AR15 Build Project

[Winter]

Any Brothers on here ever build their own rifles from the ground up?

After loads of research to determine what type of AR I wanted to build I just began the procurement process. Not easy in this climate, let me tell you! But not impossible. I found some fairly decent deals to get the project moving forward.

 

[Duncan1574]

Ammo might be a bigger issue.

 

[edwmax]

I built mine in 1994 (?) just before the assault weapon ban. My cost was about $280 at the time. I bought the lower assembly kit and it was shipped to my FFL dealer. It was easy to put together. The upper I bought it pre-assembled for $25 extra. Then all I had to do was snap it on, pop in a clip, & rack in a shell. ... ready ... The manufactures were hording the uppers at the time and were full bore at making all they could before the ban went into effect. I waited about 6 months for the upper and then had to call the manufacture and get nasty with them. I had prepaid for the upper and there was no reason they could not ship it at the time. I had it a week later. MY AR is a conplete pre-ban shorty. The upper was made by Olympic Arms; the lower kit was PWA. ... New AR15 were $850 to $1200 at the time and went to $3000 after the ban.

So if you can get the upper pre-assembled for a few extra $$$, do so. Otherwise you will need a press to assemble a couple of parts, if I remember correctly.

 

[Winter]

I picked up a complete A3 flat top upper already assembled from Red X Arms for $88. That's just the upper, without the barrel assembly. Lowers are far more difficult to find right now with price gouging rampant. I ended up buying an NFA LW-15 polymer stripped lower for $109. Overpriced. But in stock.

I would not have gone with a poly lower if the guys at 702 Shooter hadn't given it such a great review.

 

[Gary2112]

Most stripped lowers Ive seen are 120-150. And then the fun starts with the lower build kit. Man, what a ton Of springs, pins and such...

I bought my Spikes Tactical AR preassembled. Ive done some inyernal mods to it, but did not build from the ground up.

My wife wanted one, and I was getting ready to do a build before this mayhem ensued. She wanted a full stock AR. Not the M4 variety.

 

[edwmax]

I see a complete lower on Guns America for $350 with clips. Might be just a leader ad...????...

Anyway, with NEW parts, it looks like a custom build would be $850 to $1200. New uppers assembled with barrel complete seen to start about $530 plus.

Looks like there are a lot of combat strips (used) on the market.

 

[Winter]

You can still build from scratch for cheaper if you really hunt for the deals. The biggest problem is availability. Any time somebody gets parts in stock they are sold out in about an hour. Sometimes less!

 

[Gary2112]

This is true. Timing is everything. Jist for giggles... Try to find one of those drop in bolt conversions for .22 cal.

They "were" around 130-160 bucks. Ive been looking for months and cant find hide nor hair of one.

 

[Winter]

This is true. Timing is everything. Jist for giggles... Try to find one of those drop in bolt conversions for .22 cal.

They "were" around 130-160 bucks. Ive been looking for months and cant find hide nor hair of one.

No thanks. LoL. Mine is being chambered for 5.56 NATO.

 

[Gary2112]

Mine is .556, but i wanted a cheaper drop in bolt for .22.

Have you priced .556 lately? Kinfa expensive target shooting.

With the bolt conversion, you can shoot .22, .223, or .556 from the same gun.

 

[edwmax]

My AR is 223 and I have 3 22rifles & a 22 mag rifle, so I don't need a 22 conversion drop-in for the AR. I had two 22 rifle and then inherited two from my Dad. ... hey a 223 is a 22!

PS: I have to check my barrel, I think it is a 556 and I have fired both 556 & 223's. I generally buy 223 ammo. If you have a 223, I think a gun smith can cut the lead a little longer for the 556.

 

[Gary2112]

Yes it is, but... The price per round is way more expensive than .22

With the bolt conversion, i can switch the caliber on the fly with only one rifle. ;-)

 

[edwmax]

Don't I know the it! the cost difference that is. Way back when (1998 ?) I bought 3000 rounds of 223/556 ammo. I still have about 1500 rounds in sealed bags, bright and shinny. Also, over the years I bought 22 ammo in the 500 round bricks when on sell during Christmas ($8 to $10). I have 3 unopened bricks now and a couple of open bricks being used. I have not bought any 22s in the last 5 years. ... I think I'm good for a few more years, if I don't get into a fire-fight with deer, turkey, and drunk beer cans. ... hahaha!

I just check my AR, the lower & upper are stamped 556.

 

[edwmax]

Yes it is, but... The price per round is way more expensive than .22

With the bolt conversion, i can switch the caliber on the fly with only one rifle. ;-)

Oh ... why change. I just pick up the other rifle. Both are READY ... and clips for the 22 were cheaper.

 

[Gary2112]

Lol...

I got started hoarding ammo late. I have to make my shots count.

Drunk beer cans are one thing... Those zombie deer however... ;-)

 

[Winter]

My 556 upper will chamber both 556 and 223 which is nice.

 

[edwmax]

In the AR 15, i don't think it makes any difference firing the 223 or 556. Certainly not if the AR is a mil spec rifle. It should chamber either. But in the civilian sport type rifle the 223 chamber (Remington chamber)(bolt action & autoloaders) is slightly shorter and a 556 can be forced into the chamber & against the lands. Here, there can be an over-presure of the chamber firing the 556.

 

[Gary2112]

My understanding is that a rifle chambered for .223 will not fire a .556 round.

The opposite is true however.

I agree a smith may be able to modify the .223, but I imagine that would be expensive.

 

[Winter]

Correct. You can go down but not up.

 

[Gary2112]

So... Bro. Winter-

Have you put any thought to what kind of sights you want? Going stock carry handle irons? MBUS? Or a combo of scope and irons for back up?

Mine is a flat top upper with an MBUS rear and an aimpoint clone, and standard front sight.

Im quite pleased with that set up.