Cheapest Possible AR Build

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Mudpuppy: Superior Arms makes lowers with custom logos. I'm sure they'd do a plain one.

http://www.superiorarms.com/Logos.html

Roadwild: The gun above is a Stag stripped lower from Eagle firearms. I then bought a Lightweight 16" CAR KIT from Model 1 sales. All in all I got it for $515 + the cost of some punches to put it together. I topped it with a Bushnell Holosight.
 
Just to keep everyone posted as to the status of the cheap AR project

I just picked up a pinned bushmaster m4gery stock with buffer buffer tube and spring on arfcom for 30$ shipped.

The lower parts kit was 57.68 shipped on arfcom (nice finish to the pieces)

this brings the grand total to

170 lower out the door
57.68 parts kit
30 stock
-----
257.68 for the lower half of it.

now to save some money up and find a cheap upper.
 
So far I have found NOTHING wrong with the 20" bull barrel, flat top kit I ordered from Model 1 Sales. In fact I was so pleased with their products that I ordered another kit from them last week.
I installed the SS bull kit on my Doublestar lower (good product!) and the next kit (20" std rifle kit) is going on my Lauer (also very good quality).
Ajax, if you are going to be legal here in Kaliforniastan you will need a kit of some sorts to affix the mag per state law. I use the kit offered by www.sportingconversion.com with confidence.

If you have any other questions, send me a pm
 
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sorry, haven't heard back from my friend on where he got the ameetec complete lower for two bills but here's their website: http://www.ameetecarms.com/ if you call 'em, they might be able to help. btw, their stripped lowers are $110. dunno for sure if they're off list but they most likely are.
 
From what I've been told, (even though its cheaper to buy lowers assembled) those of us behind the iron curtain can't have the lowers shipped assembled as the pistol grip will be attached when it arrives at the ffl, causing it to be immediatly sent back to shipper.

The guy I went through was really nice, but he let me know in no uncertain terms that if the lower was not compleatly stripped he wouldn't do the transfer.

I've ordered a Stag (or a double star if they can't get more stags on order) as I've heard that they actually manufacture the parts for alot of other major labels, who just engrave there own names on them.

so far cheapest lower I've found has been through www.title2.com they sell for 99 shipped with a discount if you buy more than three. or 155$ with a lower parts kit assembled.
 
Just an update, the project is creeping along, a cash infusion coming up should lead to some real progress in the next few weeks.


I am having a dificult time deciding if the savings are signifigant enough to warrent building my own upper as opposed to buying a used upper that is complete.

Apparently uppers run about 100$ used,

barrels go for 100-150,

Barrel nuts I believe are less than 50

gas blocks should be around 30

and I don't know what the tube costs.

so it would seem that it would cost around 300 bucks to build it up (not counting tools) and used ones can be had for that price fairly reliably.
 
So far I have found NOTHING wrong with the 20" bull barrel, flat top kit I ordered from Model 1 Sales
Click to expand...
Model 1 has been having a fair amount of trouble with broken bolts, some sooner, some later, there have been a number of cases reported on AR15.com.
 
Ajax im sitting on a couple off list lowers right now also. Ive seen some uppers from cdnn for a good price. I believe I would rather own an AR with no permanantly affixed grip then one that needed to be broken open every 10 rounds to reload. Good luck and I hope you make your FFL blush when he sees what you paid for your evil black rifle.
 
Alrighty,

quick update, I have found the upper for my rifle (start cheering now)

Its a RRA flat top upper, which is coming with the delta assembly a flash hider (which is going on the .22 rifle and the compensator from the .22 rifle is going back on the AR)

the best part is, it's complete with forward assist and ejector port cover, and all of the parts are 100$ shipped.
the cheepest I had found up untill this was 88$ pluss tax for a stripped flat top upper.

so now I only need

Barrel

Gas block

Gas tube

Handguard

and of course the Bolt Carrier group.

I figgure that the barrel the first thing I should find, as everything else (handguard length, gas tube length gas block diameter) all hinge on what kind of barrel I can find for cheap, I would like to get a barrel and bolt that are matched to eachother, but we'll see what turns up.

Thanks to the THR member who hooked a brother up with the upper.
 
ok here goes nothin,

Lower receiver = 130$
Tax on lower (long story)= 10.08
Dros Fees = 25
Pinned Tellescoping butstock with buffer tube spring and wrench=30.90$ shipped (including postal money order fee)
Lower parts kit= 57.96
Flat top Upper receiver, Delta ring assembly, and flash hider= 100.90 shipped (including postal money order fee)
Mil spec phosphate Bolt Carrier with key=75 Shipped

le Total de jour = exactly 429.84

I'm not all the way done yet, but I'm still well shy of the 1200 bucks that the FFL wanted for his.

Let me know if you guys spot a cheap barrel or gas block, or bolt for sale, I'd like to see this done for 600 out the door, 1/2 asking price would feel good to walk back into the store and slap down reciepts.
 
Get a cav arms lower for 150 bucks and assemble it yourself (not hard). Or pay the extra 30 bucks and get it fully assembled.

Purchase an A1 upper for about 400 bucks. Put them together and add some magazines, and you have a new 600 dollar AR.

Downsides- A1 twist rate only takes 55 grain ammo
 
beerslurpy, I appriciate the thought, but I think by shopping around I'll wind up with higher quality parts, there are alot of used AR stuff kicking around with little or no wear on it. EBR guys get a bit carried away buying stuff they don't need. (no offense guys, nothin but love for ya)

I just sent payment for a 20 inch preban barrel, 65 bucks shipped, so el total is now.

494.84

parts still needed:

gas tube

handguards

bolt

and unless I am forgeting something th-th-th-th-thats all folks.
 
I found a gas block with a rail on it and a 20 inch gas tube for 25$ shipped,

so....

519.84 total.

Still need:

a set of handguards

and a bolt head

and a charging handle (totally forgot about that, would have been embarassing at the range)

Thanks for all the parts assistance you guys, the THR community has really helped me out on this project.
 
I feel bad for you guys living out west. $150+ out the door for a stripped Stag lower? $106 with tax here.
 
all gun prices get kinda inflated here in the peoples republic, there is very little availability, you have to find a willing dealer, and then the fees... oh yes the fees.. our reg fees probably fund the whole DOJ (exageration)
 
Just get a SP1 upper from CDNN for about $370 and add a lower. You'll be in under $650 easily, even if you need to add a bolt and carrier.
 
Not a bad price, but nothing amazing, either. Similar deals can be found from the aforementioned companies, like Del-Ton.
 
How about $570 complete plus shipping and transfer fee's

cmmg is selling bargin bin rifles, all new parts, stored in bult, have a few marks on them, not beuty queens but all brand new parts.

Problem with "CHEAP" and "GUN" ... is you usally get what you pay for. I've seen too many guys go the cheap route on AR's and have problems, for $1k you can get a RRA or Bushmaster and never have a single problem.
 
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