mljdeckard
Member
No. I absolutely know I'm not selling this one.
Is building your own lower cheaper?
- Thread starter gga357
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Dravur
Member
Here is a tip...
I use a Craftsman Vice grip style pliers to move the pins in. it works great. I padded the jaws with tape and covered the whole thing so it doesnt scratch, but it pushes the pins right in.
I use a Craftsman Vice grip style pliers to move the pins in. it works great. I padded the jaws with tape and covered the whole thing so it doesnt scratch, but it pushes the pins right in.
it's cheaper in most cases. It is definitely cheaper to assemble your own lower and customize your own upper and order/buy them separately. I did this and saved a good 400 bucks or so on what have cost me about 1600 bucks if I bought it factory-new exactly as I built it.
gga357
Member
Thanks guys I will try to buy a lower this weekend. Then start shopping for parts.
Eightball
Member
Good luck finding a lower parts kit.
gga357
Member
I know parts will be hard to find but I am not in too much of a hurry.
theotherwaldo
Member
I put a DelTon kit on a Superior stripped lower. I paid about $830.00 to build an $830.00 rifle. But it's much more "mine" than if I just bought it straight from the store.
Doing it yourself means something.
Doing it yourself means something.
You'll just have to shop around yourself, if your goal is saving money. I was originally planning on putting together my own lower out of whatever was cheapest, until I found an absolute steal on a brand new CMMG complete lower, which was about $50 less than everything bought seperately, as cheap as possible. $234 with shipping, hard to beat that!
Just look around a lot, and pounce on any good deals you see.
Just look around a lot, and pounce on any good deals you see.
gga357
Member
I think I will end up building one just cause the engineer/tinkerer in me needs to.
sigma 40ve
Member
It depends IMO.
Here is a breakdown of my recent build..
Superior lower---100
CMMG LPK-------68
Sabre Defence M4 upper-830
Double Star 6 pos stock-80
CCA carry handle---30
total--1108
yeah, I know thats alot for a frankenrifle. But I like it better than my M&P T.
Could have been alot cheaper with a different upper but I like Sabre Defence.
I used a set of roll pin punches, tack hammer and vice grips that were duct tape padded for the assembly.
Here is a breakdown of my recent build..
Superior lower---100
CMMG LPK-------68
Sabre Defence M4 upper-830
Double Star 6 pos stock-80
CCA carry handle---30
total--1108
yeah, I know thats alot for a frankenrifle. But I like it better than my M&P T.
Could have been alot cheaper with a different upper but I like Sabre Defence.
I used a set of roll pin punches, tack hammer and vice grips that were duct tape padded for the assembly.
SSN Vet
Member
it's a modular weapons system guys....
putting a lower together correctly is NOT rocket science.
putting an upper together is an entirely different prospect and requires some tools, more care in matching components and knowledge to get your head spacing correct.
But a lower is a no brainer.... just put tape over the surfaces so you don't scratch it up pushing the pins in.
In a sense, all AR's are "Franken Rifles" (which must be why they make liberals wet their pants), just because a government contract specified one particular configuration and bought thousands doesn't make that configuration THEEE definition of an AR.... no, it makes it the definition of an M16.
putting a lower together correctly is NOT rocket science.
putting an upper together is an entirely different prospect and requires some tools, more care in matching components and knowledge to get your head spacing correct.
But a lower is a no brainer.... just put tape over the surfaces so you don't scratch it up pushing the pins in.
In a sense, all AR's are "Franken Rifles" (which must be why they make liberals wet their pants), just because a government contract specified one particular configuration and bought thousands doesn't make that configuration THEEE definition of an AR.... no, it makes it the definition of an M16.
gga357
Member
Thanks Sigma,
I think with the drop in Timmeny or American Gold it will be that much easier. If I get a kit with trigger I will probably build the whole thing then put the drop in after just for the experience.
