Home Forums Hunting & Shooting AR and Tactical Rifles How to build an AR

1.It is best to have a friend school you thru a few basics, especially a friend who has the RIGHT tools, Thanks, Ed.
2.Build a rifle. There most certainly is a carbine that will cost less than the sum of it's parts (and work well) at any price point from $499 on up.
3.You will need a dealer for the lower receiver. Buy a Rock River or whatever basic lower. Plan on just under $100. I just paid $89 each.
4. Buy two lowers. Really.
>>>HINT>>> If your dealer has Uppers and Lowers at a good price, maybe he/she will let you try a few for best fit. My dealer was out of R.R. Uppers. I ordered two Uppers for like $96 one fits REALLY nicely. The other fits better than that. The super precise fit Upper and Lower and a few special parts are seasoning in a Pink shoe box marked "next"
You can thank me later.
My dealer had a stack so I got two consecutive serial numbered lowers.
Both Lowers go on the same 4473 form, so just get it over with one background check. You will be building another one, sooner or later, just admit it.
5.Get serious about triggers. Learn to pronounce Guyz-Lee. (Do not bother to learn how to spell it, you will be in love with just about everything they produce!) Buy one.
6.Buy a lower parts kit, (without a grip) (you will not like the one in the kit) Buy a buffer tube and innards.$40-$50 EACH
7.You tube the assembly then invite that friend over and his tool kit. In a perfect world you have a huge bench vise under a serious light. In no time you will be wiping up the spilled oil and washing the grease off your hands.
8. Bookmark Brownells. (Joe Bob's too) You do not have to buy everything there...but you almost could! The new product videos are well worth the time.
9. Shop stocks, grips, and barrels...It will be easy since you are, after all building a rifle and because a fixed buttstock is less cost than a carbine type adjustable assembly. You can now justify that G-Word trigger. Some suppliers sell the entire stock assembly at a pretty good discount, maybe less than $100.
10.If you get frightened easily... you can buy a complete upper and shortcut the build to get to the range sooner. Or enjoy the huge selection of Barrels, Brakes, Gas blocks LED marker lights and Chrome bumpers!
Talk you friend into another friendly visit. If this is a really good friend, maybe they already have a "reaction bar" If not find a better friend or maybe even look at a G-Word Re-Bar. >>>This is one sweet way to build the Upper.>>> You Tube it, or better yet, buy yourself one! You and your friend only need one maybe split the cost?
See... Joe Bob done saved you 45 bucks!

Once you have this whole thing outlined...do not wait years like I did.
Your kids are crazy for LEGOs this is the same thing...only CHEAPER!
Good Luck with the HUGE AR shooting marketplace we currently enjoy.>>> Make exactly what you want.>>>

I don't know, but as a kid I enjoyed the hell out of tearing stuff apart and putting it back together. However, I'd rather buy an ar lower already put together. Same goes for the upper. Although, to get exactly what you want, you usually always have to take stuff off and replace with what you want. Luckily ars are easy to disassemble and reassemble. When I run across one that is put together just the way I want it, it's hard to pass up. I have my eye on a LWRC with ambi controls, that fits that description to a tee...

'Decided (as much as can be) to...avoid compromises.
M. Thatcher said " a compromise is another word for losing".
"If only the barrel was a little...(fill in the blank)"
Life is too short for many more compromises.
Not many compromises at LWRC, just choices, Friend...Choices!

One thing to learn in the process is the fit upper to lower, matters not unless you are trying to win matches or shoot 1000 yards with the gun and even then it doesn't make much difference.... at 300 yards its under a half inch difference in overall 10 shot group sizes, actually I think it was less than that but I can't seem to recall

Man lowers are so easy... I don't know why everyone doesn't do em. I think I could almost do one in my sleep. Its been a while but there is one aggravating roll pin IIRC that can up your time but overall its not but maybe 15 minutes? I know not very long.

