building a AR-15

H

HUNT2HUNT

New member
From what I have read here,a guy can buy the components..upper..lower etc.,and build an AR-15 for under $ 800. That is several hundred dollars less than what I am looking at off the shelf.
Question is, how will I know what to buy,and will I know how to put it together? Is there a complete kit I can buy that includes everything? I would be very happy with a .223 rifle spending $ 800 not including optics.
Any answers to this?
 
Check out the ar15.com website. You can get your questions anwsered pretty quick over there. I built one using info from that site. I bought many of my parts from their sponsors. I did get my complete upper from a company called j&t distributing. They have kits that should get in around your price.
 
Yep You Can, Several companies sell "kits" all you need then is a stripped lower or you can buy a compleat lower for a couple hundred and a complete upper and put the two together. The only problem I have ever heard of is when mateing a Colt upper or lower to sombody elses upper or lower the pin sizes are differant, and you need an adapter pin.
Most all the AR parts makers are "Mil Spec" some of the discount houses market "contract overruns" or parts that the Military passed on. (The US Government has first pick on contract parts)and if they pass on a run (maybe due to paperwork errors ) the discount parts houses get them and they can sell them cheeper. So you need to shop around. But don't getr to wrapped up in Brand names esspecially with the small parts. As only a couple Machine companies like LMT or CMT make all these partsd and Barrels are made by only a few others. If you want to go with all say Bushmaster that is fine but I have one AR that is a hand built lower mianly Stag/CMT but with some other parts and an OLY upper. I am in process of my second build it has a Stag?CMT lower with stock from Mag Pul and the Upper is Stag /CMT with barrel from Teppo Juttsu and Carrier from Colt it is going to be in 458 Socom my first one is in 243 WSSM there is so many options in the AR platform you can build what you want just about to do what you want. I went a bit over your price cieling of $800.00 but not by a whole lot and I got a few extras like optics and bipod and Mags.
 
"Mil-Spec" is often a term used liberally in the AR world. Some parts may be mil-spec however, how they are assembled is not "mil-spec" i.e. improperly staked gas keys on the carriers.

Carbine collapsable stocks aren't all mil-spec either. Most aren't. LMT and Colt I believe are the only ones that use mil spec buffer tubes on their weapons. They aren't compatible with civie-spec. Colt is also unique in their handguard endcaps. That means you need Colt spec handguards or rails. Colt is a good rifle but they have made it difficult in trying to be different by using odd trigger pins sizes and as stated some lowers won't fit aftermarket uppers. Mine does but some don't.

Del-Ton is another company that makes kits. I used one to build a rifle for my wife. Great shooter.
 
All good info. Definatley wanted to do my own custom camo paint,so might as well build it.
I know a guy who has one that will shoot full auto. I assume this is ilegal in all states?
 
Quote:
All good info. Definatley wanted to do my own custom camo paint,so might as well build it.
I know a guy who has one that will shoot full auto. I assume this is ilegal in all states?



Not illegal in all states but their are legal procedures in buying one. ATF controls that. And buying a Full auto M16 will cost you $15k and up usually. You cannot manufacture your own unless you are properly licensed to do so.
 
Nothing. I bought a complete lower and complete upper. If you buy a kit(minus a striped lower) and assmeble the entire gun yourself it will be even cheaper. I believe some tools are required though.
 
can you put a bicycle together with directions?

well an AR is MUCH easier!

trust me. If you have a part left over, you missed something important... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Go to AR15.com look in the do it yourself section they have compleat directions heck I am legally blind and i did it I should think any one else can.
 
Quote:
Im going to go for it. Sure hope I dont end up with a bunch of parts on my table with no clue what goes where.



If I could put one together anyone can. It might look scarey to start with but really it's a piece of cake. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
Quote:
be very careful of one thing though, you can't stop at just one.



i second that .i ordered a 204 upper from d-tech and while i was waiting i bought a rra upper then built a rra lower for it . just the other day i got another stripped lower to start a rifle for my 6 year old son.
icebox
 
I own a small manufacturing business,and have 3 really skilled maintenance men. They are all hunters,so I can always have them help. They will probably not let me do anything in the process,once they see it. I can see where we could end up building several.
Thanks for the help guys. This is a great forum.
I wasted a lot of time in between hunting seasons,when I could have been predator hunting. We have a ton of Coyotes in middle Tennessee.
 
before I forget. I have no intent on making a full auto weapon. I do know a guy here in Tennessee who does not even have a handgun carry permit,and carries a full auto AR on the front seat of his pick-up. He says he can talk his way out of it if he gets stopped. Count me out on this concept.
 
Back
Top