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Posted: 10/17/2012 8:16:25 PM EDT
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planning on starting my own M4 platform build. and heres my scenario.
Im staying here at P.I where our options for new parts is either limited or overpriced. So with this, I might consider to build out of refurbished or used parts. This will be a budget build, and purpose will be for home defense, and ocassional plinking. Main goal is reliability. Heres the questions in my mind, and hopefully you guys can help me out. 1. since this build will be based on refurbished/used parts. what are the parts that is necessary to get as new. (im thinking, get new set of lower parts kit) and which parts are totally fine even when its been used. over here, elisco (under Colt on the '80s) has been highly regarded for its reliability. and im considering to get a lower receiver of elisco. 2. what is the advisable barrel length for my purpose? related to first question, is barrel better bought as new? 3. for parts, what are the brands known for reliability and reasonable prices. not sure if its allowed here, but what are the iffy brands? lol 4. with regards to current ITAR rules, what are the items that can be legally shipped internationally, Philippines to be specific. If yes, any recommended online shops to check out? thanks guys 
^kindly move to relevant thread, if need be |
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At least the BCG and the barrel should be new.
I don't know your laws, so I can't comment on what length of barrel. Here in the US, 16" is the minimum without Federal involvement. I don't know what brands are available to you. I would assume buy parts made by Colt, but there may be other manufactures available to you that aren't available to us. As far as I know, everything firearms related here (receivers, parts, stocks, etc) are under ITAR and cannot be shipped outside the US from an online store without some special provision more than likely. |
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ok bro. i'll keep in mind about getting new BCG and barrel. any more critical parts that are better off installed as new?
with regards to length, our laws here are quite lenient about rifles and there is no legal length and yes, we do have the happy switch. but all of this comes with a higher than market prices. i guess the price is the unspoken factor thats why legal rifle owners here is not at a high. well back to my question, if no limitations, what is the ideal length for my purpose? |
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Most M4 carbine clone semi auto type we do here in ARFCOM are either 14.5" barrel lengths but the legal limit here is 16" so some guys get a SBR (Short Barreled Rifle) which is registered and approved by the BATFE (US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives), and a $200 tax is paid prior to taking possession of or creating the firearm.
Other guys permanently install an extended length flash suppressor to a 14.5" barrel which makes the overall barrel length the legal 16" (from the bolt face to the front end of the flash suppressor), and yet others (like myself) don't want to mess with permanently attaching a flash suppressor so we just go with the 16" barrel length but with the A2 type flash suppressor that makes it a little over 17". 1. At least get a new or like new with low round count barrel and BCG, the lower parts kit are not that expensive so get it new and all new springs. At least have a spare bolt and small parts of the bolt like bolt cam pin, gas rings, extractor, extractor pin, extractor spring, firing pin, and firing pin retaining pin. A complete lower parts kit would be handy if something breaks, all springs set including the buffer spring, and a spare charging handle. 2. The most proven barrel length for the M4 carbine is the US military issued 14.5". 3. The brands that are good in quality and reasonable prices here are BCM, Daniel Defense, LMT, also parts made by FN, there are also unknown companies here that are military suppliers and nobody wants to state who those companies are and which military firearm manufacturer (Colt, FN, KAC, etc) they supply. I won't go into the iffy brands (we don't want to start a war here) but just avoid getting Vulcan Armament/ Hesse Firearms/ Blackthorne/ Velocity Firearms, too many members that had problems with them, there are plenty of problem threads in the archives. 4. ITAR laws are very strict, we here in the US can't even directly get parts made in Canada or other neighboring countries, we have to get those foreign made parts from the official importer, so contact your firearms importer or gun dealer to buy your parts. You could browse for parts at the AR15.com Industry section where industry partners, manufacurers and dealers are listed with their online links, also see those banner links on top and bottom of the web pages, most all of them won't ship parts internationally unless they have an export license. Here's a good FAQ and buying advice thread, note that Sabre Defence is out of business now, but if you could get new old stock parts they're good to go. So You Want To Buy an AR-15 - Features to Consider - FAQs link Here's AR15.com step by step assembly instructions at the Build It Yourself forum: Assemble Your Own Lower, Upper, Free Float, Trigger, Gas Block - Step by Step Instructions! - link |
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From your inputs, I have made reasonable progress.
Got me a Colt lower receiver (used but not abused) and everything else is new. Yeah, It is way different now than my first post. 
magpul CTR kit, Stag Lpk, Spikes Bcg, Psa upper. YH phantom. (feel free to suggest other brands as I plan to buy another set of Stock, Lpk, Bcg, upper, and Flash hider/compensator.) With regards to muzzle device, what is best to use, since I want to minimise the loudness of the AR. of course, suppressor is not an option. Whats the good brand for Lower parts kit. Since my lower is quite old, (i havent fitted my Lpk yet) Im afraid pin holes and such may not be as tight/fitting as originally made. Whats the solution for this? Next purchase will be, sights, handguard, and barrel. For sights, since rifle wont be seeing the long distance range soon, so what can u suggest? For handguards, whats the bang for the buck? Same as well for Barrel, as I dont think I can splurge much on this, what can you recommend? Considering 14" carbine gas system. All has been easy, because of Arfcom, thanks guys
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