Posted: 7/27/2014 4:58:38 AM EDT
So I'm looking for a budget ar. My budget should be under 800$ but I will be willing to drop a bit more cash if necessary. I've looked around quite a bit and I was told that building one is much cheaper but doesn't come with a factory warranty, but the single parts do... is this true? I've also researched CA gun laws to make sure i'm buying legal parts so I'm not labeled a felonious criminal. I'm pretty sure what I've got here is legal in CA. Also, no need to tell me I "should move out of CA".. I know this 
Couple questions. 1: Should i build an ar-15 or just buy a pre-built one. 2: What would you recommend I change in my build. 3: Is it difficult to construct the gun after receiving all the parts with basic gun knowledge. 4: Just in case, is this build i have CA compliant. Thanks Here is the picture of the parts and the links to them. http://postimg.org/image/bzs3kjou1/ http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/psa-16-chf-mid-length-premium-upper-without-bcg-or-charging-handle.html http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/ar15-m16-charging-handle.html http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/catalog/product/view/id/2321/ http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/catalog/product/view/id/14405/ |
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I just build mine and from my research and what I was told, as long as your barrel is at min of 16" and you have a bullet button you will be fine.
It's not hard to build as long as you are using the right tool. There are plenty of videos on YouTube that walk you through the steps of building one. Building is much more fun and give you a sense of accomplishment. It also means that you can get all the parts you want/need at the get-go instead of buying a pre-build and have to spend extra $$ to change out the parts. What part of Cali are you in?? |
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CA member here. Have no prior experience with AR platform until 2 nights ago. I bought the parts and adssembled on my bed with 3 punches, a pair of vice grips instead of a roll pin punch, and the smallest Bacall peen ball peen hammer I owned.
Billet button off amazon for $4. I don't need an expensive one since I can't do anything cool with the stupid thing anyways. And 10 round PMags. Assembly is very straight forward if you know your as from your elbow. It's just lining up holes and pushing pins through. Watch youtube videos and your confidence wil grow. ETA correct spelling of ball peen because Siri is drunk. |
Just my opinion, a sure way to stick to a build budget is being able to buy multiple parts or all in one place. Shipping is the big hidden cost. Building an upper requires much more in terms of experience and specialized tools(if you want a proper build, that is) . I'd go with a complete upper to start with. Build you lower, it can be built with common household tools. Also rule of thumb for civilian ARs in California- 16 inch total lenght barrel, bullet button and limited capacity mags(10 rounds) unless you build a "featureless" rifle(but that's another thread) . Here's a good source for CA compliant mags with bullet button tools built into the mags:CA Mags . Good luck on your build!
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What are you going to do with your carbine/rifle once completed?
I'm assuming plinking. Get an assembled upper complete with bolt and carrier that's been head spaced checked, get a lower and lower parts kit, get the furniture ... done. It's highly likely you're going to buy the "wrong" upper because there's too many choices and you'll end up buying another (and another) and before you know it you have black rifle disease. |
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Thank you so much for all the replies, you all are really helpful. To answer some questions, yes ill be using it for plinking and MAYBE for depredation pig. I also live in Nor Cal.
I think ill go with a complete upper but not quite sure with a lower. Can i buy a lower build kit that includes a banned mag release but never assemble it onto my gun? For example. http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/catalog/product/view/id/14770/category/315/ |
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There are also CA compliant LKPs out there like thisPSA CA LPK. You can browse the web and get a regular LPK which fits your budget and get a bullet button from your local gun store. This forum's EE (Equipment exchange) has also done good for me in terms of good used/new parts.
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I knew nothing of AR’s until a little over a month ago … outside of looking at and shooting my friends
Im a mechanic so im not afraid to do my own assembly … even if it gets complext I did a bunch of reading and found the PSA stuff to be the best US built value Ordered Two Anderson 80% lowers …………$90 jig set from IE tactical ……………….$60 PSA ss 16” mid gun kit ……………..$449 Roll pin punch set on eBay ………….$15 After two hours machining - bead blast - paint …. It literally only took a half hour to build the lower. If you can look at and understand a video on you tube - have eyes & fingers - a small hammer - and have enough skill to say change your own spark plugs? You can assemble an AR on a saturday morning and shoot it by lunch time … assuming you can shoot in your own yard like me
Then I ordered up some cool (to me) stuff and got a carry handle and bullet button at my local gun shop Im sure almost anyone can do it easy 
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I think I have decided. Again, thanks for all the helpful answers, I wasn't expecting so many.
http://postimg.org/image/tklhbku8f/ Oh.. my last question. I asked my local gun store a while back and they said only the lower needs to be shipped to an ffl, so this means I can have everything but the stripped lower sent to my home? |