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Big Chief
Posts: 32,995 Senior Member
OK, AR builders what's the real deal to build your own?
Big Chief
Posts: 32,995 Senior Member
I mean I saw an ad on some Internet ad to buy a "Partially Complete" lower receiver no FFL required, so what kind work and parts kits do you need to complete one.
What is the legal deal on finishing yer own? And what can you expect to save by going this route?
Just curious. Me, if I ever decide to get an AR and delve into the Dark-side I'll probably just buy a complete one with front and rear iron sights, range ready without having to buy anything else, just some ammo. To my narrow minded way of thunking, a dang semi-auto rifle should be ready to shoot outta the box just like when I drew an M-16 outta the arms room in the Army.
It took me 62 years to get the way I am and I ain't about to change now :tooth::conehead:
What is the legal deal on finishing yer own? And what can you expect to save by going this route?
Just curious. Me, if I ever decide to get an AR and delve into the Dark-side I'll probably just buy a complete one with front and rear iron sights, range ready without having to buy anything else, just some ammo. To my narrow minded way of thunking, a dang semi-auto rifle should be ready to shoot outta the box just like when I drew an M-16 outta the arms room in the Army.
It took me 62 years to get the way I am and I ain't about to change now :tooth::conehead:
It's only true if it's on this forum where opinions are facts and facts are opinions
Words of wisdom from Big Chief: Flush twice, it's a long way to the Mess Hall
I'd rather have my sister work in a whorehouse than own another Taurus!
Words of wisdom from Big Chief: Flush twice, it's a long way to the Mess Hall
I'd rather have my sister work in a whorehouse than own another Taurus!
Replies
I have little interest in them as well, however I understand the desire to retain a small amount of America with these.
The only thing with buying a cheap one is that some don't have forward assist (which I like) and they may not have the free-float front grip and/or gas block that you want, or that has the picatinny rails you want. I ended up getting a cheap quad rail and then put rail covers on the parts I didn't want to use.
Try it, you'll like it.
I recently built my 6 x 45 and I suspect before optics it was around $700, maybe a bit less. That includes a good trigger. Barrel and trigger alone eat up $400 and that is with a bargain barrel.
It really depends on how close you want those holes at 100 yards!
I went that route, first. But for the cheapie, I'll settle for beer can accuracy. I don't care for Soviet Bloc rifles, but the cheapie will fill in for the AK I'm not going to own.
Stripped upper and lower - probably about $80-100 total invested, can't remember exactly
Buffer tube, spring, assembly, ACE skeleton stock - $122
Lower parts kit (some parts upgraded...) $75
3 lb trigger - about $150
Grip - about $25
Bolt carrier group - $130
Scope mount $60
Muzzle brake - $60
Diamondhead free float handguard - $190
Gas tube and block - $15
AR Stoner stainless 6x45 barrel - $201
Upper parts kit - $20
Vortex Diamondback HP 4-16 scope - $285
Roughly $1300.
Damn, I spent a lot on this ugly black rifle!!! Of course a few parts stand out as cost drivers - handguard, stock, and barrel. Cheapers parts certainly exist. Conversely, you can spend $1000 on a trigger and barrel alone.
I was asking about 80% jobbies.............but it's all interesting.
Would a a regular drill/bits and a fixture do it or do you need a drill press/semi shop set up?
Words of wisdom from Big Chief: Flush twice, it's a long way to the Mess Hall
I'd rather have my sister work in a whorehouse than own another Taurus!
- George Orwell
Just shot a five shot 100 yard group at 0.5".
The .223 variants with Wylde chambers and what not tend to be more accurate.
Regarding the $, some of mine is just preference or desire for a certain look / functionality that has no bearing on accuracy. The stock and hand guard for example.
After saving maybe $20 by using an 80% lower you still have all the other stuff to buy and build.
Jerry
Oh, the whole paper trail stuff is overrated. If "they" are using 4473's to track down guns we will have bigger problems than just possessing a rifle. The only way to "track it down" would be through the background check but there is no firearm identifiers attached to the check, only handgun/long gun. If they start that game it will be on! There is way too much info out there, on everything, to get hung up on one form and who is looking at it. With that said the £€%£¥'@$ movers "lost" my gun(s) on our recent relocation.......
to me it was simple. But there are some tools to make life easier and if i had to do it over again, it would be nice to have them. since i will be doing another SBR soon, those tools are on order.
i havent done an upper yet, but again, having some of the special tools would make life easier.
i also used Duffs? book on the assembling of an AR. He goes into the hows and the pitfalls. So you can hopefully learn from his and others mistakes.
as far as how much $$ i saved, i didnt look that much into it as to i wanted to use it as a learning experience.
- Don Burt
This might be a noob question, but where can you find unfinished Mauser actions for sale? I did a little searching and only found unfinished stocks.
Jerry
In America, you can still sell it legally. You just can't build it with the intention of selling it. Do it very often, you can expect some interest from law enforcement.
"It is now." - Jack Fraggs
To bad you can't sell those legally. Those actions could -> nice rifles.
Numrich seems to be out of them, as far as I could find. No real loss to me, since I'm currently lacking the skills and equipment to finish them. Would like to find a stripped Mauser action to go with a 7.91 marked barrel that I lucked into recently. Build a sporter without fear of retribution from the "numbers matching" crowd, and go a couple steps beyond AR assembly.
"It is now." - Jack Fraggs