Build a AR?

tws3b2 said:
And I may even get to fix the blemish.
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Try not to be disappointed when you don’t.
I’ve bought a short ton of blemished items from PSA, Right to Bear(my favorite), and others. I haven’t found what they consider to be the blemish.
I have been accused of being colorblind, even though I’m not, and sometimes they say it’s the finish color that is the blem. But all of mine match and look just fine. Not tool marks or pits or scratches on a thing. I think it’s just a marketing tool. One that I’m happy to capitalize on!

I’ll second an Aero lower, even if the forge lines don’t match. I think they’re just worth it. Everything about them is a finer quality.
Six of nine are Aeros for mine.
(While fully admitting they do nothing an Anderson wouldn’t…)

Don’t use blue LockTite! Unless you don’t want to reuse a hand guard screw ever again…😓

Enjoy the assembly! And Happy Easter!
 
I just finished one, an M4gery but with a civilian friendly 16" barrel. This thread is not making it easy to resist building at least another upper for that lower.
 
I’ve probably spewed on in the past about never again buying a complete AR anything but sometimes things simply make sense. I happened on a deal from Aero back in February for a complete upper and as my son’s upper was parted out to be repurposed, I bit. At $299 it was everything save the color that I’d have chosen for him (he won’t likely ever put 100 rounds through it) so the discount for pre-assembly left my pride intact.

This too was a “blem” and indeed I found it immediately so sometimes these things actually exist.


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Skylerbone said:
sometimes these things actually exist.
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Finally! I have an example of their blemishes! And worth every penny of discount!
I may have mistaken it for my sand paper hands just rubbing the etching off.

Now if I could find a Battle Arms Authority receiver set with an unnoticeable blemish for 50% off! 😁
 
I have punches in all kinds of flavors, $15 and I have some more.
www.wheelertools.com

AR Bolt Catch Install Punch Kit | Wheeler

AR Bolt Catch Install Punch Kit
www.wheelertools.com www.wheelertools.com

Came in handy when I decided to replace the bolt catch in everything.
11sxhA5l.jpg
 
Warning, I don't placate those triggered by the word "build". Everybody knows what "building" an AR means.

I've got a dozen or so AR's and "built" most of them. Even the two I bought have been re-built, some multiple times. I do it for two reasons, A) to get exactly what I want and B) because it's fun. You really have to get "into it" to learn your preferences. Whether it's the general configuration or the various grips, stocks and forends. I started out as a total Magpul whore but found I like some of the B5 furniture better, like their grip that mimics the angle of the 1911. I also like their buttstocks.

I do recommend a good video (I like MidwayUSA) on assembly and the proper tools. You'll need a vise block for holding the upper while you torque the barrel nut. The torque range is so wide, I don't think a torque wrench is necessary if you can be trusted to mount a scope. I REALLY like the magazine block for holding the lower in the vise by the magwell. Proper punches are a must and rollpin starters are a huge asset. They essentially eliminate the danger of causing damage while getting roll pins started. I also like the little tool for doing the takedown pins. You'll need an armorer's wrench for doing the castle nut, etc..
 
CraigC said:
Warning, I don't placate those triggered by the word "build". Everybody knows what "building" an AR means.

I've got a dozen or so AR's and "built" most of them. Even the two I bought have been re-built, some multiple times. I do it for two reasons, A) to get exactly what I want and B) because it's fun. You really have to get "into it" to learn your preferences. Whether it's the general configuration or the various grips, stocks and forends. I started out as a total Magpul whore but found I like some of the B5 furniture better, like their grip that mimics the angle of the 1911. I also like their buttstocks.

I do recommend a good video (I like MidwayUSA) on assembly and the proper tools. You'll need a vise block for holding the upper while you torque the barrel nut. The torque range is so wide, I don't think a torque wrench is necessary if you can be trusted to mount a scope. I REALLY like the magazine block for holding the lower in the vise by the magwell. Proper punches are a must and rollpin starters are a huge asset. They essentially eliminate the danger of causing damage while getting roll pins started. I also like the little tool for doing the takedown pins. You'll need an armorer's wrench for doing the castle nut, etc..
Click to expand...
First place I looked for videos was Midway then Brownells then a bunch of YouTube. Not got it yet but I think I could put it together (Build) with my eyes closed standing on one foot.
Funny but I've disassembled, re-assembled, repaired, refinished, refurbished and tinkered with many guns. The ones that were the most aggravating to cause cursing, stomping away from, throwing down, pulling my hair out over And Costly were the most satisfying projects and favorites even though they are worth little to nothing to others. Actually I'm beginning to think this AR is going to be too easy.
 
tws3b2 said:
First place I looked for videos was Midway then Brownells then a bunch of YouTube. Not got it yet but I think I could put it together (Build) with my eyes closed standing on one foot.
Funny but I've disassembled, re-assembled, repaired, refinished, refurbished and tinkered with many guns. The ones that were the most aggravating to cause cursing, stomping away from, throwing down, pulling my hair out over And Costly were the most satisfying projects and favorites even though they are worth little to nothing to others. Actually I'm beginning to think this AR is going to be too easy.
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I got to that point with Winchester 94's but that was nearly 30yrs ago when I was working in a gun shop and still in school.

