[Vertiviper]

Well, I finally got shipment notification of my stripped lower!!

I know 90% of online places that sell complete kits (minus stripped lower) have a 2-3 month waiting list.

Does anyone know of any online places or even a local shop near them I can call that has complete kits (minus SL) in stock?

I appreciate it, thanks!

 

[Dillinger]

Congrats on the shipment notice! Today is a good day, you beat the ban....

Please define "complete kits " because I can probably find you a couple of places that have a parts kit for the lower, but you will still be looking for a stock, then there is the upper to worry about.

Are you talking everything you need to finish off the weapon?

JD

 

[bkt]

The Equipment Exchange on ar15.com can probably hook you up with a stock, LPK, upper and anything else you might want or need (eg: magazines, sling).

 

[Vertiviper]

Congrats on the shipment notice! Today is a good day, you beat the ban....

Please define "complete kits " because I can probably find you a couple of places that have a parts kit for the lower, but you will still be looking for a stock, then there is the upper to worry about.

Are you talking everything you need to finish off the weapon?

JD

Yea it's a good feeling knowing I don't have to overpay for a complete rifle at my local gun shop. Now I can shop around a little and piece together what i want.

I'm lookin for everything i'll need to complete the firearm. Of corse if everything can be purchased from one location that makes it even more appealing. lol

 

[Dillinger]

Yea it's a good feeling knowing I don't have to overpay for a complete rifle at my local gun shop. Now I can shop around a little and piece together what i want.

I'm lookin for everything i'll need to complete the firearm. Of corse if everything can be purchased from one location that makes it even more appealing. lol

Well, good luck with that right now... LOL

I have several sources on my home computer I will post later tonight. Can you give me an idea of what kind of rifle you want to build so I can better tailor my results?

Home defense / CQB? Like a 16" standard AR?
Varmint / Longer Range? Like a 20" more accurate model?

 

[Vertiviper]

Well, good luck with that right now... LOL

I have several sources on my home computer I will post later tonight. Can you give me an idea of what kind of rifle you want to build so I can better tailor my results?

Home defense / CQB? Like a 16" standard AR?
Varmint / Longer Range? Like a 20" more accurate model?

I appreciate your effort

I'm looking for a home defense style, more or less just a standard AR.

Options I would like are a two stage trigger and adjustable stock.

Down the road I may want to pick up another upper with a 20" barrel.

 

[Dillinger]

Piece of cake - I got some good, decent budget choices for you at home and some recommendations for you to mull over.

Should be back home in a couple of hours and will get you some shopping links.

Can't have one of my forum mates buying junk parts.

JD

 

[Vertiviper]

Piece of cake - I got some good, decent budget choices for you at home and some recommendations for you to mull over.

Should be back home in a couple of hours and will get you some shopping links.

Can't have one of my forum mates buying junk parts.

JD

You, you're good, you.

 

[Dillinger]

You, you're good, you.

De Niro! Nice!

 

[Dillinger]

Okay, I don’t know what exactly YOU are looking for, here are some suggestions that I have recommended to other folks doing builds and see what YOU PERSONALLY think. The most important thing is that YOU are happy with the end product, not the rest of us…

For a lower parts kits, right now, you are pretty much “F”’ed. There aren’t kits available anywhere, but here are some options:

Addax Tactical

Here’s a company claiming to have 58 lower parts kits in stock, but no mention of price and their stock trigger is crap, so plan on upgrading that if you go with them.

This Place claims to have a 7 to 10 day shipping on lower parts kits. I know nothing about them, so make sure you ask around before ordering.

For triggers, I like a two stage trigger, especially for mid to long range work. You can use a single stage trigger for close quarters, or you can upgrade to a two stage and be covered either way.

The one I like the best for the money is the RRA NM 2-Stage Trigger, but good luck finding one for under $100 these days.

You can take a stock trigger and tune it pretty well with a neat little trick that I can PM if you like. It’s up to you, but a good trigger is essential for accurate shooting.

For a stock: Depends on what you want to do. Personally I like a 6 position one that will suit multiple needs and a lot of other guys do as well.

Here’s a couple of examples:

6 Pos Collapsible

Magpul CTR is a well respected stock that is loved by MANY.

Shop around and see what you like though – there are a lot of choices out there.

This is my favorite grip of choice currently. It can house a back up BCG, or other options. Shop around though, there are better prices.

Magpul MIAD
Ergo is another popular brand.

These guys at AR15 Sales, even though they are currently sold out on a lot of their stuff, have great prices and several members have purchased from them and saved some cash in the process.

Lone Star Warehouse is another place for decent priced parts.

Fore-ends: Personally, I don’t see any reason NOT to get a free floated front hand guard because it leads to better accuracy, leads to better heat dissipation and is an all around better design than the clam shell “heat guard” types. One of the things that is totally personal preference is whether you want a smooth fore end, or you want 2 or 4 rails to hang lights and handles and stuff off of. I prefer to have one, no more than two, rails but everyone has their own personal preference

YHM is my first choice for both Fore-ends and Flip Up Back Up Sights. I have installed plenty of their stuff and it never disappoints. They are currently sold out on a lot of their products, but I know they are working extra shifts to get some stock back on the shelves.