I think with the drop in Timmeny or American Gold it will be that much easier. If I get a kit with trigger I will probably build the whole thing then put the drop in after just for the experience.
gga357
Member
If I have a brand new stripped lower, a MIAD grip new in box and a drop in trigger/hammer assembly like chip McCormack or Timney, will the DPMS ultimate kit have everything else I need to assemble the lower?
gga357
Member
The DPMS kit contains:
LR-19 A15 Disconnector
LR-18 Front Pivot Pin
LR-30 Takedown Pin
BT-07 Extractor
BT-01 Gas Rings (3)
BT-16 Firing Pin Retaining Pin (3)
LR-27 Detent (Selector)
LR-15 Takedown Detents
LR-28 Trigger Pin
LR-29 Hammer Pin
LR-32 Hammer Spring
LR-22 Trigger Spring
BT-14 AR Firing Pin
BT-03 Extractor Pin
BL-03 Gas Tube Roll Pin
BT-04 Ejector Roll Pin
UR-22 Rear Base Spring Pin
LR-04 Trigger Guard Pin
LR-12 Bolt Catch Release Pin
LR-02 Buffer Retainer Spring
LR-26 Selector Spring
LR-09 Bolt Catch Spring
LR-14 Detent Spring
UR-05 Ejector Port Cover Spring
FS-04 Front Sight Spring
BT-05 Ejector Spring
UR-08 Extractor Spring Assembly
LR-31 Disconnector Spring
LR-14 Detent Spring
LR-16 Magazine Catch Spring
LR-19 A15 Disconnector
LR-18 Front Pivot Pin
LR-30 Takedown Pin
BT-07 Extractor
BT-01 Gas Rings (3)
BT-16 Firing Pin Retaining Pin (3)
LR-27 Detent (Selector)
LR-15 Takedown Detents
LR-28 Trigger Pin
LR-29 Hammer Pin
LR-32 Hammer Spring
LR-22 Trigger Spring
BT-14 AR Firing Pin
BT-03 Extractor Pin
BL-03 Gas Tube Roll Pin
BT-04 Ejector Roll Pin
UR-22 Rear Base Spring Pin
LR-04 Trigger Guard Pin
LR-12 Bolt Catch Release Pin
LR-02 Buffer Retainer Spring
LR-26 Selector Spring
LR-09 Bolt Catch Spring
LR-14 Detent Spring
UR-05 Ejector Port Cover Spring
FS-04 Front Sight Spring
BT-05 Ejector Spring
UR-08 Extractor Spring Assembly
LR-31 Disconnector Spring
LR-14 Detent Spring
LR-16 Magazine Catch Spring
gga357
Member
What I see missing is the mag catch and a buffer. ???
theotherwaldo
Member
Has anyone here actually made their own (stripped) lower? I mean poured or welded up your own from base stock?
It looks like a simple enough design - and I know that it's legal to do anywhere that you can possess the finished product. I know that it may not be a good idea to sell the finished product, but, as a rule I don't sell my guns.
Anyway, I've poured simple castings from black iron, aluminum, and bronze. I'm also fair at arc welding and pretty good with an oxy-acetylene torch.
Think I oughta try it?
It looks like a simple enough design - and I know that it's legal to do anywhere that you can possess the finished product. I know that it may not be a good idea to sell the finished product, but, as a rule I don't sell my guns.
Anyway, I've poured simple castings from black iron, aluminum, and bronze. I'm also fair at arc welding and pretty good with an oxy-acetylene torch.
Think I oughta try it?
gga357
Member
If you had access to a cnc machine from a billet sure. Or a cast steel receiver. You would still have to finish machine it.
theotherwaldo
Member
Looks to me like it could be made from fairly light-gauge mild steel, with a few welded-on bosses and ribs. The trickiest part appears to be lining up the buffer tube mount, and that could be jigged pretty easily.
The stress level appears pretty low, and almost all of the critical oscillating contact points are in the upper.
Hmmmm... .
The stress level appears pretty low, and almost all of the critical oscillating contact points are in the upper.
Hmmmm... .
