I have recently decided I would like a AR15 or maybe an AR10. I've been drooling over alot of the pics on the web. My big question is should I just go and buy a new/used one or should I try and build one. I know pretty much nothing about AR15/10's so if I went out and bought one I really don't know what to look for one new or used. I also have no idea how to build one...lol. I figure with the help of some of you on this forum, if building is the way to go, I could figure it out with some help. My price limit is $1500. I definitly want something that would be very dependable and fairly easy to maintain. I know I'm looking for alot with this question, but any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Jr.
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To buy or to build?
- Thread starter 705squat
- Start date
For the $1500 price point, you can buy a 900$ M&P15, then customize it with a new fore-end (say, 200$) new grips (say, 60$), new stock (100$) and an optic ($$$$$). This is what I did for my first AR15, as it ensured I had a working AR at every point in the process. I'm quite happy with how it turned out, and I've used it to determine what I like and don't like in an AR. I'll be using it as a reference for when I build my second AR, from parts. Now, I somewhat wish I'd built my first gun myself, but I sure as heck was glad I didn't have a pile of parts when I could go shoot it while waiting for more pieces to arrive.
I guess the question is: how important is having a working gun any time soon? When I didn't have an AR15, it was pretty important. Now that I have one, I'm less sure.
I guess the question is: how important is having a working gun any time soon? When I didn't have an AR15, it was pretty important. Now that I have one, I'm less sure.
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This is just my opinion but what I would do is buy a complete lower first. Then order a customized upper with the features that you would like on it. Lastly buy a nice optic to put on said AR. This is kind of what I did for one of my AR's. For the lower I only bought a new butt stock for it and replaced the grip. Ordering the customized upper save me from having to pay for parts I didn't want.
45collector
NES Member
I was in the same position as you 705squat. I decided to just buy a used one from a fellow NES member at a decent price. I also knew next to nothing (about the internals at least) about the AR. All I wanted was a basic A2 design with no bells, whistles, trinkets etc... I'm very happy with what I ended up with.
I built mine 4 years ago for a total cost of $640 (less optics and mags). I put everything together in one night. I would definately recomend
building it yourself unless you can find a good deal on a used one.
building it yourself unless you can find a good deal on a used one.
I built mine 4 years ago for a total cost of $640 (less optics and mags). I put everything together in one night. I would definately recomend
building it yourself unless you can find a good deal on a used one.
That is pretty much the look I like. How long did it take you to get all the pieces? Where did you get them? Where the internals assembled in lower or did you assemble it? I have more questions but I'll start with those 3 first...lol
I built it from a DPMS stripped lower and a complete rifle kit from an online vendor (didnt have to pay MA sales tax), and assembled everything from a box of loose parts. I had originally bought the stripped lower with the intention of waiting and building it up later on, however I was impatient and ordered the kit the following week. I had it at my door ~4 days later and assembled everything that night.
So how difficult is it to assemble a stripped lower? Is it something you need special tools to do? Can you tell me the vendor you used in this forum if not could you PM me their name? Has your rifle been dependable? Is it pretty easy to clean? 5 questions this time...lol Thanks
Tater - Take a quick ride down to Uxbridge and visit Dennis At First Defense Firearms (bank building next to Koopmans at 122/16 intersection). He has all kinds of AR parts in stock ( I just picked up my group buy Lower there last weekend).
Also - there have been a number of "build vs buy" threads lately - last 2 months or so - use the search and see more results
And everyone here is green already - there was a series of group buys on parts that would have helped you in this endeavor. check the group buys more often
have fun - it gets addicting
And everyone here is green already - there was a series of group buys on parts that would have helped you in this endeavor. check the group buys more often
have fun - it gets addicting
1. It takes a couple hours but isnt difficult if your mechanically inclined.
2. You need:
Roll Pin Punches - to drive roll pins (3/32", 1/8", 5/32"); these have a small raised projection in the face of the punch to automatically center the punch and prevent the roll pin from collapsing
Roll Pin Holders - used to hold and start roll pins... very convenient
Hammer - used to drive the roll pins
#10 Flat-Blade Screwdriver - used for the pistol grip
Block of wood - base to support receiver when driving roll pins
Telescoping Stock Wrench - to tighten telescoping stock lock ring
3. Shoot me a PM and I'll try to head you in the right direction
4. In 3,000+ rounds of the cheapest, dirtiest, commie steel cased crap I could find (Silver Bear, Brown Bear, Wolf Black Box, Wolf Military Classic), I have only had one problem which was an ammo issue where the ejector ripped the rim off of the steel casing, leaving the rest of the case stuck in the chamber. So yes it has been very, very reliable.
5. It is very easy to clean. just take a bullet, or anything with narrow tip, and push out the two pins. That seperates the upper and lower, and the bolt comes right out. Everything cleans very easily.
I have closer to a $650 price limit, but don't need the fancy schmancy stocks, pistol grip, or optics. I am also willing to include used parts in the mix.
I am still trying to find out what individual parts makes up a "LPK", an "upper", a "Lower", a "stock kit", etc., so I can look at used items and package deals more intelligently.
Check this post:
retro AR: help put together shopping list
IMO I'm glad my first AR was an off the shelf Stag. I have a lifetime warranty for the rifle and they have great customer service. It was a little more expensive than doin a build, but I am happy with the end result.
