AR Sponsor
Posted: 11/28/2012 2:42:43 PM EDT
|
Been lurking for a couple weeks and decided to ask a question I haven't been able to find input on. Upper assembly: Build or Buy? I just ordered a Spike's Tactical stripped lower to get started. Probably work on getting that complete before moving to the upper. I have some ideas about what I want in regards to the upper assembly... non-brand specific. Mid length, folding sights, quad-rail. I am not rich but I'm not one to buy the cheapest parts just because they are the cheapest either. Looking more for "Value" than for "Lowest Price".
So... would someone find better value to buy an upper and parts/barrel separately or to buy a complete assembly, if they were looking for best bang for their buck? In addition, having read through the assembly sticky a few times, I don't see any tutorials or walk-thrus on assembling an upper receiver. What i saw only shows barrel changes and quad-rail/floating tube handguard installation. Any pointers to upper assembly walk-thrus would be appreciated too. Thank you. Goat |
| The first few "builds" that I did I purchased complete uppers. Then, I decided to try to put my own together. It was stupidly easy....as long as you have the tools. If you don't mind the added expense of buying the tools first (barrel wrench, upper receiver block, torque wrench, punches), then I would go the build your own route, if you plan on building more in the future. If you don't plan on doing any more, I would purchase an already assembled one. |
|
Thanks guys. The Brownells vids have been bookmarked. I also like their checklist they have available.
I have no idea if I plan to build more or not. Thinking a poly lower and a .22lr upper would be fun to build for plinking. Maybe a pistol? Uh oh... I gots the AR bug. Eh, the house don't need a new roof anytime in the IMMEDIATE future. The tools don't look too spendy...and if you want to change out parts, might be handy to have them around in any case, even if a complete upper is bought. |
|
For a budget .22lr build I would totally trust in the poly. Somehow I knew that would raise an eyebrow or two.
I know you are only saving about $50 with the poly lower...but $50 is $50. I don't think I would want to build anything more potent with a poly lower, however. And I certainly wouldn't use the composite LPK that New Frontier builds them with for anything. But, I digress. |
| The essential tool will only set you back around $100 and that's if you have to buy them all. I can guarantee you that if you shop well you will easily save more than that on putting the upper together. It is one of the last places you can really save on the build. Not too mention getting your barrel length, twist rate, and gas system all the way you want it without paying a premium. |
|
Quoted: Thanks guys. The Brownells vids have been bookmarked. I also like their checklist they have available. I have no idea if I plan to build more or not. Thinking a poly lower and a .22lr upper would be fun to build for plinking. Maybe a pistol? Uh oh... I gots the AR bug. Eh, the house don't need a new roof anytime in the IMMEDIATE future. The tools don't look too spendy...and if you want to change out parts, might be handy to have them around in any case, even if a complete upper is bought. You'll soon learn that the little things, like house repairs, food, and medical expenses only come AFTER your current AR build!  I'm not a big fan of the poly lower. I would get a standard lower, maybe look for a blem. PSA sometimes have them for (I think) around $69. 22 ARs are a lot of fun. Take a look at the CMMG uppers. AR pistols are a lot of fun too! So, do it the ARFCOM way, and get both! |
|
Quoted:
barrel length, twist rate, and gas system These are all things I am still learning about. You mean there are options in these categories? /sarcasm Barrel Length... I want Mid. But undecided on 14.7 with pinned FH or 16" with the ability to spin on different attachments. I am leaning towards 16" just to keep my future options more flexible. Twist rate... I am seeing 1:7, 8 and 9 out there... and have read the 7 is better for heavier loads...but haven't researched it too much. And I honestly didn't know there were options with the gas system beyond needing one. 
|
|
I'm in the exact same boat.
I was going to build upper myself at first, but found quite inexpensive assembled ones already. I was looking at the Spikes complete upper for $500, but it's out of stock EVERYWHERE. I'm now looking for another one... I found http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/psa-16-m4a1-upper.html for $400 once I add the handguards and upgrade the CH. Hopefully people give more feedback towards complete uppers to help me decide too :) |
|
I'm also in same boat about the upper. Build or buy. I needed to keep cost down but when i bought first part (Core15 lower) I went a little over budget ( $120 +tax). Then I bought a CMMG LPK (at $72.50 +tax). I ordered the Core15 Butt-stock kit from Core15 during black friday ($42 +SHIPNG) so that puts me at $260 w/tx and ship. Keep in mind this was more than I wanted to spend. I was also considering the LW-15 ploy lower but now im glad I threw down more $$$ because my build will end up way better than a typical "budget Build" I was going for. The reason I say this is get a forged lower, you will be happier in the end. Now for my upper I might choose the Blackhole barrel with a SA&A receiver, then put in a little better BCG. This will only put me around $800-850. Only slightly over my original budget before sites and mags. The whole deal for me and maybe most of us on here is that a Black Rifle can be a mans barbie. :`). Take some of the suggestions these guys give, they have helped me out. Look at Surplus Ammo, AIM and Stag, Bravo Company for some deals but also check the sponsors. When I went to my gun dealer I explained I wanted to build a AR and he said "You cant build one for less than a production one".
