Build own AR-15

[mcmoon03]

Hello to all. I know I will never have the cash to buy an AR so I am going to build a little at a time. I am picking up the lower receiver from my FFL this afternoon and plan to start ordering parts in the near future. I have found a good site:cheaperthandirt.com which seams reasonable. Is any one familiar with the quality of the products. Are they worth the money or should I spend more with another vendor for better quality.

 

[nawilson]

I can't really comment on Cheaper Than Dirt in most regards. I have ordered some stuff from them and had no issues, but others have posted their frustrations with the company. In 2007, I built an AR with a kit from Del-ton. That has been a few years, but I was satisfied with their prices and quality. That said, the price of ARs has come back down, and if you're patient, you could probably find a used one in the $650 range. Good luck!

 

[JJEH]

Please send me your wishlist and I'll get back with prices.

[email protected]

 

[Rick_A]

That lower is fine.

If you don't mind the shipping times Palmetto State Armory has good parts and prices.

Bravo Company, Rainier Arms, and Weapon Outfitters are other guys I've ordered from. Midway USA tends to have a very good selection. Aim Surplus will have some great deals from time to time.

Finding stuff locally can help on shipping costs for individual small and large items.

The hardest thing to decide is exactly what to make of it.

If is fun and satisfying.

Good luck.

 

[mcmoon03]

Sent email with parts needed. I hope it is easy to understand.

 

[mcmoon03]

I agree with you on building being satisfying. This will be my first firearm build but I have built computers and servers in the past and enjoyed it.

 

[Damn Yankee]

Go over here AR-15 - AR15.COM,

There is a lot of good info and the answer to any question you will ever have on the AR platform

 

[Badquaker]

I recently built two with parts from Primary Arms. They are good guys, with excellent an reputation. My last one was a gift for my son. We talked about what he wanted, I picked up the parts (their showroom is close by) and had a completed rifle that night.

 

[boykinlp]

I have found a good site:cheaperthandirt.com which seams reasonable. Is any one familiar with the quality of the products. Are they worth the money or should I spend more with another vendor for better quality.

I would never do ANY business with cheaperthandirt!!! They gave me a bad taste after all the Sandy Hook stuff.

 

[sipowicz]

Don't forget ammo. I have a .223 round in my desk drawer....let me know when you got it built.

 

[gdnagle]

Lots of places selling parts. Just google. As for CTD they aren't as cheap as you think and a lot of people have a bad taste from their gouging prices, compare their prices. Palmetto State Armory will run some good deals especially on blemished parts if you can wait for them to ship. They aren't the fast I just ordered a VZ from them and it took two weeks to ship. Heck you can even but some parts from Amazon if you want and they ship fast and have good prices. I've bought from several and never gotten a inferior or bad part. I know this didn't answer your question but research you will find deals out there. Here is a partial list I've dealt with that gave good results and I know I have missed several.

OutdoorGearBarn
Botach
MidwayUSA
JoeBobOutfitters
Brownells
SportsmanGuide
Palmetto State Armory
NatchezShootersSupplies
PrimaryArms
Lanbo's Armory
GrabAGun
Amazon



Cheaper The Dirt. as a last resort because I had no other choice because one had any VZ2008 magazines at the time.

 

[mcmoon03]

Thanks to everyone for the great advice and resources. I will shop around with each resource and compare my options. Thanks for the price list JJEH. I will move that to my Drafts folder for safe keeping.

 

[JJEH]

Thanks for the price list JJEH. I will move that to my Drafts folder for safe keeping.

You are welcome. Let me know if you need anything.

 

[Rule3]

So many bad reviews on CTD I would avoid them. Never have used them so I can not say but do read the review.

As to building an AR. With the prices on them now, I do not see how you can build one for less than buying one. ?

I am all for do it yourself projects and if it is something you enjoy then that of course is a different story.

There are so many good ones (new and used) out there you may want to calculated the cost of all the parts VS a assembled one. Generally the price of separate parts it more than an assembled item.

 

[df06]

My son just built one. It turned out very well, but he could have bought one several hundred dollars cheaper.

 

[italiansport]

So many bad reviews on CTD I would avoid them. Never have used them so I can not say but do read the review.

As to building an AR. With the prices on them now, I do not see how you can build one for less than buying one. ?

I am all for do it yourself projects and if it is something you enjoy then that of course is a different story.

There are so many good ones (new and used) out there you may want to calculated the cost of all the parts VS a assembled one. Generally the price of separate parts it more than an assembled item.

I built one last year and have around $750 in it. You are correct and one can be purchased complete for less then that today.
However; Building one from parts was a good educational experience and a lot of fun as well.
Jim

 

[vonn]

shop,shop, shop. tons of info out there and if you watch what you are doing some real deals are out there right now.The AR boys are caught up and you can get anythying you want quick and easy it looks like to me.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

I think you'll have a lot of fun and learn a ton building.

As far as financially... Building makes a lot of financial sense if you want specific aftermarket parts like a trigger, barrel, BCG, sights... that just can't be bought as a complete rifle. So you build a rifle rather than buying an inexpensive AR and then have to replace everything (buying twice). But just to build an AR that can otherwise be bought whole isn't usually a money saver unless you do somethng like buy a blem lower from Palmetto for $50 and a rifle kit for around $400 which would give you a rifle for under $500.

There are endless choices have fun.

 

[Bat Guano]

Pretty hard to build one and save money over a decent commercial one with a warranty. Not sure what Bushmasters are going for, but an ammo outfit named Lucky Gunner ran endurance tests on several BMs together recently and they all went some ridiculous figure like 10K rounds without problems. About the only worthwhile add-on to a commercial AR is a better trigger.

Not sure what the current low prices are on Colts, but they're right down there, excellent quality, and resale on them is easier than anything else.

Your $.

 

[Doug M.]

Buy your pieces a little at a time from Bravo Company. When they have blems to sell, or a sale - spurge. You can't go wrong.