Been living outside the US for a good while.  Missed the whole "AR-craze" up until now.  Already own an original Colt Sporter II (R6500) since the 80's.  Not really interested in modifying it.
Moving back to the US and want to get back into weekend trips to the range to blow through a few hundred rounds. I'm thinking I want a second M4 type AR that can become my weekend / project / play rifle.  A platform for projects and tests of different stocks, grips optics, etc, but definitely NOT a "beauty queen".  Like a classic muscle car, I want to drive it hard and don't expect it to go 100K miles w/o a tune-up.  I expect to break things and even if they don't break I will replace things just to see how it changes the performance.

So here's my dilemma...



I really want to start with a generic M4 and then upgrade/change out parts over time as I change my interests.  I'm not clear if the low-end M4s rifles are better/same/worse than a DIY parts kit + receiver?  
If it will take me weeks to collect all the parts and assemble them, I think I'd probably prefer to just buy the rifle during the week and hit the range that same weekend to start collecting my brass for reloading!

Thoughts?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glk1qMbj7S0

This should sell you, if nothing else does.

+1 on Build

If your on a fixed budget, building yourself becomes very attractive.

If you are looking it as an investment buying a name brand is the way to go

sure you can buy name brand parts to invest to sell doesn't mean it will go your way (having a box with the manual papers goes a bit of ways)

It's not a bad idea to buy one first, become familiar with it and then start building from then on. If so then buy a Colt, it will hold its value and be easier to sell down the road. If not then build one yourself, between this site and YouTube there's more than enough information to help you should you need it. You'll need some tools depending on how much of it you want to build vs buy. The lower part is easier and requires less tools, the upper will require more tools. You'll need a good vice for certain applications, along with a punch set, hammer etc....

Another vote for BIY. Why buy a complete rifle and then start changing out parts, when you can build it exactly how you want it in the first place?

Thanks!  I like that video!  

Generally, I would agree with the point of not wasting $$ on parts that you know you will replace... but the premise of that videos is that you know you want (for example) a Hogue pistol grip instead of the stock A2 grip or a BCM grip.  I don't know if I would.  I don't really have the access to try them out before I buy.  I've only ever shot my own Colt or an M-16 back in the military.  Same goes for the stock, handguards, muzzle break, etc.  Back when I last shot my Colt AR, the biggest decision was whether to use the triangular "Vietnam" A1 handguards or the newer round A2 rifle ones.  Whether to mount a bi-pod or the original 4x Colt carry handle scope. Those were the only options at the time.  Today's options sometimes make me dizzy!

In my case, I might think that a heavy bull barrel is what I really want for max precision but when I start shooting I realize its way too heavy I really wanted a pencil barrel.  Instead of wasting $ on a generic M4 barrel I just wasted $$$ on a more expensive bull barrel !  That seems to me an even worse case than buying a "baseline rifle" that I am already familiar with.

Though, I could see myself spending a few hours with a AR checklist in a well stocked gun store handling different AR configurations and getting a "feel" for the parts and then hand picking the ones I want from the store's selection.  It might be worth it as long as they had all the parts and I could walk out with a semi-custom rifle in a box of parts.  Then spend a few evenings putting it all together.  That sounds like fun!

The options are endless !!!  

You're the second person who's suggested that Colts will hold their value better than other brands.  The first was a friend who is a SWAT Captain and has always shot Colt ARs.
This is one of the reasons I'm keeping my Colt Sporter II "as is".

But when you say Colt, are you talking about only Colt Manufacturing's line of LE ARs like the LE6920 and LE6940?  Or would you also count the Colt Competition rifles like the CRS-1516?  I read somewhere that the Colt Competition rifles are not related to Colt Manufacturing, at all.

I'm a very "function focused" kinda person.  Spending more money and not getting anything more (functionally) is difficult for me to get behind.  I get the investment idea and that has its own function but I didn't want to buy a "beauty queen" which I had to worry about scratching/dropping and retaining its value.

Maybe this is just the first step in a multi-step plan... first, buy an inexpensive generic M4 AR to start shooting with (AR #2).  Next, start work on a 3rd Custom AR built from scratch with all the parts I want.  I will have more time to "test drive" different parts in the stores and maybe on the range with friends and fellow shooter.  I also wanted to eventually build an ultra-light polymer lower AR (AR #4?).

So the question is... are the budget M4s worth buying as a "fun gun"?  Can I expect 1.5 MOA precision?  I guess I could question the gun store on the frequency of their returns.
Eventually, I can use it as a spare that I can loan to a buddy if the two of us head to the range and he is without his gun?

I agree.

The Colts can be found for $800ish.

You can't build an equivalent (no matter what people might say about this brand or that) for the same cost and that's before the cost of tools/tooling.

If/when you figure you just have to have something you can't find, then build a custom to your own specs.

I actually sat and priced, scoped and picked everything for my AR just by looking at it. Then i ended up building it with several AeroPrecision parts that were on daily special. But I build mine mainly from what i thought looked good, and then researched a little and determined if i liked it or not. But i used to make spreadsheets of car builds for fun, so this was much the same thing.

