AR Sponsor
Posted: 1/10/2009 11:47:42 AM EDT
I've been afraid to build a lower because I thought it would be too difficult, so I went to the gun show today looking to buy a complete lower. There weren't too many there (mostly complete rifles) and the ones that were built were ridiculously expensive (400-450ish). I decided that if I wanted to keep the price on my latest rifle down, I'd have to build the lower myself. I ended up with a CMMG lower and a DPMS parts kit for $240. I just finished the build and with the instructions on this website, it couldn't have been easier. It took me a little over an hour and there isn't a scratch on the receiver. It's so much more satisfying to build one than buy one. Sorry for the crappy pic below, it's from my cell phone. Now I just have to wait for the upper to get here.
|
|
Feels great doesn't it! I was the same way.. thought there was no way I'd ever be able to do that. (I'm not the most mechanically inclined person out there) but then I read the tutorial posted here and i'm like DAMN.. I should do this.. I CAN do this... and I did it! This website is great.. just to think a measly 3 years ago I was happily married with a Glock, .357 revolver, .22 pistol & an 870... Now I've got 2 black rifles, an AK, 1911 &.. I'm sperated/getting a divorce.. who knew 
|
|
Congratulations! There is some degree of self-satisfaction in the successful completion of an assembly of an AR lower.
For the trigger guard, I started the roll pin with a small brass hammer and completed the pushing with a small, padded c-clamp rather than using a larger hammer or vice grips. I think the c-clamp provides better control and the "other side support" issue is obviated. I used the small brass hammer to tap in the other roll pin, and the trigger and hammer pins. FWIW, the Brownell's Website has some Instruction videos that I also found helpful as they show the hand motions which are not in the pinned topic here. |
| Congrats! its a great feeling isn't it? I actually did the same thing today with my new lower but I don't have a stock yet. Sorry to hijack but just had a question. I have a mil spec receiver extension and I am looking at the Magpul MOE stock. I don't mind if the stock is a little loose so is it worth it to buy the CTR or is the MOE good enough? I'm actually going to order one tonite but I can't decide which to get, I am leaning towards the MOE. |
| Thanks for the feedback everyone. It does feel great and I am hooked. This is only my 2nd AR and I'm a young guy so there will be plenty more opportunities to build in the future. My 1st was off the shelf at the gun store but that will never happen again. I still can't get over the markup on completed lowers at the gun show and in stores, especially considering how easy it is to assemble them. Plus, by buying the parts separately, I can build EXACTLY what I want, rather than customizing something that is essentially complete. As far as the roll pins, I just bashed them in with a hammer. The one for the trigger guard was VERY hard to get in though. |
|
Did you name it?
By the way pro2AinPA, get some starrett punches (theyre the best), and a soft hammer. Given the expensive nature of what youre working on, you want good punches. and the expensive nature of the punches you want a soft hammer (brass or something) |
AR Sponsor