[Blindeye_03]

Well I dont want to get one pre-built.. I would much rather build my own.

Basically I am looking to get into shooting - since there isnt much to do here where I live in Georga, plus I love shooting. My roommate has a bolt action .223 and is looking at buying a .45 something or other handgun (forgot the brand he is looking at).

So I am split between an AK and an AR15. Only because people say the ar15 is so complicated...I lived with a guy for a month that had an AK and I wasnt that impressed with it, how the magazine clanked when it was in the receiver. His might have just been a POS though - I dont know...

I have tried to read through some threads on ar15.com but I am not sure what most of the terminology means - I would get flamed hard core.. atleast I feel comfortable asking questions here (its like OT lol...).

So ok I found another thread and someone said that these brands are pretty good:

Rock River
Bushmaster
DPMS
Armalite
Stag
Doublestar

I would prefer to build my own - I think it'd be fun and give me something to do when I have free time. One of my issues would be - what parts dont work with other parts? I dont want to end up getting something that isnt compatible with something else. Am I going to need any special tools or what? Should I get a preassembled upper and lower or do that myself? I am ok working on cars and my motorcycle but have never worked on a firearm, but I am a quick learner and would love to do this.

I would want to use it mainly for target shooting, and have read that the 5.56 nato round is cheaper than .223 so would prefer to have it chambered in 5.56. I would end up using iron sights for now, and save up for optics later.

I really dont know what to ask other than that HELP lol... Id like to do this somewhat soon (in a few months).

Thanks for reading my jumbled post... I hope it makes sense

-Justin

 

[Adler]

I built mine on a Colt A1 upper with a Stag bolt assembly and a Stag Lower. You can get a fully assembled lower from R Guns and any type of upper from M&A, JT, or Model 1 sales to finish it off. Just make sure you check your laws before building, its easy to get on the wrong side with builds, especially AR ones.


All AK's are essentially the same. The extra cash buy you a bit tighter and prettier one for the most part. I prefer the AK any day, but the AR has it beat in several areas like accuracy and ergonomics. I have both and still like the rugged AK. The mags are better, but the gap is closing. But I would take an HK G3 or FAL over both. I am still up in the air on the M14. I like it, but I probably wouldn't take one to battle over an FAL



Best place to look for buying parts for an AR build is any Shotgun news. Full of ads.

 

[fatcat]

Its ok... The AR nuts here..

Im glad to see more and more people wanting to build the guns rather than buy them. I think its much more fun.

There will be no flameing here for any questions asked like AR-15.com is famous for.

Rock River arms are great gun makers, but for building dont get a lower theres are to tight a fit and you have to mill off the edges of your upper on most.

Lowers I would go with are all of what you said but RRA

Bushmaster
DPMS
Armalite
Stag
Doublestar


As for the other parts, you dont want to go to cheap on them... good extracters are a must if you want to run steel case ammo in there. the MGI D fenders are a must to I have them in all my rifles and never have jams, even when I took the rifle for a sand swim.

I almost always use Model1sales for all my builds and parts at work. There great people that go out of there way to help and can do just about anything you want. They sell full parts kits and uppers and its all very good stuff.

www.Model1sales.com

oh yeah, always always get a 5.56 barrel! You can shoot 223 from a 5.56 not for 5.56 from a .223.

Im from Georgia to! Welcome to Gunatics.

 

[Blindeye_03]

Where in Georgia are you from? I lived in Woodstock for a long time, but now reside just south of Warner Robins.

So what parts did you get to build your ar15?

I have no clue what an extracter is nor what a MGI D fender is .. haha I feel like a dumbass but I wasnt raised around guns and I really just dont know much of anything about them.

Is it easier or cheaper to buy a kit & a pre-assembled lower and build that or better to just buy individual parts?

 

[Adler]

If you buy a kit and get a pre assembled lower you will pay for alot of extra parts you dont need. I bought a complete upper minus bolt assembly and charger handle and then put it on a complete lower and bolt assembly and charger from another place. If you are not familiar with the AR then I recommend this build. Its a few bucks more, but alot easier.

 

[Ducman]

I would get a complete upper. that way you will not need any special tools or alot of knowledge. just get one with a bolt that has been headspaced.

For uppers I would also look at LMT and CMMG

Lowers are easy to put together. but for your first AR I would buy new, that way if something goes wrong, you have a shop to take it back to. Not something you get with a build

 

[fatcat]

Im in Gwinnett



Extractor holds on the the caseing when the ejector flings them out and the D-fender makes it stronger.

Starting off just order an upper and a pre built lower would be the easy way..

Both of these where build with parts from Model1

 

[Adler]

And here is my Colt upper on my Stag lower. Very Vietnamesque

 

[Ducman]

Since we are posting pics

Bushmaster lower CMMG 7.5" upper

 

[Blindeye_03]

Those all look nice .