You can always just throw in an acu wedge to tighten things up too.

And it most folks won't even be able to tell the difference but there is that. The most visible thing to 10 shot groups at 300 was they became rounder over all and more shots closer to center, less wild fliers if that makes any sense.

If you can buy/fit upper to lower, do so.
If not that is OK too.
I have a loose fit over the counter Ruger complete rifle that is shooting better than it should.
I think volume and competition has been a real asset to the Tinker-Shooter Clan.

#5 needs explaining. I can get a very good 2-stage for $99. Why would I want to spend 2x for Geissele?

Yep, the RRA 2 stage varmint triggers I buy are $89.99. Once you polish them out, they are almost as good as a geiselle.

LaRue's are $87 and don't need nothing...

"very good" , "almost"...Or buy Geissele. Your choice! That friends is the point. You have choices. These are the good old days. Brownells has the good stuff on sale. $169 and free shipping.

Thats a hell of a good deal, if an SSA-E. The cheapest I've paid was $179.99...

I'll try one next time and be the judge of that.

I have 5 Geissele's but for LaRue's at $87 how could I not?

If they work as good or better than the RRA varmints, I totally agree. That type satisfies for most folks needs period.

I agree rost. I'm half tempted to try one of those triggers... I know you fine tune your RRA's, as do I. Seems most times (these days), the first stage seems gritty and it needs attention. If I didn't have to polish (not stone) a trigger, I wouldn't know what to do with myself. Although Geiselle SSA-E triggers come perfect right out of the box, but they are much more expensive... Larue sounds like a great option...

I have a RR 2 stage as well. It's a great trigger for the price.

kwg

I've shot more than a couple RRA varmints out of the bag, grit, creep and all, and have never touched em. 100 rounds or so they kind of get better. But I have some guns where it just doesn't really matter that much to me about a glass rod perfect pull.

I just don't want an 11 pound SKS trigger either.

That price is shocking! A person would be a fool to buy any other 2-stage trigger. I wish I had another AR trigger to upgrade.

So what do you think of the La Rue vs others (besides pricing)? Just curious.

Accuracy is one point.

I can't stand a floppy rattling gun. Even a cheap ugly rifle shouldn't act like a can of spare parts. IMHO.

And it is just an opinion, but a loose gun feels broken to me.

I don't care how tight you think your rifle is, an accu wedge will make it better.

I'll let you know when they come in. I have heard nothing but good about them then got an email explaining why they went from $250 down to $87. No longer doing runs when time allows, set up space and dedicated a crew to building triggers. Celebrating till Christmas with $87 prices. I ordered 2 and will see what all the fuss is about.

I'll let you know.

that gives time for reviews and ordering then for once. 250 would be a nutty price unless its a perfect type trigger.

Wanna bet? LOL

We all have opinions. Good things start with accuracy. Beyond that its all gravy. But I just refuse to get hung up on looks. And rattling bothers me but it doesn't affect accuracy so its low on my worries list.

Once I'd been handed my tail to me a number of times by a guy with a ratty M70 action, chrome moly barrel that had clear coat on it an rust showing... and a wooden stock that had bondo here and there to make it fit right, and primer gray in spots... I gave up on vanity, learned what really mattered in life and kept moving forward.

Kinda like vehicles in some ways too... not washed and a few dents is liable to have a solid engine/ transmission and thats way better than the shiny caddy's with chrome that are show and junk.

A buddy of mine qualified expert(?) with an old beat up Hydromatic A1 if I recall correctly. Loved that gun even though the gap between upper and lower was so wide you could read the paper between it. It rattled and had little finish left on it but it shot great.

He got a brand new A2 and just knew he was gonna do better with it. He barely scraped by...

I liked the A1 better than the A2. I know the military is stuck on the 1/7 twist but for a 62 grain bullet I prefer a 1/8 twist. The 1/12 of the A1 worked great with a 55 grain bullet. Maybe it was psychological but I preferred the A1 more.

kwg

I look forward to hearing how they compare to a geiselle.

