Rock River Arms build up....

[ALASKACAJUN]

Hey ya'll I need a new project, I was thinking I NEED a Rock River Arms M4gery... One of the local gunshops has complete lowers, I've bought stripped and complete lowers before! Built them up, shot 'em a little and then sold 'em... I want to do another but have noticed that since the last build up (several years ago) that the availability of parts is extrememly good, but so far I haven't been able to locate the parts to build a gun for less than a new weapon... Am I missing something here? You used to be able to find a complete parts kit for like $500-600 and pick up the lower for $125.. I could get into a decent AR-15 for like $600 and change.... Now it seems I will spend upwards of $950!!!!

- Clint

 

[Don't Tread On Me]

Well, to stay in the $600 ballpark, you're talking about buying from kit places like Model 1 Sales which are in my opinion - junk. Their uppers are fine though, but everything else isn't. Their handguards, bolts/carriers, lower parts etc..are all low quality. Their uppers have good Shaw barrels, and their receivers are often the same as anyone elses. It all depends on what you want to use. The demand for the good parts has prices pretty high, while the low end kits are still fairly cheap, but have also gone up in the past couple of years.



For lowers I like MEGA - they are as good as anything else out there. I've seen Stag, they are good too. RRA is good, yet has more name recognition. You should be able to find a lower for about $90 shipped, then if your ffl can transfer it for $15...


For uppers, I believe Bravo Company has the BEST deal going. Right now, for $399, you can get an M4 upper, with M4 feedramps, 1/7 twist, a real 556 NATO chamber, 4150 steel, F-marked front sight base, it's proof load tested, and magnetically tested.


Then I'd buy a MPC tested bolt. You can get a CMT one in an M16 carrier for around $130.


Charging handle and handguards you can get from anywhere. Some are better than others, but whatever floats your boat.


Lower parts I'd buy Bushmaster. Only if you demand to have a metal trigger guard and a flathead screw for the grip, then I'd go with CMT. I have a CMT lpk, and I have to say that Bushmaster's has better fit and finish on the parts. Colt is better than Bushmaster parts, but they are 2x the price ($130ish OUCH)


The cheapest stocks run around $60. It is really worth the extra money to get the CMT one, which has a mil-spec dimentioned buffer tube (receiver extension) and 6 positions, and you can get this with an H-buffer.


So:


$399 Bravo Company M4 upper
$20 charging handle
$20 handguards
$130 bolt carrier group
$105 Lower
$65 lower parts kit
$92 M4 stock w/ H-buffer

Total: $831


You wouldn't even have to pay shipping because order is over $400. Except for LPK from Bushmaster. At that price you start considering a factory rifle...but these parts will provide you a build every bit as good, if not better than most factory rifles.

 

[ALASKACAJUN]

Very good point DTOM and thanks... I was purchasing El Cheapo AR parts before but with this build up I intend on using quality parts... The thing that gets me is if I bought all Rock River stuff it would be cheaper to order the gun like I want it than to build it myself...

I guess I just assumed that I could do it piece by piece over time and save myself a couple of bucks... O.K. O.K., I'm really tryin' to keep this under the wife's radar but still.... Also this is going to become a mulipurpose weapon, plinker, varmint rifle etc! I'm gonna purchase several uppers to meet my needs...

I haven't really been into the AR scene for a while and it seems like everybody and their Momma builds them now... I know about Olimypic and Rock River who else makes a quailty reciever? What are some of the "good" brands?

- Clint

 

[ALASKACAJUN]

Well I went to Ammo King Guns today and bought the Olympic Arms lower with a 6 position telestock... I got to look at several lowers before I picked this one, Lou had on hand a Rock River, Stag, Olympic, and a few I don't recognize.... The trigger on the Olympic was sweet and he had a flat top upper that fit it tight... I'm gonna take my time on the build-up, but I'll post the finished product sometime soon...

- Clint

 

[Don't Tread On Me]

CMT, LMT...and folks such as that make excellent receivers. They are military contractors. RRA is good as you already know. Stag is the brand name of CMT. There are more players in the AR market now, as a result, quality has gone up.

 

[LoadAmmo]

I've calculated it out many times myself, best bet is just to buy a complete firearm.

eaglefirearms.net has great prices on RRAs, just make sure you get Chrome Lined and not Chrome Moly when you order if that's what you're looking for.

 

[dolanp]

You can still build up a kit gun in the 500-600 range with J&T or Del-Ton. I think you're better off with a Stag/RRA/etc built up from parts though. Might cost you a little bit more but it's good stuff.

 

[ALASKACAJUN]

Yeah Lou let me pick out the parts and he'll order them, he quoted me a finished price of $928... I probably could have done it cheaper but i'll be getting ever single piece of the gun that I WANT and supporting a local gun dealer at the same time....

I know I could do a $600 plinker but I intend on keeping this AR, all the ones before it were plinker's not keeper's... LOL

- Clint

 

[cbsbyte]

The issue with companies, such as Model 1, Del-ton, J&T and etc is that they build their kit with lowest priced parts to make them more afforable to the general public. Never mind there 30-day warranty. You feel like testing their kit for them. One is better off with RRA, DPMS, or even Olympic Arms with much longer warranties and a solid service record.