the lower during the “OMG THERE WON’T BE NO MO AR’S EVER YOU BETTER BUILD NOW” craze. Luckily I was able to get a lower for just a bit over regular price but I got it at a small local gun store which had a slight markup on things anyway. I got a Mag tactical stripped lower, mainly because it was the only thing my locals could order at the time, all the others were completely sold out due to the mass buying. (we all remember that right?) That was the very first thing I bought and I’m happy with it, now if it was a different time and place I would have chosen something different but that’s what I have and I like it, hindsight 20/20 and all. It is made from a magnesium aluminum alloy that makes it lighter but that doesn’t do much for my build, like I said it was what was available to me and I jumped on it at the time.
Lower parts kit is just a standard PSA including the fire control group and an A2 pistol grip. Assembling the lower was much easier than I thought it would be, especially when I didn’t have the proper tools (only punches not the roll pin specific ones). I will confess there are a few small idiot marks but they aren’t too bad and I know how to avoid them in the future. I like this LPK, the trigger feels smooth and not too heavy though I haven’t measured it. Everything went in nice and it all feels tight and looks good.
Magpul P-mags, of course! They are great, we all know them and I expect to buy several more as time goes on.
So I first purchased the PSA classic M4 kit as a butt stock, it has the buffer tube, spring and buffer as well as a 6 position stock. After sitting on that for a few months I realized I wanted a rifle length barrel and the spring and buffer were carbine length. So my lovely wife bought me the A2 stock for my birthday which was great since I figured I was going rifle length I wanted to copy a traditional A2 more. I like it, it fits me well, and I like the smooth classic look of it.
Since this is my first build I felt assembling the upper was a bit too much, so I opted for a fully assembled upper. Now I had been keeping my eye on several websites as I saved up for this piece. I knew I wanted a 20” barrel and I wanted to try to stay in the A2 looks with the traditional tall front site gas block and classic looking handguards. Now I know they say that the barrel is the most important part of the rifle only followed by the bolt and bcg. I am under no delusions that I will be shooting any MOE, outside of a little plinking and some hunting still have a lot to learn on marksmanship. I have a .22 so I know you guys will say that’s a cheaper way and it is I agree. But the .22 doesn’t shoot the same as a center fire and I wanted to learn on something I considered to be closer to the real deal. So this is intended to be a first build, learn on and have fun gun. I would like to do some competition in the future but with work and family life with small children that isn’t fathomable for a few years. So I have plenty of time to learn some and figure out what kind of competition I want to try (my range does high power, I know there are some 3 gun in the area) and what kind of configuration I want in the end. I am pretty sure this won’t be my last AR. I digress, in the long run I found a good deal on a doublestar. I did research and read good things about them and decided it was a good starting upper for me and it fits my traditional look well.
Rear sight is the detachable carry handle, I love the look of it and I want to learn to shoot irons and I thought this is the best way. A friend of mine is an ex-marine and wants to help me learn marksmanship and this is right up his alley, though his AR is a bit more tacticaled out than mine it.
Finally BCG and carry handle, PSA had a great deal come up on this set so I jumped on it. The bolt is HP/MPI tested shot peened and chrome lined. PSA is a good reputable company the bolt had all the bells and whistles I was looking for and the price was right. There are better bcg’s out there sure, but I like PSA and this one will work just fine I think. The charging handle is just your plain standard handle made out of 7075 aluminum, it works, I’m satisfied.
I can say this was a great experience and I feel I know my rifle in and out, and can honestly say I will probably never get rid of this one since its my first. I can tell you if you are thinking of building your own, do it. I’ve been around guns a long time but only really been shooting for a few years, and this wasn’t as hard as I thought it might be. It is totally worth your time so get over your nerves and do it you’ll be happy you did. If you want and AR and want to skip building and get an assembled one, I say if it is your first, then build it. You learn each piece, where they go and what they do. You get more in tune with your tool and it feels more yours than just buying one. It’s worth it guys and gals, all those folks out there in the internets on youtube and in forums were right, it is totally worth it I love mine.
Now its just time to shoot it and start reloading so I can shoot it more often. This was pretty long so if you made it to the end I appreciate your ear, my wife is a purse nut and God love her tries to listen to me about my guns but its in one ear and out the other.
This is my weapon, there are many like it, but this one is mine.
I am posting this not to boast but to give my experiences and my build so those who are thinking about building themselves they can have a “greener’s” perspective. So here is my list in order of purchase.
