AR Build?

[ccw08]

I am wanting to build an ar15 in 223 or 7.62 on a budget.

Im not wanting to cheap out on the important stuff just not wanting to pay gun store prices on something they throw together for a third of what they are selling it for.

What all will I need to throw a budget ar together and do you guys know a good place where I could get all of the parts?

 

[mljdeckard]

Go to Brownells.com and order their free AR catalog. It will at least give you a very good idea of what is available.

 

[ugaarguy]

Im not wanting to cheap out on the important stuff just not wanting to pay gun store prices on something they throw together for a third of what they are selling it for.

You've obviously never worked in a gun store if you think they make those kinds of profits.

Anyway, there are a ton of threads here on AR builds, including several in the last few days. Read through the last few pages of posts and you'll see them. Derek also has the search feature working pretty well now too. The info is out there.

 

[ccw08]

um no I have not worked in a gun store and perhaps that was an unfair statement. I live in a fairly small city with only one gun store and they take advantage of that.

There are several pawn shops here selling wore out guns and the one gun store

again I apologize it was actually only meant toward one gun store

 

[mljdeckard]

Honestly, I would do a lot of homework. Read a few books, buy a DVD or two, browse listings at gunbroker and auctionarms.com. Just learn as much as you can about the idea so that when you confront a salesman who is trying to unload junk to you, you'll know the difference. Design your own rifle for your own needs, and stick to it, don't jump on something else just because someone is trying to get rid of it.

 

[ugaarguy]

I live in a fairly small city with only one gun store and they take advantage of that.

There are several pawn shops here selling wore out guns and the one gun store

Those kind of business practices really annoy me, and have the tendency to give all shops a bad name. You'd probably like my boss. One of his favorite sayings is "MSRP is what the manufacturers wish we could sell guns for".

again I apologize it was actually only meant toward one gun store

Understood. I know what you mean with those only store in town places. In your situation I think buying a lower, stripped or complete and paying the local guy a transfer fee is the way to go. You might walk in and just ask what his transfer fee is. Then ask what he'll sell you a lower for. If he's way high politely tell him you can get lower A from supplier B for X dollars plus his transfer fee. Tell him you'd rather keep your business local and ask if he'll get you within a few dollars of that price. If he will you might build a good business relationship with him. If he won't back off the price, take your money where it's wanted.

 

[Onmilo]

Having built numbers of AR15 rifles and many many more rifles of other action types, I can tell you from experience that building a rifle will not allow you any savings, quite the opposite, it will cost you more than buying a factory assembled rifle.

The reason for custom building is to eliminate some of the shortcuts that major manufacuters take to keep their rifles at a retail sale level they feel will maximize profit.
Custom building allows the owner to tailor a rifle to the exact nature of design they desire whereas this level of option may not be available or offered by the factory samples.

Building a firearm is not a viable option for those looking for on the cheap.
Building a rifle on the cheap will get you a firearm that performs no better than a factory built rifle and more often than not performs at far below expectations of the builder.
There is no market resaleability on a cheaply built rifle composed of no name, crudely made, and potentially unsafe components.

 

[Nhsport]

With all due respect to this fine site (THR), the info,directions,and part sorce details you want are all over at AR15.com .
Building the AR saves money several ways. 1) Federal excise tax will only be paid (included in the price) of the lower rieciever instead of the complete gun. (11% of $150+/- instead of 11% of $1000+)
2)You will only buy the parts you actually want instead of buying a complete rifle then adding a bunch of parts to make the gun you desire.
3)Internet sales of parts (includeing shipping) might be cheeper than local sorce+ local sales tax. Selection will be better.


Many first time builders will build (assemble in reality) the Lower and buy a complete upper . This method will allow the biggest share of the tax savings. The lower goes together quite easily and requires less in the way of special tools that are needed for the upper.

 

[wdlsguy]

1) Buy a stripped lower (this is an FFL item).
2) Buy a rifle kit.
3) Assemble the lower, using the directions from ar15.com.
4) Push two pins to attach your fully-assembled upper to your fully-assembled lower.

 

[DougW]

The last 20"A3 rifle we built has $561 in it origionally, less rear sight. It now carried a TA31F ACOG which brings the cost up to around $1575. You can build a GOOD rifle for less than a new factory rifle. +1 to wdlsguy.