Unless I buy a KAC, I don't think I'll ever buy another complete AR again. Build it.

As a noob, I have built 2 and bought 2.  I am much more satisfied with the 2 that I built.  I will never buy again, I enjoy building them too much.  I like to get it my way the first time, and not waste the time "replacing" parts on a purchased rifle.  Just my 2 cents.

+1 on build it! That way Obummer can't say "You didn't build that!"

Do it on a 80% lower and the Feds won't even know u have it! Win/Win

Check out Del-Ton M4 Rifle kit! Add lower of your choice or part it out piece by piece. I pieced my M4 clone together and used Del-Ton M4 Barrel kit. Could not be happier. So far built 7 AR15's and almost ready to mill my 80% lower on first LR308 build.

There is NO cure for Black Rifle Disease!

I bought my first AR. Finishing up the build of my second AR now (need to install the muzzle device, but working on a workbench so I don't have to go to a buddies to "borrow" his vice ).



Buying first was nice since I wasn't familiar with the AR platform. Was able to learn a little about basic operation, cleaning etc. Regardless, building was stupid easy, and I got exactly what I wanted out of my new AR, although it is slightly more expensive that the one I bought outright. Had I swapped all the parts on my bought AR to what my build was like, it would have been like the video and much more expensive than the one I built. But like I said, the build is exactly what I wanted, and that was the purpose of building an AR.






I enjoyed the build a ton, and that was another part of the reason I built my second. I highly doubt I'll ever buy another outright again, but I enjoy that part, some may not. My other hobbies include model airplanes and racing RC cars, all of which I build, and enjoy doing so.






Based on your OP, sounds like you may be happier just buying one outright (trying several models in the shop first though!), and swapping bits and pieces as you go along and your tastes change.






In short, I prefer to build, and recommend to most people to build, but in your case, you may prefer the buy and shoot method, and that's fine too!






Seth



 
 

I would put the lower together yourself, Doesn't require too many tools, fairly simple and good learning experience.

Then buy a complete upper half. Because assembly requires a few more tools and is slightly more difficult to do correctly.

If you have to ask, you may not be ready to build.

Should you decide to gather tools and build, these are the best (most complete, most correct)  AR Build videos on the internet last time I looked.
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/lid=11004/guntechdetail/how_to_build_an_ar-15_video
My two criticisms are they neglected to mention barrel nut grease and you should restrain the barrel and not the receiver when working on a muzzle device.

You might also check into all the builder aids here on this site as well.
Printing the photo of the LPK helps identify that group of parts.

If you just want a beater, and you'd be satisfied with an M4-style 16" AR carbine, AND can buy one ready to go for $500-600, just buy it.  You'd be hard pressed to build one for less.  As far as reliable lowers go, they're all pretty much the same.

Build it and they will come!

I love building ARs.  Its pretty bad actually.

My first AR I bought and I bet 90% of AR owners purchased a built rifle before discovering just how much they love the platform, and then grow into builidng'em.

Cheaper. ya sure it is to build but for a guy that hasnt shot  a newer AR in a while, he doesnt know what he wants.  He cold build one and probably find himself swabbing parts anyway to custom fit his needs and likes.

Buy a cheap starter AR.  A forged lowers is a forged lower, made in one of few factories in the USA, that is your platform to grow on.  

Just get a AR with a barrel length you like so you dont need to swap it out.  Everything besides the BCG, barrel, and lowers are relatively cheap, and those components, odds are you wont swap them out anyhow.  

Rails, triggers, grips, stocks, brakes, pins, charing handles, buffers, springs ..... cheap and a ton to pick from.  Have fune man.

I've built a few, mainly to save money.
I enjoyed the first 20 or so.  I'm over it though.  I would rather just buy it now.

Everyone should experience building their own rifle, at least once.   After that, just do it if you enjoy it.  I don't anymore.

Build it! It's a blast to do, easy project. And most important it gives u a complete understanding of how the weapon works and its functionality if anything were to go wrong.

Thanks all for the feedback.  Some good points that I had not thought of.  It will be a month or two before I'm back in the states.

I guess it will really depend on how much free time I have once I start my new job + parts availability at the local gun stores + the availability of places to shoot.
If my week nights are free then something that needs assembling should be no problem.
If I only have time to run to the gun store a few times I may go with the stripped receiver + selected lower parts + completed upper.  That will give me a DIY lower plus a custom upper that I selected.  That seems like a fair balance of off-the-shelf + custom.

Thanks all.  I'll post here some pics once I've go her fully assembled.



Yes, I do believe this may be going around... I'm starting to show the early symptoms!

IMHO - from what you said' I'd go with a melonited(Nitrocarburized barrel & a piston gas system. The rest of the equipment you will probably change out for a 'project.'

Here's a good article posted in some of the NRA magazines. A lot less bias than asking in the 'Build It Yourself' section of the forums.

NRA ARTICLE ON BUILDING

I've seen the Youtube vid showing how the parts add up to X amount. It's a BS vid for the most part.