How to start an Ar-15 Build?

natesfitness

natesfitness

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Well I'm registered for my ATT course and I've started putting money away for my first AR. I've been waying my options and it looks lie building one may be the most cost effective (and fun) way of going about it. As you can imagine I have a TON of questions since I'm totally new to the black rifle game. So here goes...

What peice do I start with upper or lower? Do I buy a stripped lower or complete? If I buy a stripped lower am I able to get the peice kit in Canada? Will all uppers fit on all lowers? What brands should I be looking at, keep in mind I'm in my 20's own a home and am on a resonably tight buget thats why I'm buying peice by peice? What retailers should I be looking at?

AND the big one...Do I need only an upper and lower and a peice kit (if the lower isn't complete) and I''m good to go? Sorry for the number of questions and lack of organization!

-Nate
 
i was/ am in the same boat and from what ive found its cheaper to buy one used then build one... theres a few good links lurking to a US ar-15 sight that covers the entire build
 
What kind of shooting you want to do?
How deep is your pocket?
Do the math, You might be better of buying a complete AR. Check EE for good deals on parts or complete AR.
Good Luck:)
 
natesfitness said:
Well I'm registered for my ATT course and I've started putting money away for my first AR. I've been waying my options and it looks lie building one may be the most cost effective (and fun) way of going about it. As you can imagine I have a TON of questions since I'm totally new to the black rifle game. So here goes...

What peice do I start with upper or lower? Do I buy a stripped lower or complete? If I buy a stripped lower am I able to get the peice kit in Canada? Will all uppers fit on all lowers? What brands should I be looking at, keep in mind I'm in my 20's own a home and am on a resonably tight buget thats why I'm buying peice by peice? What retailers should I be looking at?

AND the big one...Do I need only an upper and lower and a peice kit (if the lower isn't complete) and I''m good to go? Sorry for the number of questions and lack of organization!

-Nate
Click to expand...


hmm where to start. I built most of my AR myself. Personlly I believe that it is cheaper and it is also better as you get to know your gun so that if you ever want to do a deep clean you know how it comes apart.

I would start with the lower. Questar^^^^site sponsor has some great deals for lower and lower parts kit.

As for brands well everyone has their own opinion. MY personal opinion is that for lowers they are basically all the same. Its a hunk of metal that you put a bunch of springs and other metal peices in.

Now for uppers that is where you want to spend money. The main part of the upper that you want to be a quality peice is the barrel. the upper receiver is similar to the lower in that it is a hunk of metal. your BCG (bolt carrier group) is another area that you do not want to "cheap out" As for building the upper that is a little more difficult and harder to do than the lower. MY advice would be to save some money and keep and eye the EE where there are usually some good deals.

this chart provides some good information

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=pwswheghNQsEuEhjFwPrgTA

as to your questions about uppers and lowers goign together, The short answer is yes. for the most part all uppers and lowers will go together. There are some older Colt uppers that have different sized holes that will not mate with lowers that you can get on the market to day.


hope this helps. I apologize for my spelling as im half asleep
 
I just finished one and I'm on my second build, "Shameless plug as well" I desided to keep 1 and not both so I'm sell one & parting one. What I can tell you is you can save money building a AR15 if you do it right, But after my first build was done with all new custom parts that I liked, I was well over $2000. and I'm on my second. I can tell you it's very hard to recoup you money back from a build also there are some good deals on EE so you might be best buying a complete gun for under $1400. of course I built mine over a frame of 3 months buying parts from paycheck to paycheck.
 
weaverd said:
hmm where to start. I built most of my AR myself. Personlly I believe that it is cheaper and it is also better as you get to know your gun so that if you ever want to do a deep clean you know how it comes apart.

I would start with the lower. Questar^^^^site sponsor has some great deals for lower and lower parts kit.

As for brands well everyone has their own opinion. MY personal opinion is that for lowers they are basically all the same. Its a hunk of metal that you put a bunch of springs and other metal peices in.

Now for uppers that is where you want to spend money. The main part of the upper that you want to be a quality peice is the barrel. the upper receiver is similar to the lower in that it is a hunk of metal. your BCG (bolt carrier group) is another area that you do not want to "cheap out" As for building the upper that is a little more difficult and harder to do than the lower. MY advice would be to save some money and keep and eye the EE where there are usually some good deals.

this chart provides some good information

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=pwswheghNQsEuEhjFwPrgTA

as to your questions about uppers and lowers goign together, The short answer is yes. for the most part all uppers and lowers will go together. There are some older Colt uppers that have different sized holes that will not mate with lowers that you can get on the market to day.


hope this helps. I apologize for my spelling as im half asleep
Click to expand...

Thanks for the chart weaverd, so the bolt carrier is another peice I will have to build with the upper and lower? I apologize if this question makes me seem alittle slow.
 
I must object to the term "build" :D

Unless you start with raw materials and fashion an AR from there... You ain't built s**t.

You cobble together the required parts.... parts that someone else "built" or otherwise fabricated and you....


Assemble them.


I've assembles a couple AR's myself... I'd never presume to have "built" them :D
 
Dlask and blue line offer parts as well as complete AR's for good prices... both on the banner above. I would buy complete to start... once you know what they are like, you will know what you want and need, and will have experience tearing them appart and reassembling. In reality it is likely cheaper and certainly will get you on the range faster as well.
 
667 said:
I must object to the term "build" :D

Unless you start with raw materials and fashion an AR from there... You ain't built s**t.

You cobble together the required parts.... parts that someone else "built" or otherwise fabricated and you....


Assemble them.


I've assembles a couple AR's myself... I'd never presume to have "built" them :D
Click to expand...

All heed the words of 667, for they come from the neighbour of the BEAST!!!
 
Sorry if this has been covered, but I imagine its relevant to the OP's interests. When I'm building an upper, how likely is it that I will run into headspace issues if I mix and Match a barrel/bolt. IE: A bushmaster barrel, with a colt BCG. If both parts are 'milspec' I should be okay, correct?
 
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