Building vs. Buying

[BigBear]

Can you build an AR-15 cheaper and more customized than a big box manufacterer?

Yes, been covered many times.

Where do I start as I know nothing except the operation of said firearm?

.... help?

I think I know most of the parts I need, but is there a comparison chart somewhere on stuff like triggers, barrel options, rail strengths, etc?

Probably covered already but we all know my search-fu is weaker than my resistance to a fresh steak...

[BPTactical]

I would start with:
"What is your intended use?"

[ChunkyMonkey]

I would say, buy the parts yourself and get someone like BP tactical to build it for you. Unless of course you have done it before and have all the tools for the job. The cheapest build I have done cost around $600 in parts. Bowers used to host group build class - not sure if they still do.

[ChadAmberg]

I think the question should be could you build a BETTER AR for a specific purpose for less than a big box manufacturer?

And what is the fun factor modifier for you as a builder? Most folks who shoot often have the skills to build a serviceable AR without too much hassle for a decent price. But many may not enjoy it, while others could do it all day every day.

[BigBear]

I would start with:
"What is your intended use?"

Very good question. What are other questions I should be thinking?
I'll try to answer your question when I have a bit more time.


I would say, buy the parts yourself and get someone like BP tactical to build it for you.

Rgr, I would definitely require some help and troubleshooting.... pun intended, lol.


I think the question should be could you build a BETTER AR for a specific purpose for less than a big box manufacturer?

And what is the fun factor modifier for you as a builder? Most folks who shoot often have the skills to build a serviceable AR without too much hassle for a decent price. But many may not enjoy it, while others could do it all day every day.

Don't understand the question about the "fun factor"... I don't mind building it as I would learn quite a bit about the rifle outside of just historical information and the basics of "how does it work". As far as enjoy doing it?... dunno, never built one. I'm not a model airplane type guy though, but I'm sure it could be interesting. I know I learned a lot when Byte helped me build that computer.

[Marlin]

Could be like mine, 9 months to get the parts together,, Hour and half to put it together..

[2ndAmendment]

I was giving a Vulkan Lower and was looking for a cheap upper. I only plan on shooting this no more than 25yds...Dont know too much about this stuff. What should I get???

[jim02]

If you want to build for the fun of learning then this wont help, if your trying to assemble a solid AR for cheap try this upper.
Here is a great deal on a great upper, bolt group included.

12 days of armalite christmas sale.
http://www.armalite.com/Categories.aspx?Category=a233c98c-cc61-4db3-af48-ae693c15137c
M15A4 CARBINE UPPER HALF, CHROME-MOLY 16" BARREL, BLACK (6" GAS SYSTEM) $399.00 EA

$70 for PSA AR15 Lower, $90 Palmetto State Armory Classic Lower Build Kit (http://palmettostatearmory.com/1633.php)


Add arear buis and you have a fine $650 AR.

[BigBear]

Rgr Jim, thanks for the headsup. I don't think I just want to slap a completed lower and upper together. I really think I want to get every single part and not just a kit... But again I don't know.

As far as the question of my intended use... I've thought about it all night. Realistically it'll just be a range toy as I don't really expect to see combat nor try for service rifle national competitions or anything. But as a range toy, I do want something durable/reliable and as accurate as possible. I doubt it'll see anything beyond 300 yards...

Again, I'm still looking for the questions I should be asking myself to better clarify.

Basically I'm just trying to build the stable and I don't have a .223/5.56 yet. And I do believe I only need one Ar15 notwithstanding BRD. Eventually I may venture into SBR's or Class 3's etc after teh stable is appropiately built. So, since it will be a single unit for a while, I would like something very nice, not just a beat up 40 year old rifle.

[jim02]

Again, I'm still looking for the questions I should be asking myself to better clarify.

How much $ do I want to spend?
Do I want a top of the line AR or a medium grade AR will fill my desire?
Do I want a factory looking AR or do I want to add my own options like a specific stock, handguards, etc?
Will I settle for 1"moa or do I need better?

A medium grade AR would be something like a Stag or S&W in my opinion, the parts I listed above would aslo fit in that medium grade in my opinion.
I think if you answer these questions along with what you already said you will know the way to go with your AR.

[Troublco]

Maybe a range toy, but you want something that will do as many of the things that you would want a .223 AR for. If you build something just as a range toy, I'll bet that sooner or later you will become dissatisfied with it. You can't realistically build an AR that will do everything, but you can build one that will do several things well. If you're only going to have one, at least for a while, decide what you really want to do with it now, and what you might want to do with it in the next 1-3 years. Do you want to just plink at 100 yards or less? Do you want something that will work for home defense? Do you want to be able to hunt varmints (coyotes, sod rats, etc) and if so at what range?

You mentioned that since you only want one for a while, you'd like something very nice. You also said that you won't be using it for combat or competition. There are still quite a few variables. Do you want a heavy stainless barrel for long range accuracy, or will a medium weight barrel do? Do you want a 24", 20", 18", 16"? Do you want to increase the accuracy by using a free floating fore-end? Do you want rails in front to mount accessories to? What kind of trigger and weight of pull did you want? Type of stock?

I'd bet that everyone here, if they had to pick just one .223 AR, would have a different set of specs depending on what they want to do with it. For just a range toy, you could use anything. My thoughts would run toward something like a DMR/SPR if you wanted one rifle to do multiple things including range toy.

