AR Noobie

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kilo69

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So someday I know I'll own an AR, whether it's an AR-15 or an M4 style I'm not sure yet.

But I know very little about this style of firearm.

I see there is a lot of part interchangeability and that seems to be a great asset for these firearms.

So is it basically the upper contains the bolt, barrel and general the parts that come in contact with the cartridge? The lower is the trigger assembly and it mainly the user interface (Except for the Mag's).

I see uppers in different calibers like 7.62x39 and 22LR deemed to be "cheaper" options to shoot.

I've been eying the CQ Norinco (Yeah yeah I have a limited budget, get what you pay for... but a Norc is better than NO AR). Are the CQ's pretty good for parts interchanging? Like if down the road I picked up a different upper and such?

Is the restricted AR platform the way to go or should something like the XCR or Tavor that's non-restricted more of a draw (Although I feel compelled to own a few restricteds just to exercise my right to own such firearms).

Thanks
 
Well xcr and tavor are cool and fun im sure, but an AR is an AR. The original.

Yes upper contains, bolt, carrier, barrel, upper rail or sight.
Lower contains, buffer tube and buffer, handle, trigger mech, magwell etc.

Def get some restricteds!

And if you read the forums, most NORC AR owners love them, theres alot of haters, but most people are pleased with them
 
An AR is a HIGHLY modular platform. Having one would keep you upgrading and changing configurations.... great hobby rifle.... worth having one.

The XCR and Tavor and FN's are great non-res fun.... but will cost you a LOT more thena norc AR.
 
Yeah I'm seeing the fun things you can do with the AR platform... it's getting higher and higher on the purchase list each time I look at someone's build thread!

I will have keep my old car going a few more years I guess LOL
 
another option with the ar platform is build the one you want from the ground up. keep an eye on dealers and the ee and you can build a slick ar for not a lot of cash.
to get started a striped lower is only about 149.99 from blueline, a parts kit from brownells (i got mine from epps) was 89.99 and a butt stock assimbily is 89.99 from questar.
then print off the compleat maunel from brownells.com
after that then you need to think about an upper. calliber is somthing to think about.
i did mine in .223 with a barrel from ATRS for about 400ish, a S/A bolt carrier from questar, about 189.99, and a flat top upper for 199.
and you can buy parts at your speed and budget.
also i found that all of the sponsers and fellow cgners are very helpfull
 
reid134 said:
another option with the ar platform is build the one you want from the ground up. keep an eye on dealers and the ee and you can build a slick ar for not a lot of cash.
to get started a striped lower is only about 149.99 from blueline, a parts kit from brownells (i got mine from epps) was 89.99 and a butt stock assimbily is 89.99 from questar.
then print off the compleat maunel from brownells.com
after that then you need to think about an upper. calliber is somthing to think about.
i did mine in .223 with a barrel from ATRS for about 400ish, a S/A bolt carrier from questar, about 189.99, and a flat top upper for 199.
and you can buy parts at your speed and budget.
also i found that all of the sponsers and fellow cgners are very helpfull
Click to expand...

You know, I never really thought of the build it myself option... but now I'm thinking. Would be fun to have intimate knowledge of how it works and allows you to spread the cost out over time.

Thanks for the suggestion.... now off to browse prices haha
 
I was in the middle of building myself an AR when the first batch of Norcs arrived. Since I couldn't buy a 14 1/2 inch upper for the price of the Norc, I bought a Norc and ran it's upper on my home build lower. Now that I've decided to keep shooting AR's I'm thinking of selling the Norc to help finance the upper. After shooting an AR for a while, you develop a better idea of exactly what you want in the rifle - and what works and doesn't work for you. One thing you will realize (very quickly) is that reloading is a VERY good idea for the AR, they burn ammo like a pistol.
 
Keep your eye out on the EE. Besides getting to know what the various brands are worth, you'll eventually find a steal. I waited for almost a year, and got a great deal on a Stag.

I would recommend buying a complete AR if its your first one. The gun is a lot easier to understand when you have it arrive fully assembled and functioning.

Don't be afraid of the newer Norincos. Although I hate made in China stuff, I have to admit that I even was going to go Norc until I found my deal on the EE.

And welcome to the world of black and green Kool-aid
 
Building yourself definitely brings a little more pride in your firearms and can save you money. Spreading the cost out is another plus, unfortunately after you start with a piece here and a piece there, the desire to complete it increases.:D

TDC
 
I'm in the same boat as you. Wanted an AR for a long time but never could justify the $2000+ price. I looked at the Nor. but I am a very detail oriented person and I just couldn't go that route.
I picked up the BlueLine lower last week and am looking for parts to build my lower. I personaly like this better than a pre-assembled rifle as I get to pick and choose the parts I want over time. I plan on doing one lower and a few different uppers.
Really looking forward to this build.

Tim
 
The Norinco CQA's are such a high value. Probably best bang for your buck when looking at an AR. Absolutely cannot go wrong with buying one. The finish is much better than the old CQ's and they definitely can take on ar's in the much higher price range with a few mods.
 
Is building an AR plausible for a newbie? I'd like to get an AR, but I'd really like to build one myself. I'm a pretty mechanically oriented person, but is it really wise for someone with very little shooting experience to build his first gun?
 
building it is complety plausible for the newbie. and it can be done with simple hand tools, ie wreanch hammer and a good set of punches. and electical tape to cover the metal as not to scratch it. and you get the added satisfaction of a job well done, aswell as a deeper working knowledge of your ar15.
 
SVTong said:
Is building an AR plausible for a newbie?
Click to expand...

Absolutely. I'm a noob and a few months ago I put together a lower, with only AR15.com and Youtube for help. A good, non-marring punch set is required, same thing with a hammer of some sort. No need to go hog-wild on an expensive set of specialty tools. One piece of advice that will save you some pain: there is more than one way to put together a lower, so do plenty of reading and video watching first, and figure out what works best for you.

As for the upper, I'm not comfortable building my own yet, mainly because I don't have the work area to do so, therefore I purchased a completed upper.

-- L.
 
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