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Posted: 9/27/2002 8:52:12 PM EDT
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I have been lusting for my first AR15 for a while now, and have been examining the various options. Looking at the prices for different brandsthey are all reasonable. The price for the parts necessary to make my own doesn't seem to be much less, if any less. Is it just satisfying to build your own? I can understand that, but is that the only reason to build one? I may go this route, and may have to buy a little at a time. Any advice on which parts to definately buy together as a group? Thanks, Jim |
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Building is great, because it gives you a pretty good understanding of the rifle's functions. For my first, I built the lower, but bought the upper pre-assembled. I did that, because I didn't have all the special tools (receiver blocks, etc) needed to do it. Putting together the lower was actually kind of fun. Best way to do it (cost wise anyway) is to get yourself a stripped lower (RRA is pretty damn good quality) and a kit from somewhere like J&T. The upper comes pre-assembled, and all the other stuff you put together. Figure around 100-130 for the lower, and then the kit from J&T for like 440. That's $570 worst case scenario. -Gloftoe |
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Thanks. I have been wavering between wanting a CAR15 with a 16" barrel and an AR15 A2 with full stock and 20" barrel. The pre-ban rifles seem to be more for collecting, and I don't need a flash suppressor, but I do like a telescoping stock on a carbine. It seems like I could end up with a better rifle building it myself for the same money I could buy one complete. I was also thinking about RRA parts after reading the many posts here at AR15.com about that company. Jim |
Stripped lower and parts kit from J&T is the way to go like Gloftoe said. Unless you've got the tools to put the upper together, you won't be doing much assembling if you buy a complete lower  -FOTBR Edited to add, RRA is going to be the foundation for my next AR; I've heard that much good about them. And J&T's customer service is pretty good too. |
| pepperbelly...Good question & a good answer is... Because we can Have a look at our squad's website...there's a link to the site on a string that dropdbombnow posted. It may be on page (2) of the BIY board...Bud |
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A friend is ex-Air Force and has a lot of experience with the M-16. He also has all the tools necessary to work on the weapon. If I buy used he also has head space guages. He should be able to assemble whatever I get. I also have access to a mill and have thought about buying a 10% lower and making my own. Jim Jim |
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I completely assembled several of my guns for the pure enjoyment of it. The savings was purely a side benefit. For me understanding how they work and how their put together is almost as fun as shooting them. Many people dont understand how revolutionary some things are mechanicaly speaking, Untill They assemble them from a pile of parts. |
Two parts to buy. The receiver and the complete parts kit. $100 for the receiver, $425 for the parts kit. If you start buying the parts by the piece, your going to spend a lot more. And to answer your question why, For the price that you pay for a built Colt, I can build a DCM Rifle that will shoot groups half the size of the built rifle. |
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Why build? 1. The satisfaction of doing it yourself.. 2. The intimate knowlege you have of *your* rifle. 3. You pick the parts YOU want in or on the rifle. 4 The goofy look of pride you get on your face from that first magazine full sent down range, on target, without a hiccup... # 4 is priceless... Rick  |
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why build ? because I can, humm! I do not now of any 10% recievers for sale , but heck you can start with a 0% like I did, or get a 80% from Tannery. its the fun and its my rifle, and there with be no other one like it because I made it. I made the lower with a drill press, dremel, power drill with a cord no less, flat and round files and calipers if one is lazy and/or non mechanically inclined then buy off the shelf Oh! assembling parts is not building IMO there are no serial no.'s on a 0% or 80%, no ffl, no paperwork, you just make it for you its still a great country sprat |
hey. anyone here dealt with model 1 sales? Thier parts kits are $40 dollars cheaper than J&T. I was able to grab a oly arms stripped lower for $109 from Jeff's shooters supply in Alabama(ordered it through an ffl of course) add the $400 parts kit which includes everything except the stripped lower, the few tools ill need and possibly a video from the american gunsmithing institute & ill have an AR15 for LESS than $550. which is definatly cheaper than what I paid for my bushy 2 years ago. |