If you enjoy tinkering with mechanical things, and guns, I think you'd find putting your own together a lot of fun not to mention having the satisfaction of knowing you put it together yourself. I'm still fairly happy with my scout gun, the first Mauser action gun I built myself from the receiver up. I've built two or three of my AR's myself, and each one was enjoyable. I've done work on a couple of my others, upgrading them and such. I do most of my own smithing, because I can and I enjoy it. An AR is a great item to start on, especially with the amount of experience available on this site to help you. I'd recommend building it yourself, with assistance. That way you know your gun inside out, as well. I'd be happy to help any way I can, too.

[BigBear]

How much $ do I want to spend?

How ever much lets me get it right the first time and is something I'm happy with. To me, whether it's $600 or $2k is irrelevant to me.

Do I want a top of the line AR or a medium grade AR will fill my desire?

I think since I'll probably just have one for a few years I'd like it to be top of the line.

Do I want a factory looking AR or do I want to add my own options like a specific stock, handguards, etc?

Definitely something more customized... not a fan of the standard looking rifle.

Will I settle for 1"moa or do I need better?

The gun will most likely outshoot me anyways so I'm too worried about moa. That being said, I would like it to be decently accurate to where I can hit a 8.5x11 peice of paper at 300 yards or so.

A medium grade AR would be something like a Stag or S&W in my opinion, the parts I listed above would aslo fit in that medium grade in my opinion.
I think if you answer these questions along with what you already said you will know the way to go with your AR.

Thanks for the questions.


Maybe a range toy, but you want something that will do as many of the things that you would want a .223 AR for. Rgr that.

If you build something just as a range toy, I'll bet that sooner or later you will become dissatisfied with it. Why do you think this?

You can't realistically build an AR that will do everything, but you can build one that will do several things well. Rgr, this is my intention.

If you're only going to have one, at least for a while, decide what you really want to do with it now, and what you might want to do with it in the next 1-3 years. Do you want to just plink at 100 yards or less? Do you want something that will work for home defense? Do you want to be able to hunt varmints (coyotes, sod rats, etc) and if so at what range?

All the above. I doubt it'd go past 300yrds or so. I'd really like to take it to one of those 3-gun matches if I ever get the time and $$.

You mentioned that since you only want one for a while, you'd like something very nice. You also said that you won't be using it for combat or competition. There are still quite a few variables. Do you want a heavy stainless barrel for long range accuracy, or will a medium weight barrel do? Do you want a 24", 20", 18", 16"? Do you want to increase the accuracy by using a free floating fore-end? Do you want rails in front to mount accessories to? What kind of trigger and weight of pull did you want? Type of stock?

More questions.. I'll have to think about those.


I'd bet that everyone here, if they had to pick just one .223 AR, would have a different set of specs depending on what they want to do with it. For just a range toy, you could use anything. My thoughts would run toward something like a DMR/SPR if you wanted one rifle to do multiple things including range toy.

If you enjoy tinkering with mechanical things, and guns, I think you'd find putting your own together a lot of fun not to mention having the satisfaction of knowing you put it together yourself. I'm still fairly happy with my scout gun, the first Mauser action gun I built myself from the receiver up. I've built two or three of my AR's myself, and each one was enjoyable. I've done work on a couple of my others, upgrading them and such. I do most of my own smithing, because I can and I enjoy it. An AR is a great item to start on, especially with the amount of experience available on this site to help you. I'd recommend building it yourself, with assistance. That way you know your gun inside out, as well. I'd be happy to help any way I can, too.

[Troublco]

Because if you are only going to have one AR for the foreseeable future, and you build that sole AR exclusively as a range toy without consideration for anything else you might consider doing with it, at some point you're going to wish you'd built it more as a multi-purpose platform. If you build it to plink at 100 yards, it may not do as well for 3 gun, or varmint hunting out to 300 yards, or shooting steel at 300-400 yards, or functioning as a home defense gun, or whatever. For example, an M4-gery would probably work as a plinker, home defense, and 3 gun but wouldn't work very well for varmints and probably not as well for silhouettes. I think I could use my SPR for all of those, but it wouldn't be quite as suited for 3 gun due to its weight and wouldn't do so well for varmints past about 300 yards. Just remember this is all just my opinion, and you know what opinions are like....(for example, I have no idea why people like M4-geries so much. How many of them are actually going to install a grenade launcher on one?)

[BigBear]

Rgr Sir... I'm not a fan of the M4-orgeries as I want something a little more custom. Also, you've seen me, I'm not too worried about haveing a little weight on the firearm, it lets me know it's there. I'm not an operator and don't plan on carrying an 80lbs ruck up a mountain while dodging bullets anytime soon (though it may happen in my lifetime, HAHA). So I don't mind a heavier weapon for what I do....

[Marlin]

(for example, I have no idea why people like M4-geries so much. How many of them are actually going to install a grenade launcher on one?)


'Cause they are cool dude....[Abused]

I don't know, I just prefer the shorter barrel for some reason.. May stem from back in the day having to get in and out of a M113 with a full grown rifle. [Tooth]

[Troublco]

I get the shorter barrel thing, Marlin. I just don't get why some folks insist on having the cut barrels. Just a weak point, to me. But then I suppose the whole M4 thing is moot anyhow since no chairborne commando is gonna be doing CQB with one anyhow. Might as well have a tacticool piece. Or as one of my friends calls decked out M4 type weapons, "Gucci Guns".