I have always wanted a retro AR, and with the current political climate the time may be running short. I currently do not have the knowledge (but have been reading alot here, some of it can be overwhelming.) Nor do I have the time to build from scratch. Im currently dealing with an elderly parent (dementia)  situation that really does take up most of my not work time. I have a few questions for the more veteran poster/buliders here.

Do DYI  retro builders often sell off 1st, 2nd, or 3rd attempts as they improve their skills and knowledge?  Or is the value of the sum of the parts of an AR worth more than what it may sell for??

secondly, is there a place here? or a web site that offers up parts lists and step by step instructions for the novice Retro builder. Sources to locate parts and the basics.


just asking and thanks for the help.

Mike

Sell off? Hell NO! Your extra parts turn into other rifles. Now, if somebody does over extend or wants another toy, truck or wife. BRD members have been known to sell rifles by the piece or whole. Just depends which way brings the most cash.

Oh, never ever buy a box of A1 pistol grips! You'll be broke till the seeds turn into rifles.

Good luck!


Build thread
http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_3_4/226782_Assemble_your_own_LOWER__UPPER__FREE_FLOAT__TRIGGER__GAS_BLOCK___Step_by_step_instructions_.html

Remember that almost everything on an AR is strictly bolt-on with little or no fitting required. All you really need are the proper tools like vice blocks, roll pin punches, and an armorer's wrench. Probably the easiest thing to do is buy a project rifle that's close to what you're wanting to build and replace parts as needed. To build from the ground up you first need a decent lower receiver (like a NoDak Spud), and then spend what little free time you have looking for barrels, stocks and upper receivers. Unfortunately retro parts are drying up fast and getting expensive, so don't put it off for too long. The aftermarket really needs to kick into gear and start helping us out.

DO NOT GO NEAR THOSE WATERS!!!  There is a OLD BLACK MONSTER lurking just below the surface.  One dip of the toe and he'll get you.    You'll never escape his grasp, and he'll pull you under!  Then of course, your done for.



Seriously, I would think you'd do just fine on your "first build".  Remember if you do sell and your milling 80% lowers, you cannot sell the lowers anyway.

This is not true. An individual may sell a lower that was made from an 80 percent lower
The catch is this......an individual cannot complete an 80 percent lower with THE INTENT of selling it.
OK, so tell us which model of AR/M16 that you would wish to replicate? With that info we would be better able to inform you on how to procede.

This is true.

So...if some time in the future, I decide to sell one of my rifles built on an 80% lower that I completed, it is legal?  

It is. ATF regs state thst you cant complete them with the INTENTION of selling them. It is a grey area of sorts IF you established a pattern of selling them, then ATF could day you were machining them with the intention of selling.. I believe anyone that sells one knows what their intent was........I wpuldnt put myself in the situation where ATF would want to question my intent. A pattern of selling them would  lead to that question.

It was my understanding that if you build an 80% lower and wish to sell it down the line, then you would have to put a serial number on it for the sale, maybe some other info.  

Of course making them specifically for the intent of re=sale is a no-no.

I could be off my cookie, but that's what I thought.