So building an AR-15 is hella expensive...

O

okshooter

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I, like many others, bought a stripped lower receiver. It's relatively cheap insurance for grandfathering in the likely event that they prohibit AR-15s in less than two weeks. I went for the lower receiver instead of a full AR-15 because it was cheap ($140) and if things go South, I'm not out of a lot of money.

I'm wondering if I made a mistake, however. Seeing that complete AR-15s go for $650, I assumed I could just build an AR-15 spending something like $500 for the rest of the parts that I'm missing. Instead, it looks like it would cost about $1000 to get the rest of the build done.

Is this correct? I'm almost thinking that I might be better off buying a full M&P AR-15 the day I get grandfathered (assuming they don't ban them outright).
 
Stripped receivers are great to build to your budget/spec but you won't ever beat a pre built mass produced rifle on price.

You didn't make a mistake just need to decide if you want to jump straight into a whole rifle before any ban comes into play
 
Building anything is not the cheapest way of doing things unfortunately....it all depends what are you building

I just bought a 9mm AR lower taking Glock mags .....$350 ......it should cost me about $1100 to have a complete rifle by the time it is done ( I do have parts I do not need to buy)

In my case it is well worth it.
 
I too am trying to navigate these waters. My current AR registration has the lower serial number and barrel length. So would that mean one would need those two parts to properly register it as a firearm?
 
If you build your own, you can choose how your rifle is going to handle and feel. Choosing your charging handle, trigger, stock, front rail, muzzle brake, and the list goes on...

There are cheaper ARs but it's not the same comparison.
 
transumer said:
I too am trying to navigate these waters. My current AR registration has the lower serial number and barrel length. So would that mean one would need those two parts to properly register it as a firearm?
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My understanding was that the lower receiver is the "gun" so you don't need to register the rifle once it's built as it's already registered. But I also heard that people will call the CFO to let them know what barrel they put on it once it's fully built. Not sure what the law actually requires here.
 
Ratzilla said:
If you build your own, you can choose how your rifle is going to handle and feel. Choosing your charging handle, trigger, stock, front rail, muzzle brake, and the list goes on...

There are cheaper ARs but it's not the same comparison.
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I definitely see the value in that. In my particular situation, I think the best approach is to wait for the ban to arrive, to verify that grandfathering with ATT privileges are extended to us. Then immediately buy the rest of the parts for a build or simply purchase a pre-built, mass-produced AR, if I want to save some money.
 
The problem with that is you are going to be in competition with every other person who bought a stripped lower. If you think there aren't that many lowers for sale in Canada just wait until you find out how little parts there are to finish them! Hell, I struggle to find parts to finish my builds even when there isn't a ban scare!

Not to mention you are gambling on the RCMP not taking all the AR-15 parts with them when they show up at the vendors to confiscate the unsold AR-15s. Also gambling on the RCMP allowing registration certificates for frame-only ARs to be updated into actual prohibited firearm registration certificates...

The smart move from the beginning was a full rifle. Very surprised to see people climbing all over each other gambling on stripped lowers.

Write your MP and all the senators.
 
I’ve built a couple of low budget ARs, I couldn’t get under $800 ,and resale was at a big loss.

S&W Sport or the bare bones Colt 6920 is your best bet.
 
I bought two S&W M&P-15 instead of more lowers. I figure it easier to swap parts out at my leisure while still having a complete and functional gun. Unrelated but I didn't know people still said "hella" haha...
 
Yep I have two useless lowers, the prices are starting to go down on AR-15 bullseye has dpms oracle for $619. Free shipping some have the Sport II for $649 and IRG has psa I think it was for around $540,Canadian plus shipping, so some deals are out there, I will have one before Tuesday!
 
I also drag race, building an AR is like building a car, you can build one from scratch peicing it together (which you can customize it to suit you perfectly) or you can buy one completed but have to put up with the way it is. Custom builds are way more expensive but if money is no real issue and you want a hobby then they are great. If you want to save some bucks and use it right away then a completed unit is the way to go. Just need to make the decision either way.

Corey
 
okshooter said:
My understanding was that the lower receiver is the "gun" so you don't need to register the rifle once it's built as it's already registered. But I also heard that people will call the CFO to let them know what barrel they put on it once it's fully built. Not sure what the law actually requires here.
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For Firearm Safety, please read your paperwork. It does say, black and white, that you must notify the CFO within 30 days
 
I can't think of anyone I know that has informed the CFO of their barrel length once the build is completed. Realistically by the letter of the law the AR is constantly receiving changes once you take the upper and lower apart, indefinitely extending the 30 day period.
 
5.45 said:
For Firearm Safety, please read your paperwork. It does say, black and white, that you must notify the CFO within 30 days
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He said "register", the firearm is already registered. What you are talking about is notifying the CFO of changes to the registration, which is different. Technically you can revert the changes within 30 days and have no reason to notify them.
 
Dusty94 said:
I can't think of anyone I know that has informed the CFO of their barrel length once the build is completed. Realistically by the letter of the law the AR is constantly receiving changes once you take the upper and lower apart, indefinitely extending the 30 day period.
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once your AR is fully capable of discharging a round, you have within 30 days to change the statues from " receiver only" to "firearm" before you can even take it out of the range.
 
hbean said:
once your AR is fully capable of discharging a round, you have within 30 days to change the statues from " receiver only" to "firearm" before you can even take it out of the range.
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Please quote the law that says you cannot take it to the range during the 30 day grace period. I'm genuinely curious, I've never heard anyone claim that before.
 
It had the barrel length on my new registration.
I recently sold it and when doing the transfer, I had to give them the barrel length that was printed on the registration certificate.
 
Wal-Mart Greeter said:
Please quote the law that says you cannot take it to the range during the 30 day grace period. I'm genuinely curious, I've never heard anyone claim that before.
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well , technically you’ll be taking a a restricted firearm to the range without a certificate.
If caught by LEO and he wants to be a ####, you have 14 days to produce a registration certificate, for the firearm you have.
Your stripped lower cert won’t fly.
 
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