Help! AR Build

Michele said:
Should I build AR 10 or AR 15 ?
What parts do I need to buy before the Feds shut 80% down ?
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If you are only going to build one, then AR15.
Do you have anything at all? Jig? Any parts at all? Any AR specific tools?
 
no4mk1t said:
If you are only going to build one, then AR15.
Do you have anything at all? Jig? Any parts at all? Any AR specific tools?
Click to expand...
No i want to collect whatever might be banned in April so I have it before I cant get it. Have no idea even what or how to build. Never owned one will be 1st one.
 
If all they shut down is 80% receivers then just some lowers, just like with pistols. But If they make some sweeping new rules requiring serialization of barrels, uppers, BCG's, etc, they you'll need all of it. I'm not sure what's expected at this point?
 
I'm expecting little to nothing... and IF anything comes of it... a challenge in court just like with the bumpstocks. They're making law without the legislature... and that's not Constitutional.

I'm not panicking. I'm really not. Not gonna do it...
Animated GIF
 
These are the parts that may become restricted if Joe gets his way. Not sure what additional restrictions you face in CA.
It sounds as if time is of the essence, but parts seem to be back in stock most places.
You'll need the 80% lower. You can get them raw aluminum, black anodized, or Cerakoted.
Upper Receiver
Bolt Carrier Group

I would start shopping around and decide exactly what type of AR you want to build and in what caliber.
If you buy the upper as an assembled unit, you can forego the tools needed to install and torque the barrel. This way, you are only building the lower, and that just requires normal hand tools. Look closely at the ad copy. Some uppers come with the the bolt carrier group (BCG) and charging handle (CH) and some do not.

Give some thought to whether you want additional uppers in either different configuations (ie: barrel length) or different calibers like 22LR, or would you rather have them all as complete rifles and buy extra lowers and parts accordingly.

Get what ever decorative and compliance engraving you need done before you cut it.

You will have to buy, borrow or rent a jig and router, and the end mill for that particular router.

From there, AR's are the most accessorized artifact on the planet since Barbie Dolls. And with a lot of it, there is no value added functionality, it's just cool factor.

I do recommend a trigger upgrade over the standard trigger furnished in most LPK. A really good value is the nickle boron coated 2 stage trigger PSA has. I have several and like them.

If you give me a better idea of what you want, I can make more specific recommendations.
 
no4mk1t said:
These are the parts that may become restricted if Joe gets his way. Not sure what additional restrictions you face in CA.
It sounds as if time is of the essence, but parts seem to be back in stock most places.
You'll need the 80% lower. You can get them raw aluminum, black anodized, or Cerakoted.
Upper Receiver
Bolt Carrier Group

I would start shopping around and decide exactly what type of AR you want to build and in what caliber.
If you buy the upper as an assembled unit, you can forego the tools needed to install and torque the barrel. This way, you are only building the lower, and that just requires normal hand tools. Look closely at the ad copy. Some uppers come with the the bolt carrier group (BCG) and charging handle (CH) and some do not.

Give some thought to whether you want additional uppers in either different configuations (ie: barrel length) or different calibers like 22LR, or would you rather have them all as complete rifles and buy extra lowers and parts accordingly.

Get what ever decorative and compliance engraving you need done before you cut it.

You will have to buy, borrow or rent a jig and router, and the end mill for that particular router.

From there, AR's are the most accessorized artifact on the planet since Barbie Dolls. And with a lot of it, there is no value added functionality, it's just cool factor.

I do recommend a trigger upgrade over the standard trigger furnished in most LPK. A really good value is the nickle boron coated 2 stage trigger PSA has. I have several and like them.

If you give me a better idea of what you want, I can make more specific recommendations.
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Have no idea what I want. Patrick wants to build one too. Maybe I'll go down to FU and see what they have on the shelf to get a few ideas. Not buying from them they are too expensive.

What about something like this ? AR-15 Full Build Kit - 80% Lower Receivers, Jigs & Gun Parts | Order from JSD

Correlation: Here I am wanting to bake a cake but I have no idea what ingredients I need or even what flavor to make.
 
Palmetto State Armory has become my go to spot to buy complete AR15 uppers to add to completed 80% lowers. I’m a form and function type and have found it darn hard to beat their value and life time guarantee. I know some will disagree …

They also have a decent AR10 upper/lower combo (but serialized) if you decide to go that way, but as others have said there is no consistency across the .308 platform. If you go with all PSA AR10 parts, you get a solid low price AR10. Some may disagree with long-distance accuracy, but I have shot 3 elk with my PSA AR10 out to 275 yards. About as far as I can shoot anymore and I was very happy.

