To Build, or not to build, that is the question(AR15)

[Cab]

So I did a quick search to see if this question had been asked and I couldn't find a thread so I thought I would ask the question.
To build or not to build an AR15 is a question I have had for a few years now. Let me give you my wants/needs/thoughts and then I would love to hear everyones opinion.

Wants/Needs/Thoughts:
-The rifles job would be for home defense and range toy.
-Price I would like it to be around $700-$800(under $700 would be ideal but might not be realistic)
-Milspec is not important to me at all. I don't need dust covers, forward assist and chrome lined barrels. I want it to be reliable and to shoot when I pull the trigger. If it has a 2MOA I'm fine with that .
-This would be my first AR and I may get more down the road.

I have been looking at the SW M&P Sport as it has good reviews and is a great price but then part of me thinks I should build one so that it's more personal. I know I could buy one and then customize it but then I almost feel like I should just build one.

[jasnt]

Built mine for <$500.  I can shoot moa and often less.   It’s nothing special and not a free float. 

My vote is build and upgrade as needed

[Fl0und3rz]

"I may get more down the road."



Build a lower, buy an upper.  Lower is doable without any or many special tools other than armorer's wrench and a punch set, which you could likely borrow.

[h20hunter]

 

[bullfisher]

Build it!
Once you build what you want, you'll wonder why anyone would buy a completed AR.
It's like Legos for big kids, building is half the fun!

[Magnum_Willys]

If Build 80% Lower or not ?

[hunter399]

I say build it ,not buy.There is a lot of YouTube's for instruction.

"I may get more down the road."



Build a lower, buy an upper.  Lower is doable without any or many special tools other than armorer's wrench and a punch set, which you could likely borrow.

I can build a lower with a pair of channel lock plyers wraped in electrical tape.

[Fl0und3rz]

I hear you. Funnest part is the front takedown pin detent.  I used an index card.

[Cab]

Built mine for <$500.  I can shoot moa and often less.   It’s nothing special and not a free float. 

My vote is build and upgrade as needed

would love to know your build, that's amazing!

[Cab]

from the sound of it I just need to do a little research and I should be able to build my own no problem.

[762Armo]

You can look into PSA. They have built uppers and lowers, with their sales sometimes, you can have a build AR for $400.
I've shot of theirs, and it was a nice rifle, being cheap and all.

[jasnt]

Built mine for <$500.  I can shoot moa and often less.   It’s nothing special and not a free float. 

My vote is build and upgrade as needed

would love to know your build, that's amazing!

its mostly palmetto state armory.  That price dosent include scope.  Also it will only shoot moa with my hand loads, only seams to like the nosler 77gr ncc’s  best factory loads have been 1.5 moa- Norma 77gr hpbt
16” 1:7 in .556
I also polished the sear.  Other than that is rock stock psa parts

[pianoman9701]

Whatever you decide, you'd better get that lower and the mags before November.

[lee]

 

[lamrith]

Build one.  Tough I recommend getting the new long punch set that is available.  Makes the Bolt catch pin a breeze.
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0742RDT3S/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
FYI - Using smile.amazon you can make donations to a charity of your choice.  Mine is NRA Foundation, and every purchase I make they get a donation.

Whatever you decide, you'd better get that lower and the mags before November.

Or is it Nov +90?  I thought laws go into effect 90days after signed?  Barring any appeals by NRA.  Nice to see them in the fight up front this time!

[hunter399]

Build one.  Tough I recommend getting the new long punch set that is available.  Makes the Bolt catch pin a breeze.
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0742RDT3S/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
FYI - Using smile.amazon you can make donations to a charity of your choice.  Mine is NRA Foundation, and every purchase I make they get a donation.

Whatever you decide, you'd better get that lower and the mags before November.

Or is it Nov +90?  I thought laws go into effect 90days after signed?  Barring any appeals by NRA.  Nice to see them in the fight up front this time!

Bolt catch pin or any roll pin , Just put pin in cordless drill ,put the very end of pin on some sand paper and put a taper on the pin ,makes getting roll pins so much better to get started.squeeze that pin home with some channel locks done.ask me how I know.

[lamrith]

Build one.  Tough I recommend getting the new long punch set that is available.  Makes the Bolt catch pin a breeze.
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0742RDT3S/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
FYI - Using smile.amazon you can make donations to a charity of your choice.  Mine is NRA Foundation, and every purchase I make they get a donation.

Whatever you decide, you'd better get that lower and the mags before November.

Or is it Nov +90?  I thought laws go into effect 90days after signed?  Barring any appeals by NRA.  Nice to see them in the fight up front this time!

Bolt catch pin or any roll pin , Just put pin in cordless drill ,put the very end of pin on some sand paper and put a taper on the pin ,makes getting roll pins so much better to get started.squeeze that pin home with some channel locks done.ask me how I know.

Yup, been there, done that a few times, always end up with some sort of scuff on the ear regardless of how much tape there is force placed in a fine edge on the coating distorting it.  Many, maybe most will not notice it, but some do. 

I just wanted to share that the the right tool is $9, and then you always have it for any future builds (There are always future builds once someone finds the AR lego world).  I fought it and always went cheapest possible myself, then I bought the long set I linked above and shook my head at how much easier it was and no risk or having to tape anything up.  I can also use it to pop the pin out, like when I found out that PSA uses a proprietary BHO catch assembly in their PA10 lower and had to remove the stock one and install the PA one.