It's pretty easy. I always watch a video while I do it, just to be sure I do it in the correct order and don't forget anything. Mind is not the steel trap it once was. Which reminds me, I have one that needs that new Geissele trigger installed. ;)
 
Building even if more expensive should be done at least once. It gives you experience on how assemble is done. Good experience. I built a target AR on a DPMS lower with no mag well. Turned out great.
 
CraigC said:
I got to that point with Winchester 94's but that was nearly 30yrs ago when I was working in a gun shop and still in school.

It's pretty easy. I always watch a video while I do it, just to be sure I do it in the correct order and don't forget anything. Mind is not the steel trap it once was. Which reminds me, I have one that needs that new Geissele trigger installed. ;)
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It was about 25 years ago when I picked up a Winchester 94 at a pawnshop. It would hang just a little when working the lever. I didn't know how to disassemble or reassemble a lever gun so I just flushed it out with gun scrubber and sprayed insides with oil. It worked just fine but it bothered me to no end that I didn't know how. I looked around and found that you can find books on how to disassemble 94s and many other guns new and old. Now if I get new or old gun that's the first thing I do, find the book. I have books or written instructions on every gun I own. I would rather have a book but there is always YouTube.
 
tws3b2 said:
It was about 25 years ago when I picked up a Winchester 94 at a pawnshop. It would hang just a little when working the lever. I didn't know how to disassemble or reassemble a lever gun so I just flushed it out with gun scrubber and sprayed insides with oil. It worked just fine but it bothered me to no end that I didn't know how. I looked around and found that you can find books on how to disassemble 94s and many other guns new and old. Now if I get new or old gun that's the first thing I do, find the book. I have books or written instructions on every gun I own. I would rather have a book but there is always YouTube.
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A book is always better and often more credible but YouTube is a pretty good substitute. As long as it's something they don't decide "violates community guidelines". They deleted my channel two weeks ago, denied the appeal and I still don't know why.
 
Skylerbone said:
Likely for being too educational. YouTube is swiftly becoming the depository of all things ignorant caught on camera and sadly they appear to want more of it.
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No idea. I hadn't uploaded a video in 2yrs and hadn't been in any arguments in the comments. They implied I was a scammer/spammer, which is beyond absurd. I was planning on doing some shooting/reloading videos this year but now......
 
Please, but, forgive me, I am about to digress…
That’s how the Gestapo did it as well. Eliminate the teachers. It’s so much easier to steer the masses when they are half stupid, or more…


The benefit of books is they cannot magically disappear at the whim of a faceless “algorithm”. It was easier when we could see them at the bon-fire…
As such, an easy reading and very informative one can be found by Patrick Sweeney, “Gunsmithing The AR-15.”

The good thing about the AR system is that all the parts are, or perhaps were, based upon similar automotive manufacturing procedures. An average man should have been able to look at a whole functional product and deduce what was the problem with a non-functional one, and be able to repair it with tools on hand.

Of course, at that same time, automobile manuals called for valve clearances of .003”…to be check by the owner. How many “Average Humans” could do something like that today? Very few. We have become like insects, specialized in a few areas and clueless of other “Guild Spaces.”
There are almost no more Samurai…
(Also, I’m angry at the situation, not your post, @CraigC .)
 
Demi-human said:
Please, but, forgive me, I am about to digress…
That’s how the Gestapo did it as well. Eliminate the teachers. It’s so much easier to steer the masses when they are half stupid, or more…


The benefit of books is they cannot magically disappear at the whim of a faceless “algorithm”. It was easier when we could see them at the bon-fire…
As such, an easy reading and very informative one can be found by Patrick Sweeney, “Gunsmithing The AR-15.”

The good thing about the AR system is that all the parts are, or perhaps were, based upon similar automotive manufacturing procedures. An average man should have been able to look at a whole functional product and deduce what was the problem with a non-functional one, and be able to repair it with tools on hand.

