New AR build

C

Chicken Lights

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Anderson lower with an Anderson lower parts kit
Aero upper
BCM bolt group
BCM charge handle
Magpul stock
BCM buffer tube kit

That’s as far as I have so far for parts. I think I’m done with the upper, I’ll get back on the lower here soon.

I think I need a gas block, barrel and handguard left for parts. Sights and dummy rounds are kinda things I’ll worry about later on.

Any tricks, tips, advice, feel free to add on. This is my first gun build and I’m enjoying it so far.

I’m kind of shooting for a carbine style in 5.56, black, basically a short rifle that can put rounds down range
 
Get some good manuals. While there are some good videos on line about building an AR, I also got a couple of books from Amazon (Canada).

"AR-15 Rifle Builder's Manual" by Rob Reaser is a great guide with clear, detailed colour pictures for every step of your build.

"Gunsmithing the AR-15, The Bench Manual" by Patrick Sweeney is also a great reference for the mechanics of a build but it is also divided into chapters or areas of the rifle to help you understand the process. Although not as detailed in the step by step process it explains how the components work, what your different options are and how they impact the operation of the firearm. For example, what is the difference between pistol, carbine, mid-length and rifle-length gas systems? Do you need and adjustable gas block? Drop-in or free floating handguard?
These two references were invaluable and in the end made the experience fun and saved me a lot of aggravation.
Good luck and enjoy.
 
Sounds like you're on the right track. You will have to decide whether to buy the tools necessary to assemble the barrel to the upper, or pay a gunsmith to do it for you. For a single gun, paying the gunsmith is the cheaper, more reliable option. If you decide to make a hobby of building uppers, the tools are a good investment. Also, you might want to think about a trigger upgrade. Stock trigger/hammer parts will work, but there are better options available for just $100-200 that will enhance your shooting a lot. Also, there are ways to improve even a stock trigger..polishing, spring upgrades that cost you little or nothing to look into.

I'd advise watching lots of YouTube videos of lower assembly before you put yours together. It's not a difficult process at all, but there are plenty of tips and tricks from many sources you will find helpful.
 
check out TNA they have really good deals on complete uppers or upper parts and barrels.
 
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Tengoo said:
Also, you might want to think about a trigger upgrade. Stock trigger/hammer parts will work, but there are better options available for just $100-200 that will enhance your shooting a lot. Also, there are ways to improve even a stock trigger..polishing, spring upgrades that cost you little or nothing to look into.
Click to expand...


My first rifle had a mil-spec trigger, thought it was pretty good for a factory trigger.

Next rifle had a Geissele Super-3 gun 3.5lb trigger. Thought that was GREAT.

Took the mil-spec out to re-zero an optic on it and I laughed at how bad the mil-spec it is in comparison to the super 3-gun trigger. Tough to understand how much better it can be without trying one out. Not cheap, but the ALG trigger is a good in between.
 
Theres a lot of tools out there that might be nice if you were assembling ar15s every day but most of them are not needed. I out mine together easily with common tools such as screw drivers etc torque wrench, plus a few ar specific tools. Got all the info on youtube videos, nothings too difficult.

TNA sells a reaction rod type tools for the upper (for much less than the geissele. Best way to hold the upper in a vice while installing a barrel or muzzle device.

A set of brass punches from princess auto are super cheap.

One of my barrels required installing a gas block as most do (but ballistic advantage hansen for example come with a preinstalld gas block) TNA sells a jig that makes gas block dimples easy with a hand drill.

For some of the work requiring the brass punches a little masking tape goes a long way for protecting the finish of the rifle.
 
MkivSupra said:
Theres a lot of tools out there that might be nice if you were assembling ar15s every day but most of them are not needed. I out mine together easily with common tools such as screw drivers etc torque wrench, plus a few ar specific tools. Got all the info on youtube videos, nothings too difficult.

TNA sells a reaction rod type tools for the upper (for much less than the geissele. Best way to hold the upper in a vice while installing a barrel or muzzle device.

A set of brass punches from princess auto are super cheap.

One of my barrels required installing a gas block as most do (but ballistic advantage hansen for example come with a preinstalld gas block) TNA sells a jig that makes gas block dimples easy with a hand drill.

For some of the work requiring the brass punches a little masking tape goes a long way for protecting the finish of the rifle.
Click to expand...
I picked up a AR tool kit which had a bunch of punches, a hammer, pliers for roll pins, it’s been useful so far. I’ve seen other guys use tape before like you’re describing, I do need to grab a roll
 
tbhupe said:
Get some good manuals. While there are some good videos on line about building an AR, I also got a couple of books from Amazon (Canada).

"AR-15 Rifle Builder's Manual" by Rob Reaser is a great guide with clear, detailed colour pictures for every step of your build.

"Gunsmithing the AR-15, The Bench Manual" by Patrick Sweeney is also a great reference for the mechanics of a build but it is also divided into chapters or areas of the rifle to help you understand the process. Although not as detailed in the step by step process it explains how the components work, what your different options are and how they impact the operation of the firearm. For example, what is the difference between pistol, carbine, mid-length and rifle-length gas systems? Do you need and adjustable gas block? Drop-in or free floating handguard?
These two references were invaluable and in the end made the experience fun and saved me a lot of aggravation.
Good luck and enjoy.
Click to expand...

