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Posted: 7/10/2011 4:34:28 PM EDT
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First off let me just say that this is a bit of a cheat because i had parts lying around the house. Anyway my other half was sick of me building ARs and running through our savings so she tipped everything out on the floor and said "can't you build anything with all this crap?". Which got me thinking... so here is my build the total cost was right at $400.00 give or take 10 or so bucks. Mods if this is in the wrong place or against forum rules, sorry im new here, read the rules can't see anything against posting this.
Pieces i started with: 1:9" twist 16" barrel Standard AR15 Charging handle Low profile troy industries gas block 1 carbine length gas tube Pieces i bought: Yankee Hill Machine Upper AR-15 A3 Yankee Hill Machine Diamond Free Float Tube Handguard AR-15 Specter Length SI Defense Bolt Carrier Assembly Commercial Plum Crazy Firearms Polymer Lower probably not all that amazing in hindsight but still i was pretty pleased with the results. I threw on some flat dark earth magpul furniture I had (again a bit of a cheat) but the end result is very nice and it actually fires and handles very decently. It is very light especially compared with my M&P 15 pic and specs below the PCF build. In any case even without the parts i had im pretty sure i could make a lightweight cheap AR with all new parts for around $500. This is probs nothing new to some of the more experienced builders out there but it blew me away how cheaply i could make these things. final weight of the rifle is 6.5lbs please note again i did not include pricing for magpul furniture in this build, that was added after i finished, i simply couldnt be bothered to reattach the stock stuff for the photos :) http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/1149/pcf1.jpg a note on the PCF lower. I have read a lot of bad things about these and as someone who has been an avid shooter for my entire life i have to admit i went into the whole polymer (including internals) thing with a bit of concern. However i spent a lot of time with the SA80 (L85) A1 which managed to literally fall to pieces in my hands while firing it so i figured how much more fragile could this lower be (weird logic i know). Anyway i have to say i am extremely impressed the fit with the yankee hill upper is very snug but the rifle performs excellently and i have yet to have a single malfunction while firing. Furthermore i have seen no damage to the lower internals despite my best efforts with rapid fire and doing various other things to torture test it within reason. Really for around $100 you can't go wrong with this thing. Having said that i wouldn't recommend them for a precision rifle. My S&W build/pimp out thing http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/5633/sw1y.jpg S&W M&P15 upper and lower receiver Mapul MOE Stock PMAG Magpul BAD Lever Magpul MIAD grip Troy Industries Claymore Muzzle Brake Troy Industries Rail Covers Daniel Defense 1 in 7" twist 16" barrel Cheap Fore Grip Eotech 512 with QD mount Eotech Magnifier with QD mount |
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I'm not calling you a liar, but I think you would have to demonstrate the pricing you got on the parts I see there. I don't know if you can get things that cheap, but this is about as low as I can get:
140 PSA MOE LPK 75 Plum Crazy Lower 100 Barrel 100 Magpul sights 150 YHM Spectra forearm 25 XTM panels 35 Foregrip 15 PMAG 20 UPK 30 Low Profile Gas Block 11 Gas tube 701 Total From what I see there, I would have about $700, and the price would be $775-$800 with shipping included. I was generous with the Barrel price and the Lower price. |
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I don't disagree but if you read my original post you will see that i had several of the parts lying around and that the magpul parts were added after i finished but i couldnt be bothered to take them off for the photos.
My whole point is that to make a working AR it cost me $400. Granted if i had to buy the barrel and charging handle i would probs have spent another $100 to $150. if you wish however i will edit my original pictures and reattach the market stock and pistol grip and remove the magpul components? Yankee Hill Upper and Forearm i got as a package deal for $150.00 Bolt Carrier $109.00 PCF Lower $110.00 so total cost of extra parts to me was: $369.00 accepting your price on the gastube at $11.00, say $15.00 for the charging handle and i paid $28.00 for the gas block some time ago and let's go $100.00 for the barrel and $10.00 for a mag? total price for this build would be: $533.00 now granted i got a lot of the parts through dealer friends etc for a better deal but even so the point of my post was to show it can be done for a relatively cheap price. I could have gone for a much cheaper hand guard such as the magpul ones or a standard m4 guard. Anyway i appreciate your point hope this math works for you :) sorry forgot the $25.00 lower transfer fee...so total price would be $558.00 |
| to your point, read my second post. i can agree then it's a $550.00 build but you seem to have missed my point. this isn't designed to be a high quality super accurate build its just a cheap light weight plinking rifle. I do agree however that parts are stupidly expensive these days but that was why i went ahead and did this to prove that for those people looking for cheap rifle to shoot between 25-50 yds that handles reasonably and is relatively reliable then it can be done cheaply. I never stated that this was a match rifle nor a battle rifle, this is simply your back yard shoot some tin cans off a fence post at 50 yard build. It cost me $400.00 to build it granted i had two or three pieces lying around but if you check out my cost break out in post 2 you will see the whole thing still only cost around $550.00. Now you could get a complete AR from some websites for that price but meh i wouldn't want to buy em particularly plus wheres the fun if you don't build em yourself? |
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Sorry man! I was sort of joking...I have yet to have a gun under $700 minus optics/red dots of course. I understand you had parts laying around, and I guessed that from the post you had. I have to agree with the other guys though...Parts laying around still cost something unless given or stolen. Hehheh!
I didn't mean to put you on the defensive here...I hope everyone else can get the humor in the posts. Rob |
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it appears that this thread might be causing a little more conflict than i originally intended...how about this. Give me two months and i'll do a complete new build for a rifle at under $600.00? Said rifle should be lightweight reliable and contain quality parts.
Any suggestions as to parts of good deals are appreciated and i'll post my progress here. again no reusing of parts and i'll try to do it for $550, but $600 is probs more likely. |
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You have to start with a PSA lower. $49.95
And I'd go with one of these LMT rear sight |
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