Of course, at that same time, automobile manuals called for valve clearances of .003”…to be check by the owner. How many “Average Humans” could do something like that today? Very few. We have become like insects, specialized in a few areas and clueless of other “Guild Spaces.”
There are almost no more Samurai…
(Also, I’m angry at the situation, not your post, @CraigC .)
Click to expand...
That's the problem with a lot of this and the alarming aspect of the Age of Google. The information can be easily manipulated or eliminated completely at the whims of some "algorithm" or faceless big tech dork.
 
Recently I developed an insatiable itch for a 300BLK carbine. Half an hour surfing the ‘net and my shopping carts were full - Rosco barrel (blem), Wilson Combat upper (blem), Geissele m-lok fore end (blem), Strike Industries comp, SOLGW lower (blem), RISE trigger (big sale), CMMG lower parts, AERO milspec buffer kit (clearance) and B5 Bravo stock (already had an extra). I could not find anything wrong with all the blem stuff, nothing. A couple rainy hours later on a Saturday morning, and I had my 300 carbine. I had recently upgraded the optic on my SCAR 17 and so had a Trijicon TA01 to put on it, perfect. I am not a gunsmith by any means but the build went together beautifully and the darn thing shoots lights out. If you’re on the fence about building one, jump down. Build one!

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OP: if you don’t mind more of a challenge & the possibility of spending several hundred extra dollars extra, mostly because FAL kits almost never include an upper receiver, how about a somewhat more challenging project than an AR?
Arizona Response Systems (owner: Mark Graham) sells the DVDs to explain how it’s done. Questions are gladly answered on FALfiles.

They tell me that proper barrel alignment is the most difficult issue (using rods etc): requires a good bit of patience. Quite frankly, I've never built anything and would not have the confidence to attempt this.
FN-FAL.jpg
 
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I think the OP will have no trouble assembling an AR if he's familiar with disassembly and reassembly of the firearms he listed. Should be a piece of cake.
 
I had purchased two PSA Uppers and they work, but I have had trouble with both. First one was 556 and had some jamming occasionally. Second one was 6.8 SPC and that one would not cycle anything. Took it to an Armorer I know and the Carrier Key on the BCG was out of spec and accepted the Red key like it was worn out, even though its brand new. Also oiled it heavy and there was gas leakage from the carrier Key and the carrier. When removed you could see all the oil was blown away. We replaced Carrier and key and it cycles like a champ now. Now they have their normal line and their premium models and I could not order 6.8, but in the cheaper line, as it is not available in their higher end line

I think if I did it again, I would build. Most all of the PSA stuff was fine except the BCG being out of spec and leaking gas. You also can build a lot cheaper than most are posting here about. PSA is making Bargen uppers and these guys are building guns with top of the line parts. Like stated, $30 or $300 trigger. Which one matters to you? I am good with Mid grade.
 
tws3b2 said:
Actually I'm beginning to think this AR is going to be too easy.
Click to expand...
Maybe consider building an AK. They’re much more involved and while not necessarily “hard” they are a bit more hands on. Using a hydraulic press to install the barrel and set headspace, drilling the gas port, drilling/pinning things like the gas block and sights, drilling the receiver and then riveting the attachments, that sort of thing.

The AK isn’t as easy to mix and match parts as an AR, so you really need to know what you want from the beginning, but at least to me it is a much more interesting and rewarding build process.
 
archeryrob said:
I had purchased two PSA Uppers and they work, but I have had trouble with both. First one was 556 and had some jamming occasionally. Second one was 6.8 SPC and that one would not cycle anything. Took it to an Armorer I know and the Carrier Key on the BCG was out of spec and accepted the Red key like it was worn out, even though its brand new. Also oiled it heavy and there was gas leakage from the carrier Key and the carrier. When removed you could see all the oil was blown away. We replaced Carrier and key and it cycles like a champ now. Now they have their normal line and their premium models and I could not order 6.8, but in the cheaper line, as it is not available in their higher end line

I think if I did it again, I would build. Most all of the PSA stuff was fine except the BCG being out of spec and leaking gas. You also can build a lot cheaper than most are posting here about. PSA is making Bargen uppers and these guys are building guns with top of the line parts. Like stated, $30 or $300 trigger. Which one matters to you? I am good with Mid grade.
Click to expand...

Speaking of triggers, OP probably doesn't know about drop in triggers for the AR.

risearmament.com

AR-15 Trigger Options | Drop-In Triggers | RISE Armament

RISE Armament offers a variety of single-stage AR-15 trigger options, as well as AR-10 and PCC triggers for your next build.
risearmament.com risearmament.com
 
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