AR Sponsor
Posted: 10/7/2011 5:31:44 PM EDT
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Greetings.
I am diving in with both feet. Well, one foot actually. My local dealer has some inexpensive stripped lowers. $85 apiece including local taxes. So I am going to buy several of them and build some rifles for myself. I've been shooting since I was a wee lad but have never fired an AR of any type. The reason I am doing this now, quite frankly, is because I am getting a bit nervous about the political climate. It feels to me that now is the time to make sure I don't lose the opportunity. Anyway, what I would like to do here is get some opinions and input on several issues I've been poking around in the archives, reading tons of stuff here and also poking around on various manufacture and dealer web sites. My goal for the first rifle is to build an inexpensive but dependable carbine. I am not concerned with the resale value that might come with "name brand" but I do want quality. This will not be a match rifle. It is my initial entry, a project to learn from without breaking the bank. I'm hoping that I can throw questions out here, especially about vendors and manufactures, that will help me avoid the worst of the problems I might encounter. Given that I am new to this, it seems wise that I purchase a complete upper instead of trying to build one from scratch. I'm not so sure I want to be messing with headspace this soon in my illustrious career. The ideas I have so far consist of the fact that it will be a carbine, 16" barrel, chrome lined (unless I'm talked out of it), tactical stock. I'm thinking 2 stage trigger unless convinced otherwise. A4 top with a detachable handle, but very simple sights. A2 front and a simple rear. My first question is simple. Should I bunch all my questions into a single post or should I break them up? Trigger, vendor questions, sight questions, etc. Thanks in advance |
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Hold on:
RRA National Match 2 stage trigger Magpul CTR or MOE stock Dainel defense barrel 14.5 with pinned flashider(total 16" length) Upper receiver can be anybody spikes, bcm etc I like troy sights Check out aimsurplus.com they have some complete uppers that sound like they will fit your bill. |
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Welcome to the black rifle disease club, we're warning you once you get some AR parts you'll get hooked and have the dreaded disease.
First let us know the stripped lower you're planning on getting there are some brands that are really bad, low quality, out of spec, etc, at least you could avoid them and not waste money. For the lower parts kit don't skimp on this, get the highest quality you could get to avoid any problems later on, look for mil-spec made like Daniel Defense. There are two kinds of carbines which are different with the gas systems, the standard carbine gas system have generally 7" handguards and there's a midlength gas system which have 9" handguards, the midlengths gas hole on the barrel is actually exactly 2 inches more forward towards the muzzle than the carbine gas system. Both carbine and midlength gas systems you could get 14.5" barrel with permanently attached long flash suppressor, or 16" length which you could just screw standard flash suppressor. Most of these carbines are available in lightweight or government contour profiles (also medium contour and heavy profiles), lightweight barrels are generally 0.625" outer diameter, government profile are 0.625" outer diameter under the handguards then 0.750" dia. at the front sight then around 0.740" to 0.730" or less front of the front sight. Myself with 26 years having a carbine, I prefer and have a midlength carbine (I also have standard carbine gas system), it have a lower gas pressure than the carbine gas for better reliability, also the iron sight radius is longer for lesser sighting error, and the longer handguard have more room for your hand and if your going to add a light and other accessories later on. For barrel profile I prefer and have previously owned lightweight contour, but nothing wrong with the government profile barrels, just slightly heavier which is not good when carrying your carbine for long period of time. I agree with you just stick with the basics for now you could always upgrade your carbine later, just get standard M4 handguards, A2 grip, mil-spec size M4 carbine buttstocks, standard trigger which comes with your lower parts kit (LPK). Try to resist upgrades components from Magpul, Troy, KAC, Vltor, etc, when you are using your basic AR carbine you will know which components to make improvements on, just take it one step at a time. Rear sight just for now go with the Magpul MBUS gen 2 which are polymer material and have a lower cost than metallic sights, I have one on my budget build plinker, it works fine. Palmetto State Armory sells good quality components take a good look at their merchandise, also other good site sponsors are Bravo Company, Spike's Tactical, AIM, Rainier Arms, I have ordered with these merchants since '05 all have great customer service, check out more industry partners at the industry section. http://www.palmettostatearmory.com - link Another way to save money is to look for new take off parts at the equipment exchange section, make sure you check the sellers feedback before you buy, good luck. |
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For your first build just go to Palmetto and pick up a standard LPK and either a 16" mid-length or 16" carbine length upper. This will get you a baseline starting point.
Since you said you are buying multiple lowers you can customize the second and third builds from experience gained from either choice from above. Anyone with multiple AR's has one of these configurations in their collection anyways. 
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