Hello Everyone,

The other day I went shooting with my Dad with his 2 AR and I was in love.. So I am looking to build one of my own ..  Right now money is really tight but I  have saving a few dollars here and there from selling my old Straight razors and other stuff and also tips ..  I am looking to buy the piece separately when I have the money til I have a complete rifle.. I already got a collapsing stock from my dad cause it's too long and was pinned like that cause I live in the great state of New Jersey.. So my build has to follow Jersey law's like it has to have a MIN  16" barrel.. I am looking for tips or suggestions and I am trying to keep this cheap as possible ...
I was planning on using Anderson upper and lower receivers with the DiamondHead fore grip but rest I was looking for help or suggestions ..I can get the Stag like the one I want for about $850 locally but right now it's not possible ...



Here what I would like as a end result
Stag Model 3





Thanks

If you want an M4 or A4 clone, look the proportions of these....
https://www.fnhusa.com/l/products/collector-series/military-collectors-series/
Note the distance from the muzzle to the FSB.
In case you are overrun by zombies, the issue bayonet fits this dimension.

The M4 clone has a 14.5" and a pinned flash hider to make it 16" legal.


Your links show the "civilian version M4" with its prerequisite long M4 contour barrel.
Which may not matter to you.

FYI. I believe that handguard is a diamondhead brand drop in. I have two of their free float "v-rs t" units and absolutely love them. Consensus around the interwebs seems to be similar to my experience.

You can follow this thread in the AR Discussions forum to watch for deals
http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_3_118/496750_LOOKING_FOR_CHEAP_PARTS__Post_deals_here___READ_OP_BEFORE_POSTING_.html

Also watch for sales and clearance dials at Palmetto State Armory and other venders.

Thanks for all the info and I am learning so much from here.. But I still torn wither to build the stage lookalike or just buy one and be done with it???

You won't be money ahead buying a few pieces a month. But, like buying a used car, you may have a down payment and can afford a payment, rather than save it all up and wait. Your choice.

Buying one complete means you get it their way. Building one complete means avoiding the Conservation tax and also learning about how to put it together. If you built it, you know more about them than just off the shelf - you can change it, and even have a handle on diagnosing things because you had to learn about them.

Say it's not tossing the brass out for some reason - even new guns do that. First you check with better ammo, a different magazine, see if the buffer tube vent is plugged, check the gas block alignment, etc. A rack gun buyer just sends it back for warranty work - he paid for it, but also pays for shipping sometimes, too, and he's without in the meantime. The builder? He could have solved the problem and still be shooting.

You don't need expensive tools, and you get exactly what you want, as quickly as time and finances allow - including those little things in life that creep up and cause the other guy to sell his rifle because he doesn't have $100 to get er done.

Prices to build are very good right now, and if the builder keeps away from the AR male enhancement offerings, he can put together a pistol or rifle for under $600. Pay as you go has benefits.

Just watch the shipping charges, too, I bought a set of handguards due today, one site was $28 with $15 shipping, the other $30 with $5 shipping. $10 can get you a lot of AR parts for dinner for two on the McD's $1 menu.

My first...I started out building the lower...then on an impulse buy I got the upper pre-built from a local store at a really good price.  Even the pre-built one had some growing pains with failure to feed.  But the shop guaranteed their work...took it in and figured it out.  Now it runs like a sowing machine with any ammo I feed it just like they should.

Lowers are easy to assemble (though you do need a special wrench for properly installing the carbine buffer tube).  Uppers generally require some more specialized tools to install the barrel nut  and muzzle device: usually if you have the stock tool, it has a barrel nut tool on it as well, vice blocks, a torque wrench, the internet/YouTube and a bit of patience.

My second I'm building completely now that I have some experience under my wing and have the tools.

If you buy one that's close to how you want it to look and from a reliable company, then I think you might come out ahead...at first.  Then you will figure out what you don't like about it and begin to tinker and change things around.  So you'll end up with some extra parts...which you'll use for your next rifle...and so on and so on.

That probably wasn't much help. Just keep perusing this forum as well as the NJ forums to be sure you don't run afoul of the law.  I think your laws are pretty close to those in California.

Thanks for that piece of advice .. I changed my mind to learn how to build my own gun and  sticking with the M4 style... Brownells had most of what I wanted and came in about $600 for a basic setup .. I don't plan on pimping this setup out ... I am just using it for a range gun at 100yrds just plink around with my dad ... I haven't decide what twist rate to go with or bullet weight but I have about 500 empty brass of .223 which I would like to reload ..Do you have any suggestion of needed tools???? I will be posting up a parts list for some input and see what I am missing or has a better option ...

Brownells is a good place to buy but their are better places. www.palmettostatearmory.com , redbarnarmory.com , they are my go to places as well as primary arms is also great on prices.  I have used only spikes tactical and blackhole weaponry barrels until my truck gun I used the red barn armory chrome lined barrel and at 150 it's a great deal. 200 rounds down range and it keeps nice groups. If you want great groups blackhole is the barrel to go with.

