Why I can not finish building AR #3

[BSA1]

I need help and support from the AR Anonymous Support Group.

I have two complete AR’s that I built myself using stripped lowers I brought prior to 2016 elections. As I still have two other stripped lowers I decided to build AR #3 this year.

The plan started simple enough. I spent much of the winter researching and selecting the parts for the build. I would buy the parts over time taking advantage of any sales along the way and put the parts in a cardboard box until I accumulated all of them to do the build. I selected an Aero Precision Black Nitride BCG, ALG ACT FCG, Daniel Defense A1.5 rear sight and Magpul MOE carbine handguard. When I got a Anderson smooth side upper a couple of months ago I kicked the project into high gear.

Well it seemed like a good plan. Until…

AR #1 has a .223 Wylde Wilson Arms barrel. I have been totally unimpressed with the accuracy results I have been getting. So when the Aero Precision BCG arrived I decided that since I wasn’t ready to finish building AR #3 I would try it in AR #1. Well the accuracy has improved considerably. So much that I have decided replace the original BCG with the Aero Precision.

AR #1 has a ALG QMS trigger group in it that I do not like. Since I have read the accuracy of a AR is the barrel, BCG and trigger FCG I plan on installing the ACT FCG in AR #1.

AR #2 is a budget build basic AR. No frills. Magpul MOE furniture, rear Mbus and tower fixed front sight. Since I have decided to keep it as a no frills self-defense gun I will not put any optics or red dot sight on it. Without optics there is no need for the pop-up Magpul rear sight so I think I will put the Daniel Defense A1.5 rear sight on it instead.

Well the Magpul MOE carbine handguard is a sure thing…until comments on THR has me considering the Magpul Slim Line instead.

So here I am trying to decide what to do with the cast off BCG and ALG QMS trigger from AR #1, the Magul pop-up rear sight from AR #2 and I am still without a handguard for AR #3.

The BCG and ALG QMS could go into AR #3. Maybe I will get lucky and the BCG will match the barrel and give me good accuracy.

Maybe.

Except I really like the Aero Precision Black Nitride BCG.

As for the ALG QMS it sucks.

Maybe I should install JP Springs in it and see what the results are.

Or just go ahead and order another ALG ACT like I originally planned.

Well the Magpul rear sight is not a loss. It will work fine on AR #3.

And since I have not ordered a handguard I have a choice to make.

If I decide to stay with my original plan using a Aero Precision BCG and ALG ACT this means it will be later this year and more $$$ before I finally finish the build.

Oh I forgot to mention that I have a fourth stripped lower which I have been buying parts for. At this rate I will probably change more parts on AR’s 1, 2 and 3 when I decide to complete building #4…

Which will leave me with cast-off parts for build #5 and I don’t even have a 5th lower.

But FIRST I have to finish building #3!

 

[WestKentucky]

Depends...you could sell your used bits for a slight loss, trade them towards other parts, or fiddle with them and try to make them work better. Or you could imitate Gunny and stack up about 20 complete guns worth of parts.

 

[GBExpat]

BSA1, I feel for ya ... I am in the latter stages of a 3-AR assembly fit ... and I already had 5. <sigh>

One thing for which I am very thankful is that I view ARs in a more utilitarian light than many and, so, am more interested in low price and reasonable performance than brand names and appearance.

 

[Hokie_PhD]

Depends...you could sell your used bits for a slight loss, trade them towards other parts, or fiddle with them and try to make them work better. Or you could imitate Gunny and stack up about 20 complete guns worth of parts.

When I grow up I want to be like Gunny!

Seriously, I think we all start getting parts then have to figure out what to do with them. I know Gunny has helped me and others out by giving us parts. One day I hope to pay it forward to others.until then I think figuring out what we like, what works for us etc is part of the process.

Plus these are Legos right? And what fun are Legos if you don’t have spare parts.

 

[Hokie_PhD]

One thing for which I am very thankful is that I view ARs in a more utilitarian light than many and, so, am more interested in low price and reasonable performance than brand names and appearance.

