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Posted: 1/15/2014 12:07:22 PM EDT
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I own 5 ARs that I bought completed and now that I'm pretty comfortable with the platform I would like to actually "build" my first gun. What is the best advice you could give a first time builder? Should I just buy a completed upper and build the lower for starters or just go from scratch, do the research and buy all the components for the upper and lower as well as the tools needed to make this happen? I don't plan on building many but you all know how the BRD sickness is. Once you start.....
Also would I really save much money by building an upper vice buying a complete upper? Help a fellow gun nut out please you gurus of guns. |
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Also would I really save much money by building an upper vice buying a complete upper? Help a fellow gun nut out please you gurus of guns. Versus? no. Not at all, unless you get blem or used parts cheap. The main advantage is knowing how to do it. The ability to swap your own barrels, receivers etc is good to have, but I find it really doesn't save money. I am glad I know how to do it though, and glad to have accumulated the tools for sure. Makes the AR15 as easy as lego for me, and I like that. |
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Versus? no. Not at all, unless you get blem or used parts cheap. The main advantage is knowing how to do it. The ability to swap your own barrels, receivers etc is good to have, but I find it really doesn't save money. I am glad I know how to do it though, and glad to have accumulated the tools for sure. Makes the AR15 as easy as lego for me, and I like that. Quoted:
Quoted:
Also would I really save much money by building an upper vice buying a complete upper? Help a fellow gun nut out please you gurus of guns. Versus? no. Not at all, unless you get blem or used parts cheap. The main advantage is knowing how to do it. The ability to swap your own barrels, receivers etc is good to have, but I find it really doesn't save money. I am glad I know how to do it though, and glad to have accumulated the tools for sure. Makes the AR15 as easy as lego for me, and I like that. True, using good parts I'll have 600-650 in an upper before I even put a rail on it. |
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Yes "versus" not "vice". I just always read up on how people are making these $400.00 AR builds and was just thinking it would be fun and save money at the same time. $400 is tough unless you have some spare parts already...there were some good deals over black friday though...if you look around you might be able to find some of those still going on. |
so the consensus is that unless you really want to know how to build one that you should probably just buy the complete rifle and modify as you see fit? BTW in true ARFCOM fashion I'll probably attempt a build anyhow. Could someone post a link with some excellent step by step instructions? I know it exists here somewhere just trying to save some time so I can get started
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| brownells sell a few different tool kits and individual tools to disassemble/assemble the ar15 platform. as you look at the variety of tools that are available, each tool has feedback from buyers regarding strengths and weaknesses for each. I purchased individual tools based on feedback, some were inexpensive, some not, but they all worked well. I started out by disassembling and then reassembling a rifle that had a few thousand rounds down the pipe and had a few scratches and bumps so if I added any it didn't matter. also check out the multitude of youtube vids dedicated to do it yourselfers. |
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so the consensus is that unless you really want to know how to build one that you should probably just buy the complete rifle and modify as you see fit? BTW in true ARFCOM fashion I'll probably attempt a build anyhow. Could someone post a link with some excellent step by step instructions? I know it exists here somewhere just trying to save some time so I can get started You should certainly attempt a build, I think its more fun than buying one. Then you can pick each part down to the trigger. You might save some money, but be prepared to pay as much for what will likely end up being a better product than you would have paid for. Ive posted this several times before, but this my basic recipe. I will vary it on triggers, stocks, rails but I tend to follow this general model. Spikes lower on gunbroker for 85, 20 in transfer fee. PSA trigger less kit for 29 dollars. (last week) ALG QMS trigger for 45 BCM buffer tube kit for 57 MOE/CTR stock for 50-75 or a B5 stock for around 80 BCM 16 inch midlength barrel for 239 (you may want to go hammer forged for a little more coin) Low Pro gas block and gas tube for about 60 Barrel nut for 8-10 dollars Stripped BCM upper for 119, i'll get the blemished one for 79 if Im going to cerakote or paint Spikes BCG for 150 or BCM for 189. BCM gunfighter charging handle for 45. Troy VTAC 13 inch rail for 160ish Troy flip up sights for 150-200. Total 1274 give or take a few parts. Add optics if you feel the need. In my opinion this is more fun then getting a Colt carbine from Wally world. |
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Ar15s are easy and nothing to em. Basic tools can get it together. When you build you own, you do save money rather than buying one built similiar to how you want.
But if you just want a super basic o e you cant beat surplus prices. Mp15, dpms, etc go cheap...6-900 |
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