AR, build or buy.

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Aka Zero

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I am wanting a rifle... and decided to go AR. So should I build my scary black rifle, piece by piece, or buy a whole rifle. Going to try to keep the price for the rifle around $1k. Just the gun, optics and such will be separate for now.

Things to consider. Rails a plus. Considering .308 or .223. 7.62x39 would be great, but ARs in this are kind of rare. I like flat top receivers with rails. flip up sights a plus. Free floating, bull or target barrel. not a fan of flash hiders for accuracy.

like these prebuilts:
http://www.dpmsinc.com/store/products/?prod=1435
http://www.dpmsinc.com/store/products/?prod=1055 (hey, it's different)
http://www.dpmsinc.com/store/products/?prod=4851

Any advantages of building over buying a ready made?
 
Build and get exactly what you want. I've built 3 ARs so far. You only need common hand tools except for installing the barrel in the upper.

I'd stick with 5.56 for home built ARs. Other calibers suffer from expensive ammo or can have reliability problems. If you must have a different caliber stick with factory so you can send it back if it has problems.

BSW
 
A pre-assembled upper cost less than than buying the parts seperately + you need a barrel nut wrench + action vise block to intall your barrel (about $75 total), but on the other hand, you can't always get the pre-assembled upper with every option that you want.
 
If I had your budget I would....

get my lower from Anvil Arms ... (top quality and free laser engraving for $100).

get a pre-assembled RRA upper from Legal Transfers (lowest prices and stellar reputation).

get the LPK and stock of your choice from either of the above (and have it shipped with the rest of my order to save on shipping).

I'd suggest a flat top upper, mid. length gas system and govt. profile barrel.

Then get a Bushnell knock off of the Aim point for ~$200 and you'll likely come in just over a $1,000 all total.

I'd also suggest not bothering with a detachable carry handle. And even the BIS are not necessary (imho) for most "civilian" purposes.

I built a Del-Ton middy kit w/ an A2 upper on an Anvil lower for ~$650 (including mags, transfer fees and shipping), as I was on a very tight budget. I received exactly what I paid for and the rifle has functioned flawlessly.

If I had more $ to spend, I would not get the BAR, as that extra pound up front does have a significant effect on both overall weight and "handiness".
 
My girlfriend just bought a Del-Ton rifle kit. They had it assembled and shipped the next day. We put it together on a stripped lower (assembly was pretty easy). The rifle looks great although we haven't shot it yet. I plan on purchasing one for myself soon as well.
 
Build. It's not hard, you can save some money, and you'll have a good understanding of what's in the gun when you're through, too. I'd get an assembled barreled upper, though, both because you'll save a good deal of money over discrete parts, and because there aren't many parts in it to learn about anyway. It will require special tools to assemble it and measure the headspace, also.

I've liked what I got from these guys, too: http://www.jtdistributing.com/
 
Going to have to read into building one. Procedures and such.

But it looks fairly straight forward.
 
See the AR15 forum for LPK assembly instructions w good pics. Use a vise grip with tape on the jaws instead of a punch and hammer to install the roll pins and you avoid scratches. Should take about 40 minutes for the first one and 10 minutes of that will be looking for a spring on the floor!
/Bryan
 
Call the guy at this place.
http://www.ar15sales.com/
I just bought a Rock River for $895 shipped that listed for $1090.
He'll change out what ever you want too. Great guy to work with.
Check out Rock Rivers site first to see what you want before you call and have him give you a price.
 
Depends what you are going to use it for. It is hard to get MPI / shot peened parts in cheep kits.

If you are building you can get a bravo company upper for a decent price, you can get a LMT lower + upper, BCG, hand guards and charging handle for about 1K, the S&W M&P is a lot of rifle for the price, bud's has a pretty good deal on the base flat top.

I have a DPMS LR-308 and don't have a problem with DPMS but it isn't in the same category as LMT or Bravo Company uppers.
 
where can I get a lower rec parts kit without a grip.

Want a different grip, and don't need a spare yet.
 
The downside of a rifle in .308 these days is the cost and availability of ammunition. My .308s haven't been out in quite a while now. 7.62x39 in a AR seems possible since C Products is making magazines for them now, but I don't know how successful they've been. IMHO, .223 is still the best and most practical caliber for the AR type rifle.

Spending the money to get top quality parts is worthwhile for some. Those who shoot a great deal or those who use a rifle professionally can definitely benefit from them. All this stuff costs money though. Given the choice between top quality mechanical parts, or all the tacticool stuff so I can mount lights, lasers, a cappicino machine and my laptop on my AR15, I think I'd go with the good parts.
 
also 7.62x39 is a decent combe with an AR rbernie on this board has one with no problems i believe just have to use the smaller mags for feeding reliability. Model1 has them(upper)
 
I thought saving was one of the main reasons to build?
Click to expand...
I looked into building, and for what you got you might save, it's hardly worth the time. The quickest way to save is buy a assembled lower, then buy a separate assembled upper and snap them together and save yourself the 10% tax. 10% on a $1k gun is $100 bucks. If you can put two pins in you can save yourself $100 just like that.
 
DPMS can build what I want, basically to a T.

But a note on custom uppers said there could be a 6 month wait. So would a rifle have the same wait. Becasue if I can get a rifle and not have to wait. I can change out parts later.
 
Daryl,

A number of folks with XCR's in 7.62x39 are using the C-Products mags and to date there don't seen to have been any problems. Robinson Arms do recommend a couple of load/unload cycles before initial use to set the spring, check follower feeding etc.

Biggest complaint is that the magazines have a certain fuggliness to them....:cool:
 
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