I'm trying to prove him wrong, ha.. it will be hard because I do have some standards), but it'll be fun trying. Have fun dude in your build and post some pics when you get it done. |
|
Quoted:
I'm also in same boat about the upper. Build or buy. I needed to keep cost down but when i bought first part (Core15 lower) I went a little over budget ( $120 +tax). Then I bought a CMMG LPK (at $72.50 +tax). I ordered the Core15 Butt-stock kit from Core15 during black friday ($42 +SHIPNG) so that puts me at $260 w/tx and ship. Keep in mind this was more than I wanted to spend. I was also considering the LW-15 ploy lower but now im glad I threw down more $$$ because my build will end up way better than a typical "budget Build" I was going for. The reason I say this is get a forged lower, you will be happier in the end. Now for my upper I might choose the Blackhole barrel with a SA&A receiver, then put in a little better BCG. This will only put me around $800-850. Only slightly over my original budget before sites and mags. The whole deal for me and maybe most of us on here is that a Black Rifle can be a mans barbie. :`). Take some of the suggestions these guys give, they have helped me out. Look at Surplus Ammo, AIM and Stag, Bravo Company for some deals but also check the sponsors. When I went to my gun dealer I explained I wanted to build a AR and he said "You cant build one for less than a production one". I'm trying to prove him wrong, ha.. it will be hard because I do have some standards), but it'll be fun trying. Have fun dude in your build and post some pics when you get it done. I'm sure you realize that the Blackhole Barrel from SA&A comes with the stripped upper? This upper with the excellent BHW Barrel is a great deal. Also, there is nothing wrong with the Core 15 BCG, this too is a quality part. Your choice of AR parts is gtg. You've done your homework. |
| Definitely build your own upper. If you buy one ready assembled, you have to pay an arm and a leg for a primo job from Noveske, Bison, Wilson, etc., or you can build it yourself for less money and select exactly the parts you want, within your budget. The tools aren't that expensive, you'll need a bench vise, a receiver clamp and a barrel nut wrench. Most handguards and their proprietary nuts either use a GI style wrench, or the wrench is included with the HG (as in the MI SS gen 2 model). You don't need a torque wrench, IMO, so long as the follow the conventional tightening procedure. - CW |
|
I'm fairly mechanical and have a garage full of tools...vice and various torque wrenches included. Do all my own car/truck/motorcycle repairs. Even work on my handguns when needed and hardly ever lose springs. Hardly ever!
So really the upper vice block and barrel wrench is all I really need, I think. |
|
Quoted: I'm fairly mechanical and have a garage full of tools...vice and various torque wrenches included. Do all my own car/truck/motorcycle repairs. Even work on my handguns when needed and hardly ever lose springs. Hardly ever! So really the upper vice block and barrel wrench is all I really need, I think. Since you already have most of the required tools and skills go forward with rolling your own. My answer would be considerably different if you needed to purchase all of the tools from scratch. I don't really believe the cost savings are huge between building and purchasing completely assembled but the experience gained is certainly good stuff. |
|
I was in the same boat as you. I decided that I definitely wanted to build/assemble the lower, mostly for my own information to learn how the machine functions. I got a stripped lower and LPK along with miscellaneous stock/buffer parts and put it all together using online guides. It was simple. From what I hear the upper assemble is even simpler (with the right tools).
I decided it was more efficient and economical to buy an assembled upper on sale from PSA. I figure if I really want to, I could disassemble the upper and reassemble it to learn about it if I wanted to. When you decide to do this, look out though because disassembly will void the "Workmanship" warranty. Not the materials, but the workmanship. If you, for example, take off the stock front sight to put on a low profile gas block, and you discover a problem with the way the barrel is assembled later, you may be out of luck...maybe. |
Buld it...I was curious about this myself on my first AR. I am lucky enough to live in the same town as a manufacturer and was able to hand pick the parts I wanted for the upper...built what I wanted for under the price of a assembled upper...long story short...build it...
|
AR Sponsor