[ARCHIVED THREAD] - AR build clinic *** updated 3-2-08 - link to trigger test/eval included (Page 1 of 3)
Posted: 11/29/2007 5:30:22 AM EDT
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i know there has been interest in this on and off again. quite some time back i committed to having some of the stuff to build for those folks who didn't physically bring/have the goods. i'm getting enough stuff here to do several of them. although i'm the type of guy who'd rather build them, shoot them, and put them into the safe, i can hold out and allow these to remain parts for a while i guess. i have a couple A2 uppers and A3 uppers that are stripped, along with many lowers. some will need A2 stocks, some will be collapsible. either way, there will be enough for everyone to take a peek. honestly, assembling these things is pretty darned easy, but if you haven't done it before there is a natural human concern over the proper way to do it. maybe this kind of activity can help. i have my little shop up and running, so having a few vices around and the specialty tools is pretty much covered. on another note. i get asked ten times a week who makes the "best" AR trigger. this question is not only relative, but subjective. in the end, it depends on the rig and the intended use. also, the plain and simple fact is, few people who chime in on a thread about the "best" trigger have used the many that are out there. they can only speak to the one or two they've used. thus, their opinion isn't very seasoned. in order to learn more about them myself and know in my mind which is good for what and why, i decided to test all the big names. JP (JP Rifles), Geiselle, Jard, Timney, RRA NM, CMC (chip mccormick), and a few others are rolling into the shop as we speak. i'd like to combine these two events. AR building part of the time, trigger testing and use the other part. folks could try them, provide feedback, and learn about the differences in each of the top brands. i'd of course ask everyone to fill out a 60 second survey on the rank of the various triggers from best on down and why. i have agreements in place with the trigger folks that contributed. i gave each company my word i'd run 2,000 rounds through each trigger at a minimum. let me be clear - this ammo i refer to is reserved for MY testing. so anybody who'd like to participate in shooting the various triggers will need to bring their own 223 ammo to run through. i'm not too concerned about the ammo you bring, but i would ask that it is non-corrosive and quality stuff. i try to avoid surplus, but if it is 100% stuff, then we'll be ok. i don't want somebody pouring shit ammo down a $250 barrel. if you want to pull the trigger once or 500 times on each, i don't care. ok, to sum it up: - AR build party - date to be determined - after the holidays for sure - top triggers available for use/testing - bring your own ammo - no crappy stuff what do you guys think? is there any interest? also, there is a gunshow at the 4H building/fairgrounds on January 25-27. is there any interest in combining these things? folks could come to the shop in the AM, build stuff, shoot stuff, then be able to head home, to the show, out for supper, etc. just spit balling, nothing set in stone. i figured those folks who bought stuff friday night at the show could build it saturday to build for themselves, or buy stuff saturday or sunday at the show based on what they used/learned. or buy nothing of course... feel free to post publicly on this. if any of you guys have some suggestions or a better notion, chime in. -ST13  EDITED for terrible grammatical errors... i love you microsoft word...  ETA ********************* date selected. saturday january 26th. ETA ********************* please hit the poll above so i have a head count. don't worry about the percentages, i'm just using the number of hits to calc how many cd's i need to burn. i'll provide a tutorial, some data, tool list, parts lists, etc. - just some stuff on a cd folks might have interest in... |
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I will be in for this. The date you have chosen is especially convenient. As it turns out, I will be putting together an AR, using the superior lower I picked up last weekend. I consider it a real treat to be able to try a variety of triggers prior to settling on what I want to finish with. You can expect me there with ammo. Thanks for the opportunity. Edit: I would also be all about an earlier than 10 start time, if convenient. |
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It was stripped. RW Snyder Guns and Gunsmithing had them for $90. If you ever get a chance, Robert is a great guy to do business with. www.rwsnydergunsmithing.com/Default.asp |
+1 you will be hard pressed to find a better fellow. if you can make it past his ear ring, he's a handsome man...  messing around a bit... anyway, robert is a stand up guy. he moves a fair amount of SA product. give em' a shout. |
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You guys need to check into this as it's a hell of an offer Septic has for people to be able to try out all the top AR trigger manufacturers before you spend the money and buy it yourself. I'll keep my eyes open and see if I'll be able to attend when you announce a date Septic. 
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i'd like for you to bring them all. if you elect to build a few, so be it. but if you got the itch then the stuff will be there. i've had a few people IM me that will were kind enough to offer to bring a full AR tool kit. i have enough stuff to do most stuff, but i'm tickled that folks are bringing some stuff. like i told a few guys, i've built a few ARs here and there, but there are folks coming that have built many, many, more. i hope to learn some stuff and pick up some tricks as well. this goes for everybody - bring your goods even if you're not sure if we can use it or you want to build it, etc. if it stays in the trunk, so be it. if you want to use it, then we'll be set. |
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The wife is going to come along and give it a shot. If you don't mind, you are going to have to teach her while I am off doing something else, like trying triggers. I learned long ago that it is a bad idea for spouses to try to teach one another about the ins and outs of a hobby. As you know, I got rid of the "schooner." |
Sure I can bring them all, I bought them all during the Thanksgiving sale offered by Armalite. I was hoping to build them and sell all but one of them. |
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Im In! I don't need to build anything, but will bring the pistol in case anyone wants to try it out. I may see if anyone can show me how to get a trigger guard off of my AR rifle in order to install my winter trigger guard. (One pin only has a hole on one side to only drive it in & not out.)