• Mag Tactical stripped lower
• PSA classic LPK
• 2 magpul 30rd Pmags
• Buttstock – Traditional A2 (originally a PSA classic m4 kit)
• fully assembled Double Star upper w/20” Hbar 1/9twist M4 feed ramps
• A2 style detachable carry handle/ sight
• PSA BCG HPI/MP tested, with charging handle
I’ll start by saying I first purchased the lower during the “OMG THERE WON’T BE NO MO AR’S EVER YOU BETTER BUILD NOW” craze. Luckily I was able to get a lower for just a bit over regular price but I got it at a small local gun store which had a slight markup on things anyway. I got a Mag tactical stripped lower, mainly because it was the only thing my locals could order at the time, all the others were completely sold out due to the mass buying. (we all remember that right?) That was the very first thing I bought and I’m happy with it, now if it was a different time and place I would have chosen something different but that’s what I have and I like it, hindsight 20/20 and all. It is made from a magnesium aluminum alloy that makes it lighter but that doesn’t do much for my build, like I said it was what was available to me and I jumped on it at the time.
Lower parts kit is just a standard PSA including the fire control group and an A2 pistol grip. Assembling the lower was much easier than I thought it would be, especially when I didn’t have the proper tools (only punches not the roll pin specific ones). I will confess there are a few small idiot marks but they aren’t too bad and I know how to avoid them in the future. I like this LPK, the trigger feels smooth and not too heavy though I haven’t measured it. Everything went in nice and it all feels tight and looks good.
Magpul P-mags, of course! They are great, we all know them and I expect to buy several more as time goes on.
So I first purchased the PSA classic M4 kit as a butt stock, it has the buffer tube, spring and buffer as well as a 6 position stock. After sitting on that for a few months I realized I wanted a rifle length barrel and the spring and buffer were carbine length. So my lovely wife bought me the A2 stock for my birthday which was great since I figured I was going rifle length I wanted to copy a traditional A2 more. I like it, it fits me well, and I like the smooth classic look of it.
Since this is my first build I felt assembling the upper was a bit too much, so I opted for a fully assembled upper. Now I had been keeping my eye on several websites as I saved up for this piece. I knew I wanted a 20” barrel and I wanted to try to stay in the A2 looks with the traditional tall front site gas block and classic looking handguards. Now I know they say that the barrel is the most important part of the rifle only followed by the bolt and bcg. I am under no delusions that I will be shooting any MOE, outside of a little plinking and some hunting still have a lot to learn on marksmanship. I have a .22 so I know you guys will say that’s a cheaper way and it is I agree. But the .22 doesn’t shoot the same as a center fire and I wanted to learn on something I considered to be closer to the real deal. So this is intended to be a first build, learn on and have fun gun. I would like to do some competition in the future but with work and family life with small children that isn’t fathomable for a few years. So I have plenty of time to learn some and figure out what kind of competition I want to try (my range does high power, I know there are some 3 gun in the area) and what kind of configuration I want in the end. I am pretty sure this won’t be my last AR. I digress, in the long run I found a good deal on a doublestar. I did research and read good things about them and decided it was a good starting upper for me and it fits my traditional look well.
Rear sight is the detachable carry handle, I love the look of it and I want to learn to shoot irons and I thought this is the best way. A friend of mine is an ex-marine and wants to help me learn marksmanship and this is right up his alley, though his AR is a bit more tacticaled out than mine it.
Finally BCG and carry handle, PSA had a great deal come up on this set so I jumped on it. The bolt is HP/MPI tested shot peened and chrome lined. PSA is a good reputable company the bolt had all the bells and whistles I was looking for and the price was right. There are better bcg’s out there sure, but I like PSA and this one will work just fine I think. The charging handle is just your plain standard handle made out of 7075 aluminum, it works, I’m satisfied.
I can say this was a great experience and I feel I know my rifle in and out, and can honestly say I will probably never get rid of this one since its my first. I can tell you if you are thinking of building your own, do it. I’ve been around guns a long time but only really been shooting for a few years, and this wasn’t as hard as I thought it might be. It is totally worth your time so get over your nerves and do it you’ll be happy you did. If you want and AR and want to skip building and get an assembled one, I say if it is your first, then build it. You learn each piece, where they go and what they do. You get more in tune with your tool and it feels more yours than just buying one. It’s worth it guys and gals, all those folks out there in the internets on youtube and in forums were right, it is totally worth it I love mine.
Now its just time to shoot it and start reloading so I can shoot it more often. This was pretty long so if you made it to the end I appreciate your ear, my wife is a purse nut and God love her tries to listen to me about my guns but its in one ear and out the other.
This is my weapon, there are many like it, but this one is mine.
![NCM_0110[1].jpg](/data/attachments/143/143917-0af5c23c8d7403b20844d0963c5b29c7.jpg)