[hunter399]

Build one.  Tough I recommend getting the new long punch set that is available.  Makes the Bolt catch pin a breeze.
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0742RDT3S/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
FYI - Using smile.amazon you can make donations to a charity of your choice.  Mine is NRA Foundation, and every purchase I make they get a donation.

Whatever you decide, you'd better get that lower and the mags before November.

Or is it Nov +90?  I thought laws go into effect 90days after signed?  Barring any appeals by NRA.  Nice to see them in the fight up front this time!

Bolt catch pin or any roll pin , Just put pin in cordless drill ,put the very end of pin on some sand paper and put a taper on the pin ,makes getting roll pins so much better to get started.squeeze that pin home with some channel locks done.ask me how I know.

Yup, been there, done that a few times, always end up with some sort of scuff on the ear regardless of how much tape there is force placed in a fine edge on the coating distorting it.  Many, maybe most will not notice it, but some do. 

I just wanted to share that the the right tool is $9, and then you always have it for any future builds (There are always future builds once someone finds the AR lego world).  I fought it and always went cheapest possible myself, then I bought the long set I linked above and shook my head at how much easier it was and no risk or having to tape anything up.  I can also use it to pop the pin out, like when I found out that PSA uses a proprietary BHO catch assembly in their PA10 lower and had to remove the stock one and install the PA one.

No hard feelings there,thanks for the link.

[biggfish]

I built my .223 wilde for $450 and my 6.8 spc for $780. If you build an upper you'll need access to a vice it will make so much easier; did it with a set of c-clamps but it was a pain. Don't buy an lower parts kit from ebay, I did and broke the tip of the sear off and it only functioned in full auto. If I build another it will be an 80%. I've found that most people that buy end up customizing to the point that they paid for two basic rifles, its cheaper to just build what you want the first time.

Sent from my LG-US701 using Tapatalk

[jasnt]

I have a vice block and armorers wrench if you want to barrow it.

[Biggerhammer]

I built my .223 wilde for $450 and my 6.8 spc for $780. If you build an upper you'll need access to a vice it will make so much easier; did it with a set of c-clamps but it was a pain. Don't buy an lower parts kit from ebay, I did and broke the tip of the sear off and it only functioned in full auto. If I build another it will be an 80%. I've found that most people that buy end up customizing to the point that they paid for two basic rifles, its cheaper to just build what you want the first time.

Sent from my LG-US701 using Tapatalk

Ha! I had the same thing happen with a 6.5-SPC. Anything I loaded in the Mag went full auto. At the pressures the 6.5-SPC runs at. I could dump a Mag increadably quick. Once the new part showed up I switched it out. Things went back to normal . I believe I have the old sear laying around somewhere.😊

[dontgetcrabs]

Ha! I had the same thing happen with a 6.5-SPC. Anything I loaded in the Mag went full auto. At the pressures the 6.5-SPC runs at. I could dump a Mag increadably quick.

That's some serious elk medicine at 600 plus yards.   

[CAMPMEAT]

Brownells is having a sale on the Radical Arms 6.5 Grendel for $579 (?) shipped with their coupon code.

I bought the lower and upper, separate, from Palmetto in the AR 10 6.5 Creedmoor for I think, $695 delivered to my FFL. It was cheaper buying it, than building it I do believe.


I guess you have to weigh the differences.


I also bought a complete upper Sanders Armory 22 inch in 224 Valkyrie side charger for $620 to my door. I bought a complete Palmetto AR 15 lower for $129.00 to my door.

[Buzz2401]

Buy, there are a ton of options for under your price range and they will all meet your needs that you mentioned.  Building is fun but I think it becomes hard to stay in budget. You start looking at parts and are like hmm that would be a good upgrade and next thing you know your a grand or way more in.

[Mongo Hunter]

I always say if you can only have one AR (for now), buy a quality one off the rack. There's no fiddling you should have to do with it and you get a warranty if something does go wrong. Now if you can have 2 ARs buy the first one and build the second, you should always have one up and running.

As for the M&P sport, I've had experience with a couple of them, always been reliable guns. They are over gassed and pretty basic but for $500 +/- you have a pretty good working AR. for HD and plinking I don't see you having any issues.

[Fl0und3rz]

I always say if you can only have one AR (for now), buy a quality one off the rack. There's no fiddling you should have to do with it and you get a warranty if something does go wrong. Now if you can have 2 ARs buy the first one and build the second, you should always have one up and running.

That's what I did.  Colt 6920 for the first.  Then build lower, purchased upper.  Next step is building uppers.

[Mongo Hunter]

I always say if you can only have one AR (for now), buy a quality one off the rack. There's no fiddling you should have to do with it and you get a warranty if something does go wrong. Now if you can have 2 ARs buy the first one and build the second, you should always have one up and running.

That's what I did.  Colt 6920 for the first.  Then build lower, purchased upper.  Next step is building uppers.

Yup same. I've built 3 from nothing but a pile of parts and 1 I built the lower and redid the upper. I like knowing the inner workings but now that I do I still have the same advice.

[bullfisher]

If you're content with 223/556 and aren't concerned with optimal performance then off the rack can be cheap and easy. Too far outside of that and you're better off building yourself. Plus it's just too fun to build what you want.
If you're unhappy with an off the rack gas block, hand guard, stock, trigger, barrel or all of the above, you'd be money ahead to build anyway..