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AR15.COM
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5/15/2014 9:03:38 PM EDT
I have been buying and shooting these things forever. However, I have never built one and really don't know what a lot of the parts are called. So I am about to build a couple and need all kinds of help. Help like part names, where to get parts , how to install parts as well as where to get the best deals.

I bought my son a stripped Spikes lower. He is 17 and likes to spend his money on stupid teenage kid stuff. So I bought him the lower in order to get him to spend a little money something that will retain value.It came with some misc parts like a FCG. He has a grip now and the end of an adjustable butt stock? It looks like it needs the tube and buffer, but can they be bought that will accept the portion that slides onto it or does the entire thing have to be bought at once?
5/15/2014 9:22:22 PM EDT
[#1]
Hi and welcome. I am also building my 1st ar15 with my son. From what videos I have seen the ar15 is a very easy gun to start out with. You should consider buying a complete adjustable stock set. I brought a setup from a seller here amf it came with the spring,buffer tube, stock and buffer. Plus the price was cheaper then going threw rock river arms or anywhere else. Since you have a spikes lower spend the extra loot and buy good parts the first time. If I can help with what ever just I.m. me
5/15/2014 10:20:41 PM EDT
[#2]
If you've already got the stock, all you need is the receiver extension (buffer tube), the actual buffer (just a weighted tube) and the spring.  If there's any gun shows in your area, you can walk in w/ what you've got & walk out w/ a complete functioning AR.  If you're close to D/FW, there'll be a big show @ the end of June.  Or you can buy everything online.  CMMG & PSA are popular low cost vendors here; CMMG can take awhile to ship.

You'll need to figure out what diameter your stock is inside.  Carbine buffer tubes come in two flavors - commercial and mil-spec.  Commercial tubes are slightly larger in diameter than mil-spec tubes, so a commercial stock will fit on a mil-spec tube & wobble a bit, but work; a mil-spec stock will not fit on a commercial tube.  If you have some other ARs, you can swap parts around & see what fits.
5/16/2014 5:03:08 PM EDT
[#3]
Thanks backbencher. I have a Spikes multi cal lower. I saw a Spikes buffer and spring in the classifieds here for $45.I was considering buying it if that was a good deal?
5/16/2014 5:06:27 PM EDT
[#4]
I see the buffer without the tube for $42.99 on Amazon. I couldn't imagine the spring costing much so that might not be a good deal.
5/16/2014 5:24:15 PM EDT
[#5]
Quoted:
I have been buying and shooting these things forever. However, I have never built one and really don't know what a lot of the parts are called. So I am about to build a couple and need all kinds of help. Help like part names, where to get parts , how to install parts as well as where to get the best deals.

I bought my son a stripped Spikes lower. He is 17 and likes to spend his money on stupid teenage kid stuff. So I bought him the lower in order to get him to spend a little money something that will retain value.It came with some misc parts like a FCG. He has a grip now and the end of an adjustable butt stock? It looks like it needs the tube and buffer, but can they be bought that will accept the portion that slides onto it or does the entire thing have to be bought at once?
View Quote


You will need a buffer, action spring, end plate, castle nut, and receiver extension( buffer tube.)

Dave N
5/16/2014 9:58:14 PM EDT
[#6]
Which is why I posted about buying a complete kit so then you dont have to worry about having what you need. You can buy cheap kits from 40 to way more and on the ee you can get rock river arms for 65 shipped.
5/17/2014 5:45:30 AM EDT
[#7]
BCM has quality mil-spec parts with decent prices. Buffer tube kit, carbine buffer, spring, tube, castle nut, end plate, like $58. My ass got burned with a few "quality" buffer tubes, the BCM is all that's left on my guns. Stay away from Tapco metal parts. Buffer tubes are all not the same. Mil-spec or commercial diameters, you need to determine which you need to fit the stock you have. Preferably 7075 aluminum, not 6061. Be very careful of parts on Amazon, stay with reputable manufacturers, otherwise you end up paying a lot for poorly made parts. Most AR stuff I find on Amazon is NOT a deal.
5/23/2014 7:48:46 PM EDT
[#8]
The stock I have came from a stag arms gun and that's what it says on the gusset. It was a model 3 with the plus package. Does anybody know what size tube goes with it?
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