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Posted: 11/25/2015 2:44:24 PM EDT
| Is it better or cheaper to build an AR instead of buying a nice AR and changing out a few parts? I'm just curious because I just bought my first personally owned AR and I changed out the charging handle, safety selector, and may try a Titan muzzle break. Other than that it seems G2G. I also added a BCM hand stop and put a T-1 with LaRue QD. I don't know what I'm missing, but I feel like I'm done. |
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To answer your question OP, yes and no. Smart-ass answer, I know. For the accessories on the rifle you swapped out, it's cheaper to buy and replace. Besides, you get a rifle closer to what you want and like. If a builder does it on a large scale it's just what they think you might want or like, or worse, which are the cheapest parts with the greatest profit margin. Once you start swapping out the expensive parts (barrel, receivers), then it's better to buy them from the beginning.
Frankly, it's hard to know what you like until you've been shooting a bit. There's no real consensus on what is "best." It's a learning process. |
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If you're just swapping out small things like grips, a trigger, or maybe a butt stock to get exactly what you want then it's no big deal. That's exactly what I did with my first AR and learned what I like and don't like, and ended up maybe replacing $100 worth of original parts on it. When I built my second AR I bought the components I wanted the first time around.
But as soon as you're replacing major components such as barrel, BCG, or complete buffer system then you're throwing significant money away. |
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You'll probably do what I'm doing. Bought my first and tweaked a few things as you have, then figuring out what you really like and want and starting your own build from scratch to achieve a specific purpose.
I am buying parts slowly and piecing it together as I have the money but it's going to be a high quality build once it's said and done. They really are like women, the first one you have is great and you never think you'll want another one, then you realize she'll always be special to you but you'll just have to try others out |
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Quoted:
If you are happy with what you have, then... mission accomplished. Unfortunately if you don't post a picture, you don't actually have it. Here ya go: https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/617/23296046571_c4bd34b193_z.jpg |
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