Tell me what you think of my plans for my first AR15

[Andrewsky]

Hi. I'm planning out my first AR15. I am trying to put together an M16A4 clone.

I am thinking about:

-USGI magazines from somewhere.
-CMMG Lower Receiver, it's $120.
-CMMG Complete Upper, scroll down a bit, it's $525.
-CMMG LPK, $60. What are the advantages of having the same brand LPK as lower?
-A2 buttstock from somewhere.
-A folding BUIS of some kind. What do you recommend?
-A sling. What kind of slings are used by the Marines?
-I understand that most M16A4s have ACOGs. I am not going to put optics on my rifle for a while, I will just shoot with my folding BUIS until I can afford an ACOG.
-Maybe a ready fire mode magazine pouch on the buttstock.
-I don't need a light or VFG...yet. So I think I will stick with the standard A2 handguards.
-Ammo.
-What about triggers? Should I stick with a standard trigger or go to something like an RRA two-stage. It would be more expensive and hurt authenticity, but there is nothing like a good trigger.

I would just have the lower sent to an FFL in ND since I can't get one in MN without being 21 and having a pistol purchase permit.

I'm going to estimate the total cost here: With no ammo, it looks like it'll run me: $1150ish including 10 magazines. Kind of a lot, but still a lot less than my M1A.

The one thing that worries me is whether or not I should buy 2 or 3 lowers rather than 1 complete rifle, in order to prep for an assault weapons ban. I would like to hear your advice on this.

Any other general advice for me? Any advice to "shoot it as much as you can" will be disregarded. It's just too obvious.

 

[Coronach]

The two greatest accuracy aids one can make to the AR rifle (besides practice on your part) are a good trigger and a free-float handguard. You can always add either one later, but the FF handguard is alot easier to do while you're assembling.

On the downside, it will add a bit to the cost of the rifle.

Mike

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

The one thing that worries me is whether or not I should buy 2 or 3 lowers rather than 1 complete rifle, in order to prep for an assault weapons ban. I would like to hear your advice on this.

The way the currently proposed ban bill is written, that wouldn't help you since it classifies uppers and other parts no differently from an assault rifle. You'd still get caught in a buying frenzy for the parts you need to make a complete rifle. So I'd go for the complete rifle.

 

[SilentArmy]

There are complete rifles available all over the web and locally here for under $750.00 That will leave you money for a 2 stage trigger and a freefloat tube! I have not seen a "build" come out cheaper than a complete for several yrs. Used to be the build saved you some$$ but not anymore! Even Dealers cannot build em cheaper...

 

[Andrewsky]

No, I'm going to build my AR. Just for fun if nothing else.

Is the free-float handguard really necessary? I'm not an accuracy freak and will be using irons or low power optics.

An unrelated AR question: What is the deal with those flashlight clamps for CAR-15s or A2s that clamp onto the barrel in front of the front sight base? How much are they and how much do they affect accuracy? I'm not thinking about getting one I'm just curious.

What would you recommend for a trigger?

Bartholomew Roberts, I'm looking at the text of HR1022 right now and I don't see why an upper would be considered an assault weapon. Can you explain further? Would I be "manufacturing an assault weapon" if I had a lower from before the ban and added an upper from after the ban?

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Bartholomew Roberts, I'm looking at the text of HR1022 right now and I don't see why an upper would be considered an assault weapon. Can you explain further?

Conversion kits are banned by H.R. 1022. H.R. 1022 also defines a "conversion kit" this way:

"`(37) Conversion Kit- The term `conversion kit' means any part or combination of parts designed and intended for use in converting a firearm into a semiautomatic assault weapon, and any combination of parts from which a semiautomatic assault weapon can be assembled if the parts are in the possession or under the control of a person."

Would I be "manufacturing an assault weapon" if I had a lower from before the ban and added an upper from after the ban?

Depends on how they implemented it; but I imagine you would need a pre-ban upper at the least. ATF might even take the position that it needs to be assembled in one piece prior to the ban (that is the position they took for the 1994 ban).

Is the free-float handguard really necessary? I'm not an accuracy freak and will be using irons or low power optics.

It isn't necessary; but in my experience it shaves about 0.5" off of your groups at 100yds.