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Posted: 9/18/2008 12:49:55 PM EDT
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I have a stripped DPMS lower that I bought locally at an excellent price, and a 30 round Magpul clip. I want to build an M4 variant. Removable handle OK, or flattop with sight. My budget includes the best parts for the lowest price. I'm looking for deals. I have put together an Excel spreadsheet comparison of full kits versus LPK, SS, and Upper units seperately. For the most part a full kit is the best deal from all sources that sell a full kit. Now, I need to know if you know of sources other than the ones listed at the top of this website. Are the deals in the EE reliable, and possibly better priced? The lowest price on a "good" full kit that comes closest to my specs were from Del-Ton $530.00, but are all of the parts Mil-spec or better? (FCG is of the most concern) The next best price for building up from major parts groups from one source is Brownell's at $562.36. I want a chrome lined barrel and some type of sight setup on whatever I get. Any other add-ons can wait. This gun will be used for defense, fun, and hunting. It will also be a test bed for mods and experimentation. I don't see this build being used for competition, or extreme accuracy, but accuracy is always a welcome function of the completed firearm. I hope I have been specific enough, and the details speak for themselves. That being said, this gun is going to see some major FUN. Al |
MAG  so, whats your budget again? sounds like you have some money to blow for it being an experiment. Check out jse surplus its my first stop shop JSE Surplus |
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Parts quality in the kits can vary wildly. I would really recommend building a quality rifle the first time, not just looking at the bottom line and making your decision from there. Right now, some very good deals can be had on some very high quality uppers; that, a good CMT lower parts kit, a stock, and a lower, and off you go. |
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I'm sure that anyone here can tell you that price and quality doesn't always go together although I wouldn't expect the least expensive parts to be the highest quality. The real trick is to find the best suppliers. Experimentation doesn't necessarily imply dropping a load of cash all at once. That is why a good base will make for a proper platform for adding and modifying other parts as time and money permits. The largest experiment here is to put together a solid, reliable gun that will perform as I want it to. OK, so I guess I do as I see fit, but thanks for the tips about CMT. Al |
Hello and welcome to the addiction of the black rifle. Just some helpful ideas. First as mentioned below you will get a lot of ribbing if you call it a "clip" It is a magazine, clips don't have springs. hereI did have another thought about the chrome lined barrel. Most folks are not going to have shooting habits that require a chrome lined barrel. There is plenty of discussion on here about it. Just trying to save you some money for other toys. I have had excellent results with Delton and as I have stated in other posts.......I bet my life on my rifle. Hope
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drcom: I have a bad habit of calling a magazine a clip from the days when I was on the Mt Home AFB shooting team using an M1 Garand. (Which uses clips) Maybe I'll just use mag from now on. As an update, I found out that a dealer near me does sell AR parts and kits. I bought an RRA M4 6 position stock and RAA LPK. After I get a couple of tools I don't have now I'll have a complete lower. He didn't have any new complete uppers, but if I wanted to build an upper he did have the parts for that. I'll post a picture or two once I find out how, and take some. |
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Not sure what you plan to hunt, but if its large game you might want a barrel with a 1/7 twist so you can use the heaver weight bullets. My first build was a 16" flat top 1/9 rifle kit from Del Ton. Here are the pieces of my second build. Spike tactical lower- 100.00$ with group buy in EE RRA lower part kit- 60.00$ from local gun shop Magpul CTR stock 150.00$ from spikes tactical LMT bolt carrier group 116.00$ from quantams tactical LMT 14.5 upper assemble- 485.00$ from bravo company I still need some hand guards, BUIS, and charging handle, but if you keep it simple you can have a very nice setup for around 1000$ I think Del Ton is as cheep as I would go (not saying anything bad about them, they just have some great prices), but don't sweat it too much this wont be your only "Build" 
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Well I hit a snag. I was going through the steps as outlined in "The AR-15 Complete Assembly Guide" by Kuleck and McKee and found out my LPK is missing a Mag release spring. I took a picture of my parts so far. DPMS lower, RRA LPK (Missing the Mag release spring) and the RRA 6 position stock. The beginnings.http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b337/AllenG/Guns/AR15M4_Project_001a.jpg |
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I'm not sure anyone is interested in watching the progress of this build, but I'll add this update and then see what happens. I have the lower completed (29 Sep 08) and found that the Rock River Arms trigger/disconnector was a little rough. When the disconnector was supposed to "hand off" to the sear the hammer would not move off of the disconnector unless the trigger was being pressed forward. This did work itself out after several tries. Here's the results of my assembly work. http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b337/AllenG/Guns/CompleteLowerA-15_002.jpg After putting this much together I decided that this years elections were probably going to spell trouble and I had at least two other builds that I wanted to accomplish. Can you say BRD? hter http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b337/AllenG/Guns/BRD_005a.jpg I'm convinced that the best way to build an AR after this is to buy a complete parts kit for any lower that you purchase. It seems that finding a single source for this is your least expensive route. I am keeping careful records of these builds and all of the expenses. I'm not saying that the least expensive basic build is the only build. By all means go out and buy all of the fun add-ons you want. It's the rifle the way you want it in the end that's the goal, but to get you going a complete kit will have you shooting much sooner. As I wait to make a decision on where to get my final parts it strikes me that I could have a complete upper right now if I wanted an AR with a fixed A2 carrying handle for my build. I could also be out at the range this weekend. hinking.gif More later if you're still interested. |
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