New AR Build

Don't be afraid to build. You will learn a lot. Buying a lower and upper then putting a rail on and changing the stock isn't a build really. Great resources on the net to build from parts.
 
djmay71 said:
Granted, but the ammo takes about $250, mags at $150, my preferred array of sights and optics (which may change) at $470. Thats makes a total of $870. Minus that from my approximate final price for the low-end build, and that brings it down to $893.02.

From the start, I was leaning towards the cheaper build, but the more I think about it, I'd rather spend my cash on some quality products from the high-end build. What do you guys think of the build list I provided in my last post about the high-end build? My only gripes about the high-end build, is that the barrel on the Stag Arms Mod 0RH 1/7 is a 16" when I'd prefer a 10.5" and the fact that it comes with that goofy iron sight on the barrel. Hate them.
Click to expand...

Honestly, that build list has ONE component I would use...the upper. Not that I think Stag is super great exactly but I would expect decent performance from that particular Stag upper.

I would not buy anything else on your list. RRA parts...no. No-name stock...no. Vulcan lower...not with someone else's money.

That list of parts, more than anything else, says to me, "you should not build an AR".

Just buy a Stag/LMT/NEA for a similar amount of money and get something that will run fine right off the bat.
 
misanthropist said:
Honestly, that build list has ONE component I would use...the upper. Not that I think Stag is super great exactly but I would expect decent performance from that particular Stag upper.

I would not buy anything else on your list. RRA parts...no. No-name stock...no. Vulcan lower...not with someone else's money.

That list of parts, more than anything else, says to me, "you should not build an AR".

Just buy a Stag/LMT/NEA for a similar amount of money and get something that will run fine right off the bat.
Click to expand...

OP - This person is really trying to do you a favour, also this is someone who I would listen to - and I've built my own. There are lots of 'good' AR's - the 3 listed above are good-excellent in quality. Unless you have your heart set on something not otherwise available, buying a good gun with a warranty isn't a bad plan.
 
misanthropist said:
Honestly, that build list has ONE component I would use...the upper. Not that I think Stag is super great exactly but I would expect decent performance from that particular Stag upper.

I would not buy anything else on your list. RRA parts...no. No-name stock...no. Vulcan lower...not with someone else's money.

That list of parts, more than anything else, says to me, "you should not build an AR".

Just buy a Stag/LMT/NEA for a similar amount of money and get something that will run fine right off the bat.
Click to expand...

I thank you for your brutal honesty. However, like you and several others have suggested, I find purchasing an entire unit (ie: the entire gun) unpractical because drains the pocketbook quick in one hard blow, whereas the "not-so-much a build-build" I can buy the lower, tinker with it for a while, buy the upper- install, then more tinkering- sights/optics, etc. Everything in steps.
 
That was my idear At first... buy a part here and there... spent 1560$ in 2 days lol...

Buying a complete riffle is a bit cheaper but you end up changing things and it cost more in the end...

Just get what YOU want... youve seen my list... Some stuff is cheap... Some not so much... at the end of the day Its you riffle... But do keep in mind resale value... ;)
 
DILLIGAF said:
That was my idear At first... buy a part here and there... spent 1560$ in 2 days lol...

Buying a complete riffle is a bit cheaper but you end up changing things and it cost more in the end...

Just get what YOU want... youve seen my list... Some stuff is cheap... Some not so much... at the end of the day Its you riffle... But do keep in mind resale value... ;)
Click to expand...

The only way anybody would be getting this firearm, is if they pryed it from my cold, dead hands.
 
djmay71 said:
I thank you for your brutal honesty. However, like you and several others have suggested, I find purchasing an entire unit (ie: the entire gun) unpractical because drains the pocketbook quick in one hard blow, whereas the "not-so-much a build-build" I can buy the lower, tinker with it for a while, buy the upper- install, then more tinkering- sights/optics, etc. Everything in steps.
Click to expand...

I get where you are coming from. I can relate to the need to spread a purchase out a bit, although in general I would say that the thing to do is to save up...takes longer, costs less. But assuming that's out of the question because you want something in your hands sooner rather than later - and I can relate to that too - this is what I would suggest:

From the EE:
a stripped Aero Precision lower. Pay maybe $150 shipped, preferably less.
a milspec receiver extension & buffer (that is the "buffer tube" and guts) I would contact ABHobbyist because he has an insane amount of parts and you might be able to get the tube, buffer and spring from him in one go and pay shipping once. Maybe a hundred bucks or so? I would think not more than $125 for quality stuff.
an A2 grip because you will be able to find one on the EE for a nickel and they work fine. In fact I saw a knockoff A2 for $5 there recently, and the genuine article is only worth about $15.


From One Shot:
a Daniel Defense LPK , $100
Magpul MOE stock, $60

Complete lower including shipping and taxes, something like $500 and easy to put together

For an upper I would buy a complete unit. That Stag is pretty good. There are uppers on the EE all the time. For $700-900 you can get something very good. Brands I would look for are LMT, Stag (but ensure it is a 5.56 1:7, not one of the cheap barrels they sometimes come with), I hate to say it but Spike's, Daniel Defense, Colt (but it will be expensive)

You could also buy a complete new NEA upper, and see if they'll cut you a bit of a deal on buying a set of Troy sights. The CQB upper will run you around $750.

Alternatively, when you order from One Shot, buy a set of Daniel Defense fixed sights at the same time for $130.


That puts your build in the $1200-1400 range and you will have a gun built of quality parts. That's the cheapest way I can think of to build an AR that I would personally be proud of.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom