Very Nice, Steve what'd you think about my little stash?

I like it! The RRA looks real nice. I might get get an RRA or a Stag or something, or I might even step up to full Mil-Spec like Spikes Tactical, Daniel Defense, Colt, etc. I've got a while to figure it out.

Man whatever you do, just get it done ASAP, so we can all go shooting:tup:. Im at work right now searching Amazon, you can actually got a lot of accessories for the AR-15 on there, believe it or not.

I believe it! I've picked up a bunch of randoms from amazon.

I love amazon brother.. Im amazon and a eBay fiend, I just cant get enough.:happydance:

I ordered my bipod and vertical forend for my AR-15 last night... yeahhh dawwwg.:tup:

That shit must be serious, especially since he just got his 5.0 :icon17:

hehe..:tup:

gun show this weekend at the howard county fair grounds if anyone is interested

Directions to Silverado Gun Show

Thinking about paying it a visit, any one else is interested let me know!

Trooper & Kirk, about how much do you think it'd cost me to build a basic (but quality) AR myself? It'd be my first time so I'm sure there would be a specialty tool expense as well.

Considering the rifles I am looking at right now from CMMG, Stag Arms, Daniel Defense, Spikes, and RRA are in the $750-$1,000 range. I think there might not be much in the way of savings... I'd just have more options to build it exactly how I want.

HaHa, well there's the first issue.. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

"But Quality".. is a very broad spectrum LOL, but I can tell you I did save quite a bit, considering a prebuilt rifle I wanted to my specs was well over $2000, and I probably built it to my specs (minus optics/scope) for $1600 - $1700.

But as per your second point, I got it exactly how I wanted it, right from the start.

Why buy pre-built just to rip it apart, and replace parts.

If you're confident you can build one, or have a a friend on hand that can, you're good to go :)

No major tools really needed, except a roll pin punch and a upper receiver vice block (see brownells.com), oh and a vice LOL.

I'll be honest, having built my own rifle now, I don't think I'd ever buy a pre-build again.

It's like a car man, you'll just want to mod and customize it. :driving:

PS.. If you plan on building a carbine (less than 16") you'll be paying the ATF an additional $200.

You'll have to consider what you want to use the rifle for, that will be a big factor in which barrel to choose, and barrel length, and barrel twist.

Grant at G&R Tactical sells the Colt 6920 for $990. I've seen too many RRA, CMMG, DPMS, Bushmasters crap out in high round-count courses that I'd never own such a consumer-grade weapon for the $200-$300 price difference over something that's professional grade. Sorry, I've spent too much time around people who shoot a lot and know the platform and who have shaped my biases.

Building a rifle isn't likely to save you much money when you take into account the tools that you'd have to buy to put it together. As to building it exactly how you want....how do you know what you want? How do you know what parts to buy, what works well together? IMHO, unless you're looking for just a range toy to put a couple of hundred round through per year and show off your new black "Army rifle", get the Colt, learn to shoot it, learn what works for you and what doesn't, then build your rifle.


This is often unpopular advice. I fully expect a rebuttal from the Bushmaster fans and the ArfCom crowd.

I'm going to have to agree with Mac on this one. If it's your first AR then you need to pick one up so you can get a few thousand rounds downrange using iron sights. Can't beat 990 for a Colt if that is the barrel length and gas system that you want. I'm partial to the mid length gas system but for you first rifle, get something that you won't ever want to get rid of. Keep it simple since you'll end up building one the way you want eventually. You can always use the Colt lower for any build in the future.

I might. Need to pick up some ammo for the Garand...

Steve, I personally think if you build it yourself, you're more likely to go over $1000..I've looked around and thought about doing it, and when I added it all up, it was over $1000, I didnt want to spend any more than that, I didnt want to go all crazy with the modifications.

But... but... BUT!!! :p

I like the idea of building my own and my dad has quite a bit of experience with them so I don't think building one would be a big issue for us.

I remember from previous conversations you recommended Colt, Noveske, LMT, Daniel Defense, and possibly even Spike's Tactical, all of which I have looked at. I am not the level of shooter you are, so I doubt I would ever be able to push one of those rifles to the edge, which is why I started considering some of the commercial grade rifles (Stag, etc) because saving $200 here or there could go to some more 5.56.

I think the key here is that I am not on your tactical level, so my rifles wouldn't need to be able to withstand the same torture you might put them through. So I most certainly would be well served by one of the commercial grade pieces, or something I put together myself provided I don't f*ck it up.

