I built an AR

[ColbyBruce]

On December 1, 2020 I sent a new, unfired PSA upper to Windham Weaponry to have a 300 Blackout barrel installed. It was completed and returned to me last Saturday, January 23. The original barrel was returned to me minus the gas tube and Delta ring assembly. I replaced the dust cover with one that had “300 AAC Blackout” laser engraved on it. I am pretty pleased with it.

I had a dust cover assembly and a barrel lying around. My son gave me a Wheeler Engineering AR builder/maintenance kit for Christmas so I decided to build another AR. There is a PSA dealer some forty miles from me, so I bought a LPK, charging handle, BCG, stripped upper and lower receivers from him. He gave me a Magpul P mag for buying most of a rifle. I bought the gas tube, Delta ring assembly, and forward assist assembly from two local shops on my way home. I assembled it yesterday. The front sight, gas block, and barrel nut were intact on my old barrel so those were the only parts I did not put together.

I have built several lowers but never an entire rifle. This was a learning experience for sure and an exercise in patience, which I have never had an abundance of. The forward assist was a pain but the gas tube was a nightmare. The tube was just about 1/32” away from centering into the receiver. Nearly two hours were spent tweaking, wiggling, torquing the barrel nut and cursing the various parts. Miraculously it all fell into place. I couldn’t do this for a living.

I spent $350.00 at the PSA dealer, $35.00 for the gas tube and Delta ring assembly, $11.00 for the forward assist. The 300 Blackout barrel and dust cover cost me $260.00, and I had a take-off hand guard. $656.00 with no rear sight or sling. But I did it myself.

 

[Goblin]

I’m not surprised you enjoyed building a rifle, and it looks nice. I’m stunned, however, that in this market the dealer threw in a PMag for buying most of the parts. That’s worth the build.

 

[Eric300]

Looks good, OP. Nice job. As long as it cycles properly you're all set.

 

[AlHunt]

Nice work. I built a couple of lowers a few years back. My son really assembled the first one while I chased tools. I did the second one and put pre-built uppers on both.

Then I got a couple of 80% lowers and machined them out on my drill press (which I had to buy to do the lowers ...).

There is satisfaction in assembling them yourself. Kind of like shooting your own handloaded ammo.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I bought an already assembled parts Upper in 300 BO and went to install it on my 1996 Bushmaster's lower. I couldn't get it to cycle. Bubba didn't account for the thickness of the front handguard keeper behind the gas block, I moved the gas block foreword 1/64" and it was cycling, but short stroking (only with sub sonic ammo). So I bought an extra buffer spring and started cutting coils 1/2 at a time until it functioned with Remington 220 factory. I screw an old MAC 10 9mm suppressor on it, it sounds like I'm dry firing that gun! When in 223 it is a 400 yard 1/4 MOA ground hog gun, with the 300 BO Upper and silencer it is a 100 yard 1/2 MOA quiet pest killer!

Ivan