Thinking of assembling my own upper, but am I missing anything?

[halvey]

I’ve been throwing around the idea of assembling my own upper. I’ve never done this before and am not sure exactly what I want, but I wanted to make sure it was as easy as it seems. The article in this months American Rifleman sure makes it look easy, but it was lacking on detail.

So, if I have this right, I need the following:

A3 upper receiver
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=589236

Forward assist
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=787744

Charging handle
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=760060

Ejection port cover
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=888007

Bolt carrier assembly
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=145426

That will pretty much get me my complete upper assembly right?

Then I’ll need a barrel (obviously) say something like:
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=525804

Then handguards:
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=392231

a gas tube then I am pretty much set?

I have the torque wrench, punches and will get the action blocks and have a bench vice. Is it as easy as it seems? Or am I missing something?

 

[Dr. Dickie]

You will need a delta ring, spring, and barrel nut (off the top of my head).

 

[ocabj]

http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=4&t=226782

 

[lee n. field]

BTW, if you get it, the latest American Rifleman (NRA's member magazine) has an article on assembling an AR upper.

 

[taliv]

i like midway as much as the next guy, but you're probably a lot better off getting parts from AR15.com's EE

 

[halvey]

Thanks for the responses so far. I guess I need to add a Delta pack to the process:
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=136065

Anything else?

I know about the AR15.com instructions, but it just talks about changing your barrel. I don't want to change a barrel, but put together a whole upper. I just wanted to verify everything I need.

The American Rifleman article was ok, but it was a bit vague. I suppose it makes sense if you've done it before.

 

[Dr. Dickie]

Sorry, I just noticed the barrel you are getting does not have the flash hider on the end. You will need one of them.
After that, I think you got it covered. I can't think of anything else you would be missing.
Good Luck with EBR

 

[ocabj]

I know about the AR15.com instructions, but it just talks about changing your barrel. I don't want to change a barrel, but put together a whole upper. I just wanted to verify everything I need.

http://www.whiteoakarmament.com/upper_parts.htm

http://www.whiteoakarmament.com/barrel_parts.htm

Since you are building the entire upper from scratch, you're going to want an armorer's guide. You'll also need a chamber reamer to finish ream the chamber and head space gauges to make sure you assemble the barrel nut and extension properly for your bolt.

Unless of course, you are actually buying a barrel that already has the barrel nut and extension installed for you.

As far as 'needing' a flash hider, you don't *need* one, perse. It depends what this upper is going to be used for. My current competition service rifle upper doesn't have one by choice.

 

[Dr. Dickie]

Yes, but the barrel he indicated he was buying is threaded on the end for a flash hider. While he may not "need" one (my carbine does not have one, but it is not threaded), but it sure will look strange with the threaded end.