So it finally happened... I've officially begun a 5.56 build and my 15-22 is at fault

hope you have allot of money for the extra ammo costs hehe

in the same boat

Be careful to use a block when putting some of the parts for the lower in, esp the pins for the trigger guard, if not blocked, one wrong move and the tabs for the guard can snap off.

Good luck


Regards

Great, I thought I was just being impulsive but anyway today I did the same thing.

I'm still gonna shoot mostly 22LR, but I'm ready to start using whatever 5.56 I can get my hands on.

Yeah I started out like you and now I cannot stop. Welcome to the addiction!!



Chad

^ Do want.

Thanks for the heads-up. Honestly I probably wouldn't have even thought of blocking the receiver while assembling it (and given my luck there would be about a 95% chance of something breaking).

Anyway, I've been meaning to start a "real" AR build for about as long as I've had my 15-22 and it feels amazing to actually start one. Actually, I have two more planned (a 5.7x28mm carbine and a 5.56mm SPR), but I plan on completing this one before I start on another build. Okay, I'll probably buy the stripped lowers, but that's about it until this one's finished

heh. i saw a stripped lower recently, and i am considering a similar project myself.

Same here. Pricey hobby!

We started the other way, first the big, costly Stag Arms 2t.....then the M&P 15-22.

The 15-22 has thousands through it, while the 5.56mm probably about a thousand. It's just not economical to shoot like the 22lr. But there's nothing like the sound of a 5.56 and it's also MASSIVELY accurate...like three shot groups of less than an inch at 100 yards and opening up just over an inch after that due to barrel heat. It's a pretty amazing rifle.

__________________
Jeeps are my other addiction

The 15-22 will always be my primary range gun. $0.03/rd is a lot better than $0.40/rd. Eventually I might get into reloading to help lower the cost of .223/5.56, but that'll be way down the line.


Basically, here's the run-down of the build for this particular lower:

-Smith & Wesson M&P15 stripped lower receiver (obviously)
-Magpul MOE trigger guard
-DPMS LPK (I might change it to a Stag if I can't find the DPMS in stock soon enough)
-Stag Arms lower receiver extension tube kit
-Magpul CTR stock
-Hogue pistol grip
-JP fire control group springs
-DPMS TiN-coated hammer/trigger
-Stag Arms 2H complete upper
-Vltor CASV-EL handguard
-Magpul AFG
-Magpul RVG (mounted behind the AFG)
-EOtech 512

And of course plenty of mags and plenty of ammunition

Just think if you were a girl, it would of been shoes.... so enjoy...

What's your total cost for just the rifle components? Have you thought about some "tier 1" vendors like Colt, Daniel Defense, Bravo Company, LMT, or Noveske? You might be surprised at just how small the price difference can be for top-quality gear that meets the TDP.

I didn't even realize this got bumped. Anyway, I still don't even have half the lower completed; bills tend to be more important.

Anyway, total cost is about $1300 (not including the lower or LPK), but that's after several changes in plans. The current plan is:

M&P15 stripped lower (bought)
DPMS LPK (bought)
Hogue pistol grip
Vltor improved modstock kit (includes buffer/lower receiver extension tube)
Spike's Tactical battle trigger
JP reduced power FCG springs
Stag Arms 2H complete upper
Vltor CASV-EL handguard
Magpul RVG

Really, most of the cost is in the Vltor parts.

that VLTOR handguard is a thing of beauty. Be sure to post it here when you are done.

I'll be sure to do that... if I ever finish this thing

Heh. I actually just did the same thing not too long ago. Since I came across a brand new M&P 15 stripped lower, and figured it would go good with my 15-22 (not to metion that I was able to get it for $19 OTD from my LGS.... long story), I finally decided to build my first .223 rifle. Both rifles are fun to shoot


I'm considering changing out the 15-22 forend & front sight so that it looks like my M&P 15. I really like feel of the MOE handguard better than the XTM panels on the quad rail with the AFG2.

