Building an AR

[Lonster]

Any insights from those that have built AR's?
I have looked at some of the 'kits', and they seem like a good way to get started, with everything but the lower, and many upgrade options.
This is NOT a thread to discuss the legalities, but a thread for you to post up your insights as to what has worked well for you, and what has not.
Thanks in advance for keeping it civil.

 

[BillSmith]

My insight:

https://www.ar15.com/index.html

https://www.calguns.net/

 

[berth]

Well, there's always that time honored wisdom taking from making boat models.

1 - Start with a block of aluminum
2 - Carve away everything that doesn't look like an AR.

Building an AR seems to be real black hole. I guess you should talk about what you're starting with. Stripped lower and an upper? a new barrel? etc.

 

[byke]

Building an AR and the first couple shoots dialing it in is pretty much the entire fun with them. I'd start with a budget and intended purpose. I personally think of AR's kind of like motorcycles, where I'd recommend something generic and inexpensive to get started, then discover what you like from there. High end AR builds are a bit of a waste, imo, because they don't seem to hold their value very well. I'd go for that $500 iron sight build and then you'll probably turn into an upgrade monster, building up new guns with the old parts you've replaced. It's a lot of fun.

 

[Lonster]

My insight:

https://www.ar15.com/index.html

https://www.calguns.net/

Both good sources that I have been reading. Thank you.

Well, there's always that time honored wisdom taking from making boat models.

1 - Start with a block of aluminum
2 - Carve away everything that doesn't look like an AR.

Building an AR seems to be real black hole. I guess you should talk about what you're starting with. Stripped lower and an upper? a new barrel? etc.

I'm starting with a $1000 budget and have NO other parts (yet). Thus, looking at the full rifle kits for starters.

Building an AR and the first couple shoots dialing it in is pretty much the entire fun with them. I'd start with a budget and intended purpose. I personally think of AR's kind of like motorcycles, where I'd recommend something generic and inexpensive to get started, then discover what you like from there. High end AR builds are a bit of a waste, imo, because they don't seem to hold their value very well. I'd go for that $500 iron sight build and then you'll probably turn into an upgrade monster, building up new guns with the old parts you've replaced. It's a lot of fun.

Thanks. Others have said the same. That's what I'm thinking too, but thought I'd hit up BARF before pulling any triggers, no pun intended.

 

[ichabodnt650]

My first build, I watched videos, looked at exploded diagrams, then had my brother-in-law come over to supervise and explain whenever I got lost. He had built several before I.

 

[ST Guy]

I prefer an AR already built by a reputable manufacturer. For me there’s no fun in building one. Plus, you’ll know it’ll work when you pull the trigger.

 

[ichabodnt650]

punch set with at least 1/16, 5/64, 3/32, 1/8 inch
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09PBBXKZN

combo wrench
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CJ8TVBXD

The rest are standard household tools (various size screwdrivers slotted and phillips down to the smaller end, hammer, wire cutter, needle nose plier). I use the latter to fasten tools out of paper clips when I need some specialized tool I didn't purchase.

Dry fire and test using these after building
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006QP76CI

 

[berth]

Are these just for assembling a stripped lower?

If you want to assemble an upper, don't you need something for headspace?

 

[byke]

I prefer an AR already built by a reputable manufacturer. For me there’s no fun in building one. Plus, you’ll know it’ll work when you pull the trigger.

They're not really like a lot of other guns, like putting together a bunch of mishmash 1911 bits where you will likely have to do some massaging to get it to cycle smoothly. Typically, you can just buy a bunch of cheap parts and slap it together with six beers in your belly and nine times out of then, they just work. And that one other time, you can just buzz something with friggin' belt sander if you wanted to and that's it. They're extremely user friendly. They're not even space lego's, they're more like the big block lego's.

 

[Sharxfan]

Echoing the same. I have built a lot of lowers and they go together pretty easy and its fun to do. Uppers I don't really fuck with and will buy them complete as its 2 pins to put it on although I will change out gas blocks and handguards.

