1st AR15
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Listen to Mikey, that'll save you 11%
Building a lower is EASY, fun, and you gain more knowledge of how the rifle works. Uppers are more complicated and require more specialized tools (not many, but things like a torque wrench, vice, vice blocks, and lining up the gas port can lead to problems of not done right). A lot of people start by building their lower and strapping a completed upper to it.
IMO buying the parts and assembling saves you $$$, you get exactly what you want, and it's a fun time (until you lose your first takedown pin detent spring).
Buying name brand is good, especially of your buying their parts (do research, some name brands arent so hot) to build yourself. Look in to BCM if your budget allows, they are EXCELLENT. If you need to shave a few hundred off, look at Spikes Tactical or Palmetto State Armory. Both are also very high quality and they come with all the bells and whistles that the higher end comes with, but they batch test instead of individual test.
Buying premade incurs a more taxes and generally a higher markup than it would cost to buy a set of roll pin punches. Not recommended unless you has to question which end of the hammer you use.
If you are on a VERY strict budget and just HAVE to buy an AR15 now, then you can build complete rifles for sub-600 as well. Stay away from polymer lowers for the time being, they are still not as good as they should be and while the price is tempting, you are setting yourself up for failure if you go in to it expecting the rifle to perform like everyone elses. FWIW if you are in this category i can't suggest strongly enough that you wait and save up a bit and go with, at MINIMUM, PSA or Spikes. A PSA barebones rifle kit is really inexpensive and is a very large step up from rifles like the S&W Sport or a DPMS/Olympic Arms. Not saying those rifles won't work, not saying they are crap, I'm simply stating that for a LITTLE extra you can purchase from a manufacturer who has a reputation of putting out less "lemons" as well as get the features such as chrome lining and high pressure/magnetic particle inspection testing that you would otherwise miss out on.
Remember,
Buy cheap, buy twice.
A rifle is not something that you want to fail.
IMO buying the parts and assembling saves you $$$, you get exactly what you want, and it's a fun time (until you lose your first takedown pin detent spring).
Buying name brand is good, especially of your buying their parts (do research, some name brands arent so hot) to build yourself. Look in to BCM if your budget allows, they are EXCELLENT. If you need to shave a few hundred off, look at Spikes Tactical or Palmetto State Armory. Both are also very high quality and they come with all the bells and whistles that the higher end comes with, but they batch test instead of individual test.
Buying premade incurs a more taxes and generally a higher markup than it would cost to buy a set of roll pin punches. Not recommended unless you has to question which end of the hammer you use.
If you are on a VERY strict budget and just HAVE to buy an AR15 now, then you can build complete rifles for sub-600 as well. Stay away from polymer lowers for the time being, they are still not as good as they should be and while the price is tempting, you are setting yourself up for failure if you go in to it expecting the rifle to perform like everyone elses. FWIW if you are in this category i can't suggest strongly enough that you wait and save up a bit and go with, at MINIMUM, PSA or Spikes. A PSA barebones rifle kit is really inexpensive and is a very large step up from rifles like the S&W Sport or a DPMS/Olympic Arms. Not saying those rifles won't work, not saying they are crap, I'm simply stating that for a LITTLE extra you can purchase from a manufacturer who has a reputation of putting out less "lemons" as well as get the features such as chrome lining and high pressure/magnetic particle inspection testing that you would otherwise miss out on.
Remember,
Buy cheap, buy twice.
A rifle is not something that you want to fail.
Nice write-up Tikki. Best I have ever seen.
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1,427 Posts
Until a rebel spring or detent puts an eye out or goes missing
Aint that the damned truth. My build I spent over an HOUR looking for the damn spring I lost.... Sadly, I was unaware of the plastic bag trick.MikeJK said:Until a rebel spring or detent puts an eye out or goes missing
Found the spring hiding under the fcking stove, 20+ feet away.
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2,989 Posts
No don't listen to Mike! j/k haven't disagreed with Mike since the AK kid so I had to throw it out there!
j/k haven't disagreed with Mike since the AK kid so I had to throw it out there!
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My buddy was putting his together and BOIIINNNNGGGG , ting ting ting , looked for 20 min and finally got another spring out for him , shut my garage door and out it fell when the door was coming down .
whats the chances of find it there in a 28X36 garage , figured it rolled into one of the concrete cuts and was forever gone
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1,427 Posts
The first time I assembled a lower a spring went on a walk and never came back. It was such a let down due to the anticipation of finishing my first. Aggrivation became anger as I crawled on all 4's searching for that dang spring. A year later while moving some furniture it rolled into plain sight. Now I have a spare, lol.
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Happened to me once too. I thought the detent pin flew out. Had to look all over the floors, my books cabinet, sofa and etc. Gave up and took a deep breath telling myself "#*[email protected][email protected]*$/@". Suddenly my eyes saw something tiny and shiny UNDER my vise. LOL.
Another incident, i accidentally bent the safety selector spring. Called PSA the next day and asked if they could waive the shipping fee ($6) over 1 only spring which costs only 99c. They looked up my shopping history and decided to send me one FREE. Lol.
Another incident, i accidentally bent the safety selector spring. Called PSA the next day and asked if they could waive the shipping fee ($6) over 1 only spring which costs only 99c. They looked up my shopping history and decided to send me one FREE. Lol.
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11 Posts
I have done some looking around and interested in an AR from Windham Weaponry. I have heard good things so far. My house is too small for a good build for now since I'll be moving soon. Only good thing is that there is less room for the spring to hide. Thanks.
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