My best friend, whom I love like a brother, asked me to help him with a project. He wants to build a pre-ban 9mm carbine and also a pre-ban .223 carbine. I convince him it would be more cost-effective to build both guns on one receiver and just switch uppers. He says it sounds like a good idea.
So, I track down a beat up old AR target rifle. Pre-ban Palmetto Arms forged lower. Paid $500 for it off the books. Not the receiver, the whole damn gun. Barrel is useless, but enough other parts are salvageable that the actual cost of the receiver itself is around $300-$350.
I then do the research and recommend that he get an ASA 9mm kit for $699 which will have everything he needs to build the carbine on the Palmetto receiver. He starts griping that this is too much money and if they can build .223 kits for $425 they should be able to build 9mm kits for the same. Nevermind that it takes a different type of buffer, bolt, bolt carrier, hammer, barrel, upper, mag block et cetera. Because there are fewer of these parts made, the per unit cost is going to be higher! DUH!
So, weisenheimer thinks he can buy all the necessary pieces through SGN for less. Well, surprise surprise, there aren't many 9mm parts out there. Most of which are Oly (uses modified sten mags or the mags with the flared top end - not Colt style AR mags) or Colt (big time money). So, the best he can piece together is around $950, but hey, it's all Colt. Nevermind the fact that the lower receiver isn't so any appeal of it being a Colt 9mm is long gone! Besides, every place you order from tacks on its own shipping charge.
The he starts in on how ASA wants $335 for a .223 upper when FAC only wants $285. Now, I don't know if ASA is better quality or not, but he had no problem buying a Bushy kit from Gunsmoke before even though the price was $560 (on sale) versus the $425 that sherluk was charging. Well, its for a Bushmaster, not a lousy FN! DOH, they are made to the same specs for christ's sake and the military uses FN uppers!!!!!!!!!!
So he griping because he will have to put $1,500 into building his combined .223/9mm pre-ban carbine. I know a lot of people who would be happy to pay that for just a .223 carbine. Have I mentioned I have put probably 20 hours of time tracking down the bargain pre-ban lower and doing the research for him and countless hours listening to him bitch?!?!?!?!?!
Honestly, why do I bother. even bigger question, why the hell did I give him that pre-ban lower??????????