Is it even worth building your own at this time?

[PugnacAutMortem]

So I've been interested in building my own AR and last night I decided to price out the stuff that I could find in stock (mostly Bravo Company, Brownells and Amazon). Nothing super high end, just a rifle with some Magpul goodies on it. Basically what I did was go down the parts list on the ITS Tactical DIY AR Build series and price those out. With all of the parts, and tools that I would need to buy (since I've never built one before) the bill looks to be coming out around $1700 before shipping. I don't know what the prices for all of this stuff before the panic was, but something tells me it didn't cost $1200 in parts to build an AR this time last year.

So my question, is it even worth getting into building AR's at this point? Or just save up the cash and just buy one already assembled?

[TheBelly]

I'm building one now. The total price should come in under $1200.

[brutal]

I'm building a few with halfway decent bits - CL barrels - one Spikes upper, one PSA upper with DD barrel, Seekins lowers, CTR/VLTOR stocks, one MOE, one railed, etc.) for sub $1,200 and by the time I flip some other stuff, they will be full funded, possibly even adding some right quality (Aimpoint, EOTech) priced red-dots.

[MarkCO]

Best option right now is GWACS.

Complete rifle: http://www.gwacsarmory.com/store.html#!/~/product/category=3153120&id=19961177

Or a Complete lower: http://www.gwacsarmory.com/store.html#!/~/product/category=3143314&id=18630832 and then get on a bunch of alerts for uppers when they come back in stock.

Parts have gone up past retail in most cases. Windham, DSG, GWACS are still at pre-panic prices and are companies that have keep prices the same.

[fly boy]

So I've been interested in building my own AR and last night I decided to price out the stuff that I could find in stock (mostly Bravo Company, Brownells and Amazon). Nothing super high end, just a rifle with some Magpul goodies on it. Basically what I did was go down the parts list on the ITS Tactical DIY AR Build series and price those out. With all of the parts, and tools that I would need to buy (since I've never built one before) the bill looks to be coming out around $1700 before shipping. I don't know what the prices for all of this stuff before the panic was, but something tells me it didn't cost $1200 in parts to build an AR this time last year.

So my question, is it even worth getting into building AR's at this point? Or just save up the cash and just buy one already assembled?


Back story - I was in your shoes a couple months ago. When you are building one you tend to get better parts here or there. It's hard to find deals and would take about a month to really find what you want at a price you want to pay. While I was doing all that, I noticed I could go cheaper on parts, and more expensive on others. In the end you could find a custom gun to your liking similar to cost of a new store bought. well my friend.... That was a couple months ago before CT shooting happened and poeple went bat-$hit crazy. People price gouge, panic buy, and be greedy selling items for rediculous prices. This screwed the gun market totally out of whack.


Short version - It will take you a very long time finding parts, and finding parts at a decent price now-a-days. Bite the bullet, weed through the crap sales. It might be what you want, but it might be to high and you will pay it(WALK AWAY) - was extremely hard to walk away from what I thought were deals. Have a friend help you find a good pre-built deal. They are still out there.

Super short answer - Not for a beginner. Save cash and buy fully assembled.

[Musashi]

I was in your boat a while back and after talking to a few people here decided to buy an AR first, figure it out and from there I decided to build my own. Building a lower is easy and there are parts out there. You just have to be patient to find the deals. You might try just buying the upper and assemble the lower then you don't have to invest in all the parts it takes to build an upper. I think you would have to build a couple of uppers to recoup the cost of the tools it takes to put one together.

[TheBelly]

Buy parts. Have Bert (bptactical) help you out. I'm having fun searching for the parts, finding the deals, seeing what's out there.

[Tim K]

Buy parts. Have Bert (bptactical) help you out. I'm having fun searching for the parts, finding the deals, seeing what's out there.

I agree. Part of the fun (for some, at least) is screwing around looking for deals and shopping. You'll also learn a lot building vs buying. I thought I understood AR's well, then I built one or five.

Honestly, the only problem with building is that it all goes so fast. Shop for 2 months and build in 2 hours.

[TheBelly]

Or shop for two months, build for two hours, realize you screwed something up, call someone who knows, curse things, then get it built anyways.

[T1704]

I agree with some of those above. I already have a reliable shooter, so I'm attempting a build somewhat for fun (and investment). To answer your initial question, it comes down to how fast you want one and how much you're willing to spend... I'm in the process of building one, but I will not pay any post-panic stupid prices, although I have already secured my lower so I have time. I think that you can still build a good rifle at a decent cost if you're patient and willing to be diligent in staying abreast of sales, inventory, etc. For me, it has been fun hunting for the stuff that I want, but don't necessarily need. Ammo on the other hand is pissing me off! I should have bought more when it was still at a reasonable price.

[MarkCO]

Ammo on the other hand is pissing me off! I should have bought more when it was still at a reasonable price.

All entrants of the Noveske MG match can buy 1000 rounds of ammo below retail and basically shoot the match for free based on the current market price.

[osok-308]

It is ALWAYS worth building an AR. The knowledge of how your gun functions alone is worth it. However if the choice comes down to it and you can't build it. It's better to have the gun.

[bogie]

Best option right now is GWACS.

Complete rifle: http://www.gwacsarmory.com/store.html#!/~/product/category=3153120&id=19961177

Or a Complete lower: http://www.gwacsarmory.com/store.html#!/~/product/category=3143314&id=18630832 and then get on a bunch of alerts for uppers when they come back in stock.

Parts have gone up past retail in most cases. Windham, DSG, GWACS are still at pre-panic prices and are companies that have keep prices the same.

Showing 9 completely assembled lowers in stock right now.

[USAFGopherMike]

That damn cost thing always gets in the way.

[car-15]

everything but the bcg can be found somewhat reasonable, if you have one in another rifle swap them back and forth until the raping I'm sorry "capitalist system" is over and pick one up then. I just finished one sans bcg for less than $700.00, psa upper $400.00, midway charging handle $11.00, lgs lower $199.00, and parts out of a box that i accumulated over the years, all i'm lacking is the bcg but I have 10 other rifles I can borrow one from till a reasonably priced one pops up, they will be less than a $150.00 by the end of the year imho. and even if you need one they can still be found in the $225.00 range. that still would put my build in at under a grand. put an ad in the wanted section for what you need, and there are some great members on this site, I'm sure a few will have what you need and not run you through the cleaners.

[jackthewall81]

I can't find a bcg or handrails anywhere...