Acera
Member
theotherwaldo There are jigs out there where you take the cast part and machine with simple tools, like a drill press. There is no welded part on the standard lower. You can make a gun for your own use, selling the finished gun would pose a whole set of issues that have been covered before.
The above referenced jig:
http://www.cncguns.com/tooling.html
This link should help also:
http://www.cncguns.com/projects/ar15lower.html
The above referenced jig:
http://www.cncguns.com/tooling.html
This link should help also:
http://www.cncguns.com/projects/ar15lower.html
duckman007
Member
I'm in the process of building one myself. It's really pretty easy, especially compared to an AK rivet build. Anyway, I'm building a RRA 16 inch varmint. I did a spreadsheet and compared building one from just the parts, putting together a upper and lower, or buying a complete rifle. I found that with the prices I was able to get the items at, putting together a upper and lower gave me the most bang for my buck. I can save $150 compared to simply purchasing the rifle. With that said, I also priced various parts for a lightweight flat top and found that if you aren't after a specific brand and are flexible on the components, you can build one for much less than an off the rack purchase. For what I wanted to build and the fact that I'm not in a hurry, putting it together myself just made the most sense.
It's definitely not cheaper right now as LPKs are insane, stock assemblies are rare and sure customizing it is better with an unassembled lower. For instance...I love ergo grips, and all my ARs have/will have them. And i'm wrong-handed, so ambi safeties are just a great little thing to hold onto. plus it's fun. eventually i'll learn the intricacies of building uppers, but until then, i'm just fine waiting on my LMT 6.8 MRP 12"---my current project gun. i'm building a pistol lower, and getting the stamp for a SBR perhaps after I hopefully get into police academy. I'll know in a month or so, but until then the project will be getting a dragon outline engraved on the magwell. It was originally intended to get a custom punisher skull, but I decided I've seen enough of those to not jump on another "punisher AR."
jdh
Member
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2008
- Messages
- 1,375
So far:
Stag lower $125
DPMS LPK-1 $80
No name A2 Stock $40
Total $245
Cheapest Assembled Lower I could find $365
Or a savings of $120 in parts.
I wish I could make $240 an hour but since I don't the 30 minutes I spent putting it all together added maybe another $20 to the cost.
Now I just have to make up my mind what I want to do for an upper.
Stag lower $125
DPMS LPK-1 $80
No name A2 Stock $40
Total $245
Cheapest Assembled Lower I could find $365
Or a savings of $120 in parts.
I wish I could make $240 an hour but since I don't the 30 minutes I spent putting it all together added maybe another $20 to the cost.
Now I just have to make up my mind what I want to do for an upper.
lvcat2004
Member
With cost ammo these days, a little saving is insignificant.
I think any AR owner should build one, and be able to build one. It's quite easy and fun.
As for
I'm waiting for 3 uppers at this time.
stag carbine upper: orderd in 11/08, was told be here in 4-5 months. Still not here.
Model 1 sales in 204 varmintupper: ordered in 12/08. was told at least 6 month wait.
DPMS 223 varmint upper: ordered 11/08, was told 6 months, but now they are saying 18-24 months.
See....you have PLENTY of time to build up your lower(s).
I think any AR owner should build one, and be able to build one. It's quite easy and fun.
As for
I'm waiting for 3 uppers at this time.
stag carbine upper: orderd in 11/08, was told be here in 4-5 months. Still not here.
Model 1 sales in 204 varmintupper: ordered in 12/08. was told at least 6 month wait.
DPMS 223 varmint upper: ordered 11/08, was told 6 months, but now they are saying 18-24 months.
See....you have PLENTY of time to build up your lower(s).
gga357
Member
lvcat2004, plenty of time to wait on uppers is right.
If like me others change current stock grips to ERGO or Magpul or ect. and lower parts kits have standard grips and others use the after maket grips then.....
Where do all the "standard" grips go?
If like me others change current stock grips to ERGO or Magpul or ect. and lower parts kits have standard grips and others use the after maket grips then.....
Where do all the "standard" grips go?
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