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Thats an easy one. The plunger side of the trigger guard goes where there is only one hole, the actual pin goes in where there is two holes....I made that same mistake on one of my first builds while I wasn't thinking clearly...too early in the morning to be building guns. Where is this build party going to take place...I'm in Urbandale if its close enough I'd like to stop by. |
+1 i'm quite certain you'll contract some sort of affliction. BRD is relatively common around here...  welcome aboard. i'll plan on seeing you on that saturday. this thing is gaining some momentum... good deal. it'll be nice to have all these triggers ready to go... geiselle just sent me one of their units today and i just picked up both the JP units - component pieces and the drop-in modular unit. the jard is installed. got the timney on the way, three chip mccormick units, a RRA NM, and a few more on the way. i'm working with accuracy speaks, jewell, and a few others are being tossed around. the AA is in the works too. |
teggy1, it started out as an opportunity for those folks who'd like to see it done to look and learn... i have some uppers and lowers i need to build. i've opted to allow anyone who wants to bring their stuff an opportunity to build it onsight - all the tools will be there, so why not? we have a couple of folks who've offered to come and bring some of their tooling who have many years of assembly and armorer certification. it sounds like there are going to be a few of each receiver around, so if you'd like to bring some or your own to build or you'd like to watch others, you're certainly welcome. i live between marshalltown and des moines, not far from baxter. |
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Well septic, I just couldn't wait till the end of January :(. I do need to do something about my handguards. I don't know if I should paint them or replace them with a quad rail but my rifle looks a bit goofy as it sits... The stock, grip, and mags are all dark earth but the forearm is black One thing of note - the trigger is FUCKING TERRIBLE. I'm going to test it tomorrow on a trigger pull gauge but I'm thinking it's between 8 and 10lbs. And it's got a bit of creep. It breaks reasonably clean but damn it's heavy for a rifle trigger. I think it will be replaced in the near future. You sure weren't kidding when you said that was one of the first things you chucked into the trash. Pics of my cobbled together rifle: http://photos.sevarg.net/sam/albums/AR15/12_16_2007_082.sized.jpg Amazing stock of goodness. http://photos.sevarg.net/sam/albums/AR15/12_16_2007_083.sized.jpg MIAD grip and p-mag http://photos.sevarg.net/sam/albums/AR15/12_16_2007_085.sized.jpg Troy Industries rear BUIS http://photos.sevarg.net/sam/albums/AR15/12_16_2007_087.sized.jpg Folded http://photos.sevarg.net/sam/albums/AR15/12_16_2007_088.sized.jpg My new G26 snuggling up to the new, freshly built AR http://photos.sevarg.net/sam/albums/AR15/12_16_2007_089.sized.jpg The happy family http://photos.sevarg.net/sam/albums/AR15/12_16_2007_090.sized.jpg ...And holy shit this is a disease. I'm already planning another build. I think I'm going to pick up another lower at the next gunshow and build it at the party :D |
| Yes. The flyer always gets me.... I would not be surprised if this thing is 1/4 MOA or better. I did not have a proper rest, as I let a friend borrow it and have not got it back yet. So technically I have no official group, but I got a glimpse of its potential. I was shooting hornady 32gr vmax. This as far as I know is the fastest shit out there for .204. I will have a decent variety of pills showing up this week to play around with and see what it likes best. |
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when i ran my tests, the hornady 32 and 40 were both running about 200FPS LESS than advertised speed. HSM, remington, and winchester all were very close. rem 32's were the fastest, most accurate, and were the most consistent of all i tested. honestly, they were by far the best stuff i ran. FYI. |
I have read the same thing while doing research in regards to hornady velocity. I believe you on the remy. I bought what cost less since I knew I would waste rounds sighting in. Especially since I had no .20 caliber bore sighter available, and no proper rest.  |
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ok I have a WOA sprr coming next week along with a vltor low profile gas block. I'm going to have all of this installed next week. Heres what I'm thinking. I'll grab a cheapy del-ton upper and then get a lower at the gun show on the 25th to assemble the next day for that upper |
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This looks awesome, i got my first ar15 when i turned 14 with no idea what i was doing put off getting a car and never looked back when i found this forum i went mad and all i could think about was finishing my ar15. while being in school and having some pretty bad jobs have slowed me down i almost have my build done. bushmaster lower/upper off original AR got a PRS, white oak 18in spr barrel and many others. Me and BionicSniper have been building are ar15's for about 2 years and all i need know is my Yhm lite full length handguard AIM had me on back order for 4 months so i gave up on that. Anyone want to sell me one for cheap? If i have one by then i'll def be there me and BionicSniper got the tools and all i but all i need is a handguard. |
i have a Superior Arms ultralight rifle length quad rail, with the nut and jam spanner... we really aren't supposed to discuss sales here, but you're certainly welcome to IM or email me. |
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i was out in the shop today working on lowers and installing some triggers.... WOW!!! some of these triggers are unreal!!!!!!! i won't give it away, but some of these things really live up to their names, reputation, and the associated price tags. and, as is typically the case, there are a couple that i'm very unimpressed with. a surprising thing has come to clarity... when i sent letters out for correspondence with each fire control group maker, some were quick and eager to visit with me about this project. others wouldn't give me the time of day. those folks most willing and wanting to work with me, have proven to have made some of the best stuff i've looked at yet... maybe it isn't surprising after all... could it be that customer service and quality still go hand in hand? it certainly looks that way so far. |
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I'm planning to attend. I've got a bare lower to build, we'll see if the parts get here in time to bring. They should since I'm ordering this week from ArmaLite. I'm most interested in seeing some upper assembly done as I have no experience with that and would like to learn to do my own. I've built lowers before, and all of mine use RRA or ArmaLite match triggers. I've never pulled a 'normal' AR trigger before.  |