I’ll have to look for those books. Thanks!
 
Tengoo said:
Sounds like you're on the right track. You will have to decide whether to buy the tools necessary to assemble the barrel to the upper, or pay a gunsmith to do it for you. For a single gun, paying the gunsmith is the cheaper, more reliable option. If you decide to make a hobby of building uppers, the tools are a good investment. Also, you might want to think about a trigger upgrade. Stock trigger/hammer parts will work, but there are better options available for just $100-200 that will enhance your shooting a lot. Also, there are ways to improve even a stock trigger..polishing, spring upgrades that cost you little or nothing to look into.

I'd advise watching lots of YouTube videos of lower assembly before you put yours together. It's not a difficult process at all, but there are plenty of tips and tricks from many sources you will find helpful.
Click to expand...

I’m just trying to take it one job at a time, I got the dust cover figured out one day, the forward assist the next day, then the charge handle and BCG. When ever I have an hour to tinker I figure out another piece of the puzzle.
 
That’s the next thing I need to grab is an armourers wrench. That and some dummy 5.56.

Nobody seems to stock anything for an AR, it’s a good thing I’m not in any real rush
 
Well made some progress. Trigger group, safety, rear takedown pin, buffer tube, stock, and mounted the upper for the first time.

Lost the front take down detent, of course, so we need another one or 6 of those.

The Magpull stock doesn’t want to slide onto the BCM buffer tube past the first notch, for some reason.

But she’s coming together!!
 
Chicken Lights said:
Well made some progress. Trigger group, safety, rear takedown pin, buffer tube, stock, and mounted the upper for the first time.

Lost the front take down detent, of course, so we need another one or 6 of those.

The Magpull stock doesn’t want to slide onto the BCM buffer tube past the first notch, for some reason.

But she’s coming together!!
Click to expand...

Front take down : get a 1/4" clevis pin. About $1. Makes the install EASY. Your local auto parts store should have them. But yeah I have ~6 detents in storage because those fu ckers FLY. - Wear impact glasses when installing(your eyes are important.)


Stock/buffer tube : Are they the same spec? You can get commercial, and Mil-spec parts (and NEA spec, but that's a different story....). Also, some stocks can require a different mechanism to take it on/off than to adjust it so you might be "adjusting" as you mount it as opposed to mounting it. What magpul stock are you using ? With my Magpul CTR the black knob (moved by the adjustment "lever" behind it) had to be MUCH more engaged to slip on/off, other wise it would hit the first notch and stop, it (the black adjustment knob) needed to be moved, not the lever that activated it (the lever adjusted it,but did not have enough travel to mount it) to install it. The lever then adjusts the stock without risk of pulling it off.
 
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dacron said:
Front take down : get a 1/4" clevis pin. About $1. Makes the install EASY. Your local auto parts store should have them. But yeah I have ~6 detents in storage because those fu ckers FLY. - Wear impact glasses when installing(your eyes are important.)

**Image and video linking functions will be enabled after you have contributed more to the forum**

Stock/buffer tube : Are they the same spec? You can get commercial, and Mil-spec parts (and NEA spec, but that's a different story....). Also, some stocks can require a different mechanism to take it on/off than to adjust it so you might be "adjusting" as you mount it as opposed to mounting it. What magpul stock are you using ? With my Magpul CTR the black knob (moved by the adjustment "lever" behind it) had to be MUCH more engaged to slip on/off, other wise it would hit the first notch and stop, it (the black adjustment knob) needed to be moved, not the lever that activated it (the lever adjusted it,but did not have enough travel to mount it) to install it. The lever then adjusts the stock without risk of pulling it off.
Click to expand...

I’ll have to see if I can find a hardware store, thanks!

It’s a Magpull MOE SL stock, it should be a mil-spec stock and buffer tube. That was my first thought, that I was mixing up the sizes.

I’ll have to pick up a gun case too, I’d like to have someone else look at the stock but don’t really want to walk into a gun store carry half of a gun in the open. Or, at least walk in first empty handed then go back out to the truck for it. From what I have seen there’s some etiquette involved here.

Also at some point I’m sure I need a trigger lock and legal storage, even with it being half built?
 
Chicken Lights said:
I’ll have to see if I can find a hardware store, thanks!

It’s a Magpull MOE SL stock, it should be a mil-spec stock and buffer tube. That was my first thought, that I was mixing up the sizes.

I’ll have to pick up a gun case too, I’d like to have someone else look at the stock but don’t really want to walk into a gun store carry half of a gun in the open. Or, at least walk in first empty handed then go back out to the truck for it. From what I have seen there’s some etiquette involved here.

Also at some point I’m sure I need a trigger lock and legal storage, even with it being half built?
Click to expand...
Measure the buffer tube and stock, milspec tube should be 1.14 , Commercial 1.17 .
Not much difference but if both are not the same you’ll have a problem.. lol
 
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