I was like that. I’m with you in that I like value. That said, I’m really starting to appreciate ARs that are different. Cool colors, neat roll marks, different stocks etc. I guess there’s a spot that doesn’t break the bank, shoots well and has something cool about it.

 

[GBExpat]

... Cool colors, neat roll marks, different stocks etc. ...

<making cross with index fingers> BEGONE EVIL TEMPTER!

 

[Hokie_PhD]

<making cross with index fingers> BEGONE EVIL TEMPTER!

You can try but you can’t hold out for long. Believe me I tried. Just look at OP

He thinks he has a plan. He’s asking for help, but the builds are rapidly multiplying. I’m in the same boat as him. I have several stripped lowers sitting in a box and would have jumped on the sale Primary Arms is having today on stripped uppers. If the cash was available the box would then have an equal number of uppers and lowers. Then the acquisition of LPKs, stocks, barrels and upper parts would begin.

Thankfully or sadly we have to make choices or we have things that take priority, but in time the bug will bite hard and you’ll have a patriotic AR or one in your favorite color(s).

Did I mention the red, white and blue patriotic ones are real cool looking?

 

[GBExpat]

<eyes closed, fingers in ears> LA-LA-LA-LA-LA

These things are just WAY too easy to assemble. With the FALs and AKs and G3s there is some actual work/craft involved (setting/gauging timing, trimming barrel shoulders, redrilling barrel ports, riveting, welding, etc) so the urge to build a lot of them was mitigated.

... but the ARs are fun to shoot and easy to carry around the fields & forests.

 

[RussellC]

I think the take away I have learned from my gun hobby is this: You are going to end up with piles of stuff accumulated in your search for the "right" thing. Holsters, magazines, reloading dies, brass measuring tools, optics, sights etc. Sort of like reloading, I don't save a cent but I shoot more. In this context, I don't save a cent building guns, but I have a bunch of extra parts which do eventually come in handy. You can use what you have until you get what you want with a particular build. If you are never going to find a use, pass them down to someone who will.

Russellc

 

[BSA1]

Just to show you how severe my problem is.

I took advantage of a Flash Sale earlier today and ordered a couple of parts I need for...

Build #4.

So now I am thinking I am using the wrong approach for finishing Build #3. Instead I wonder if I should start focusing on finishing Build #4 and start accumulating parts for the yet undetermined Build #5. Maybe that way the parts intended for AR #4 will find their way onto AR #3.

What say yee ARA Group members?

 

[Hokie_PhD]

Just to show you how severe my problem is.

I took advantage of a Flash Sale earlier today and ordered a couple of parts I need for...

Build #4.

So now I am thinking I am using the wrong approach for finishing Build #3. Instead I wonder if I should start focusing on finishing Build #4 and start accumulating parts for the yet undetermined Build #5. Maybe that way the parts intended for AR #4 will find their way onto AR #3.

What say yee ARA Group members?

Sounds like a plan. But what about Build #6?

And how about getting rid of the numbers and get personal with the builds? Give them some love and respect. What are each build for? Maybe I’m missing something, but I look at each build as a specific AR. Be it a new caliber or a special lurpose

 

[BSA1]

Hummm,

I'm not very good with names but you do have a point. Maybe I could start with the first letter of the alphabet. #1 Abby, #2 Betty, #3 Crystal, #4 Dorothy.

er No. If my wife overheard me muttering their names at night while sleeping I would probably get to see the stars...and not the Hollywood kind.

Or how about when my wife asks me what I planned for today and I tell her I'm taking Dorothy to the shooting range? Will the women on the jury vote to convict her?

As for AR #6 that is down the road as all of my kids need a AR even if they don't know it yet.

 

[Hokie_PhD]

Wow you like to play with fire.
By names I meant descriptive names not human ones.

For instance my last one was my budget 3 gun build. My next one will be my 300 Blackout or 6.5 Grendel build.
I also have a tribute build planned and I’m thinking about a patriotic build.

