Should I buy or build?

Hometown » Georgia

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Should I buy or build?

Posted: 1/28/2011 10:55:46 AM EDT

I was thinking of getting/building an AR15 (I have a few other rifles but not one of those). Want some opinions, do you guys think I should just build on from the ground up or get like a low end Rock River for example and just mod and dress it up to the way I want? Im looking at overall costs, dont really have a budget, just looking for the "most bang for your buck" type situation. Thanks for your input!

Posted: 1/28/2011 11:05:41 AM EDT

[#1]

I would buy. Then you get a warranty, and sometimes can get it cheaper than building. AIM and CDNN both seem to run sales from time to time where you can get a complete S&W M&P 15 AR-15 for $599. They are very nice rifles and it would be near impossible to build one from scratch for the same money.

If you would rather build one, don't build it from scratch. Get a complete lower, and then a complete upper when on sale. By buying them separately you don't have to pay the exise tax since it isn't a complete rifle from the factory. Usually you save at least $100 by doing it this way. You still get the warranty as well.

Posted: 1/28/2011 11:08:56 AM EDT

[#2]

Hmmm, didn't think about it that way. Sounds good, guess ill do some shopping and comparison.

Posted: 1/28/2011 11:35:26 AM EDT

[#3]

First off, always nice to have another Yellow Jacket around here...

Second, I just went through this myself. As an engineer, I wanted to build it. I started with a stripped lower and LPK and put all that together. Then my impatience got the better of me and I ordered a complete upper receiver group from Daniel Defense. In the end, I'm real happy. You do save the 11% excise tax on anything you buy that isn't attached to your lower when you buy it, so that helps.

Dan

Posted: 1/28/2011 11:36:06 AM EDT

[#4]

Building your own is good for the knowledge you get about how the system works, but it's not really worth it if you're trying to save money. The answer you'll get mostly is building is better since you can get exactly what you want. If what you want is an inexpensive AR with all new parts, then here's a quick rundown:

Del-Ton lightweight carbine kit $489.66 (shipped)
Palmetto State Armory stripped lower $79.95 (free shipping)
FFL transfer estimate for stripped lower $20

That's almost $590 and you don't have a magazine or a rear sight.

I did almost exactly the above (with a Spike's lower) because I could split the cost up a little. I have more money in mine now, but I'm still low-buck overall.

Posted: 1/28/2011 11:47:44 AM EDT

[#5]

Buy or build it, it doesnt matter because it wont be your last.

You should atleast build one.

Posted: 1/29/2011 3:23:58 AM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:
Buy or build it, it doesnt matter because it wont be your last.

You should atleast build one.

True dat.

Posted: 1/29/2011 5:36:15 AM EDT

[#7]

I bought my first the day the Klinton ban sunsetted, thanks to Chris over at SemperFiArms, the remainder were built.

He showed me the process involved and walked me through it as a novice, showed me the tips and tricks to the assembly and in the end I have a greater appreciation for the rifle as it was built by me.

To me you could go either way on the original question, the available parts and assemblies for the platform are readily available so making it what you envision is only a few searches away. The other side of the coin is many manufacturers offer great buys on a turn key rifle with a factory warranty on many.

Search, ponder, take information from those here who have been down these roads already and you will no doubt come to a sound decision soon.

Have fun and enjoy this great sickness that has bestowed upon us.

Posted: 1/29/2011 6:48:13 AM EDT

[#8]

Build it
cheap delton m4 kits at
coldhandarms.com

Posted: 1/29/2011 7:57:37 AM EDT

[#9]

I've built 2 and bought 2. The ones I built are exactly the way I wanted them and I don't expect to ever sell them. The 2 I bought Don't really mean anything to me and I would sell them in a heartbeat if i needed cash.

Posted: 1/29/2011 9:40:48 AM EDT

[#10]

I built my SBR from the ground up and i was glad i did just for the knowledge and experience, although i cheated and had a local smith help with the install of the FSB and some of the upper assembly. I recommend building if you are real picky about the parts that go into your rifle or just want to buy in stages because of budget issues. That being said, if you buy quality components you aren't going to save any money over a complete rifle from a quality manufacturer.

