Building an AR

slick39

slick39

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So I have decided I am going to get a job and build an AR-15, I think since I am just 15 and am not much of an engineer or whatever I am just going to buy the part already put together like a lower and upper receiver but I don't know everything that I am going to need. I want to make it so it first of all has the cool factor but is still very functional. I think I am going to put a cap on it at 2000 dollars. So anyone have any opinions on what to use, just anything in general would be a great help. This is going to be my first AR style rifle, I already have several other firearms under my dad's name though. So here you go just tell me your personal favourites and what would work best for me! Thank you.

Josh
 
I too am wondering this. I'm new to AR's...only shot a FA M16A2 once (and what fun it was). As I'm on a budget, I would like to put together an AR with a couple uppers...one short "tactical" upper (maybe a 10.5" or a 16"), and one long range precision upper (20" barrel).

I have heard to remember your ABC's when dealing with AR's...First Armalite, Bushmaster, and Colt...you can't interchange colt uppers/lowers like the other two. Other than that, I don't know much.

Any recommendations? Also, how difficult is it to use a .22 conversion kit, or 9mm upper. Does it take a lot of work to install/remove? Or can you regularily change it between that and .223?

Thanks.
 
mtallman said:
I too am wondering this. I'm new to AR's...only shot a FA M16A2 once (and what fun it was). As I'm on a budget, I would like to put together an AR with a couple uppers...one short "tactical" upper (maybe a 10.5" or a 16"), and one long range precision upper (20" barrel).

I have heard to remember your ABC's when dealing with AR's...First Armalite, Bushmaster, and Colt...you can't interchange colt uppers/lowers like the other two. Other than that, I don't know much.

Any recommendations? Also, how difficult is it to use a .22 conversion kit, or 9mm upper. Does it take a lot of work to install/remove? Or can you regularily change it between that and .223?

Thanks.
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Colt used to use a big hole receiver so you would had to use a bushing to convert it to a standard size hole, it was only a 3$ part.

As long as your lower has a M16 or 9mm Hammer in it, You can drop a 9mm upper on it. I got 2X 223 (14.5 and 20") AR's and 1X 9mm AR (8"). I'm in the process of switching over one of my lowers to a M16 hammer so I can use my 9mm upper on it. Joy of having a removable mag block for 9mm I can use it in any lower as long it has a M16 or 9mm Hammer and I can use 223 mags in it as well.

22LR kits Just replace the 223 bolt carrier ( most have a chamber insert) and the mag, Problem with using 22LR in a 223 upper is the bullet are a wee bit under sized so accuracy is not the best and it fouls up your gas port if you use lead bullets.
 
Man I love thebigbully's tint AR I have decided I want to build one just liek it but instead of the scope and the light on it i want to put on a green laser and for the top id like a red dot scope. Does anyone know how I could build one like his? I would also eventually like to get a longer more accurate upper to use for precision.
 
slick39 said:
So I have decided I am going to get a job and build an AR-15, I think since I am just 15 and am not much of an engineer or whatever I am just going to buy the part already put together like a lower and upper receiver but I don't know everything that I am going to need. I want to make it so it first of all has the cool factor but is still very functional. I think I am going to put a cap on it at 2000 dollars. So anyone have any opinions on what to use, just anything in general would be a great help. This is going to be my first AR style rifle, I already have several other firearms under my dad's name though. So here you go just tell me your personal favourites and what would work best for me! Thank you.

Josh
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Josh you have to get your restricted license to buy the lower part, even the stripped piece of metal.
Go to the Canadian Firearms Centre website and start learning how you have to proceed.
Your age might work against you right now. Ask on this board if there are any members in your area who would take you out shooting for a start.
 
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Well see my dad buy's everything in his name he has a restricted license and we already own a handgun. I have taken the course with him so when I turn 18 I will just apply for license and he will tranfer everything over to me but yea I figured the lower would need a licence. I was thinking I just want to buy a complete lower then make the upper more custom.