I just look forward to how they compare to the RRA varmint at least

Ha ha... We'll find out.. TWR is a straight shooter..

here's my crazy suggestion:

optional: buy a new complete AR so you have a working one to see how they work.

not so optional: watch a bunch of youtube videos on how to assemble the lower.

buy a lower at your dealer as described above... or buy 2 or 3

buy a PSA upper with a lower parts kit, they have one on sale today, every day...

build the lower using what you learned in the videos. You might also want to buy a few tools: the roll pin starter punches, regular punches, the wrench for the buffer tube castle nut, Wheeler has a nice tool for the trigger guard pin.

buy a bunch of magazines, some optic (PSA will have that on sale too, if not today, later this week)

buy a case of 55gr brass case ammo (everyone has that on sale this year)

go have fun!

later you can build another, you got more than one lower, right?.... and then another.... eventually you'll get bored with .223/5.56 that's OK there are a coupla dozen other caliber options.

WARNING! these things are addictive

Poole

AERO has a lower that replaces some pins with screws...and has a useful built in trigger guard. Add a LaRue or Timney trigger and there is not much need for the roll pin punches. that should remove stress and about 75% of the build time. The AERO has a screw located on the rear of the lower just aft of the grip screw, it allows the screw to contact the upper real lug to take away the rattle. AERO may or may not be the best recievers but they are popular in the Pacific Northwest. They are priced near the bottom end.
My priority is the barrel, then the trigger. I am open minded but basically conservative on the AR doo-dads.
>>>BILL, I did buy an AR15 just befor my first build ...see "how to buy an AR 15" But, I also had Ed "too many letters" here and his tool kit with reaction bar and I watched him assemble an upper then I just copied what he did, that.... took about an hour.
>>>The over the counter Ruger out shot my build shot for shot (all handloads)... until yesterday when the build outshot the Ruger. Seems the Black Hole barrel likes Benchmark and Nosler 53 Varnageddons...

What does the trigger type have to do with roll pin punches?

I'm starting to think you know less about the AR than most of the folks you're preaching to here.

Come on Yondering, I got that in his first paragraph on his "how to buy" thread but it has been entertaining...

This made me chuckle. Exactly.
Anderson lowers bought 2 @ 39.00 ea. Sat in the safe till Trump elected.
PSA started having hellacious sales right around Christmas lower build kit 69.00 free shipping.
Couple months later 1/8 stainless freedom upper w/ bcg/ch and mbus sight 319.00 free shipping.
1000 rounds 55 Federal 249.00 + 5 cents per round rebate and free shipping.
1000 round 62 gr Federal 299.00 + 5 cents per rebate and free shipping.
20 magpuls 7.99 over 10 and free shipping
Shoots good enough for a steel half man/ pig target with irons to the 300 which is all I wanted.

And if that's all you wanted then that's fine.

Some want more...

I love this place. Quick if your ar is ejecting at 1:00 what time is it?

Time for a heavier buffer weight.

Means you trimmed your ejector spring just right so all the brass can land in your cap that you put out in front of you before you shoot rapid fire.

No I've never had a jam related to trimming them to land in front of me and close by....

I'd never trim one to land in front of me, behind the firing line is a much better place to lay your hat...

I'd like to get me one o' them half man half pig targets. Sounds pretty interesting.

Funnier than fugg how you all get your panties in a bunch when someone considers an AR as any other tool in the box.

they get to wild when tossed behind the firing line. Up front out of the way in a nice pile, I only messed with a hat a few times on some bets with a few bolt gun shooters. They did generally land about on the firing line, give or take... no big deal as long as they were in a pile.

H3 you say?

A little late to the party, eh Y?

But you are usually a gentleman.......................

MM

Was trying to give him the benefit of the doubt at first, figured maybe he just wasn't good at putting his thoughts on paper.