AR Sponsor
Posted: 5/19/2006 6:01:01 AM EDT
| Hi guys/gals, my first post as a new member to your site. I'm just starting to learn about the AR and figuring out what I'll want/use the rifle for. But my main question after some research is why do people build instead of buy a built gun? From what I've seen on the market, it looks like all the different makers of the AR offer just about any kind of set-up you could need. So, is it cheaper when you build yourself, or is it more of a pride of ownership knowing you did the build yourself? |
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I like building because it allows you to become familiar with the rifle, how it is put together and how it operates. This can help down the line if you have any trouble with it. ETA: Cost is a factor too. I built a 20" not too long ago for around $500. The only AR I have bought is a 9mm. I was only about $50 cheaper to build than it was to buy and it came with a warranty. |
| My first build was my DPMS 20" M16-A3 clone (sort of, I went overboard and got a fluted barrel). For a basic 20" rifle already built, it would have cost me about $150 more, and I would have not been able to get the fluting I wanted. I can never find what I want already built. I have weird tastes. |
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The benefits to builiding are that you can customize the rifle as you go and you will know the rifle inside and out and hopefully be able to troubleshoot any later problems. There is also pride in your accomplishment. The downside is that it most likely will end up costing you more than a built rifle because of the customizing. |
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why? because more often than not, you can end up with a better QUALITY rifle for less or the same money... AND, there are a lot of configurations out there that arent necesarilly available "off the rack" This for instance:  And this rifle for instance, whos TOTAL build cost was $1090.01 That cost includes EVERYTHING you see pictured here, Eotech, BUIS, etc.  OK now lets break it down... That M4 type rifle WITHOUT EOTECH and BUIS cost $741.01 (I have this whole build on a Spreadsheet) THIS LINK shows that Bushmaster equivalent of the rifle i built, for a price of $1265.00, but also comes with a detachable carry handle that i dont want..a stupid ass "izzy" flash hider (which i hate), and a regular pistol grip rather than the nice hogue i used on my build. SO we can pawn off and re-coup maybe 50 dollars from our detachable carry handle. So that brings the cost of the build down to $1215.00. Now we have to tackle that retarded Izzy flashhider. Assuming we have the skill to unpin or cut that FH off (and dont need to pay a Smith). Now we order the brake we WANT ($25 bucks for a YHM phantom). And we will also assume that we have the resources to pin and weld this new brake on. This brings our cost to $1235.00 We get rid of the plastic pistol grip, and re-coup $5 dollars from it by selling on the EE, then spend $20 dollars to purchase the hogue grip that we want. This brings our build cost to $1250.00 and we FINALLY HAVE THE RIFLE we WANT!!! Or, you could build it like i did out of ALL NEW QUALITY PARTS INCLUDING a bushmaster barrel for: $741.01 |
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In my case, I wanted the upper to include a 16" barrell with a 1/7 twist, a midlength gas system, M4 extensions, and an LMT BUIS; and as part of the lower I wanted an LMT SOPMOD buttstock. The only way to get this combination was to buy it in separate parts. I didn't "build" mine. All I did was pin the upper and lower together and attach the rear sight. GL |
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If I had known I could have been building my own rifles all this time, I'd have alot more of them. I only found out about this stuff about a year ago. I bought my first one and now I've built 2 and I'm working on my 3rd. I find it similar to building a computer or working on your car or making a piece of furniture. Its just so much more satisfying knowing that you are the one who made it. my 2 cents Gene |
Did you steal that quote from Harley Davidson? Actually the answers make lots of sense, especially since I like to 'custom up' just about everything. I'm still in the learning curve on the AR's, so I like to get all the info. I can before the buy or build. I'm even leaning more toward the build now after hearing from all the replies to my post |
man i thought i was a weirdo for keeping firearms expenses in excel.... - custom rifle built exactly the way you want it, no extra parts - start a build on any budget, just buy what you can when you can... - getting packages from UPS/USPS almost daily... it's like a month long christmas... - learn the AR platform inside and out - better quality assurance - sense of pride in building your own - save $$$, at the very LEAST you'll save the FET TAX (11%) which is about $100 |
I had put that particular build into a spreadsheet because it was a build for my dad, and he wanted me to keep track of the expenses, and reimburse me. However, it worked out so well, i ended up putting my latest 10/22 build on a spreadsheet too...it really helps keep from going overboard when you are trying to stay within a certain budget. |
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