My jaw seriously just hit the floor.

And I'm guessing from the photobucket screenname you are or were a Honda guy

Enjoy, I started the opposite, I did AR15 build & training at my PD. Being a trainer I got free ammo to shoot all I want with 5.56. Now retired from that PD, I started shooting my ammo until I had to purchase some, the shock was hard!. Thus S&W M&P 15/22 comes along to save the day, I pick mine up this Wed. Nov. 9th. I already went to Big 5 and bought 550 rounds of CCI Mag for $24.00, I had a smile as wide as a kid in the candy shop. I can train again, well friends and some other Officers that still want my training.. If you have questions on building your AR, just holler at me, build several and love doing it. Beware Paper Terrorist, I'm hot after the 9th, gonna kick brass left and right... Keepem in the X..

I just remembered about this thread. It's been a while, but my first AR build will be "completed" (is an AR ever complete?) in the next few weeks when my upper arrives.

As it sits, here's the run-down:
-Smith & Wesson M&P15 lower
-DPMS LPK
-Hogue pistol grip
-BCM lower receiver extension/buffer/spring
-Magpul CTR stock (mil-spec)
-Spike's Tactical NiB trigger/hammer
-Stag Arms 2H complete upper receiver (on order)

I'm still planning on getting a Magpul MOE handguard (the CASV-EL will have to wait for my next build. The next one will probably involve a Spike's Havoc 37mm launcher as well), Magpul RFG, Surefire TLR-1, and a DPMS oversized selector.

I'll see about getting pics of the complete lower when I get home from work.



So I guess it's almost time to buy another stripped lower, amirite?

15-22 made me MOVE to a .223 as well

Hoping to get motivated in a few minutes and go SHOOT/SITE it in at the Desert


Oh and try my Slide Fire stock as well....

FUN Times

i did the opposite also and did my 5.56's first. 12 of them in the safe later and i have wandered into rimfire land due to rising ammo costs (wait until november!) I have plenty of defensive SHTF ammo for my core guns, guns that are all common military caliber, roughly 1500 each caliber so i'm good to go, but i'm buying up every deal on .22 ammo that i can find, don't know how many 555 boxes i have bought in the last month, but i still get 3 every payday and one box of 100 9mm.
my 2 hunting AR's are a different story and eat only Hornady EXPENSIVE ammo. i only hunt predators (coyotes, fox, lion, bob's, etc) so i want to make my shot as accurate as possible. I don't reload, guess i should think about starting.

Here she is:


(sorry for the iPhone-quality pic)

The upper is supposed to ship sometime between next Wednesday and the following Wednesday, but that depends on Stag's backlog. Hopefully it'll ship out sometime next week.

And she's almost done



Next up is an MOE handguard, RVG, then a light, and (way down the road) an EOTech (probably an XPS3-0).

Nice to know there is a whole community of people just like me haha. I told myself upon purchasing the 15-22, "Why would I ever need anything more than this?" Not even a month later I started my AR build. Why didn't someone warn me this was going to happen!!! Frankly, I'm pretty concerned about what's next after my AR is done. Something tells me it doesn't stop there.

I said the SAME thing

3 months later

M&P 15 Sport
Bushmaster carbon 15
Springfield XDM 9mm
Lee Pro Loading System....

Oh well... wife Enjoys it so I am good to go

..

__________________
--Stav--

I already have the next build planned out... it won't be pretty (for my wallet). I'll probably end up getting the stripped lower for it sometime this summer... it'll be a much slower build (unfortunately), mostly due to my budget.

It's probably a good thing I have a low budget... I'd be running out of room in the safe if I didn't

Try photography. My last camera body(last year) cost $4500. To replace it: $6000. One lens that I bought in '98 was $8500 new and would be 12k to replace today. And to keep current with computer hardware/software costs $$$ as well. Covering the NFL isn't cheap.