Piece Together an AR? How?

[rhoggman]

Okay if you go to this web site you can order one of these AR's or CAR's and have it shipped to your house no FFL or Background check required. So my question is how do they do that? How much more money will it take to get the parts you need to make it fire? Is that the part where they get you when you go to buy the trigger stuff? Do you need a gun smith to do the work? Just thought I would screw with your heads like its screwing with mine.


http://www.model1sales.com/subcats.cfm?Category=01&sessionid=138.162.0.43

 

[Deer Hunter]

They ship a kit to your house. The kit includes everything except the receiver. The receiver is the only thing that is actually considered a "gun". That must be shipped through or bought from a dealer.

 

[Walkalong]

Okay if you go to this web site you can order one of these AR's or CAR's and have it shipped to your house no FFL or Background check required.

Not true. Parts can be shipped to you but the reciever with the serial number must go through an FFL. You can not buy a gun through the mail.

 

[gvnwst]

You still need the reciever, as stated above. If it comes with a reciever, it MUST go through a FFL, or it is illegal.

 

[RockyMtnTactical]

You don't need a gunsmith to build an AR15.

I recommend you avoid model 1.

 

[biggiesmalls]

if this is really something you want to do then here's the steps.

1. buy the kit online and have it shipped to your door.

2. buy a stripped lower receiver (look around your local gun shops, or local private sales. you can also buy them online and have it shipped to your ffl for you to pick up.

3. put the lower parts that came with your kit into the stripped lower receiver.

4. snap the upper and lower together by pushing 2 pins, and viola!


the hard part is putting the lower parts in the lower, and even that isn't that hard. go to ar15.com for a guide. http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=4&t=226782


i'd go to a rifle club, make a friend, and have him help you. i don't know about the above comment about avoiding model1, but i am inclined to agree because there are other kit sellers online that have a better rep and sell better kits.

 

[H2O MAN]

Buying weapons/receivers via local private sales is best.

 

[edSky]

I have a NIB stripped receiver and ordered a Rock River complete upper kit with parts. It should take a few months for the upper to come.

My question is: Can someone tell me what tools I will need on hand to complete the receiver/lower? Do I need the 200+ dollar AR-15 armorers kit that MidwayUSA sells? Or will I just need a few punches and some hand tools?

If someone can come up with a list of tools - common and specialized - needed to put together an AR-15 I'd appreciate it.

Ed

 

[bragood]

I did mine with a punch, pliers and the wrench dpms sells to put on the barrel and flash suppressor. Good luck!

 

[Mainsail]

Some people use punches, some use pliers, some just tap it all together with a hammer and a finishing nail. Read this for an idea of what you're up against.

 

[Eightball]

If someone can come up with a list of tools - common and specialized - needed to put together an AR-15 I'd appreciate it.

Ditto.

Though, IIRC, the "Armorer's wrench" bit really depends on if your upper is mated to the barrel already.

Though, since we're on the "building" topic again.....if your upper isn't barrelled already, how do you correctly gauge how far in it screws? And, in relation to that, how hard is it to headspace an AR15 build, or am I thinking too hard?

 

[marklbucla]

In the way of tools, I just have a set of punches for like $7 from Sears, a toothpick, a mini screwdriver set from Dollar Tree, and a plastic hammer. I am not at all mechanically inclined and I had no trouble with the installation.

Just use a good LPK from a company like RRA or Stag and you shouldn't have any problems installing it as long as you use the AR15.com guidelines.

 

[mljdeckard]

My recent experience was EXACTLY like marklbucla. Same tools, same instructions, same parts. I feel stupid for not doing it a lot sooner.

My bolt release was a little tight in the slot, I worked it a few times, saw where it was rubbing, filed it VERY gently, and it works just fine.

 

[eng23ine]

When i built my very first AR i used:

Small drift punch
Needle nose pliers
Small hammer
Masking tape
Small scrap of lumber


You can fully assemble a lower with only the above tools without much problem.

 

[leadcounsel]

tagged for later

 

[phoglund]

The only thing I bought were the "Pivot Pin Installation Tool" and the "Pivot Pin Removal Tool". That, instructions and some punches are all I needed. This assumes the "Complete Parts Kit" you purchase has the upper fully assembled (most seem to sell them this way). All you are doing is putting the lower together (the "innards" of the lower receiver) and attaching the buttstock with buffer and spring. The upper goes on with just a couple of pins.

 

[briansmithwins]

Though, since we're on the "building" topic again.....if your upper isn't barrelled already, how do you correctly gauge how far in it screws? And, in relation to that, how hard is it to headspace an AR15 build, or am I thinking too hard?

The barrel nut just holds the barrel to the upper. You screw it together until it's tight, 30+ ft/lbs if I recall correctly.

The headspace is set by the barrel extension. NEVER BUY A BARREL THAT DOES NOT HAVE A BARREL EXTENSION INSTALLED! Unless you're ready to drill the gas port and finish ream the chamber.

BSW

 

[Onmilo]

And remember, you must be 21 years old to buy a stripped receiver.

 

[marklbucla]

^

Why? Aren't 99% of them already logged in as "Long Guns"?

 

[expvideo]

I built my AR. I purchased a receiver from my local gun shop and ordered the rest of the parts. I used the video tutorials on the Brownells website. If I could do it, anybody can do it.

I recommend you avoid model 1.

Why is that?

 

[krs]

The most difficult thing for newbies is avoiding making scratches or dings in the finish. Go slow and when in doubt mask it off.

Trigger guard pins seem to be problematic for some people. And I saw a kid who'd made a perfect circle on his receiver by installing his mag release.

Go over each part with your hands - if you find a burr, anything that bites or catches, hone it off before starting assembly.

A good thing to have around is an "EZ-LAP" Model LF red handled (fine) diamond sharpener. After a while you'll find a million uses for them if you mess with guns. I buy a dozen at a time. Pay attention! This was a tip you'll appreciate for the rest of your life.

 

[benEzra]

Couple of good articles on built AR's in general:

Inexpensive but decent quality route: http://www.tacticalyellowvisor.net/8343/25301.html

Very good quality at a slightly higher price: http://www.tacticalyellowvisor.net/8343/59827.html

 

[DougW]

The complete instructions are on www.ar15.com for a build. I have built a bunch, and I am waiting on 2 more kits (recievers in hand).



Some of the stuff. Nice thing about a build is that you can add the features you want (as long as the money holds out!).