So I assume I can buy all the parts online except for the lower? I would have to go to a gun store for that, correct?

 

[fatcat]

Yep.

 

[Blindeye_03]

Cool - well sounds like I need to get myself to a gun store and check some stuff out =).

How accurate are these rifles with iron sights? (Seems like most people have crazy optics on all of them :lol: ) - but I understand the m4 is a stable optics platform - I just gotta minimize cost in that area for now.

 

[Ducman]

Cool - well sounds like I need to get myself to a gun store and check some stuff out =).

How accurate are these rifles with iron sights? (Seems like most people have crazy optics on all of them :lol: ) - but I understand the m4 is a stable optics platform - I just gotta minimize cost in that area for now.

AR can be very accurate with Iron sights. But Optics always make it easier. A cheap BSA red dot is around $30. I would get a flattop with nice iron back up sights (BUIS) then you can have both Irons and red dot

 

[Blindeye_03]

AR can be very accurate with Iron sights. But Optics always make it easier. A cheap BSA red dot is around $30. I would get a flattop with nice iron back up sights (BUIS) then you can have both Irons and red dot

LOL thats what I was thinking of doing - flat top with flip up rear sight and then optics whenever ..BUT damn! $30?

Heh I might end up driving 20miles to the next town and seeing what they have as far as lowers (stripped and assembled). This town is so damn small - someone was riding their HORSE to the store... :lol: I am a city guy - just not used to the country yet.

Part of me wants to assemble it but my other part doesnt want to deal with it.

EDIT: Holy crap! Folding rear sights cost between $100-$150??? Anyways which of these is better than the other?:

http://www.opticsplanet.net/tasco-1x30-reddot.html

http://www.opticsplanet.net/bsa-optics-30mm-red-dot-sights.html <--(Looking at the RD30SB)

 

[ORCA]

You can buy lowers online too, they just need to transfer to yrou FFL for pickup.

Someone "I know" just got a Noveske Lower (For a pretty low price). To be matched to an LMT Upper.

I agree on getting the completed uppers sicne most are test fired before shipping. Adn I woudl also say, work with yrou local gunshop as much as you can with your first build.

Well if you want cheap stuff go the AK route. BUIS going for $150-$300 are quite common. Both those Reddots are OK. They'll work fine, but once you go to a range and end up next to an Optics whore, you'll start looking at the more spensive stuff (Aimpoint, Eotech, Etc) You get what you pay for kinda thing.

 

[Blindeye_03]

Will just about any folding rear sight work with the 'standard' front sight?

 

[Blindeye_03]

Well the only thing holding me back is a visit to the local gun shop - Ill probably hit that up sometime this week...I just gotta talk to my roommate to make sure I am not a crazy person for buying a rifle (us being students, and all that...).

I went to www.model1sales.com and built a 16" carbine upper-half of the following:

-----------------------------------------------------
Chamber: 5.56mm
Upper & Rear Sight: A3 w/ YHM removable flip rear sight +$75
Handguard: Standard
Bolt Carrier Group & Charging Handle: Standard +$100
Barrel/Flashider: Chrome Moly, 1-9 twist, a2 flashider
Front Sight Base: YHM flip front sight tower
Bipod: none
-----------------------------------------------------

Would any lower receiver work with that? Also, are they "decent" parts that I selected & is that a good brand to pick from for an upper half? Lastly, that YHM front sight - do I need a gas block to use that because at this time I would rather not get too crazy with adding stuff. Id just prefer to get a pretty standard ar15, with some decent flip iron sights and one of those cheapy red-dot sights (for now...that'd probably be the first thing I would upgrade). Oh and I would get that D-fender thing too . And if it means I would save money I might just get the lower and the parts and build that myself - but it seems like they are about the same to get a pre assembled lower as opposed to assembling your own.

Opinions??? I R teh excited =).

 

[carney]

if you are bulding a 16" rifle I would probably go ahead and get a quad rail hand guard as well

Edit: I know i'm getting one for mine and I thought to begin with that I didn't want one.

 

[fatcat]

Yep, you will want the quad rail after some time. Just spend a little more and get a free floating one now so you dont have to use the two piece ones.

What store are you going to? If you cant seem to find one Bullseye in lawrenceville is the best place around here.. Ive been going to them for years and they stock all the AR parts you could want for very good prices.

Plus you can look at all there class 3 toys the full auto M2 .50cal and M-60's in there makes everyone drool its ok dont be ashmed.

 

[Blindeye_03]

Not really sure what the name of the place is - I dont even know if they sell anything for the AR. There just isnt much around where I am (in Eastman).

But if the places around here suck bad I will end up going to the place in Lawrenceville one weekend when I come up to see my parents in Woodstock.

I still have a few unanswered questions up above . About sights, and if what I "picked" is a good idea to get?

I am undecided on the front grip though - I am not sure what I'd even be putting on it - other than a forward vertical grip in the future.