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Posted: 8/16/2008 9:45:36 PM EDT
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I know you guys see new threads started daily about new AR15 builds, but I couldn't resist. I bought a Bushmaster AR15 lower (stripped) today and will be starting my first AR15 build soon. I have never built an AR15 or any rifle for that matter so this will truly be a learning experience. I look forward to researching this forum and asking plenty of questions. Next up is a good trigger kit and then go from there. http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll93/Seawolf_504/AR15lower.jpg |
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Can anyone point me toward a place with good prices on uppers? The cheapest I have found for a complete upper assembly is $385. Also an update. I have a trigger kit on the way and will be installing that whenever it gets here. I want to have this thing built before Obama takes office just in case I have to go out and burry it in the yard. lmao |
| The key is not cheap. Unless it a good brand and used maybe. Had a friend buy Model 1 sales upper, he shot fora few years then sold it toanother friend of mine and al lof sudden keys holes with good ammo. I looked inot the barrel it is all ready shot out. Barrel looked worse then my 102 years old 22 lr barel. |
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The key is chrome lining. It's great if you get better steel (4150 vs 4140) like Bushmaster, Colt, FN, Bravo Company USA, and a few others use for barrels, but chrome lining gets you a lot of bang for your buck when it comes to long life. I'd bet that the Model 1 upper mentioned above was either chrome moly with no chrome lining, or the previous owner rodded the heck out of it cleaning it too often. Barrels last a LONG time if not abused, but chrome lining makes them last even longer. I build my own uppers from pieces, but complete uppers can be had from JSE Surplus, Del-Ton, AIM Surplus, and even Gunbroker.com among other places. |
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Well an update. last night I started the lower parts install and added a M4 stock. I appreciate the info on the uppers and I will look into it. I have a lot of research to do yet and it will take me some time to save up the cash. Would it be smarter to purchase the upper already assembled with barrel or to continue adding a piece at a time? Here are some pics from last nights build. I had a good time working on it and I think next time I will invest in a vice. lol I had to have the wife hold the damn thing while I tapped in the pins. lol http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll93/Seawolf_504/Lowerbuild1.jpg http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll93/Seawolf_504/Lowerbuild2.jpg Final lower assembled http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll93/Seawolf_504/Lowerbuildcomplete1.jpg |
very evil looking
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Thanks. The only thing that I really goofed on was getting those pins in for the trigger housing plate and the one for the bolt release. In the video the guy even said to tape up the reciever which I did, but I still managed to gaff up the finish a little bit. I don't guess there is any way to not gaff it up somehow until you get really good at it. lol |
Smarter? Build it yourself and learn in case something needs fixing or replacing in the future. Plus, you get the parts you want, as far as handguards and bolt/carrier. Adding in the cost of tools, you about break even with buying a whole one (for a good price at places like Del-Ton) and building one yourself from parts and tools from JSE Surplus plus a barrel from Bushmaster.com. I am building a new upper right now - Bushmaster 14.5" M4 barrel (better 4150 steel than most others, M4 feed ramps, chrome lining, and more) with permanently-installed Phantom 5C1 flash suppressor. If you buy the Phantom when you buy the barrel, you can choose "permanently install" as a free option on the flash suppressor to make the 14.5" barrel legal without needing to go through the tax stamp deal for a short-barreled rifle. I have built 4 others with this barrel - nice, lightweight, and accurate. The only problem? I ordered my latest barrel 4 weeks ago, and it still hasn't shipped. So, if you're in a hurry, it might not be the best choice. I already got the rest of my parts from JSE Surplus, and they shipped right away. I got a flat top upper with feed ramps, and all the rest of the parts - bolt/carrier, gas tube, delta ring, etc.. The flat top uppers with feed ramps from JSE are anodized and dyed as your Bushmaster lower looks like it is in your picture. The other upper receivers are Teflon-coated, I think, and they will look shiny compared to your lower. Most people don't care, but some people are picky - that's why I mention it.  If you plan to build any more uppers or if you are willing to sell the tools used in the EE, I say built it yourself and get what you want. I like the DPMS multi-tool and the DPMS Panther Claw, and I have used the heck out of mine - work great. |
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Well I wanted to revisit my build thread with an update. I finally have the funds to finish my first AR build, but obviously I can't find an upper anywhere. Anyone got any ideas on where to look. I am willing to go ahead and get in line and wait a few weeks if it means I will actually get one, but I don't want to get jammed up waiting and miss a deal somewhere else. make any sense? I was looking at the Del Ton web site with a 12-16 week wait time, but I have heard on the forums stories of poor customer service from Del Ton. Looking for ideas.