Josh
 
check out the dlask website... dar701's are sweet rigs. Joe is an AR master in my opinion. lot's of parts and options for building up your dream AR, and they sell bare uppers and lowers, machined in house.
my 8 1/2 tactical CQBR .223 with m16 guts (minus select fire) is a damn fine reliable rig , going to add a 9mm upper soon.
Have fun with your project :ar15:
 
I would steer clear of Dlask if you only want to buy once. Some may have great success with Dlask firearms. I have known atleast 5 other shooters who all have had problems with their lowers that were built by Dlask. I would stick with the major players. Armalite, Bushmaster, Stag, RRA, or Colt. Keep in mind a Colt will cost a fortune and provides no real advantage over the other major names.

TDC
 
If you have 2G you can make a great AR. Look for deals on the exchange and buy the lower and upper separately. Or if you want to have an all matching riffle a stag would be a great idea. You would still have some coin left for accessories also.
 
Hi Josh,

Check out AR15.com they have dedicated forums, including step by step pictures & instructions on how to build your own AR-15. Building the lower is very simple and would make for a great project for you and your dad. The upper receiver build is a little more tricky, as you'll need some specialized tools, but again, the instructions on AR15.com are very good. You can also purchase "How-To" DVDs on-line or from AGI.

As other posters have said, your $2000.00 budget is quite generous and will certainly permit you to purchase a complete rifle quite easily, even a new-in-box model.

As for "brand" names, I'd stick with Colt, LMT or STAG, in order of preference. While the Colt Law Enforcement series of rifles are quite expensive and hard to obtain here in Canada, their standard sporting & HBAR rifles are much more common and there are some excellent bargains to be had in the CGN EE.

LMT is also an excellent maker and you can source their products from Questar, a contributing dealer on this website. I currently own both Colt and LMT ARs and believe me, the LMT gives nothing up to the Colt in terms of quality, ruggedness, accuracy or reliability

STAG is another of the top tier AR makers and Walter from Arms East offers just about their full line of complete rifles and parts. He's another contributing dealer and is great to deal with. If you and your dad decide to try and build your own AR lower, you can do much worse than to purchase a stripped lower from Arms East, along with a "lower parts kit". He can even set you up with a six position "CAR" style collapsible stock and all the fixings. I recently finished putting together a STAG lower for a shorty AR build project I have ongoing. I'm very impressed by the quality of STAG products, moreso than that of many other "big name" manufacturers.

If you're looking for a different stock with a higher "look cool factor" there are many other dealers here on CGN that carry AR parts and accessories; however, the Equipment Exchange is a great place to look, especially for harder to source parts like Magpul M93B, CTR, VLTOR stockes, etc... Many of the new picatinny rail handguards, free float tubes and other uber-cool "tactical" accessories are also available from many CGN sponsoring dealers such as Wolverine Supplies, The Shooting Edge, Dave's Surplus, Arms East, etc...

Good luck with the build! :)
 
Thank you guys so much for the info I am starting to wish I didn't spend all my money from my summer job:( lol I bought a sig sauer mosquito for my first handgun and a nikon buckmaster 6-18x40mm for my tikka and now the rest is goin towards driver's ed and tithings to my church and I should have roughly 200 dollars left in the end that will get me on a start:p But I need to wait for football season to be over so I can get a job and start this build!! Man I just can't wait!
 
slick39 said:
Thank you guys so much for the info I am starting to wish I didn't spend all my money from my summer job:( lol I bought a sig sauer mosquito for my first handgun and a nikon buckmaster 6-18x40mm for my tikka and now the rest is goin towards driver's ed and tithings to my church and I should have roughly 200 dollars left in the end that will get me on a start:p But I need to wait for football season to be over so I can get a job and start this build!! Man I just can't wait!
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Good lord, I'm glad I didn't get into firearms till I was 18. If I started buying stuff when I was 15 I'd have never made it through university!! :eek:
 
hahahaha I am hooked!:p I have only been into firearms for about 1 and a half years and I already have I'd say at least uhh 3000 dollars worth of firearms and I don't regret buying any one of them:)
 
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