Got an Olympic PCR-4 kit, with a Rock River lower. The Olympic kit was great and fit the RRA lower very well. Takedown pins are a little tight, but I guess tight is better than loose (as with most things). Really glad I took the plunge. The Garand was starting to bankrupt me. Going shooting this weekend. If the West Texas wind co-operates, that is. I will probably shoot anyway. Now I gotta grab a box or two of those little 'ol .223 cartridges...

Hey M1
Congrats on your new baby . Hope your weather holds out so you can do some shooting. I'm thinking of building one too . Was this your first ? Any advice you can share with me to make this a positive experience . Good Shooting . Let us know how it goes .

Thanks Jerry

I hope it shoots as nice as it looks! I know the guys on this board say it a lot, but the information at

http://old.ar15.com/docs/assembly/lower/

was great. Step by step and so easy an Aggie could do it! The tool list they provide is extensive, but I got by with a pair of pliers, a Phillips screwdriver, flat blade screwdriver and the three punches they recommend. I only deviated from the procedure once, and that was to install the safety after the trigger assembly and before the hammer. Seemed to work better for me. Watch those detent springs! Chasing them across the floor sucks.

I hope you decide to build one. It was a fun afternoon, and you certainly can get familiar with the design and function of the rifle. (Something I needed to do: I have never owned an AR) And with politics the way they are you may soon never get another chance to own one.

As far as parts sources, this was my first rifle, so I can't tell you what to buy. But the guys here on the boards have some opinions!

One thing that has interested me a lot is the Tannery Shop's 80% lower receivers. Check out
http://www.tanneryshop.com
The idea of building one "almost from scratch" really appeals to me. That may be my next project.

Here are some other links I used. I hope they will help during your planning phase.

http://www.olyarms.com/
http://www.jtdistributing.com/
http://www.rockriverarms.com/
http://www.bushmaster.com/
http://www.hessearms.com/
http://www.model1sales.com/

Hope this helps! Feel free to contact me if you have any other questions..

Sounds like you live in the Panhandle.

old.ar15.com/docs/assembly/lower/

Congratulations. Post a picture of it. I'm sure it will shoot just fine.  On the chasing the detent and springs; done that too when I built mine. Was lucky to find them.  Check out the board code at the top of the reply page and you can make your links "clickable"

Congrats on the build. I just started building mine from a Bushy lower. I had to order some more detent pins though. It sounds like we had the same problem. Those little suckers really can fly. I also had to order some Molybdenum Disulfide grease so I am impatiently waiting. But I have to say that I have never had this much fun with my clothes on. I can't wait to finish it and make some holes in paper!  

to prevent "chasing" the detent,sit on the end of a white bed sheet and pull the other end over your head.sounds funny but it contains the flying pin,and it's easy to find.
watch out where you're looking..

Good idea Notack: I took the precaution of ordering 6 pins and 6 springs. Murphy's law will apply and I will have 5 of each left over when I am finished. I already have the front pivot pin installed, I need the parts for the rear pin. But that is OK. They are only $0.50 apiece so I figure it is cheap insurance.

Yep. The Peoples Republic of Flatlandia. The Panhandle's not such a bad place, but the wind is killer...

Quoted: Yep. The Peoples Republic of Flatlandia. The Panhandle's not such a bad place, but the wind is killer...

I lived in Lubbock as a kid back in the 60s.

We use to get 2' sand drifts in the front yard.

Haven't heard that one before. But when the wind's just right and the feedyards are ripe..., you know your in the Panhandle.

hey jet excatly the same one i bulit the pins do fly  did you buy the brake ? i drimeled the end of the set screws to make them flush with the break .still looks a little odd shoots fine w/no name mags

Well I finished mine and took it to a state park range to put it through it's paces. I am in love. Even though the Michigan State Park rifle ranges only allow you to have one round in the rifle at a time I loved shooting this weapon. The accuracy was much better then I had hoped for. That says a little about me but much more about Bushmaster!  

Range Report:

Function was flawless! GI mags worked great. Got a 2" group before I started, uh, increasing my rate of fire. I'm sure if I wasn't such a weenie and took my time the gun would print as well as I could hold it. Gonna grab a 5 rounder and get some coyotes and prairie dogs this spring.

Fiznuk that! Beta mag!!!!