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Posted: 8/30/2007 1:47:43 PM EDT
| Im new to the forums and I am intersested in getting my first AR 15 and was just wondering how difficult it is to build one? Ive been looking at the J&T kits. I was looking at buying a complete rifle but I was trying to save a few bucks. (college student). Any advice would be appreciated. |
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Its easy to build... Get a complete upper assembly, lower, and LPK and there ya go. I put my first lower together in like 30 mins, watching TV... Scan through the forums (images forums are great for visual learners like me!) and get idea's of what you would like to build, theres alot of useful info here, just have to look for it sometimes. |
1st off,  welcome to the site...2nd, READ around, esp the tacked threads; start w/ this one: www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=4&t=226782 try using your search feature also--there are a lot of recent topics that will provide a lot of opinions, ideas, and thoughts on what might suit your needs speaking of which, are there any criterias that you wish to meet--besides "cheap"? what kinda style, etc and for what overall purpose? the JT kits are GTG; so are the del-ton ones; another option for a easy build are the "snap builds" (which i call em), in which you simply get a complete lower and complete upper and literally snap em together check the EE/Ind board for great deals and dealers RRA, Stag offer the best quality for the price imo; lowers, just make sure its made from a reputable manf and isnt cast or carbon, but forged 7076 T6 Al also, FWIW, the 2 above mentioned "builds" are about as complicated as i'd venture into, esp for a newbie to ARs and one w/ little spare cash to get the proper tools; when funds and more hands on knowhow comes, then dabble into building complete, etc |
+1 to both of those. It is simple to build an AR15. Counting my few and more built for friends/family, I am working on build number 9. I have conned about everyone I know into buying parts and letting me build one for them, just so I get to do the work and test fire it.  I am an engineer, but it's an electrical/computer engineer, not a "hand tools and calipers" kind, unless you count multimeters.  You can do it!
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If that kit comes with an already-assembled upper (I think it does), you're good to go. You just need some punches to tap in the roll pins, a screwdriver to put the pistol grip screw in, a buttstock wrench (like 3 bucks) if you get a collapsible M4 stock, and a hammer. Easy! Of you find an unassembled upper, you have to have something to hold the upper (action block, DPMS Panther Claw, etc.), a vise to put that in, and a barrel wrench to tighten on the barrel. You would also need snap ring pliers to put the delta ring on the barrel before mounting it to the upper receiver. I'm pretty sure Del-Ton kits have this part assembled already, so you would only need the simple tools from the paragraph above. |
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You might want to consider buying parts instead of assembled components. That way you will better understand how it all works. It makes it easier to troubleshoot and repair them once you know where every single spring and detent goes, and how it goes in. It removes any mystery. You dont need a machine shop. It takes very few tools to assemble a rifle from correctly machined parts. I put a LPK in a lower last night, on my tailgate, with nothing but a flashlight and an original Leatherman tool. This isnt rocket science and you'll be glad you did it. |
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You don't need anything but a screwdreiver, and something to tap with. On my last build, I used a screwdriver for the pistol grip and A2 buttstock, and I used my zippo lighter to tap the pins in. (I was too lazy to get a hammer and punch, so I just checked what was in reach  )
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I've built JT kits and del ton kits, and they are both good kits, BUT when there was an issue, del ton treated me better over the phone. I wouldn't hesitate to buy a JT kit again, but if all things were the same I'd rather patronize del ton. Assmebly is not at all difficult, if you are a little bit mechanical, (change your own oil? Good.) DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT BEFORE YOU BUY rebuilding it because you changed your mind is NOT BUDGET FRIENDLY! I had a A2 style rifle, but I really wanted an M4gery. If you only buy it once, you'll be better off in the long run. |
+1 to that! Or, buy one of all styles available and sell the rest on the equipment exchange! Just kidding... I really like the M4gery builds, as they're called. It's a semi-automatic M4 carbine. You need a 14.5" barrel with a pinned Phantom flash hider - those rock. Get chrome-lining in the barrel too. If you plan to keep and shoot it a long time, you'll wish you had years from now.  M4 carbine ETA: I just noticed that the M4 in the Russian picture above (from a Russian site) has a flat slip ring assembly like an M16A1 - weird. |
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