AR-15 Purchasing Options

[zstephens13]

So at work I typed up this list of options of AR-15 builds.
The options are:
1. Complete rifle
2. Stripped lower receiver and a kit that includes everything else
3. Individual pieces
4. Stripped lower receiver, lower receiver parts kit, and complete upper.

Do you see any problems with any of the options? Obviously Kit Options #3 is the best deal. Am I missing any pieces from any of the options?

These options are what I want, so I'm not asking if you like what I have chosen, but more am I missing anything for a complete rifle?

Here it is:

Complete Rifle - $960
$960 - RRA Lar-15 Mid-length
http://www.rockriverarms.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=224

Kit Option #1 - $784
$109 - Spikes Tactical Zombie Stripped Lower Receiver
Arctic Arms 3543 Alexander Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99508
$675 - Rock River Arms CAR A4 Kit
http://www.rockriverarms.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_ID=199

Kit Option #2 - $735.95
Lower
$109 - Spikes Tactical Zombie Stripped Lower Receiver
Arctic Arms 3543 Alexander Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99508
$70 - Lower Receiver Parts Kit with Single Stage Trigger, A2 Grip
http://www.rockriverarms.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=388
Barrel
$200 - 16” Mid-length Heavy Barrel Assembly
$6.50 - A2 Flash Hider
$2.75 - Crush Washer
$0.50 - Gas Tube Roll Pin
$13.00 - Gas Tube
$10.00 - Delta Ring Kit
$2.00 - Barrel Indexing Pin
$22.50 - Barrel Extension
$3.50 - Front Sling Swivel
$1.00 - Front Sling
http://www.rockriverarms.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_ID=201
Upper
$145 - Forged A4 Upper Receiver Assembly
$130 – Complete Bolt Carrier Group
http://www.rockriverarms.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_ID=202
Stock
$0 – Six Position Collapsible Stock (own)
$6 - Action Spring
$13 - Buffer Assembly
$0.70 - Buffer Retainer
$0.50 - Buffer Retainer Spring

Kit Option #3 - $674.20

$109 - Spikes Tactical Zombie Stripped Lower Receiver
Arctic Arms 3543 Alexander Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99508
$475 - Mid-length A4 Complete Upper Half (free upgrade to chrome lined bolt carrier group)
http://www.rockriverarms.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=266
$70 - Lower Receiver Parts Kit with Single Stage Trigger, A2 Grip
http://www.rockriverarms.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=388
$0 – 6-Position Collapsible Stock
From LAR-8
$6 - Action Spring
$13 - Buffer Assembly
$0.70 - Buffer Retainer
$0.50 - Buffer Retainer Spring

 

[blutarsky]

i have a feeling there will be a lot of "go to ar15.com" or "use the search" or.. well, you get the idea. BUT i'm kinda in the same boat. i'm wanting to get my first AR and i want to do it right. but to be completely honest the amount of info out there is overwhelming, both in sheer volume as well as endless variety. not to mention that for every "quality" bit of info you'll get you'll see at least a couple bits of useless info that are really only people chipping in their own brand loyalties to make themselves feel good about purchases they've already made.

so... at the risk of a "me too" post, i'm about a couple weeks into this now of doing my research and endlessly using the search function, and visiting other sites, and i think in the end i'm really less prepared now to buy something than i was before i started to educate myself

 

[TheDriver]

Build one. The "everything but the stripped lower" kits from del-ton are a good deal too. They are really pretty easy to build.

 

[john5036]

For option 1 the complete rifle, you can get a dang good entry-level middy from Spikes @ $809... I only mention that because of your choice for the Spikes lower in other options.

As for the other options: Go for it.

 

[Birddog1911]

Don't quote me on this, but I was told that one reason it is cheaper to build is because of the 11% excise tax on firearms. I thought this applied to all gun parts, though.

I've done a few builds with buying the stripped lower and assembling, and dropping a complete upper on it. In all of these cases, it would have been slightly more expensive for me to build it.

 

[Tirod]

The tax applies to complete firearms, not parts, AFAIK.

The difficulty with option three is the price calculated doesn't include shipping to your front door. Multiple purchases from different vendors will add $7.50 to $20 to each order. Your least expensive option is not yet determined.

So far I have about $50 in shipping alone, which means magazines are now a few weeks further out. That's bundling a lot of parts by ordering kits, as they were cheaper coming from one vendor than piecing it out. Separately they looked cheaper, with three or four $7.50 shipping and handling charges added in, not happening.

Getting a free firing pin retainer saved about $10 not ordering it separately. Small parts orders will eat up a budget. I still need all the FSB parts, and pins, plus a flash hider. Another two shipping charges at this rate, more than the FSB parts alone.

Don't paint yourself into a corner, list every part on the build individually and make sure it's included somewhere.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Do you have the tools you need to build the rifle? Because those are going to cost some money as well.

 

[gotigers]

I see a barrel extension on your list. DO NOT INTALL YOUR OWN BARREL EXTENSION. Buy a barrel with one already installed. This is a serious undertaking.

You can get it all at Bravo Co. Cheaper to. Bravo has great quality and shipping.

or

spikes, Surplus Arms and Ammo (Areo Precision) or Palmetto State Armory for kits. Great prices on kits and small parts with fast, cheap shipping.

Stick with milspec parts.

Citizen armory for small parts. They have real cheap shipping.

green mountain barrels for affordable chrome lined bore barrels. At either green mountain or gun kings.


or

if you dont want chrome lined, DSA M4 complete upper is $275.

You can find better prices then RRA.

 

[briang2ad]

Want to do it right?

Look online and spend about $950-1250 on a real MILSPEC M4 - Daniel Defense. You can get stock for less than $1000 and get a nice rail or ltwt setup for less than $1300.

OR... if you can wait a bit, get a SPIKES for $800 or so.

You DO want M4 feedramps, the right metallurgy, the right BCG, etc.

 

[zstephens13]

I have a stock wrench and lots of the other tools I'll need.
I'm think going to go with kit option 3.
Stripped lower receiver, lower parts kit, and complete upper. RRA is giving free shipping every now and then and I'm not in a hurry to get this thing built, so I'll wait for a special.

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

I would say individual pieces option is probably for more experienced AR builders due to the tools required, plus if you mix and match parts, will it run reliably once you get it together? If it doesn't do you have the know-how to determine what part(s) are causing the issue(s)?
Just my opinion.

 

[browneu]

Just like a Jedi, I don't think you get your not a complete redneck until you've assembled your own AR.

Having said this you need to ensure you have the right tools like the proper punches and wrenches.

Here is my advice. It's much easier to stake your castle nut with a spring loaded punch than with a punch and hammer. A $10 tool can save a lot of frustration.

 

[zstephens13]

Brown, thanks for that piece of Jedi wisdom.
I'll take your advice, and that of others, and just get a complete upper. Seems like a hassel!
I can handle putting a lower together, I'm quite sure.

 

[bri]

Brown, thanks for that piece of Jedi wisdom.
I'll take your advice, and that of others, and just get a complete upper. Seems like a hassel!
I can handle putting a lower together, I'm quite sure.

Better yet, purchase a complete carbine from a company that offers a lifetime warranty, disassemble lower, then reassemble lower with your choice of mods/accessories.

Lifetime warranty + you can say you "built" it.

 

[browneu]

I didn't mean to discourage you. It's not difficult gut not as easy as other's tend to claim.

Just take your time and be sure that you get parts that are to spec or will fit together. You also have to be careful with certain things like the buffer tube. I ordered a milspec buffer tube and got the Magpul stock for milspec tubes. The other stock available is for a buffer tube that has a larger diameter.