Plus, by the time you finish customizing it, you'll have enough extra parts to start your first build.![[wink]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/002.gif "Wink [wink]")
Plus, by the time you finish customizing it, you'll have enough extra parts to start your first build.
IMO I'm glad my first AR was an off the shelf Stag. I have a lifetime warranty for the rifle and they have great customer service. It was a little more expensive than doin a build, but I am happy with the end result.
Plus, by the time you finish customizing it, you'll have enough extra parts to start your first build.
So, what "extra parts" do you have laying around? (-:
Shark_Cage
NES Member
I picked up a complete AR-10 (NM2 Trigger) lower plus a complete AR-10T upper for a little under $1500 (New, ordered from Armalite). I saved about $492 vs. buying the complete rifle. I don't get a warranty by buying them separately, but for that kind of savings its OK by me. Also I plan on reloading and that voids the Armalite warranty.
I just got a call from the shop and the upper is in. I was expecting it in July so today is a happy day.
I just got a call from the shop and the upper is in. I was expecting it in July so today is a happy day.
The ARs that always have problems are the homemade ones. If you want a good reliable one consult with the chart and get a good one. You get what you paid for. Colt, BCM, LMT, and some S&W. If I were you Id get the S&W M&P15 VTAC. Its a great deal, and a great rifle plus within your price range.
I would say that the problematic homebuilt ones are ones that people cut costs on. you are not going to build a quality $400 upper. But you can home build a quailty rifle, it may end up costing more than a quailty purchased one, but you will have exactly what you want
Sorry, I missed your question. Right now, I have extra handguards, grips, sights and a stock. I'm gonna save them and do a budget build one of these days, I just need to finish the one I'm building now first.
I took about a year and a half, and collected every piece that I'd need to build my Nam era Ar15. It also took about $600 paid out to friends and acquaintances. I bought a couple of things online (lpk, BCG) but by taking my time and picking up on buys as they came along, I got what I wanted.
I had never built one before but after reading everything I could online, I assembled it in just a few hours on my coffee table. If I can do it, you can do it.
I'm working on another for my wife.
I had never built one before but after reading everything I could online, I assembled it in just a few hours on my coffee table. If I can do it, you can do it.
I'm working on another for my wife.
financial considerations combined with a want to understand the inner-workings of my weapon system have prompted me to build my ar. i must admit i'm intimidated by the number of small springs and pins, but i'm confident things will work out in the end.
I inherited a 1982 AR-15 lower 2 years ago. It sat in the safe until last week when, after having it refinished, I decided to start assembling it. I had directions printed from on-line (http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=4&t=226782) a DPMS lower parts kit and some basic tools.
It took me less than 2 hours spread over three sessions (due to lack of 2 solid hours of time) to complete the assembly of the lower.
I missed installing the disconnector spring initially, so had to remove the hammer and trigger assembly, add the spring and then reinstall them AND when assembling the stock, I realizes I had installed the take-down pin detent spring behind the selector detent, so had to do some quick rework, but that's all included in the 2 hours.
While I have some mechanical tool and machining experience, I am far from an expert in either of those areas, but the time invested is fairly small.
The best parts of building it yourself is:
Intimate familiarity with the weapon when you're finished that provides you with the confidence to completely strip the weapon for cleaning.
Ability to end up with EXACTLY what you want
Ability to select the exact components that you want (stock, buffer, trigger, action system (direct inpingement / piston) handguard, reciever profile, gas block, barrel, etc
Pride of having a weapon you build yourself.
It took me less than 2 hours spread over three sessions (due to lack of 2 solid hours of time) to complete the assembly of the lower.
I missed installing the disconnector spring initially, so had to remove the hammer and trigger assembly, add the spring and then reinstall them AND when assembling the stock, I realizes I had installed the take-down pin detent spring behind the selector detent, so had to do some quick rework, but that's all included in the 2 hours.
While I have some mechanical tool and machining experience, I am far from an expert in either of those areas, but the time invested is fairly small.
The best parts of building it yourself is:
Intimate familiarity with the weapon when you're finished that provides you with the confidence to completely strip the weapon for cleaning.
Ability to end up with EXACTLY what you want
Ability to select the exact components that you want (stock, buffer, trigger, action system (direct inpingement / piston) handguard, reciever profile, gas block, barrel, etc
Pride of having a weapon you build yourself.
I took about a year and a half, and collected every piece that I'd need to build my Nam era Ar15. It also took about $600 paid out to friends and acquaintances. I bought a couple of things online (lpk, BCG) but by taking my time and picking up on buys as they came along, I got what I wanted.
I had never built one before but after reading everything I could online, I assembled it in just a few hours on my coffee table. If I can do it, you can do it.
I'm working on another for my wife.
Sportsmans guide is running a sale on a complete Vietnam era M-16 kit (everything except lower reciever and disconnector) I think it's $699, so it would be a little more pricy than your build, but it is a new chrome lined barrel with vintage parts.
My barrel is an original unused Colt chrome lined version from around 1970.
Probably won't find another with the FSB and nut for the $150 I paid for this.![[smile]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/001.gif "Smile [smile]")
Thanks for the tip.
Probably won't find another with the FSB and nut for the $150 I paid for this.
Thanks for the tip.
Built this for between 1100 and 1200. All the best parts, nothing "left over," and exactly what I wanted. Hopefully will be getting an optic for it in the not to distant future as well, but am in no rush.
Mike
Mike