I guess I am having the same issue everyone else is so any help would be appreciated. |
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Quoted:
Well I wanted to revisit my build thread with an update. I finally have the funds to finish my first AR build, but obviously I can't find an upper anywhere. Anyone got any ideas on where to look. I am willing to go ahead and get in line and wait a few weeks if it means I will actually get one, but I don't want to get jammed up waiting and miss a deal somewhere else. make any sense? I was looking at the Del Ton web site with a 12-16 week wait time, but I have heard on the forums stories of poor customer service from Del Ton. Looking for ideas. I guess I am having the same issue everyone else is so any help would be appreciated. Try Legal Transfers (board member), he has good prices. You'll have to wait for it, but you will have to wait no matter where you go. |
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Quoted:
The key is chrome lining. It's great if you get better steel (4150 vs 4140) like Bushmaster, Colt, FN, Bravo Company USA, and a few others use for barrels, but chrome lining gets you a lot of bang for your buck when it comes to long life. I'd bet that the Model 1 upper mentioned above was either chrome moly with no chrome lining, or the previous owner rodded the heck out of it cleaning it too often. Barrels last a LONG time if not abused, but chrome lining makes them last even longer. I build my own uppers from pieces, but complete uppers can be had from JSE Surplus, Del-Ton, AIM Surplus, and even Gunbroker.com among other places. You forgot the best source to find AR parts on the entire web. Our Equipment Exchange. - You have to really scour it thoroughly, as deals pop up randomly and are gobbled up by those looking. Ive found some killer deals and was able to build a rifle Post-Obama at Pre-Obama prices. |
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Aye. Watch the EE, but I'd also say watchPkfirearms.com They only ever show what they have IN STOCK RIGHT NOW, so anything you find and buy off there will ship immediatley. If you trying to follow the "build-it-yourself" route, then PK has got stripped upper recievers in stock most times, andwill occasionally get Bolt Assemblies and barrels too.
Also, www.bravocompanyusa.com is suppsed to be getting large shipments of LMT products (BCGs, barreled uppers etc) in april, so if your careful, you could probably snatch one of those up, depending on how much money you want to spend. Good Luck! |
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Well I'm back! Today I recieved the upper assembly, which I bought from a member of this board (Thanks Jason). According to the seller it was purchased from M&A parts in Sept of 07 and has only 600 rounds through it. It's described by M&A as a RRA product, but there is nothing on the upper to identify it as RRA. The yellow QC tag that came with it does not have any company info and only an initial from the QC signing off on it. It has extended M4 feed ramps and the barrel is match grade (NON chrome lined) molly HBAR marked 5.56 1/9 on the top of the barrel in front of the front sight.
He said something about cardinal forged and the bolt carrier key is staked. The seller also stated that the FSB is not F marked (I have no clue what that means), but there was no issues with elevation during his two range sessions. Since I am just a begginer and this is my first AR15 I would appreciate any help in explaining what all that means. lol I'm familiar with the basics like the BCG/CH, M4 feedramps, Chrome lined/non chrome lined, and the HBAR, but I am not familiar with cardinal forged or bolt carrier key. Did I choose wisely for a first time rifle or will I wish I had waited? I realize the barrel is not a light weight barrel ( I could tell that right off the bat) and I realize the barrel isn't chrome lined, but I figure a different barrel down the road is something easy to do. Everything seems to function fine, but I will know more once I have a chance to hit the range. Next up will be an affordable flip up rear sight and some more mags. http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll93/Seawolf_504/AR15recieved.jpg |
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Quoted:
Hey, that upper is backwards!!
Looks good.  Thats exactly what I was thinking. Looks good though. Staking on the carrier key means that the metal around the screws holding the gas key to the bolt carrier have been hit with a punch and made to touch the screws to keep them from backing out causing a big problem. ETA: Also, for an affordable rear sight, look into the Magpul MBUS ~$55 and YHM's new flip up sight~$100 . I've got an MBUS, seems nice for the money, haven't gotten a chance to run it yet though. I got a chance to hold the YHM the other day at my local gun shop. I really liked it. If I didn't already have Troy sights on my other rifle, I'd really think about getting the YHM. |
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LOL, sorry guys. I didn't realize until a friend pointed it out that when I edited the photo it reversed it because I had to rotate it around to show up right. I'm going to work on getting some newer pics up as soon as I get ome today.
I'm sure there are some lefties out there wondering how much I would sell it for. lol |
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OK as promised I fixed the backwards pic so sorry about that.lol
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll93/Seawolf_504/AR15recieved.jpg Here is my collection so far. It's nothing really impressive, but I have all my basics covered I think as far as HD goes. (sorry it's not one of the most artistic pics on this board, but it was the best I could do short of finding some deserted road somewhere. Once I get a few more gadgets on the AR I will report back with some fresh pics. Maybe those will be more tacticool.  )
If you notice in these pics the lower is a darker shade than in the original photo right after I slapped them together. The two pics below were taken after a field strip and good cleaning of the ar. This lower sat assembled in the top of my closet for over a year so the finish was a little light to say the least. A light coat of oil and a lint free rag took care of that. http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll93/Seawolf_504/GunCollectionSmall.jpg http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll93/Seawolf_504/GunCollectionRearSmall.jpg |
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