AR - to build or not to build

You're going to spend over $200 in tools to build an AR if you are going to do it properly. But it is fun and educational, and you get to customize. Definitely do not build to save money, you will find that's impossible. Custom AR's are expensive - plain and simple.

At first I was going to build on a cheap NEA lower but when I realized how much I was going to invest in the rest of the gun I decided to use a Noveske lower, so that if I ever sold the value would not be reduced by association with NEA, which is a "budget" brand.

I can advise you on tools if you want to build.
 
What tools do you need? On my build I only needed a vice block for the upper, and an AR wrench for the muzzle device and castle nut.

The other tools were common shop items such as a torque wrench, Allen keys, etc.
 
Yeah, building can be more costly, but it is definitely fun and not all that hard. If the aim is to have a complete rifle for as little as possible, get the Bushy from IRG (if they still have any left).
 
A roll pin punch/holder set comes in very handy for installing the lower parts kit. I also used a Brownells barrel torque bar rather than an upper vice block as I was paranoid about damaging the upper. It adds up pretty quickly.

Pr589 said:
What tools do you need? On my build I only needed a vice block for the upper, and an AR wrench for the muzzle device and castle nut.

The other tools were common shop items such as a torque wrench, Allen keys, etc.
Click to expand...
 
Buy an Oracle and run it into the ground. Plan on replacing the bolt and trigger around the 6k mark. Replacement bolts will fit them which is not always the case with Norinco.

A factory gun will usually work out of the box and is cheap because of volume, cheap parts are usually just that, cheap.
 
My budget got squashed due to unforeseen events... I've decided to slowly build an AR though... maybe I won't get that NEA lower...

What's the best lower out there? Under $200 bucks and that will have no compatibility issues
 
I don't know but the Aeroprecision lowers are nice and I haven't had any compatibility issues. Lots of choices out there but most of the forged lowers will be in the $150 range unless you pay more for branding. The billet lowers will be much more and the sky's the limit.
 
This is what you need.
Hard to beat these deals.
http://frontierfirearms.ca/firearms/black-rifles/rest-s-w-m-p15-sport-c-223-rem-16-brl-s-a-5rd.html
http://frontierfirearms.ca/windham-weaponry-ar15-5-56-223-14-5-barrel-carrying-handle-4334.html
http://frontierfirearms.ca/windham-weaponry-hbc-223-non-restricted-4334.html

You won't save any money building one and getting the 22 upper with this one will save you a pile of cash on ammo.
I just finished a build buying parts from the EE whenever I saw a good deal and I'm into the rifle for around $1300. I like it and got some nice parts on it but could have easily bought a complete rifle cheaper.
 
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Ask yourself one question Sir.

What is your ideal AR15 set up and is it already available for purchase in that configuration.

If it isn't then you should build it. You can almost always do it cheaper building it. But that depends on what brand you want to buy.

I built my first AR15, an M16A1 clone. Noone had them available in that configuration at the time for less than $1500 +
I built it for less than $900.
I'm building my second one now, a retro carbine with a 14.5" pencil barrel, I'm way under budget and all I have left is to find a set of handguards :rockOn:

If the type of old school AR's I like were readily available built I would just spend the extra cash and avoid the hassle. They aren't these days because everyone loves tactical nonsense so I built them myself.

That's my long winded ramble on the subject lol
 
Yeah, I can't afford a complete rifle any time soon... I can only throw 200 bucks at it every other month or so... depending on how things go...

That's why I'm going to build it... If I put this rifle on my CC, by the time it's paid off, the interest will be way up there anyways... so I just want to throw cash at parts slowly. I realize at some point I'm going to have to drop a fair chunk down anyways...

What's the difference between forged and billet? In fact... I don't even know what billet is...
 
XSlor said:
Yeah, I can't afford a complete rifle any time soon... I can only throw 200 bucks at it every other month or so... depending on how things go...

That's why I'm going to build it... If I put this rifle on my CC, by the time it's paid off, the interest will be way up there anyways... so I just want to throw cash at parts slowly. I realize at some point I'm going to have to drop a fair chunk down anyways...

What's the difference between forged and billet? In fact... I don't even know what billet is...
Click to expand...

Don't forget to budget for tools to put it together. I really don't want to read another thread about someone that has never built an AR before trying to put one together then cracking his upper. I usually suggest people buy a factory assembled rifle first to get familiar with the platform before tackling a build. They aren't complicated but you'd be surprised how many people ruin things trying to get them together. Once you have one the biggest things to change if it's not exactly what you wanted are things like the stock and forend which won't cost you too much. After that you will figure out exactly what you want to do with your rifle and what the one you have doesn't do for you and you can build one exactly like you want it. Most people think they know what they want but then realize once they actually start shooting that it may look cool but it isn't well suited to the style of shooting they are doing most of the time.
Looking to the future, if you find that you like the AR platform there is approximately a 100% chance that you will buy at least one more. I currently have 5 AR's and have owned around 10-12 (I lost count). They are addictive and they breed when you aren't watching.

Perhaps you should use your desire for an AR as a lesson in self control. If you live your life spending every dime you have by the time you get your next paycheque you will never get very far in life. Learn some self control and put a couple hundred dollars a month into an account and leave it there until you have enough to buy an AR and 1000 rounds of ammo. It will take you less than a year and if you can manage to put away a little extra once in a while you will be shooting by next spring.

Stay away from Norinco, buying quality pays for itself in reliability. You do get what you pay for when it comes to AR's up to a point. There is a point where I think you start paying extra for the name but even then you are still getting a top quality rifle.
 
XSlor said:
Yeah, I can't afford a complete rifle any time soon... I can only throw 200 bucks at it every other month or so... depending on how things go...

That's why I'm going to build it... If I put this rifle on my CC, by the time it's paid off, the interest will be way up there anyways... so I just want to throw cash at parts slowly. I realize at some point I'm going to have to drop a fair chunk down anyways...

What's the difference between forged and billet? In fact... I don't even know what billet is...
Click to expand...

Forged = starts as a cast aluminum piece that is then finish machined with all the fine details
Billet = starts as a block of aluminum, all the features are machined

Billet uppers often are not exactly to the military specifications, therefore they do not fit an upper vice block properly, and can be damaged when torqueing the barrel nut on.

Therefore rather than buying an upper vice block you should buy Brownells barrel extension torque tool. You are then torqueing against the barrel, not the upper.

Order all your tools from Brownells in one shot, it will be a lot cheaper than picking them up at Canadian gun stores. Also there are a lot of things that are difficult to find up here. I bought the following items from Brownells:

Brownells barrel extension torque tool $37.99 ($75 at the local gun store)
Brownells roll pin punch bench set $104.99 (not available locally. Maybe a little overkill as not all the sizes included are required for an AR build. But I could not find roll pin punch/holder anything up here)
AR15 lower receiver vice block $49.99 ($75 locally)
AR15 combo-wrench $29.99 ($60 locally)

You can also buy many of the small parts you need such as castle nut, receiver end plate, gas tube, gas block cheaper from Brownells. So if you have your shopping list it is nice to get it all in one shot.

Not everything is shippable to Canada - any of the main components such as uppers and lowers will not be. They usually state which items cannot be shipped internationally.

Have fun!
 
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