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Posted: 10/8/2008 8:44:18 PM EDT
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Hey guys I'm hoping to start getting the pieces together for my first build very soon, but before I do I want to see what the experts have to say about what I've found. I've looked through a ton of the postings on here, especially the stickies about receivers and all that stuff as well as advice from other members. I want to build a good rifle that is going to be high quality but I also don't want to spend a ton, I'm hoping to keep it around $600 -$700 or so. I'm trying to decide between 2 ways, either buying a complete kit and then just buying the lower, which I found the complete upper for $535 and the stripped lower for $105. Have you guys had a good experience with m-aparts.com at all or does anybody have any input or recommendations for the kit? It seems like a pretty good deal and it's what I'm looking for (I should probably throw it out there that I'm looking for a 16" M4 style upper with a flat top). Besides that, I was also looking at going with each item individually. I saw an upper receiver with barrel and bolt carrier assembly and charging handle, 2 at m-aparts here ($495) and here, ($445) as well as one from Delton ($415). For the lower receiver I would go with the same stripped one as above, and a lower parts kit for $59. For the buttstock I really like the Magpul CTR, and with the buffer spring and tube and all that stuff it'd run $132.15. I would want to eventually add the Magpul CTR to the other one as well, as well as a detachable rear sight from this site for $30. So for the first option with buying the complete kit and the stripped lower, initial build price including detachable rear sight would be $670 plus shipping and any other fees. For option 1 with the Magpul stock it'd be about $770. For option 2, getting everything separate but including the Magpul, I'd be looking at $741 at the low end and a max of $821 for what I listed here. What would any of you guys with more experience than me, which should be almost everyone here, recommend for me? Whether it includes what I have here or something different that would be better, I'm open for a lot of suggestions. I'm going to a gun show this weekend for the first time so I'll see if I happen to find anything there, but I would love to hear any input from the experts. Thanks a lot guys. |
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m and a has good uppers. friend of mine, arfcommer, used to work for Lewist Machine and Tool...one of the best names in the industry. he says LMT builds all MA's uppers, even the ones that don't say LMT. Those are LMT exclusive designs. Some will beat on MA hard because they're inexpensive. Don't know about Delton receivers. I've built on two Superiors and been very happy. All the different parts you listed are okay choices. Unless you think you can build a rifle, build one rifle, and not catch black rifle disease, don't try to make this one the perfect one. I'd say make it the simplest. I was advised to build a Standard A3 20", A2 Buttstock first. I did and it was a good choice...used a RRA upper for that btw. Also ended up putting a Bushy Carry handle on it after a disasterous adventure with a cheap red dot. One last bit of advice I'll pass on from a gun store employee...."you keep trying to save yourself money, and everytime you do this, it costs you. Just figure out what you want and if it's in the budget, stop shopping!" |
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IMO, look at the Stag kit-gun. Everything you need minus the stripped lower (even a BUIS for a rear site). I believe it may even be on sale right now. I have used Legal transfers and Mooneys here on this site for my pieces. I'd recommend you get a stripped lower local and get the rest of the stuff online. Many FFLs will charge anywhere from $20-50 for a transfer fee, but if you get it local it is much cheaper. Depending on where you are, there may even be a vendor from here that you can work with. Either way you go, the stripped lower local would be a good idea. The cheapo UTG rear site you have linked will work, but if you plan on running an optic it gets on the way. You can learn to live with it. |
Do you mean something like either the Model 2H for $525 or the Model 3H for $465? I'm going to check the gun show this weekend for a nice lower and see if I can find one at a good price to avoid the fee. Any more advice, reviews, and suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thanks |
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He is talking about this. This is where I bought my Stag upper from. I thought it was a pretty good deal, price included shipping. I haven't had any problems with it at all, have about 1k through it. You might want to check out the Magpul MOE stock. It looks like it is like the CTR, but just doesn't have the QD sling mount. I am sure someone will correct me if I am wrong about this. It is a little bit cheaper than the CTR. |
| Well I checked out the Stag Arms that you attached in the link, and with shipping it's $633. Maparts has the complete kit previously mentioned, with all the same parts, for $525 plus $22 for shipping. For the extra $86 you get a rear sight (which I found for $30) and one magazine with the Stag kit. Is it that much better and worth the extra cost? |
The quality of M-A, Del-Ton, Model 1, etc. small parts, BCGs, etc is not on par with the quality of Stag. I would advise holding on to your money for a few months and saving up a little more so you can get a really good rifle. Even if Obama wins, Bush is still president 'til January. |
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I'm planning on spreading the purchase out so I can get everything I need without throwing all the money at it immediately. I found out that I will be receiving a few certain gifts from a friend of mine, coming in the form of about 7 30rd aluminum magazines, an M4 Butt Stock, an M4 Rail System, rail handguards, an extended charging handle, a ready mag, a vertical grip, and a pressure pad. Now I'm no pro, I'm definitely a newbie, but this sounds like a good amount of goodies to me. The Butt Stock doesn't include any of the parts, I still need the parts for it. Since I have all these extra things, I figure the money I save on this I can put towards a little better equipment. The main reason I was getting the complete kit was so I didn't have to purchase a buttstock separately, but since the Stag uppers are apparently that much better I would probably go with one of those, purchase the lower receiver from a local dealer or at a gun show, purchase the lower parts kit online, and all I need would be the parts for the buttstock. What would be the parts needed to complete the butt stock assembly? Would I be best off going that route with the Stag complete upper? And what about the lower parts kit? I found one on Delton's website for $55. Anything else I should know to get all these pieces together and working? |
I found the extension tube, buffer, and buffer spring, but any recommendations where I should find the castle nut and receiver endplate? And for the extension tube buffer and buffer spring, I want CAR length not standard right? |
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