GG&G gets a lot of votes but I haven’t personally used their stuff.

Now, that is a lot of information to digest, so let’s start there and see what YOU like and what you don’t, then we can move ahead….

JD

 

[Vertiviper]

I'll keep this post as my main post so we can keep track of my pickings! lol

Trigger: RRA 2 stage: trigger + lower parts kit
Stock http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=828542 - $58 - 6 position adjustable

Forend: http://www.yankeehillmachine.com/store/forearms.html - Mid-Length (Overall length: 9.2 in - Weight 17.5 oz.) (YHM-9603) $130.00

Barrel: 1x9, non chrome lined

Upper: A3 w/detachable carry handle

 

[Dillinger]

I would shop that lower parts kit and RRA trigger around a bit, just in case you can find either the part, or the trigger, for a better price. I know price increases have happened, but $170 for that kit is a lot since it was going for about $120 a couple of months ago.

So, the next question is to consider the type and rifling of the barrel you want to get.

What is your ideal round of ammunition that you are wanting to shoot?

Standard military 5.56mm? Or what?

What is your expected level of accuracy that you are after?

JD

 

[Vertiviper]

My ideal round would be a standard 5.56mm, this way I have the option of shooting a rem .223.

As far as level of accuracy, medium-high at 100 yards. It's mainly a home protection firearm.

 

[Dillinger]

Okay, here is some information.

General school of thought:

1:7 Twist Barrels will handle 55 to 90 grain ammo. 1:7 Twist Barrels could overspin a softer varmint style 55 Gr.

1:9 Twist Barrels will handle 45 to 70 grain ammo.

For an average bullet weight of 55 to 62 grain, the most common, I would recommend the 1:9 as it will yield SLIGHTLY better accuracy.

Now, standard military ammo that I buy is 55 grain, and that is pretty standard.

A chrome lined barrel, one of the most popular, is slightly less accurate than a non chrome lined barrel.

A chrome lined one has a much longer barrel life, but with the average shooter, it would take you several, several thousands of rounds through a non chrome lined barrel to "shoot it out" if you take care of it like you should.

With the addition of a free floated fore end, and a good trigger like the RRA 2 Stage, you should be able to easily shoot 1.5 MOA at 100 yards if you do your part + the weather/wind is with you, and that is with "factory" ammo.

Of course that will also depend on good optics, practice and all the usual things that go into "good" shooting. Practice, practice and more practice will be the key to getting accuracy out of your weapon.

JD

 

[Vertiviper]

Makes sense, I'll go for a 1x9 non chrome lined. (edited my main post)

 

[Dillinger]

Well, now you probably have to decide on what type of upper you want to get.

A1?
A2?
A3?

A1 and A2 have the carry handle / sight combination.

A3 is the flat top upper that allows any optics/sights to be mounted.

The key is to get one that will match as closely as possible to your lower.

Most of the common parts are all being made to almost the same specs ( except for Colt and their large pin configuration & some of the lower end models without the same QC procedures ).

What your are looking for is a tight match up along all the points of the upper & lower with no gaps, angles of light or anything of that nature. Chances are, you will be fine no matter what you get unless you have a giant gap or an over lap on one side of the other.

There are tricks we can talk about later to help with the match between upper and lower, a key to accuracy, but lets see what you end up with first. Too much too soon can lead to OVER information... LOL

JD

 

[matt g]

My ideal round would be a standard 5.56mm, this way I have the option of shooting a rem .223.

As far as level of accuracy, medium-high at 100 yards. It's mainly a home protection firearm.

You're defending your home at 100 yards?

 

[Dillinger]

You're defending your home at 100 yards?

Yeah, I thought that was kind of short range too, but to each his own.

JD

 

[Vertiviper]

JD - I'll lean towards an A3 with a detachable carry handle , ideally if I can get my hands on a complete upper w/barrel that would be a good thing. lol

Matt- The first line of zomby defense begins at 100 yards.

edited my main post..local shop has a RRA 2 stage in stock, it's on hold and i'm pickin it up after work!! $120

 

[slowryde45]

JD - I'll lean towards an A1 or A2 with a detachable carry handle (if there's such a thing), ideally if I can get my hands on a complete upper w/barrel that would be a good thing. lol

Matt- The first line of zomby defense begins at 100 yards.

edited my main post..local shop has a RRA 2 stage in stock, it's on hold and i'm pickin it up after work!! $120

That would be the A3 flat top with the removable handle. The A1 and A2 have the handles forged as part of the upper receiver.

As for a complete upper....GOOD LUCK Kidding of course, but it will take some luck to find one. Keep checking the equipment for sale sites on the varioius AR forums, like this one and AR15.com, etc. But even then, you have to be quick, because they are gone even quicker.

Another site that I recommend, check with often and buy from, is....
PK Firearms

Nice thing about their site is, if it isn't shown on the site, then they don't have it in stock, won't be charging your card, then telling you after the fact that you'll be waiting for umpteen months for back order.

Check here for that RRA 2-stage....RRA 2-STAGE LINK


Good luck on your build, and you came to the right place for help, too.

Slo