Parts for an AR build

[TanklessPro]

I'm in the process of building an AR. While I like having the same manufacturer for the upper and lower. Barrels I guess it's pretty hard to match the manufacturer. The pistol grip and stock will be Magpul. I like MI or Troy handguards, so that's pretty much deceided. What about the other parts? Do you try to use the same manufacturer of parts in a build?

 

[newfalguy101]

mil spec is mil spec is mil spec, all of the companies that make mil spec parts will fit.

However be aware that regardless of manufacturer, its possible to have to do some minor fitting of parts when sourced from a variety of different sources.

 

[dfariswheel]

I would use only quality parts from a good supplier like Brownell's.

Gun show and Shotgun News parts are almost always substandard and may not fit or last.
This doesn't mean you need to buy the absolute top of the line full custom parts, you just need to buy known quality parts from a quality supplier who stands behind them.
Doing this will prevent a lot of problems.

 

[Schofield3]

when I was building up mine, my only contingent was every component must be USA made.

 

[HOOfan_1]

If you want upper lower and barrel with the same branding...Spikes, Palmetto State Armory or Stag.

I personally have gone for Daniel Defense barrels and uppers..knowing that all uppers and lowers are actually made by only a few forging companies.

I have two DD uppers and one has a keyhole mark for cerro forge and another has a square for Brass Aluminum Forging

My only lower so far is Armalite and it fits with the Brass Aluminum Forging upper perfectly color wise and physically.

 

[LUCKYDAWG13]

for a stripped lower & upper PSA http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/catalog/product/view/id/10445/category/4282/ spend you money on the barrel and BCG

 

[Revoliver]

There is no AR manfacturer or AR assembly company out there that makes exactly what I want.

The only time I 'might' ever care about having an AR completely of one manufacturer would be for resale... if I were to ever sell that is

 

[newfalguy101]

I would use only quality parts from a good supplier like Brownell's.

Gun show and Shotgun News parts are almost always substandard and may not fit or last.

Really?? The parts I have on my GUNSHOW table are the same parts you would buy from brownells, or any other name supplier, namely Matrix Areospace lowers and DPMS LPKs and upper.

Not that there are NOT substandard parts being sold....I have heard PSA mentioned LOTS of times on that subject.............but, just where do you think gunstores get their inventory from?? And what makes you think the store inventory is any different than what is on the tables??

 

[Tirod]

Gun show and Shotgun News parts are almost always substandard

when I was building up mine, my only contingent was every component must be USA made.

There are M16 plants in foreign countries set up to produce weapons for that nation, and they do so with good results.

There are shops in the US which make parts simply because they can sell them, somebody will buy them and they can and will be put in inventory regardless.

The reality is that an imported part may be higher quality than the US made one, and cheaper, too. Point is, if you prefer Made In The USA, get a copy of the Brownell's catalog, the last I had marked parts as to it being USA or not. What it didn't say was the country of origin of those other parts - and some of them are highly regarded.

I see them listed for sale in The Shotgun News, same as: BCM, Colt, PSA, Remington, Ruger, Grizzly (started by DOD as a back up maker for uppers,) Knight's, LWRC, and Yankee Hill. Of course, they seem to fill our gunshows, too.

Sure glad they do.

But, just because an American vendor sells it doesn't mean it's made in the USA. They are quite reticent about that for good reason. At least Brownell's is up front about it.