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Posted: 7/5/2016 1:14:28 PM EDT
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Hey all, been lurking for a while, decided to finally take the plunge and build my first AR. Will be my 2nd AR, sold an entry level Olympic a few years back and always wanted another. Love shooting my WASR but it always leaves a little to be desired aesthetically every time I pick it up. So.....I've been tossing the idea around for a while getting another AR and my wife's uncle and my buddy convinced me to build my own.
Picked up a Spikes lower this past Saturday from the LGS and ordered a PSA premium classic LBK since they had a good price on it (109.99) and a couple D&H 30rd mags. I'm excited to get my build on! 
What is the general consensus on complete upper assemblies? I can get a complete Seekins upper group for $529 from Primary which seems to be a good deal and they look to have good reviews. I'd like to stay in or around this price range. Any others I should be considering? Will be 5.56, 16", wondering if I should spend a little more for the SS barrel? Also, I'm thinking a good investment will be a simple gunsmithing tool kit like this one: https://www.amazon.com/Sylvan-Arms-Servicing-Gunsmithing-Gunsmith/dp/B01EK3X65I/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8. I can go to Harbor Freight and get some punches and a ball peen hammer and I should be good to go in that regard, no? |
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If you're on a pretty strict budget, weigh buying a complete upper against assembling your own. Make sure you like the hand guard. Make sure you like the charging handle, etc.
If you buy a complete upper and end up not liking the parts, well, you will blow your budget away replacing them. This is why I chose to buy each piece and assemble my own. And it may not be an issue for you at all. Just something to think about.
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Most of those tools are going to be for assembling an upper. If you don't plan on working on your upper, and if you don't already have a vise set up, I don't think you would benefit from those tools.
If you do plan on building or working on your upper, there are better kits IMO. I think my upper vise block is Wheeler, but it is hinged, and it has a supporting insert with a gas tube alignment rod. This has come in very handy. I also cut the top off an old beat up surplus magazine for a lower vise block. I don't think you want to whack on an AR-15 with a ball peen hammer. I would look for a double-sided brass / nylon hammer. You don't need much of a hammer to build ARs. Cheap punches will work fine at first, but they won't last. Once I finally bought a good set from Brownell's I never looked back. I think building uppers is the best option, but if you only want one, and don't have all the tools, you are probably better off finding a complete one that meets your needs. There are so many good options, it's impossible to list them all. Palmetto State Armory sales are hard to beat though. There are also a lot of good deals posted by site sponsors on the EE. |
| I went the route of piecing together my upper as well. I picked everything I wanted rather than settle on a complete on and have parts I didn't necessarily want. I did end up going to harbor freight to get some tools to complete the building. You'll need things like a punch set, castle nut wrench, torque wrench, breaker bar, vise, upper receiver vise block, and I'm sure there were more. An armorers tool will cover a few of those and can be found for a decent price. |
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