AR Sponsor
Posted: 12/2/2010 7:35:53 AM EDT
|
I am looking to purchase my first AR15 and want to assemble it myself. I have put together a preliminary list of parts that I believe I want and need some help with the ones in question. Any suggestions and or ideas are appreciated. I would appreciate if suggestions were made with a little background rather than just a specific brand or model as I really dont have much knowledge of the products. I have been wanting to do this for some time but never found the necessary time in my day to start researching until now. I live in Massachusetts so I will need to be compliant with pinning my muzzle brake and stock, as well as not having/grinding off a bayonet lug. I do not plan on attaching much to the gun except maybe a flashlight and eventually some type of optic. I am not building it to save money but rather to learn the complete workings of the gun from day one. If there happens to be any savings thats just a bonus. This gun is going to be an all around gun. I don't really plan on getting into any matches or anything but rather plinking at the range and self defense. Thanks for the help.
Stock- ?? Receiver end plate -Magpul ASAP Grip - ?? Trigger - RRA Two Stage trigger Lower Receiver -?? I am thinking about the Daniel Defense - thoughts over the bravo company one? LPK?? Trigger Guard - RRA Winter Trigger Guard (assuming lpk doesnt have enhanced one) Upper Reciever Group- BCM 16” light weight Charging Handle- BCMGunfighter mod 4 Bolt Carrier Group- BCM (MPI) Auto version muzzle brake- ?? Handguard ?? free float Brand and length? Rear Sight - Troy rear folding battle sight unless there are better suggestions Sling - ?? Tools - ?? I have plenty of regular mechanic type tools, torque wrenches, alan wrenches etc, but none specific to an AR15 build |
|
Quoted:
Stock - I think the Magpul CTR is a pretty good all around collapsable. A few more features than most (qd mount, locking, cheek plate option) at a reasonable price Receiver end plate -Magpul ASAP I upgraded from a QD to the ASAP and love it. Grip - I've seen some really nice ergo grips but again for the money the Magpul MOE has worked well for my all around Trigger - RRA Two Stage trigger have not tried the RRA two stage but I'm saving up for the Geissele SSA enhanced Lower Receiver - Your going to get a lot of suggestions on this one but Mega forged lowers have a great fit and finish. Have been researching Aero Precision lowers and going to buy two when they are back in stock at a really low price point. Both made in WA and look awesome. LPK - RRA, Double Star, DPMS... your going to get a lot here too. Trigger Guard - RRA Winter Trigger Guard (assuming lpk doesnt have enhanced one) Magpul enhanced works good Upper Reciever Group- BCM 16” light weight Charging Handle- BCMGunfighter mod 4 Bolt Carrier Group- BCM (MPI) Auto version Great BCG for the money... GTG muzzle brake - I have a Smith Vortex FH but would like to try a brake/compensator instead. Handguard - Your going to get a lot of feedback here as well but for the money, great FF at very little $ is YHM free float. I use the Diamond Specter on my 16" but they do have a light weight model that may fit your light weight build better. Rear Sight - Troy rear folding battle sight unless there are better suggestions Sling - Magpul MS2 extremely versital Tools - ?? I have plenty of regular mechanic type tools, torque wrenches, alan wrenches etc, but none specific to an AR15 build Combo wrench for barrel and castle nuts That's my two cents. 
Cheers, 
|
| Thanks for those suggestions, I am going to go with the Green magpul MOE stock and grips, the daniel defense lower and parts kit along with the RRA two stage trigger. Magpul sling, and I will wait for some more suggestions on the handguards - the one you suggested looks good and I had not heard of them so I want to compare a few more, are there any real differences in the YHM styles other than look? And ill get a combo wrench and some punches made for AR builds. Thank you again. |
|
Stock- ?? Not sure how your laws work there about stocks with the pinning and all... im a VLTOR user myself, even though itll catch the cheek hairs.