For a jig, I’ve tried the Anderson jig, the 2 P80 jigs that come with the 80% polymer lowers, Gen 1 80% Arms Easy Jig, and Gen 3 80% Arms Easy Jig. The Gen 3 80% Arms jig is remarkable on both the aluminum lowers as well as the polymer lowers. You do need a small hand held router and drill. It is spendy - you probably need to be building several for it to be cost effective. However, I have seen these on sale on Armslist as builders complete their builds.

One additional note, I was surprised that some of my 80% lowers didn’t have the safe/fire engraved on the side. I have since learned that is more common than not on 80% lowers.

Good luck and expect that before you even complete your first one, you will be thinking about building more and more …
 
I have decided to just buy few stripped lowers when it was on sale. Financially this was cheaper than 80% lower n JiG option. I have planned on learning more but might have to buy sooner. PSA pistol kit sound like the best value.

Thinking about 3 calibers.
556 pistol kit / 22 LR conversion kit
9mm pistol kit with endomag adopter
300BO pistol kit on folding lower


20220228_112150.jpg


Found MGB style vids on AR.
Have been consuming all his vids lately.
Also planned to download off YouTube.

School of the American Rifle
 
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Mooner said:
I have decided to just buy few stripped lowers when it was on sale. Financially this was cheaper than 80% lower n JiG option. I have planned on learning more but might have to buy sooner. PSA pistol kit sound like the best value.

Thinking about 3 calibers.
556 pistol kit / 22 LR conversion kit
9mm pistol kit with endomag adopter
300BO pistol kit on folding lower


View attachment 625

Found MGB style vids on AR.
Have been consuming all his vids lately.
Also planned to download off YouTube.

School of the American Rifle
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Wow, great find & resource Moon thanks for the share.
 
Unfortunately my husband put a k abash on this project. Not wanting to be hurried getting parts and being schooled on what is currently legal round our parts of the woods.
I’m sure this information will benefit another. Thanks all !
 
Sc1911 said:
Here’s a good price on them. AM-15 80% Lower Receiver - Anodize
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Hey, not sure if this appropriate but figured I should share since these guys weren’t on MGB’s list of vendors. Regarding Durkin, I have a love/hate relationship with them. Their return policy is pretty much nothing can ever be returned or an order cancelled. And their customer service is even worse. You can not contact by phone and it takes them 2 weeks plus to return an e-mail. I had issues with a P80 kit (missing parts) and a G17 frame (front sight hole drilled off center). After waiting 2 weeks for a reply from their customer service, they referred me to the respective manufacturer saying they aren’t directly involved in manufacturer issues. P80 was great - much better than Durkin. Durkin said the G17 slide was a JSD product. After a month of back and forth with JSD, they said it wasn’t their slide. Then after another month with Durkin, they finally agreed to replace slide because they didn’t know who was the manufacturer and ran out places to refer me to.

Even thru all this, I keep buying stuff from them because you can’t beat their prices - almost always there is a 10off or 11off promo going on even if not advertised. All said, buyer beware in case you get into a warranty issue. Just read their return policy and you will think twice about ordering - but I did order 3 of the receivers SC1911 referenced. Great deal with an additional 10% off.

One other lesson learned, don’t pay for expedited shipping (the $20 fee). It does not expedite it - actually had 2 orders in back in November, one with expedited and their standard $7 fee. The $7 fee shipped several days faster. Go figure ….
 
DSG Arms has a lot of sales on AR parts, mags knifes ect. it is not so well known as PSA , also Midsouth Shooters Supply sells AR build kits.
 
Firearms101 said:
However, I have seen these on sale on Armslist as builders complete their builds.
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🤦‍♂️Wish I knew this great tip before my purchase of stripped lowers.
 
I hav not done any 80% lowers all mine I have got complete already. My go to lowers, uppers and hand guards is Aero. I like the look and they replace all the cotter pins with set screws. If you want color AERO but if you just want black then Ballistic Advantage since they are a sister company to Aero and the black parts are slightly cheaper than Aero. They have 2 types of systems the M4E1 enhanced has the hand guard mount molded into the upper then just attach with 8 set screw. I have 2 of these styles. The handguards are a little bigger in diameter than there reg M4E1 that uses a compression screw to mount in the barrel nut. I have 2 of these also with 1 almost ready to build. Barrels I have 2 Faxon and they are both sub MOA and I have 2 Ballistic barrels. One I just mounted but have not had the time to hit the range and break it in. The other is for the build I am about to do. Ballistic do say there barrels are Guaranteed sub MOA as well but I cannot confirm yet. If you set up your account and give them verification of service Aero is 10% and I think Ballistic is 15%. Triggers I prefer Hyperfire I have 3 in and love them. Little more on the $$ side but Brownells and DVOR do have some good pricing on them. Here are my 3 complete. All chambered is wylde

A4FC96D7-C6A1-40D3-A660-8FEA303CEECD.jpeg
 

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