How to build an AR for under $1000

A

Allen Gun Works

Revolted
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Location
Trenton
Ever wonder how cheap you can build a quality AR when you take your time and shop around? Well here it is. Now, not everyone has the equipment to machine their own barrel but you could probably add $200 to the cost to buy one. Maybe less on the EE!!!

Almost half of the parts came from either the EE or CGN Sponsor Dealers. Some stuff was just too cheap at Brownells to go anywhere else. All prices rounded up to the nearest dollar.

Bushmaster Lower (Target Sports) - $255
Cero Forge Stripped Flat Top Upper (EE) - $75
Hard Chrome Bolt/Carrier Assembly (EE) - $100
Lower Parts Kit (Epps) - $85
Magpul MOE Stock (Brownells) - $75
Magpul Handguards (Ebay) - $50
Charging Handle (Had one kicking around) - $30
Flash Hider and Crush Washer (Had one kicking around) - $20
Green Mountain Stainless 1-9” Barrel Blank (Bits of Pieces) - $200 (only used half to make 10.25" barrel so $100 really)
Time to machine the barrel (approx. 6-8 hours total, it was my first one) Priceless, but fun and free to me.
Barrel Nut (Had one kicking around) - $20?
Delta Ring, Snap Ring and Spring (Brownells) - $12
Gas Tube and Pin (Brownells) - $15
Milspec Buffer Tube (Can’t remember the name of the place) - $75
Castle Nut (EE) – Free
Gas Block (EE) - $75 (Came with a full length tube I can use later!!)

Grand Total - $957

Sales tax, exchange rate and duty added where applicable.

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Hoping to get to the range on Wednesday to try it out.
 
Nice job bud, definitely cool to see people making the best of a budget, and I would agree this is a way better investment than a norinco, but it takes a lot of time and patience to track all of the stuff down.

Nice job! Get an optic on their and a BUIS and your laughing
 
lazedout said:
Nice job bud, definitely cool to see people making the best of a budget, and I would agree this is a way better investment than a norinco, but it takes a lot of time and patience to track all of the stuff down.

Nice job! Get an optic on their and a BUIS and your laughing
Click to expand...

Optics are next. Not sure what I will go with. Probably EOtech.
 
sparrow said:
Best hold off on that one...build looks cool but(not saying it will) a 10.25" bbl on a home build has cycling issues written all over it...hope it runs dude...looks great.
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we will know in two days...i have Faith ...AGW builds awesome stuff!;)
 
good point about the 1.25" bbl ... think you may have been safer with a 11.5" bbl.
You did get PMAGS for it on the EE right???

Looking forward to range report!!!
 
Put one together one the cheap many years ago. Was given a SP1 (1:12) barrel assembly. Bought a surplus M-16A1 upper, SGW lower, A1 stock assembly, carrier assembly and misc. parts here and there. Shot pretty well.
Current version has a RR lower, Cerroforge upper, 1:8 barrel turned from a blank. Used a tubular HG, because it is oh so much easier to use a tubular HG and clamp-on gas block than to fit a front sight base, Delta ring and associated parts. Fitting the barrel to the extension isn't much different that fitting a barrel to a receiver.
If you watch for good prices on decent parts, it is possible to assemble a decent unit for a reasonable price.
Next project will likely be a dedicated .22lr upper, using the parts from a Colt conversion unit for the breech mechanism. Have a DPMS LoPro upper on hand. Will definitely use a tubular HG.
 
Shazam said:
good point about the 1.25" bbl ... think you may have been safer with a 11.5" bbl.
You did get PMAGS for it on the EE right???

Looking forward to range report!!!
Click to expand...

No PMags yet.

I almost went with 11.5", but I decided 10.25 is what I wanted so I would give it a try. Just finished it tonight. I will take it to the range on Wednesday and try it out. I used the Colt specs for the gas port, so hopefully I got it right!!! If I didn't I will try tuning it, if not I will build another one.
 
effinggoof said:
Did those posted prices include shipping?

Shipping so many items had to add a few bucks to the cost.
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Yes. Shipping, taxes, duty and exchange were all calculated. Most stuff on the EE is free shipping anyway. For the parts I already had I didn't include shipping because they have been sitting around from previous builds. There is room to move either way on most of the prices, but I am fairly confident that if you shop around and be patient anyone could build one of these for the same price +/- $200. Some of the parts have been gathered over 3-5 years time. I think my last 10.25" build was around $1200 and it was all commercial/EE parts bought within a couple month timeframe.
 
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