Just be extra careful with the little screws that go on the upper pins and behind the grip as they like to fly off and get lost.

 

[Lonster]

My first build, I watched videos, looked at exploded diagrams, then had my brother-in-law come over to supervise and explain whenever I got lost. He had built several before I.

I've been watching videos too. Good advice.
I have an experienced friend who will assist if needed on the initial assembly, and I ordered something to help sort the pieces too (See below).

I prefer an AR already built by a reputable manufacturer. For me there’s no fun in building one. Plus, you’ll know it’ll work when you pull the trigger.

Some of the 'rifle kits' come with the upper already built and some rounds thru it. I didn't order mine that way.

punch set with at least 1/16, 5/64, 3/32, 1/8 inch
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09PBBXKZN

combo wrench
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CJ8TVBXD

Dry fire and test using these after building
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006QP76CI

All good tools, thanks. I only need the multi tool, and I also ordered a 36'' mat with the exploded view for ease of reassembly. The dry fire rounds are cool, so I got those too.
Lot's of good help here, thanks.

 

[berth]

So are you just doing the lower, or are you doing an upper as well?

An upper, I guess the big part is just getting the barrel on, right?

 

[Lonster]

Full rifle kit, minus the lower.
I have the lower coming separately.

 

[Sharxfan]

So what brand did you go with?

Also reread my post and meant watch out for the springs they like to relocate to the least likely place for you to find them.

 

[mrmarklin]

In some sense, they are kind of like Harleys. You get the lower (a decent one) and then the sky's the limit on what you can spend.

I just spent $250 on a trigger for one I just purchased as a varmint rifle. It is a rimfire gun, but fully compatible with standard AR-15 parts.

On another gun the trigger was fine, but I bought an Upper chambered in .223 Wylde with a heavy barrel for a Varmint rifle.
FYI .223 Wylde takes a standard .223 rifle cartridge. Cost on this was around $1,200.

I think for $1K you can build a decent rifle. The above options are just that: Optional. So think about what you want in a rifle. Just like a Harley, you can spend what you want.

But I would get a decent trigger.

 

[NorCalBusa]

Built mine 15 years ago. My advice in today's climate; wait. You will be playing whack-a-mole with law changes and the Supremes are loading up (pun intended) cases to be heard at similar times.

I got so tired of trying to stay current (take this off, put that on, rinse/repeat) I took it apart so it is no longer a "rifle"- no need to keep up. I too will wait for the smoke to clear.

What's cool is you now have time to noodle what kind of a rifle you want to build & how it will be used. Lots and lots of choices in various specialties or buy lower end/middle stuff off the shelf. You can hot rod some and not other components. Fun stuff. I'm sure you already bought several mags for it during Freedom Week right? Of course you did...

 

[Lonster]

So what brand did you go with?

Also reread my post and meant watch out for the springs they like to relocate to the least likely place for you to find them.

I ended up going with righttobear.com.

(snip)

I got so tired of trying to stay current (take this off, put that on, rinse/repeat) I took it apart so it is no longer a "rifle"- no need to keep up. I too will wait for the smoke to clear.

What's cool is you now have time to noodle what kind of a rifle you want to build & how it will be used. Lots and lots of choices in various specialties or buy lower end/middle stuff off the shelf. You can hot rod some and not other components. Fun stuff. I'm sure you already bought several mags for it during Freedom Week right? Of course you did...

Of course I did.......

 

[Lonster]

Thanks for the info and encouragement.
The actually building was fun, and I might have even gone a bit overboard accessorizing.
Gotta get some ammo and see how it shoots.

 

[NATEWA]

I usually build the lower (ambi safety and trigger upgrade), add a Thordsen stock, and buy a complete upper. I prefer featureless rifles but have one with a fixed mag. What the upper is being used for depends on how I accessorize it. All rifles with have slings. Scope on hunting upper and flashlight and red dot with buis on my HD rifle.