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I haven't dealt with Model-1 personally, but I've heard more bad (service) than good (prices)about them. A simple search of the forums should bring up more info than you ever wanted to know. How are those vids from american gunsmith? I've looked at them a couple of times, but since I'm pretty comfortable with diagrams and written instuctions, I haven't really looked into it. -FOTBR |
Are you saying you went from a 0% casting to finished using only a dremel, a power drill, and some files? I could believe doing an 80% that way, but a 0%? Not calling you a liar or anything, just curious to know if I'm understanding you correctly, because this seems a little, uh, um, unrealistic to me. As for the 80% recievers from Tannery -- what all is involved in finishing one of those? I keep looking at them, but know basically nothing of them. -FOTBR |
I can't believe nobody has mentioned...... NO FET TAX on a build your own from a stripped lower. God knows the Federal Guberment has enough or our hard earned money to blow. Besides its always good to know how it works and goes together. My version of the Visa commercial..... Parks kit order off the net with no tax charged 425.00 Stripped lower bought out of state with no tax charged 105.00 Not having to pay FET tax...priceless. Rick |
FOTBR; Check out the following link for a pretty good idea of what it takes to finish an 80% Tanneryshop casting. The BUILDERS SQUAD AR15 PROJECT We used the OSI jig unit to complete portions of the work, but it can be done without the jig. HTH . . . . . Doug |
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to: Fanoftheblackrifle; its a fact, i picked up a ar forging 0% as sold by DSA, I used a sears drill press to drill out the buffer area, the mag well, and FC area, I then ground everything to 80%, because I used a 80% tannery cast for a guide then I finished the two, the forged reciever had some misstakes but nothing JB weld could not fix , sir, you must be new to the "build your own" section. I test fired both after working out the bugs, I am not insulted that you don't believe me, again I am not a assembler, but a builder. Please go back to the old threads. or go to Http://www.roderuscustom.tzo.com to: wolf ar15 try DSA arms for a 0% forged or Tanneryshop.com for a 80% cast oh J&T sales is the way to go jacksprat |
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Thanks for the link, that answered a lot of my questions. jacksprat: yes, I am new to the byo forums, and it was my newness speaking -- I was under the impression that a 0 percent reciever would require a mill in order to finish it, and thus my question. No offense was ment, and I'm glad that none was taken. A couple other questions, if you don't mind my byo newbie side showing: the 80% recievers from tannery are cast, correct? do they have any of the same problems as other cast recievers that have gotten a really bad name (I'll refrain from using the "H" word now)? Also, since a drill-press is much cheaper than a mill  , how much more effort was required in finishing the 0%, and did you have any real problems?FOTBR |
Doug, I sent you an email from the builder's squad forum asking about details on building a lower from a 0% forging using a mill. If you didn'y get it I will send another rather than wasting bandwidth on this forum. Let me know, Jim |
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FanoftheBlackrifle; I recommend going with a milling machine if you do not have the experience, The drill press is just that, but can be used. The milling machines do nice work. The majority of the guy's on the homebuilder site use machines. Assembling parts is easy, building takes time Yes the forged reciever is stronger, cast recievers well! don't let that hammer hit the reciever or it will warp, I am told that after anodizing the aluminum will get stronger. (I have not anodized my recievers yet, I just worked out a few bugs) good luck Like I said I build with few tools, when I was young I knew a european trained smith, in europe to apprentice one must pass a simple task. you are given two odd shaped pieces of steel you are also given two files. Your task is to make one piece of steel into a cube, and the other a round ball. If you can not perform these tasks, get the machine. Yes I can do this, discarded RR spikes are fun to play with also. one needs lots of time and patience, no wife and a fridge full of beer. The reason I was not offended was because it never occured to me one could screw together a AK-47 but I did that too. oh welcome to homebuilder jacksprat |
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