AR Sponsor
Posted: 7/4/2010 2:47:23 PM EDT
|
Howdy all,
Considering I'm new here, forgive me for the embarrassment that may ensue. I'm looking to purchase my first firearm. I'm an engineering student and my college has a shooting club that gets together every so often to go to the range and put a few rounds downrange. I'm no slouch to shooting, I've been doing it since I could legally with a variety of my parents and friends guns (.308, .45. 9mm, .357, .38...), but I've never actually owned my own. Recently, due to a plethora of suggestion, friends and family have urged me to purchase my own and get out "into the fray" of the shooting world. Several have suggested buying a plinker .22, but I'd like to have something with a little more versatility that I'll want to keep and change for years to come. So, I've decided on the AR-15. As far as I can tell, it's like a "Barbie" for guys. I've been told it's cheaper to build then to outright buy... The catch? I've never actually assembled a rifle before. I know next to nothing about the internals of one, just the bare bones of how to fire one. I've done some lurking here and figured there's not a more apt day to join (July 4th). What I want to know is, who manufactures quality low cost AR-15 parts? I hesitate to say "cheap" because I want something that will last and provide years of service and entertainment for me. Is there any literature that I should read? What should I know before buying parts (i.e. 16" barrel vs. 20" barrel, A1 vs A2 vs A3...) and what should I expect? What do I need to buy? I was considering... http://www.del-ton.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=LR102 as a lower and http://www.del-ton.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=CU102 as an upper But, will that get me everything I need (sans a way to deliver ammunition) to have a working firearm? Are there any other companies that will get me "more for my money"? Just trying to get some advice from the pros! Thanks much guys! -J-Pat |
|
checkout Spike's for your upper and lowers
that is where i started. If you aren't in a rush, keep an eye out for sales on the parts or blems |
| You won't save much building your own, but you can customize it a bit more with fewer extraneous parts left over. Personally, I would buy a Spike's complete rifle and read up on how to assemble and disassemble. You cannot beat the price for the quality, and you can use it as a learning tool. There are a few posts about how lowers are assembled, and that is a good starting point for an education. |
|
Quoted:
Spikes is good. Also check out Bravo Company. Good luck. I concur with both of these suggestions. Assembling a lower is pretty simple. I've been happy with the DPMS and Stag/CMT LPKs that I've used, although some folks don't care for DPMS. Rock River also makes good LPKs. Expect to pay $50-$80 for a LPK, $80-$150 for a typical lower (add another c-note or so for a billet lower). Put a Spikes or BCM upper on it and you'll be set. Assembling an upper isn't too difficult either but requires a few more specialized tools. If you won't be building more uppers, it's hard to justify the cost of the tools. To assemble a lower, you'll need a hammer, punches, needle nose pliers, electrical tape, and a stock wrench. Vise-grips can help too. As for lowers, if it's a typical forged lower, they're mostly the same. Buy the one with the logo you like or that fits your budget. I have Stag, Spike's, and Essential Arms lowers in the safe. |
|
Video on Stripper Lower Assembly http://www.lifelibertyetc.com/Home/RangeBag/AR15StrippedLower Go buy a complete AR15 because it is your first. You should built your second AR15 for learning experience. CDNN has S&W complete AR15 for $700. http://www.cdnninvestments.com/dowournewcat.html |
|
Quoted:
Video on Stripper Lower Assembly http://www.lifelibertyetc.com/Home/RangeBag/AR15StrippedLower Go buy a complete AR15 because it is your first. You should built your second AR15 for learning experience. CDNN has S&W complete AR15 for $700. http://www.cdnninvestments.com/dowournewcat.html I agree learn a little about the weapon system first. customize one then build. I am in the beginning stages of building my first. Part collecting |
| price out the parts and a complete rifle. I was just pricing a Armalite NM rifle. I can buy the complete rifle for the price of building 1. the difference. with the complete rifle you get a life time warranty. build and no warranty. If you buy a complete rifle you get a warranty with the good rifles. If you build it there's no warranty with any manufacturer. Id say buy complete then build your 2nd as funds are available. |
|
Quoted:
checkout Spike's for your upper and lowers that is where i started. If you aren't in a rush, keep an eye out for sales on the parts or blems 1st Posted nailed it and I second this suggestion |
|
I didn't know anything about ARs when I first started my first build (a few months ago) but I have learned a lot from this site. I may not post a lot, but by reading what is posted here, I can say I've come a long way. There is a section on this site that shows in detail how to assemble a lower, which for me was not that hard at all... except for the trigger assembly!!!
I thought I was going to save money too, but after I started shopping around I found there was so much to buy that I ended up racking about a $1200 bill... of course not all at once which is the beauty if building it! I bought the stripped lower and parts kit and stock first, and then it took me another 6 months to buy the upper. As far as the uppers go, you CAN'T beat Spikes. I recently purchased Spikes LE mid length upper with BAR rail and I love it. Best price out there. Good luck and have fun. P.S. I am also a college student and my AR nearly replaced my girlfriend  (however she offers some things the AR just can't... )
|
|
Welcome to what we all here call the Black Rifle Disease (BRD).
Watch out the disease will be more permanent and could never be cured once you get your first AR part. My own suggestion would be to buy the upper half with the highest quality that you could afford, maybe even adding a little more money because the upper is more important in accuracy and dependability, Spike's are a good value like the other members here stated but if you can swing it I would recommend the BCM midlength gas system carbine upper from Bravo Company. Building an upper requires buying a number of tools which you could avoid by just buying a complete upper half, the lower is very easy to assemble with just a punch set, small hammer, long nose pliers, and a carbine stock wrench. I used to belong to my college gun club when I was also an engineering student a long long time ago, at the same time I was also a member of my local gun club near my house, we had good times having the other member try our different firearms then we had good discussions once a month during our regular club meetings. Here's a very good thread on building your own AR, since I had been a long time owner of the AR platform everything in there are very familiar to me, but it still helped me on things that I already forgot. Assemble Your Own Lower, Upper, Free Float, Trigger, Gas Block - Step By Step Instructions! - tacked thread link Here is a content list of info, parts list, exploded parts diagrams, and other good info about the AR system. http://www.ar15.com/content/index.html#guides |
|
I agree on the BRD!! I have a Spikes lower just completed a few weeks ago in the extra bedroom. I swear I can hear it calling to me," FEED ME!!" My wife says she can't hear it, but I think she's playing with me.
This is a great site for noobs like us. You can ask a question, and get serious answers as opposed to some poser trying to make himself feel potant by belittling you. I've been in the shooting game for 50+ years, (I'm 62) and it never gets old. And, you are right about the AR. It will not be the only firearm you will own, but it may well be the most versatile. It is the "small block chevy" of rifles in that you can build a top to do whatever you want, from popping beer cans to deer hunting. Welcome aboard, have fun. Jeeze, can I talk, or what!!?!! 
|
AR Sponsor