Though in that $750-$1000 price range the savings really aren't that substantial. $750 for a Stag vs. $850 for a Spike's Tactical vs. $990 for the 6920 vs. $1000 even for a Daniel Defense...

Rambling now, but I do appreciate your advice and will consider it as I continue to research. :tup:

I understand. It's a commonly-made point. OTOH, I'm not a professional mechanic, but my power tools are Milwaukee, not Harbor Freight. And, I opted to buy a 370Z instead of a Pontiac Solstice or an S2000. Just sayin'...

Here's my take, FWIW. Getting an AR15 or M4 variant just to have it, play with it, modify it, or plink with it... that's one thing. If you're going to shoot it, enough to be good at it, you're going to want instruction and you're going to put a lot of rounds through it. Buying or building Tier 3 weapons won't achieve that goal. If that's a goal. If not, then have at it. IMHO, if I'm going to buy a pistol, or a rifle, or a power drill, I'd buy a good one that doesn't take a budget, corner-cutting approach to trying to live up to its design purpose.

IMHO. My approach isn't for everyone.

Good points.

For me, 99% of the time I will just be taking it to the range for fun time. I just don't see myself doing any serious classes any time soon... But if I ever decided to do that, I'd gladly pony up and get a military grade rifle if I decided that's what I needed to participate.

Kind of like why I ended up buying my 370Z over a Cayman S. "It's almost as quick, almost as nimble, and looks just as good. Since I'm just going to be driving on the street 99% of the time, I'll pocket the other $30k." :icon17:

Again, thanks for your thoughts. Much appreciated. :tup:

Steve, I got your back no matter what you do, bro.

:tup:

I've been looking at this chart. Spike's Tactical seems like a great value and I have been reading up on them a bit. They are backlogged quite a bit right now, but I could get a completed upper and lower from Brownells for $750.

Could also just get the completed upper and put together my own lower.

I've also been looking at the BCM uppers.

Seems like most of the stripped lowers are created equally. If I buy a completed upper and put the lower together myself, this should be very easy. :yum:

Not much difference in lowers. The only variable tends to be quality control. You are more likely to get an out-of-spec lower with some companies than with others. I'd be looking hard for BCM blems. Try BCM, Rainier Arms, G&R Tactical.

Thanks :tup:

Steve, this whole process of putting together your weapon is gonna blow your mind, I hope you're ready for it.:tup:

I havent fired my AR-15 yet, and I just thought I'd do a cleaning and a lubrication on it, and surprisingly the bolt was pretty dirty..

I clean my rifles about every 2000-3000 rounds. Maybe run a bore snake through the barrel a little more frequently than that, but otherwise I just keep the BCG nice and wet and they run fine.

Dude, I was shocked, I mean I just got mine, and its never been fired, and to see the bolt dirty was just a surprise. I guess you live and learn.

Many mfgrs test fire them at the factory. With some of the better quality BCGs, they are proof fired with a high pressure proof load, then magnafluxed...those are marked HPT and MPI (High Pressure Test and Magnetic Particle Inspected).

Thanks brother, excellent information.. eRep given.:tup:

Hell, now I know.

:iagree:

most if not all mfgrs test fire the weapons, because you would scream bloody murder if your new bang stick did not go bang every time you pull the trigger...

High end mfgrs usually send a test target with the weapon...

The only way to get an unfired weapon is to put it together yourself...

Come on man, if they're gonna fire them, they should clean them..hehe:tup:

LoL... my $3,600 custom 1911 came with residue in the barrel...

get used to it....

Test firing the assembed weapon for function is commonly done, but pressure testing isn't necessarily. The M4 TDP calls for HPT and MPI of the barrel and bolt. Those individual components are individually tested with a high pressure proof load, then the whole rifle is test fired for function.

HPT and MPI are a little controversial. Not sure that it's necessary given modern manufacturing techinques and materials, but it is true that because of the expense, it's one way to distinguish the higher-end weapons

MacCool, how the heck do you know all this? lol..

Doesn't mean it is right.


Crazy thing is my $600 ria arrived with the 2 casings required by new york, but so meticulously cleaned that you'd never know it had been fired...

ahhh, so I have found someone else that doesnt think its right.. hehe

My Glock was that way... super clean. But who knows if Glock cleaned it themselves or if someone at the gun shop cleaned it when it came in.

Who actually cleaned Steve's gun:

Yep, my Sig had obviously been fired, but I'm glad they test 'em.

Like you said, if my bang stick don't go bang, I ain't going to be a happy camper LOL

bang stick...:bowrofl::roflpuke2: