Building my first AR15

[Gobble]

I just purchased my first AR15 Lower (Aero Precision) I'm really looking forward to the build, do you guys have any good advice, do's, don'ts, cal. etc?

Thanks,
Gobble

[fowl smacker]

Good start!  What are you using it for?  Fun, hunting, self defense?  Get a good barrel and a good trigger, the rest is pretty much cosmetic.  I've built 5 now, they are a fun build.  I'm a fan of ballistic advantage barrels and LaRue mbt triggers(best trigger out there, especially for the cost).  If you're building a standard all around AR, I suggest the 223 wylde, it will shoot your 5.56 as well as 223.  Have fun, good luck.

[adamR]

Buy all the tools you will need up front.  I kept thinking I could do it with tools I already had and then ended up buying it anyways.  I waited on a single tool to be shipped to me countless times.  If I could start over, I would have bought upper and lower vise blocks, brass punches, roll pin punches, go/no go gauges, and extractor pin removal tool ahead of time. 
I also lost a lot of springs on my first go around.  Have some spring and detent kits on hand.

[Bango skank]

I just purchased my first AR15 Lower (Aero Precision) I'm really looking forward to the build, do you guys have any good advice, do's, don'ts, cal. etc?

Thanks,
Gobble

Im in the same boat.  Just purchased a stripped lower from aero precision.  Also a stripped upper, free float handguard, lower parts kit and bolt carrier group from aero.  Geisselle trigger and charging handle, faxon 20" flame fluted match barrel (.223 wylde,) getting an adjustable gas block, waiting on a suppressor.  Need a few more things, buffer and whatnot, then need to figure out what the hell to do with it all 

[Fl0und3rz]

AR15.com has at least one decent DIY how to.  If you are in the area (NE), I can lend some tools and moral support.

[Bango skank]

AR15.com has at least one decent DIY how to.  If you are in the area (NE), I can lend some tools and moral support.

Ive got some books and a dvd coming, but if youre offering to help me out ill holler at ya when the time comes.  I dont know anybody who knows about building ars.

[Gobble]

Good start!  What are you using it for?  Fun, hunting, self defense?  Get a good barrel and a good trigger, the rest is pretty much cosmetic.  I've built 5 now, they are a fun build.  I'm a fan of ballistic advantage barrels and LaRue mbt triggers(best trigger out there, especially for the cost).  If you're building a standard all around AR, I suggest the 223 wylde, it will shoot your 5.56 as well as 223.  Have fun, good luck.

Im looking to build a all round plinking, varmit, home protection gun, Thanks for the advice

[Gobble]

Buy all the tools you will need up front.  I kept thinking I could do it with tools I already had and then ended up buying it anyways.  I waited on a single tool to be shipped to me countless times.  If I could start over, I would have bought upper and lower vise blocks, brass punches, roll pin punches, go/no go gauges, and extractor pin removal tool ahead of time. 
I also lost a lot of springs on my first go around.  Have some spring and detent kits on hand.

I will definitely take that advice, I know not having the right tool for the job is maddening

[Gobble]

AR15.com has at least one decent DIY how to.  If you are in the area (NE), I can lend some tools and moral support.

Thanks, I will look them up. I have a cop buddy that wants to help with the build as well, he has built a few

[Fl0und3rz]

AR15.com has at least one decent DIY how to.  If you are in the area (NE), I can lend some tools and moral support.

Ive got some books and a dvd coming, but if youre offering to help me out ill holler at ya when the time comes.  I dont know anybody who knows about building ars.

I used the bushmaster DVDs. They are truly adult legos. I don't have shop space at the moment, but I can certainly help with lower.  I did my first lowers with a set of punches and an armorer's wrench.  Bought more tools to work on uppers since proper torque is more difficult to hold the upper firm.

Haven't done a complete upper yet, from bare parts, but have done disassembly/reassembly and mods. It is pretty simple, with a few function checks.

[Evil_EdwardO]

Youtube is your friend. Built an AR15 and LR308 and when I got stuck figuring something out, I just look it up on Youtube.

[Lincoln4]

#1 - Don't do it!  BRD (Black Rifle Disease) is real!

#2 - Plenty of videos out on the interwebs to view.  Find ones that work for you and save them for when you start building.

#3- Don't worry too much about spending lots of money for "quality" parts unless you are seriously looking for a special gun to shoot 15 miles at 1 moa.  My friends, family, and I have built plenty on the cheap that have all functioned flawlessly.  It's easy (and fun) to upgrade later if you get infected, and you will (See #1 above).   

[Blacklab]

Building ar’s is a fun hobby. As said above get the tools for the job. You only buy them once. Like potato chips you just won’t build one. Don’t ask me how I know 😉. The most important for me was accuracy. Barrel trigger and glass play a key roll. We all have are favorite manufactures. Lots of good barrels at a fair price for a couple hundred bucks tops. Or you can go bigger money of course. I like single stage tiggers personally. For my 6.5 Grendel I dropped in a Timney 3 lb. Very nice trigger not cheap. On other ar builds I have Andersens parts kits and triggers. Great clean break a a quarter of the price of a Timney. Have fun shopping and building😉🥃🇺🇸

[Fl0und3rz]

+1 on the youtube vids.  No need to buy an AR build vid.

[hunter399]

+1 on the youtube vids.  No need to buy an AR build vid.

+3 on YouTube vids plenty there just got to start searching.
I know everybody here says buy the tools ,but I put my first lower together with a pair of channel locks .Will it be easy with tools ,yes
Can it be done without, yes.

[pianoman9701]

Build something cool if you want to do precision shooting and/or hunting. Buy one off the shelf if all you want to do is plinking and home defense. Spend your money on ammo and optics instead.

[hunter399]

Heres a basic video on how to use pliers to build it.
Also you can take roll pins ,put them in cordless drill ,take sand paper and taper the end to get them started faster.
Just ask me how I know this stuff .
Anyway have fun with .Youtube is your friend.

[Cab]

Always build since it's cheaper then buying complete and if you don't want to do a bunch of work just buy a complete upper. I bought a complete upper and lower...total price $450 and it was way nicer then anything on a shelf. 3 things to spend money on, trigger,BCG, and barrel everything else is preference. If you want to get hands on and need help you can always talk to the guys at Sporting System as they have a bench with all the tools you can use for FREE so you don't have to spend a dime on tools. Plus they can help you if they aren't busy and you have a question.

[nutntoit]

My advice for an all around gun is a 16 in mid length gas 223/556. Unless you really want to build the upper its easier and cheaper to just buy a complete upper and pin it to lower you assemble. The only thing you need to build a lower is a set of punches and a castle nut wrench. I built my first one at my kitchen table in about 15 minutes. I can second ballistic advantage barrels and anything Aero Precision makes. Buy a lower parks kit less the trigger and grip. You are going to want to replace those things anyway. There is a TON of Ar parts out there. Stay away from the Chinese bolt on stuff you find at gun shows. as long as you get parts from a reputable brand you will be good to go. Post pictures when you are done.

[Fl0und3rz]

Heres a basic video on how to use pliers to build it.
Also you can take roll pins ,put them in cordless drill ,take sand paper and taper the end to get them started faster.
Just ask me how I know this stuff .
Anyway have fun with .Youtube is your friend.

Big channel locks are key.  I wish I had seen that before I built my second, with a dinged bolt catch release.  Sharpie FTW. 

But roll pin starter and roll pin punches make it a breeze as well.

[Gobble]

Great advice guys, Keep it coming 

[Fl0und3rz]

All AR-15s look alike to most wives.  Use this information at your own risk.

[fowl smacker]

All AR-15s look alike to most wives.  Use this information at your own risk.

And if they ask if that's a new one, you just say "no, I just changed a part on it so it may look different".

[huntandjeep]

I bought a complete upper and lower...total price $450 and it was way nicer then anything on a shelf.

What did you get ?
What off the shelf ARs are you comparing yours to ?

[emac]

All AR-15s look alike to most wives.  Use this information at your own risk.

This is the best advice right here. You can get away with building many of them.  Don't tell me how I know and don't let my wife know

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

[Gobble]

All AR-15s look alike to most wives.  Use this information at your own risk.

Code: [Select]

:chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle:

[hunter399]

All AR-15s look alike to most wives.  Use this information at your own risk.

Code: [Select]

:chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle:

After a few builds ,my wife knows what the boxes look like in the mail .You don't pass go,you don't collect 200 dollars.

[Lumpy Taters]

Be careful if she likes to shoot otherwise you will spend all your time building them for her instead of shooting yours.  These things are fun to play with and with the vast parts market, everyone gets something different.   

[Alchase]

My advice for an all around gun is a 16 in mid length gas 223 Wylde/556. Unless you really want to build the upper its easier and cheaper to just buy a complete upper and pin it to lower you assemble.

 

Additions in bold

Hard to argue when only two push pins an can change to following...

Function:
From Home defence plinker 16" w/Red Dot, to lights out paper puncher/varmint killer 18" or 20" w/variable scope and precision pencil barrel.

Look:
M-lok w/VFG, to KeyMod w/handstop, to multi-color furniture to bling bling nonsense with every conceivable accessory mounted at various degree angles.

Or any combination of the above.

Then there's "pistols" but that is just Butts and paperwork.

 

[konradcountry]

Then there's "pistols" but that is just Butts and paperwork.

You can build all the AR pistols you want without paperwork.

It's short barreled rifles that require NFA paperwork.

[huntandjeep]

 
Might have built 3 pistols this past weekend 

[Alchase]

Might have built 3 pistols this past weekend 

Since they all look the same, who's too know...............................

 

Buy paperwork, I meant the Lower is papered as a "pistol". Then you can do what you want.

Not referring to paperwork for a SBR or suppressor, I should have been more clear.

[Bango skank]

Which one of these springs from my lower parts kit is the fire control detent spring?  First time doing this.

[Bango skank]

Im thinking top one?

[Bango skank]

figured it out. Only one of the two fits to be the takedown spring. Proccess of elimination.

[Katmai Guy]

LOL, I did the same process of elimination last week.

[slavenoid]

I have my wife watch me put front take down detent in. Shes there to tell me where that thing lands after I send it flying halfway across the house.

[Bango skank]

I have my wife watch me put front take down detent in. Shes there to tell me where that thing lands after I send it flying halfway across the house.

So many evil little springs

[Bango skank]

Putting these things together is fun.  I may have to get all fancy and do another lower with one of these bad boys.

[hunter399]

@Bango skank

Why don't ya post up the ar15 you bought a few months ago .You and I are on quite a few other forums .So I have seen it.Its pretty easy to to tell it's you on other forums by your harvest pics.Anyway Goodluck on a new build.

[optic2]

I just purchased my first AR15 Lower (Aero Precision) I'm really looking forward to the build, do you guys have any good advice, do's, don'ts, cal. etc?

Thanks,
Gobble

Watch this for you lower receiver build. It is a very detailed video that is really well done.

list=PL0sgaODow8PRv-Q7xM8J4IbKHkI4KljbN&index=8&t=0s