Posted: 1/29/2011 9:50:10 AM EDT

[#11]

My thoughts rae that I want a basic layout that I would buy one, but if there were specific options that I wanted, I would build it.

Posted: 1/29/2011 10:34:20 AM EDT

[#12]

I wouldn't call it "building your own" but I recommend buying a lower and then an upper. Saves you $$ on excise tax.

Posted: 1/29/2011 12:57:21 PM EDT

[#13]

Quoted:
I was thinking of getting/building an AR15 (I have a few other rifles but not one of those). Want some opinions, do you guys think I should just build on from the ground up or get like a low end Rock River for example and just mod and dress it up to the way I want? Im looking at overall costs, dont really have a budget, just looking for the "most bang for your buck" type situation. Thanks for your input!

If you build, you must have all the tools and skills to assemble an AR15. First you must know what you want, tactical, target, competition or a plinker. There are many options, calibers, types of barrels. The nice thing with the AR platform it's modular, like I have two lowers. One is a carbine and the other is a rifle, so I build different uppers for long range shooting like a 24" barrel in 6.5 Grendel or 16" barrel in .223 for tactical and so on. The lower need to have a good trigger setup. I best way is to look at all the options, talk to people that have a gun like you want and try to shoot some of different calibers. If you want more infornation IM me.

Mike

Posted: 1/29/2011 1:35:36 PM EDT

[#14]

Quoted:
I wouldn't call it "building your own" but I recommend buying a lower and then an upper. Saves you $$ on excise tax.

this, I would go stripped lower and a LPK and put that together yourself then buy a full upper receiver group

Posted: 1/29/2011 3:08:56 PM EDT

[#15]

first was an anniversary present, second one I'm building myself from scratch because I enjoy doing stuff like that. (i'm 29 and still play with an erector set)

Do what feels right

Posted: 1/29/2011 3:32:23 PM EDT

[#16]

I would suggest buying a stripped lower, a LPK, and a fully assembled upper. That's what I did, and it's enjoyable enough but not so intense as building an upper from scratch.

Posted: 1/30/2011 10:21:15 AM EDT

[#17]

Thanks everyone for insightful inputs to my question. There are some things to ponder and I did. I have decided to get a stripped lower and LPK and get a complete upper that I like and peice it together like that. Mostly since I dont have the tools needed to like install the barrel and get the correct headheadspace and timing and it being my first "build", plus I can sometimes be a bit impatient

. So as my first act I purchased an AR15.com stripped lower, couldnt say no to that bolt face stamp. Thanks again to everyone!

Posted: 1/30/2011 10:33:48 AM EDT

[#18]

Quoted:
Thanks everyone for insightful inputs to my question. There are some things to ponder and I did. I have decided to get a stripped lower and LPK and get a complete upper that I like and peice it together like that. Mostly since I dont have the tools needed to like install the barrel and get the correct headheadspace and timing and it being my first "build", plus I can sometimes be a bit impatient

. So as my first act I purchased an AR15.com stripped lower, couldnt say no to that bolt face stamp. Thanks again to everyone!

I hear you. I was in the same boat on my first build. It's really easy to install the LPK, I would suggest getting a decent rubber mallet and some punches, it makes everything go a lot smoother. Yes you can use a hammer, but you might end up marring the lower, trust me I used a old hammer on my first build. Luckily it was a polymer lower so there was no finish to mar.

Posted: 1/30/2011 2:48:54 PM EDT

[#19]

Build it. I'm glad I built mine. Saved money and I learned how the gun operates.

Posted: 1/30/2011 3:20:10 PM EDT

[#20]

I bought my first on in two pieces, lower then upper. I did order them the way I "thought" I wanted. My second one I built the lower myself and ordered a BCM upper. I'm buying the special tools needed to assemble an upper and I'm gonna build my 3rd exactly the way I want it. I prefer to build. Because I bought my first one, I didnt really know how everything works. Now I'm pretty familiar with the innerworkings and I feel like I know MY rofle much better. Even if you buy a completed rifle, I would recomend taking apart the lower and re-assemble so that you understand whats going on inside. .02 cents.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Should I buy or build?

Hometown » Georgia

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