Update

I started a parts list and here what I have so far .. I am up for suggestion

Anderson Parts-
Upper Receiver
Lower Receiver
Trigger and lower parts
Bolt

MAGPUL - AR-15/M16 MOE M-LOK CARBINE HANDGUARDS

Barrel-
RBA 5.56 16" AR Barrel Carbine 1-7 twist Gov-Profile Chrome-Lined
Or
RBA - AR15 .223/5.56 M4 Barrel 16" Chrome-Lined 1-7 Twist phosphate
Stock -
A donated piece from my dad
Charging handle-
Some cheap one
Flash Suppressor -
Don't  Know yet but trying to keep it under $50 bucks
Tool-
Still working on what I need

There are pieces I am missing and have to figure out what I am missing ..

Welcome aboard

Welcome to the site.

Build it, build it, build it!! It ends up being cheaper, u get exactly what you want, you know ur going to be taking shit on and off and upgrading things down the road. Not to mention it gives u familiarity with the parts and their function on the rifle. It's a no brainer. Grab ur sac and BUILD IT!!!

I don't know much about your barrel choice, but do yourself a favor and look into Green Mountain.
They are excellent barrels at great prices...BCM uses GM for their Jack Carbine rifle.

http://www.gmriflebarrel.com/gm-m8-16-mid-length-gas-system-5-56-nato/

Thank you so much for that .. The other barrel was about  $150 and this is a great alternative to the original barrels selected  and for about the same price ...I have heard GM makes really good barrels and I most likely stick with them for the build unless someone has a better company for about the same price ..
The barrel is a Red Barn Armory Barrel and not sure of how good it is but I figured that's a good price for a chrome lined barrel..

Building it yourself is definitely the way to go. I just finished my latest last weekend - it's a budget build that I'll use as a beat-around gun. Haven't shot it yet so hopefully it runs OK. The BCG is a spare PSA setup I've had for 3 or 4 years and it has about 300 rounds on it through various rifles, so I know it's solid. Here's the specs:

PSA Blem lower  - $56 shipped from a Black Friday sale a year or two ago

PSA MOE lpk - $130 with free shipping during one of their free shipping over $100 sales

Radical Firearms upper assembly - $292 shipped during Primary Arms recent May Day sale (they had 15% off all uppers). I wanted to try a melonite barrel and this one was a good deal with the rail.
RF 16" 4150 chrome moly SOCOM barrel, melonite coated, HPT/MPI, 5.56 with 1:7 twist
Seekins Precision 12" MCSR keymod full-float rail

Spare PSA BCG with HPT/MPI Carpenter 158 bolt

PA MD-ADS red dot with lower 1/3 riser, PA 3x magnifier on an American Defense QD swing-away mount - got this entire setup off a local board for $250 - all in great shape.

So I'm at less than $730 all in on this one, although I do still have to come up with a BUIS for it. And already having a spare BCG and lots of mags helps. But if you build one, and enjoy shooting ARs, you will build another and the next thing you know you will start acquiring spare parts and the guns will seem to get cheaper to build all the time.

The obligatory pic of said beater budget rifle:

New Jersey does not allow flash hiders.  Muzzle breaks and compensators are okay though.  The hole in the end can only be big enough for the bullet to pass through, no large opening like the birdcage in your photo.

Which photo ??

The 2 pictures in your original post look like A2 birdcages.

Ok thanks for the info .. I will have to change my choices on muzzle breaks but I see the that model of flash hider on alot of AR-15 for sale in New Jersey and don't see how that is legal to sell WTF..

Does anyone have suggestions for a Performance trigger for about $50 or so and for a muzzle brake too ?? Are Anderson Bolts and triggers any good ??


Thanks

I trade for some parts to start my build and I just lost my job so right now money is tight and the parts will have to wait till I can get back on my feet .. But I am really happy with what I have right now and I have a chance to polish my trigger up on a nice hone ..I am still and long way to be complete and still alot of parts are needed but I keep updating as I get parts or any upates..

DPMS-Lower Parts kit-Pic below
The muzzle brake and gas blocks are unknown but I love the design of the muzzle brake and was told it was made in the 90's but not sure how true..
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k133/nucklehead_2006/Mobile%20Uploads/WP_20150705_11_51_16_Pro_zpsnzslfadq.jpg

Now I understand why Rousch Sports (ebay/amazon) has "CA/NJ legal" muzzle devices.  For the same price as the "normal" ones.  I bought a Punisher in 5.56 and another in .308/300blk.  $25 each, free shipping.  Made in USA.

I assembled my own too, first AR.  Anderson for the most part, runs like a sewing machine, shoots better than I do.  Anderson barrels from the lgs were $130, or order from Anderson for $20 less.  I bought most of it through the lgs, need them to stay in business.  

Anderson ended up with about the lowest prices on most of it.  You can nickel and dime yourself chasing lowest prices but in the end it needs to work.  Another $100 when it's all said and done is worth it.  I went with a few "lowest price" parts at first, then discovered the little details where they saved cost.  Like the little angle cuts on either side of the center part of the charging handle at the rear.  First dozen cycles it threw aluminum shavings off and took me a bit to shave it down using the sharp edge of the upper.  That's when I decided I was done buying lowest price parts.  This thing launches mach 4 chunks of lead and copper and the explosion is happening right in front of my face.