Frankengun AR15 Advice

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SonofGilnockie89

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Earlier today while on break from classes I wandered into a small gun/pawn shop that is situated just down from the campus. As with most of these stores, the selection is not great and the prices are extortionate ($925 for a used XD40 for example). However, I drifted over to the rifle rack and noticed a nice looking AR with a price tag of $599.......which I thought rather low for anything resembling an AR. Upon further inspection I noticed that the lower was marked "Worldwide" out of Redmond, Oregon I believe it was. It had the typical M4 stock, a 1:9 twist barrel, and a flat top configuration. It is also rated for 5.56 according to the markings. The rifle felt of decent quality so I asked the owner of the store about it. He informed me that a friend of his "builds" them and sells them wholesale to him.

My question is whether any of you are familiar with that lower and whether or not you would advise taking the plunge on this particular rifle. I like the price very much but I do not want a great deal on a POS rifle and would rather just wait and buy something I won't develop an ulcer dealing with.

I am new to the AR scene and would appreciate any intelligent input. Thanks for your time.
 
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For a more precise answer on pricing, you'd need to identify more of the parts; like what type of trigger, upper, barrel chromed or ___, etc. However, i'd assume that if prices are ambitious in general, the item that catches your eye will be no exception...

I'd simply make sure that the lower itself is mil-spec, which you can do on the manufacturers website, and also that magazines don't get hung up in it, more than one mag from more than one manufacturer preferably.

FWIW, I'd buy a stripped lower and pick the components for your assembly yourself; maybe get a complete upper. It is very easy to assemble one, and you have a better understanding of how things go together...and it's tailored to you, not a generalized M4gery by whoever threw it together. You can also buy the components piecemeal over a couple months, after researching each element accordingly, which means that you don't have to part with a big chunk of change in one fell swoop.
 
desidog said:
For a more precise answer on pricing, you'd need to identify more of the parts; like what type of trigger, upper, barrel chromed or ___, etc. However, i'd assume that if prices are ambitious in general, the item that catches your eye will be no exception...

I'd simply make sure that the lower itself is mil-spec, which you can do on the manufacturers website, and also that magazines don't get hung up in it, more than one mag from more than one manufacturer preferably.

FWIW, I'd buy a stripped lower and pick the components for your assembly yourself; maybe get a complete upper. It is very easy to assemble one, and you have a better understanding of how things go together...and it's tailored to you, not a generalized M4gery by whoever threw it together. You can also buy the components piecemeal over a couple months, after researching each element accordingly, which means that you don't have to part with a big chunk of change in one fell swoop.
Click to expand...
I am leaning towards building one as I am infamous for taking everything apart for the sake of seeing how it works. Not to mention that any cash saved helps on a student's budget =)
 
If they want nearly 1k for a used XD, I'd steer clear of anything they sell. This is probably cobbled together from the cheapest parts the builder can get in lower volumes.

Lets say you get a stripped lower for ~$125 total ($90 online plus shipping/FFL or $125 at gun store)

LPK $65

M4 stock, buffer tube, buffer, spring etc. $65 (BCM M4 milspec stock kit)

Assembled lower= $255

BCM assembled upper (w/ CH and BCG) $520
Handguard ~$30 (standard double heat shield less than $25, Magpul mid length MOE $33)
Magpul BUIS $55

Total $860, and this rifle would be trust it with your life in combat-reliable.

Most prices from http://www.bravocompanyusa.com

Spikes also has very good quality ARs for low prices.
 
I would run, not walk in the opposite direction. "A guy I know build's 'em in his basement" does not inspire confidence when improper assembly or shoddy parts could make a rifle prone to malfunction.
 
you can get lowers pretty cheap right now- I got a DSArms blem lower shipped for 66 bucks, which is not bad at all. throw in the 25 dollar transfer I paid and you have a nice spec'd lower for 91 dollars OTD. The blems are virtually non-existent.
 
I would also be afraid of an AR going that cheap. You know the parts are bottom of the barrel. I'd spend a couple hundred more and build something of quality. Oh yeah - that's exactly what I did! :p
 
Building them can be from 600 on up. A del ton kit would run 450ish and a lower would be 100. I wanted a value build. I found there is a big difference between cheap and inexpensive. I built my lower for 270. Sabre lower, doublestar LPK, hogue grip, and BCM 6 pos. stock kit. The upper is a Stag, bought from BCM. Total price for my setup was 800 including the buis. Knowing how everything works and how everything works together is important to me though. That is the reason I built instead of bought a whole rifle.

One thing about building....there are so many options, and many aren't much more money that a basic part. The money can add up pretty quick. LOL
 
"a friend of his" is most likely breaking the law. not that I agree with that law, but it's still not something you want to be involved in.

you made the right decision
 
^ Agreed, and there are also other AR's on the market with warranties for about the same price, and most likely much better quality. It sounds like his friend is building a gun to sell at a price point.
Check out the for sale section on THR, not many bargains, but fair prices.
 
That friend of the gun dealer is likely named CMMG, who puts out a nice $599 Bargain Bin rifle, and distributes to any FFL. They buy cosmetic seconds from the big names or small, and assemble them. I've seen a lot of different rollmarks, grips, including Tango Down, and stocks.

Many owners have actually complained they can't find the blemishes - so why is the same rollmark lower $350 more for what appears to be the same rifle? Of course, that is always denied by the brand fans, who paid for the privilege to put the first scratch on theirs.

Like as not, the $599 will get you a nice shooter for every now and then. No, it might not get through a thousand round weekend at a carbine course, but lots of over dressed guns choke there, too. That is a tough introduction, most who show up have a well broken in gun that's proved reliable.

As for the actual source of the lower, these days, they are almost a commodity item. There are dozens of vendors buying a few hundred lowers with their name on them from the same few places that actually do the machining. You have to hunt down sources that machine their own in house, like ASA or AGP. Even Colt buys their platters out and only machines. Most don't - they just accept shipments from the Brown Truck. Because of that, quality across the board is actually pretty good, and it's been said more than once, you are paying a premium for the rollmark more than the precision.

Take a friend who knows AR's and look at it, I really doubt it will be a bad purchase.
 
^ Doubtful the dealer would say he had a friend that builds them if they were cmmg bargain bin guns. Having a brand like CMMG would be more desirable than a frankengun assembled by an out of work friend in their parents basement. Like Taliv said, most likely there are some laws being broken, and you dont' want to be a part of that regardless the price of the gun.

There is a reason for different price/quality levels of AR's, and it isn't "paying for the name" as many uninformed folks suggest. Most times this is an excuse people make to feel better about the purchase they made. Obviously that philosophy cuts both ways, but don't discount the advantages you get with a top tier AR manufacturer because you don't own one.
 
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