 

[Everready73]

If you want a new trigger I would recommend taking a look at the larue MBT. They just announced a sale on it though Christmas for $87 and it is awesome even at full price. Very compatible to a Geiselle SSA. The ACT is a good trigger for what it is, but the Larue is on another level. It is a two stage trigger if that matters to you

 

[BSA1]

Wow you like to play with fire.
By names I meant descriptive names not human ones.

I know. I was just funning you.

 

[BSA1]

If you want a new trigger I would recommend taking a look at the larue MBT. They just announced a sale on it though Christmas for $87 and it is awesome even at full price. Very compatible to a Geiselle SSA. The ACT is a good trigger for what it is, but the Larue is on another level. It is a two stage trigger if that matters to you

Will do. Thanks for the tip.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Will do. Thanks for the tip.

If you want to try JP springs with your AGL QUM trigger, PM me your address, I have an extra set in my box.

 

[BSA1]

What is your opinion of the JP 3.5T spring set? Will it fire hard primers?

Or is the 4.0 Tactical Spring Kit that much better?

I mainly shoot my reloads using CCI Small Rifle Magnum primers. 98% of the ammunition I shoot are my own reloads. I have military grade M193 and M855 along with some commercial stuff like Federal and PMC stored in ammo cans mainly intended for use if reloading components and ammo supplies dry up. (In fact I am currently shooting up my Clinton era stash from 25 years ago.) My military ammo stash is Federal Lake City, PMC and IMI.

 

[DJW]

just trying to reset my thinking as there is no current ban or proposed ban on what we can legally possess. just keep all spare parts and see what develops. prices seem to be coming down and that's a good thing. we may be entering a time of less gov't interference, hopefully!

 

[BSA1]

Wow you like to play with fire.
By names I meant descriptive names not human ones.

For instance my last one was my budget 3 gun build. My next one will be my 300 Blackout or 6.5 Grendel build.
I also have a tribute build planned and I’m thinking about a patriotic build.

I have given build #4 a name. I call it my Purple People Eater. You are showing your age if you remember the One Eyed One Horned Flying Purple People Eater song.

It is intended to be a gift to Daughter #1 as she likes AR's and her favorite color is purple. Thanks very much to GunnyUSMC for the idea.

 

[GBExpat]

It is intended to be a gift to Daughter #1 as she likes AR's and her favorite color is purple.

Suggestion: Get some "Sand" (color) M3 Magpul magazines and stain them with an appropriate Rit dye to go with her rifle.

 

[cfullgraf]

...I don't save a cent building guns...

Right. I've never tried to save money on my AR-15 builds. I build my AR-15s with the parts I want as opposed to modifying a factory rifle. I do not have a bunch of cast off factory parts in my parts bin. But, I do change parts on my rifles because something new comes along so those parts to accumulate.

... but the ARs are fun to shoot and easy to carry around the fields & forests.

Fun to shoot, sure. My 12-13 pound, 26" heavy barrel varmint AR-15s are more "crew served" than "woods carry friendly". The wide selection of builds is one of the great features of an AR-15.

 

[entropy]

Purple People Eater.

Meant something entirely different to me in Minnesota in the 70's.

Hi, my name is entropy, and I am an ARholic. It's been three months since my last build: https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/ar-15-pistol-noob.836057/#post-10823096, and the one before that was in 1989. I have an Anderson lower and few parts in a drawer towards my next build, an A2 clone. The main thing confounding this build is Trap season, but that will soon pass. I tend to keep them mil-spec, maybe when I get to building a 3-gun type AR, I'll pop for names and such. (Though I'll admit, an LWRC M6A2 is my 'dream' AR) OK, I said my speil, where's the doughnuts?

 

[Skylerbone]

At current prices I’m trying to acquire magazines and lowers every month and save the building for kids.

If you need help with naming them (purely for fun) I highly recommend watching this:

.

So remember, never Tiffany.

 

[BSA1]

Suggestion: Get some "Sand" (color) M3 Magpul magazines and stain them with an appropriate Rit dye to go with her rifle.

Yep!