OT building an AR 15?
- Thread starter o_tacodawg
- Start date
Pretty simple. Watched YouTube videos to teach me the first time. I got/get most of my stuff from JoeBob and Palmetto State.
Couple pieces of advice. Buy a cheap vice and made a little portable work station. I just used probably a 2x2 piece of plywood to mount it and I could work wherever I wanted. Build as much as you’re comfortable with. Eventually you’ll want to change out the already put-together parts you buy. So customize what you think you can do. I’d buy a complete upper. It’s not that they’re difficult to build, but you can probably find what you want and not have to worry about it. It’s fun. I want to build a 308 but have just never pulled the trigger.
Couple pieces of advice. Buy a cheap vice and made a little portable work station. I just used probably a 2x2 piece of plywood to mount it and I could work wherever I wanted. Build as much as you’re comfortable with. Eventually you’ll want to change out the already put-together parts you buy. So customize what you think you can do. I’d buy a complete upper. It’s not that they’re difficult to build, but you can probably find what you want and not have to worry about it. It’s fun. I want to build a 308 but have just never pulled the trigger.
I did one. It was alright. Just make sure to get the right recoil buffer. At first it didn't cycle right because I had a rifle buffer and it was carbine length.
Do not think like I did that building an AR15 makes you ready to build a 1911. I did that. It only took me five safeties to get it right. I will never do that again.
My experience is as follows. My first one was a build. I didn’t buy the cheapest parts that I could find, but I did try to save where I could. Having the AR turned me into a “gun guy”. Being a little anal, I wanted a factory rifle, not a build with mismatched upper/lower and parts. So, I spent about $1200 at the time on a
LMT, which made me feel better about the reliability factor, but in actuality, probably wasn’t any more reliable than the build. After awhile, I decided that b/c I shoot leftie, I wanted a KAC because they make an ambidextrous lower. The KAC is the cat’s 17’in meow.
If you have the money, go ahead and buy a top tier AR. It will be expensive but you will buy once/cry once and have peace of mind. Also, the more expensive guns were available when the parts and cheaper guns were/are nowhere to be found.
Don’t forget, you will need more than 20 rounds and 2 magazines. An optic isn’t a must but makes things a lot better.
ETA: there are certain tools that you will need to do it right. You can skimp and get it done but it won’t be easy without them. Save yourself the aggravation and skip the building.
LMT, which made me feel better about the reliability factor, but in actuality, probably wasn’t any more reliable than the build. After awhile, I decided that b/c I shoot leftie, I wanted a KAC because they make an ambidextrous lower. The KAC is the cat’s 17’in meow.
If you have the money, go ahead and buy a top tier AR. It will be expensive but you will buy once/cry once and have peace of mind. Also, the more expensive guns were available when the parts and cheaper guns were/are nowhere to be found.
Don’t forget, you will need more than 20 rounds and 2 magazines. An optic isn’t a must but makes things a lot better.
ETA: there are certain tools that you will need to do it right. You can skimp and get it done but it won’t be easy without them. Save yourself the aggravation and skip the building.
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I would bet big money I am the biggest Colt fanboy on this board.
Nobody should ever buy a post UAW strike Colt. They became trash after that.
Agree with comment about buying upper. Built my lower with regular tools I had around house. Few parts were little tricky (detent pins I think, been 7-8 years ago) but I got it. I didn’t have armorers wrench and got someone to help with castle nut. Only thing I didn’t feel good about
Ordered parts kit for a lower for one ive been sitting on for few years. Little excited to build another.
ETA - everything I have is palmetto state. No issues
Ordered parts kit for a lower for one ive been sitting on for few years. Little excited to build another.
ETA - everything I have is palmetto state. No issues
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I ordered the upper and lower off of psa. My first build. The m&p i wanted was $250 more at my local gun shop
It's fun. I highly recommend it over buying one off the shelf. If it's your first time, buy an upper with the barrel already mounted. Attaching the barrel to the upper just about the only process that requires some specific tools and gunsmithing knowledge. They rest of it can be done with basic tools you likely have already. A rubber mallet and some hole punches are all you really need.
Get ready to cuss a whole lot when you start with the trigger assembly. Those 17ing tiny springs and detents will drive you mad. Matter of fact, I highly recommend ordering extra detents and springs. You will lose a couple.
This book is all need. https://www.amazon.com/AR-15-Rifle-...d=1&keywords=rob+reaser&qid=1616930385&sr=8-1
Get ready to cuss a whole lot when you start with the trigger assembly. Those 17ing tiny springs and detents will drive you mad. Matter of fact, I highly recommend ordering extra detents and springs. You will lose a couple.
This book is all need. https://www.amazon.com/AR-15-Rifle-...d=1&keywords=rob+reaser&qid=1616930385&sr=8-1
If you buy an assembled upper, you can buy the lower parts and assemble them yourself very easily and with tools you probably already have. I would buy the bare lower at your LGS since PSA is gonna have to ship that to an FFL and then your FFL is most likely gonna charge a fee to do the transfer form. I didn’t know what all I even needed the first time, but now I understand how they operate, how to fix and upgrade, etc. much better than buying one complete. PM me if you need any help on it.
Based on what I've seen lately, buy a new finished gun. If you see a lower somewhere locally for less than $80, grab it. Put money into the barrel, trigger and upper. Check out https://www.cdnnsports.com. They have had some deals lately on build kits without a barrel.
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