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Thread: Suggestions for a AR-15 build

  1. #1
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    Suggestions for a AR-15 build

    I've never made a AR-15 before so this will be my first build. Its for the wife because she enjoys shooting so much and wants something different than her 45acp carbine.

    I need to keep this as cheap as possible yet make something that will hand together.

    I've identified the following parts and I may or may not have them all so feel free to join in if I left something out.

    1.) AR-15 lower receiver
    2.) lower receiver parts kit
    3.) AR-15 upper receiver
    4.) upper receiver parts kit
    5.) lower receiver extension( the buffer tube)
    6.) buffer and buffer spring
    7.)Barrel and gas block..gas system
    8.)hand guards size dependent on barrel size?
    9.)Bolt carrier group
    10.)buttstock
    11.) magazine

    I have found a local gun dealer with a lower receiver for $55.00 I am thinking along the lines of a chrome barrel 16", a collapsible buttstock

    I would like to build this for less than 1K

  2. #2
    Boolit Master Jupiter7's Avatar
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    Www.palmettostatearmory.com

    stay away from the stuff labeled as PTAC
    Last edited by Jupiter7; 12-14-2014 at 05:21 PM.

  3. #3
    Boolit Grand Master

    dragon813gt's Avatar
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    Look around at all the retailers and buy when the parts are on sale. It takes some time but if you buy all at once, like I did, you will spend more money.

  4. #4
    Boolit Master
    triggerhappy243's Avatar
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    do not buy a carbon fiber lower. insist on t-7075 aluminum. And if you can afford an upper that comes with the BCG, that is the best way to do it.

  5. #5
    Boolit Master

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    Brownells has what you need. I just built a 300 blk and it was easy peazy. The rifle actually works.

    5.56 build:

    Lower.....................100-003-638WB..........$49.99
    Complete upper......231-000-339WB.........$399.99
    Lower Kit................080-001-149WB..........$104.99

    $555..... $1k will get you a lot more.

    My upper kit was on sale for $480 and had a Midwest Industries Gen 2 SS Free Float hand guard.

    AR prices have fallen to new depths. They can't be making much money off a $50 lower. A lower is a lower is a lower.

    7.62
    Hope for the best, plan for the worst.
    My amendment can beat up your amendment.

  6. #6
    Boolit Master timspawn's Avatar
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    Unless you are dead set on putting one together yourself, I just buy one already built. The market is flooded with new AR's right now and they have never, and I mean never, been cheaper.

  7. #7
    Boolit Master

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    Quote Originally Posted by timspawn View Post
    Unless you are dead set on putting one together yourself, I just buy one already built. The market is flooded with new AR's right now and they have never, and I mean never, been cheaper.
    True.

    With a MSRP of $749 street price on this should be around $600.
    http://www.ruger.com/products/ar556/models.html

    762
    Hope for the best, plan for the worst.
    My amendment can beat up your amendment.

  8. #8
    Boolit Buddy Rick459's Avatar
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    http://ak47ar15barrels.com/

    here is a good place for accurate barrels that won't eat your wallet. he also sells ar kits. HTH
    Rick

  9. #9
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    Remiel's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by 762 shooter View Post
    Brownells has what you need. I just built a 300 blk and it was easy peazy. The rifle actually works.

    5.56 build:

    Lower.....................100-003-638WB..........$49.99
    Complete upper......231-000-339WB.........$399.99
    Lower Kit................080-001-149WB..........$104.99

    $555..... $1k will get you a lot more.

    My upper kit was on sale for $480 and had a Midwest Industries Gen 2 SS Free Float hand guard.

    AR prices have fallen to new depths. They can't be making much money off a $50 lower. A lower is a lower is a lower.

    7.62
    Like 7.62 said go with a complete upper, saves assembly and head spacing(and face it installing the forward assist is interesting) and depending on how tall she is stick with the m4 pattern carbines

  10. #10
    Boolit Master

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    Quote Originally Posted by Rick459 View Post
    http://ak47ar15barrels.com/

    here is a good place for accurate barrels that won't eat your wallet. he also sells ar kits. HTH
    Rick
    Heavens to murgatroyd. With that Complete upper, you are now down to $444 ready to fire.

    I wonder how cheap you could build a 556 if you looked?

    762
    Hope for the best, plan for the worst.
    My amendment can beat up your amendment.

  11. #11
    Boolit Master
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    JMHO, Right now AR's, good AR's, are as cheap as I have seen them in a LONG time. Personally, I'd go buy a new one and not fool with putting it together unless you just want the experience. LGS had new Ruger DI AR's for cheap yesterday.

  12. #12
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    Please do keep the info flowing. You guys are schooling me and I appreciate it.

    Today I picked up a lower for $55 from the local gun shop. Its a multi Cal from Anderson Manufacturing. Its aluminum buy the way.

    I gave the wife the choice of buying one off the rack or building one and she wants to build one. What can I say to a woman that lets me buy what ever I want when I want? This way she gets to choose the parts to make it really hers and I get to stand there and watch her shoot it with a grin on my face. I've purchased 11 guns this year so letting her have what she wants is a small price.

  13. #13
    Boolit Master




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    smart man
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  14. #14
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    She wants a $400 red dot on it too and she will get it

  15. #15
    Boolit Master

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    Quote Originally Posted by 6bg6ga View Post
    She wants a $400 red dot on it too and she will get it
    For the money you will be hard pressed to beat a MD-ADS from Primary Arms. $169.
    3 year warranty and excellent customer service. You could buy 3 for the price of a T1.

    762
    Hope for the best, plan for the worst.
    My amendment can beat up your amendment.

  16. #16
    Boolit Master
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    I to just ordered my first lower and parts kit last night. Brownells was out of almost everything AR. So I ended up at Wideners for the best prices I could find.
    Thanks to Jupitor7 above I found Palmettos. There prices were still higher than Wideners. But it looks like there uppers are what I will order. When it comes time.

  17. #17
    Boolit Master


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    You may want to consider a "built" upper. That will save you from buying a barrel wrench, go, no-go gauges to check headspace and possibly blocks to put the upper receiver in to do the barrel torquing. There are several places that will build you what you want or you could find a local gunsmith to check the headspace or assemble what you bought.

  18. #18
    Boolit Bub C.I.D's Avatar
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    Honestly have you thought of doing a 80% matched sets in a few colors lower/upper 130 bucks.

    Barrel 300.00 but I buy barrels made to last can get blem BCG NiB on eBay for 50 bucks work great.

    Can finish rest of rifle for 350.00

  19. #19
    Boolit Master

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    I built a kit from Brownells and I didn't even stay at a Holiday Inn last night. 45 minutes start to finish. I did buy $80 dollars worth of tools though.

    762
    Hope for the best, plan for the worst.
    My amendment can beat up your amendment.

  20. #20
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    check out WWW.dsarms.com
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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check