Receiver end plate -Magpul ASAP I use one and i like it... but keep in mind this is for single point slings. Grip - ?? I like the options the MIAD offers Trigger - RRA Two Stage trigger I dont really see the benefit in a 2 stage trigger unless its a precision rifle.. not without lots of training.. YMMV Lower Receiver -?? I am thinking about the Daniel Defense - thoughts over the bravo company one? up to you as far as your rollmark preference goes... for me.. if its a "build" it doesn't matter... a $60 Aero precision will do the exact same thing LPK?? I am a fan of the Palmetto state armory LPK offerrings... and if your into the upgrades the Spikes Enhanced LPK is the best on the market for a "battle" rifle Trigger Guard - RRA Winter Trigger Guard (assuming lpk doesnt have enhanced one) both the palmetto and the Spikes include this... Plus i think the RRA is ugly as hell. YMMV Upper Reciever Group- BCM 16” light weight Can't go wrong with BCM... except their ugly logo, I don't think ill do anything but build from parts on uppers anymore but YMMV Charging Handle- BCMGunfighter mod 4 Can't go wrong again Bolt Carrier Group- BCM (MPI) Auto version Can't go wrong... I personally prefer NiB coated BCGs (Fail Zero/Spikes) YMMV muzzle brake- ?? Battle comp is a popular one.. is that MASS compliant? I also use the Troy Medieval with good results. Handguard ?? free float Brand and length? YMMV... Weight,Price,Rail setup options, Fixed or Flip up front sight? Rails are a personal thing Rear Sight - Troy rear folding battle sight unless there are better suggestions Magpul Flip ups will do the same thing for less. If your going high quality optic you can survive with MBUS. If your primary sights are your irons.. go with troy. Sling - ?? I hear good things about the Savvy Sniper sling Tools - ?? I have plenty of regular mechanic type tools, torque wrenches, alan wrenches etc, but none specific to an AR15 build Butt stock wrench. Barrel Wrench. |
|
Quoted:
It looks like Palmetto has a number of different LPKs. You say you are a fan of the offerings, is this the different packages they offer or just that its a quality kit for a $55 offering? Both. They have many options.. and the quality is just as good as any other standard LPK. The thing to notice about umm.. RRA and DD i think... is the have spiral roll pins as opposed to regular ones, and they are a bit easier to put in... but thousands of people have used the standard ones just fine as well. So the standard one they offer is GTG. I just recently picked up all of my bits and pieces from them and everything went in fine... Can't speak about their triggers though as i got an LPK from them minus the FCG... because i use the Spikes Battle trigger. |
| Thanks for the help so far guys, I don't have tons of time to research every brand and every component the way one might like to. I know some of you guys live and breathe these guns and have a wealth of information that you are willing to share with people such as myself with limited knowledge, I am trying to make a good gun that doesnt cost tons of money and is Mass compliant. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Stock - I think the Magpul CTR is a pretty good all around collapsable. A few more features than most (qd mount, locking, cheek plate option) at a reasonable price -SNIP- muzzle brake - I have a Smith Vortex FH but would like to try a brake/compensator instead. -SNIP- http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy200/wildomar_piper/DSCN2172.jpg Cheers,
The OP specifically stated that he is building a Mass compliant rifle. A CTR stock is the last thing he should be pinning when other options including the MOE is available. You may have a Smith vortex FH, but the OP will go to prison with a muzzle device like that. |
|
And I really don't have any desire to go to prison.
Would you have a suggestion since I do not know all the options and modifications that can be done to a barrel. For the design that I have mentioned would you get a 14.5" barrel and have BCM weld a brake or compensator to it? A 16" and have something very short threaded in and welded? Any idea if they can be removed in the future if laws here ever change (i know thats a far fetched thought) Thank you |
|
OP, it sounds like you are looking to purchase one AR and stay with it... Others have added some useful information.
An option for you (as you reside in MA) is to purchase a complete upper from BCM, they offer freefloat rails which cover the gasblock (negating the bayo-lug) and will pin a FSC556 compensator (MA legal). Going this route will take care of your upper receiver needs and leave you open to picking out the stock. A fixed stock is your easiest option (as it will be MA legal and many options exist). If you choose to use a collapsable stock you will have to pin it yourself (3 minute job) or have someone do it for you (sending to adco may be costly compared to doing it locally in MA). An earlier poster recommended the CTR stock, this is not a good idea as the MOE stock is identical in every way sans the friction lock (which will be pointless in your AWB compliant situation). Many collapsable stocks (not made by magpul) are an excellent choice. I personally own CTR's, IMOD, EMOD, sopmod, the HEAVY UBR (currently selling), A2's, A1's, an original carbine stock and a few M4 stocks. From experience, ANY stock will do the job, some offer better cheek weld and are more comfortable. Stocks are personal choices and no one stock is superior to another... I prefer the sopmod/emod/imod due to the enhanced cheek weld. YMMV and EVERYONE'SMMV good luck on the build |
|
Quoted:
And I really don't have any desire to go to prison. Would you have a suggestion since I do not know all the options and modifications that can be done to a barrel. For the design that I have mentioned would you get a 14.5" barrel and have BCM weld a brake or compensator to it? A 16" and have something very short threaded in and welded? Any idea if they can be removed in the future if laws here ever change (i know thats a far fetched thought) Thank you You could buy a preban receiver and go from there. You will spend less building it to compliance though. I spend quite a bit of time in MA and know that the prebans are extremely expensive there. I'm not saying that BCM is the only route to go, but in your situation it may be easiest. They can pin the brake on a 14.5 and probably will gladly charge you to pin a compliant brake on a 16" barrel as well. Pinned brakes CAN be removed but the brake is not salvageable. |
AR Sponsor