lamorinda
Member
I hope this helps a newbie figuring out which first AR15 to buy, or to build, and how much it may cost to build one.
After about 40+ hours of research on which first AR15 to buy, which led me to this forum as I was dead set on a MP Sport because of the low price... I decided to build an AR15 from the bottom up. Mostly because I wanted to know what each parts function was with gun.
Here is what I bought this week:
Spikes Stripped Lower - $115 OTD - Golden State Tactical
2 Surplus Stripped Lowers - $72 each OTD - Atomic Tactical
PSA Lower Build Kit - $86 OTD - Palmetto State Armory (PSA)
Complete 16" Upper 1:7, chromed - $281 OTD - PSA
Bolter & Carrier Group - $168 OTD - Bravo Company (BCM)
Large Extended Charging Handle - $51 OTD - BCM
Dro's and Transfer Fee's = $55 - Fairfield Pawn (cheapest in Bay area)
OTD = Out The Door
Total Cost = $900 and that includes all fee's and taxes ( I saved on taxes with everything via the mail but the shipping made it a wash) plus I still have 2 extra lower receivers for future builds!
I bought three lowers because I really wanted the Spikes Jolly Roger. I bought the other two on sale and I saved $$$ with only 1 DRO's fee since it was a simoultaneous purchase.
If I use one of the Surplus Lowers, this build build only costs $713 total!!!!
I also saved $ because my neighbor has all the tools to make this happen.
I will probably add a EOS red dot later for more $$$. Well, let's be real: I totally got the bug and will probably spend a lot more $$$ in the months to come!
I hope this posts helps someone figuring out which direction to go and how much it costs! A few re-occuring themes I came across that might be helful are thus:
1. Research Different Forums as some are biased
2. Smith & Wesson MP 15 rifles are excellent Rifles, I still want one! You should feel very good if you buy one.
3. Many name brand parts (Stripped Lowers) are made by the same manufacture and therefore are the same. They just have a different Logo on them which you are paying for!
4. Buy what YOU WANT. I paid $115 for Spikes Pirate logo because that is what I wanted! It is the exact same lower as the Surplus Ammo Stripped Lower and costs almost twice as much! But it is what I wanted!
5. If you want a Colt , buy a Colt! BUT DON'T BUY A Colt because 20 folks in a forum tell you that only real men use a 6920/6940, or because they have "the Chart", or because they tell you it's the "Gold Standard" in AR15's. (Even though it probably is the gold standard!)
6. Buy or build the gun that you want to own, the one that feels right in your gut. Go shoot one first before you make a decision. I was able to shoot two of my neigbors AR15's, he has a short barreled "clear the building" type with a red dot and also a 20" barreled pimped out one with a $1000 scope for Zombies at 500 yards. Everying I read in the forums made total sense after I shot his two different AR Builds (triggers, scopes, length of barrels, furniture...)
I went with the "Clear The Building" type for my first build. Very similar to the MP Sport. I went his way as an entry level so I get the feel for the AR15 platform. So my next build will be even better. If had more money, I would of ordered a more expensive upper barrel assembly. But I went with entry level as it was on sale and fit my needs (plinking and varmits).
In summary: It took me about 40 hours of reading different forums to get the AR15 bug really bad!
In fact I was consumed about research and found that I enjoyed learning about the AR15 platform so much that I wanted to build one for the experience and comradre (a neighbor is helping).
Now I have ordered all the parts (that I chose myself) and am excited about the Road Map to my first AR15. I could of bought a Colt for $1,000 or a Sport for $650...But I never would had the same level of knowledge or personal enjoyment that I have received out of my experience.
At the end of the Day, I feel great about what I have done thus far. And I also feel confident that when my gun is put together, it is going to go Boom when I pull the trigger!
Cheers
Lamorinda
After about 40+ hours of research on which first AR15 to buy, which led me to this forum as I was dead set on a MP Sport because of the low price... I decided to build an AR15 from the bottom up. Mostly because I wanted to know what each parts function was with gun.
Here is what I bought this week:
Spikes Stripped Lower - $115 OTD - Golden State Tactical
2 Surplus Stripped Lowers - $72 each OTD - Atomic Tactical
PSA Lower Build Kit - $86 OTD - Palmetto State Armory (PSA)
Complete 16" Upper 1:7, chromed - $281 OTD - PSA
Bolter & Carrier Group - $168 OTD - Bravo Company (BCM)
Large Extended Charging Handle - $51 OTD - BCM
Dro's and Transfer Fee's = $55 - Fairfield Pawn (cheapest in Bay area)
OTD = Out The Door
Total Cost = $900 and that includes all fee's and taxes ( I saved on taxes with everything via the mail but the shipping made it a wash) plus I still have 2 extra lower receivers for future builds!
I bought three lowers because I really wanted the Spikes Jolly Roger. I bought the other two on sale and I saved $$$ with only 1 DRO's fee since it was a simoultaneous purchase.
If I use one of the Surplus Lowers, this build build only costs $713 total!!!!
I also saved $ because my neighbor has all the tools to make this happen.
I will probably add a EOS red dot later for more $$$. Well, let's be real: I totally got the bug and will probably spend a lot more $$$ in the months to come!
I hope this posts helps someone figuring out which direction to go and how much it costs! A few re-occuring themes I came across that might be helful are thus:
1. Research Different Forums as some are biased
2. Smith & Wesson MP 15 rifles are excellent Rifles, I still want one! You should feel very good if you buy one.
3. Many name brand parts (Stripped Lowers) are made by the same manufacture and therefore are the same. They just have a different Logo on them which you are paying for!
4. Buy what YOU WANT. I paid $115 for Spikes Pirate logo because that is what I wanted! It is the exact same lower as the Surplus Ammo Stripped Lower and costs almost twice as much! But it is what I wanted!
5. If you want a Colt , buy a Colt! BUT DON'T BUY A Colt because 20 folks in a forum tell you that only real men use a 6920/6940, or because they have "the Chart", or because they tell you it's the "Gold Standard" in AR15's. (Even though it probably is the gold standard!)
6. Buy or build the gun that you want to own, the one that feels right in your gut. Go shoot one first before you make a decision. I was able to shoot two of my neigbors AR15's, he has a short barreled "clear the building" type with a red dot and also a 20" barreled pimped out one with a $1000 scope for Zombies at 500 yards. Everying I read in the forums made total sense after I shot his two different AR Builds (triggers, scopes, length of barrels, furniture...)
I went with the "Clear The Building" type for my first build. Very similar to the MP Sport. I went his way as an entry level so I get the feel for the AR15 platform. So my next build will be even better. If had more money, I would of ordered a more expensive upper barrel assembly. But I went with entry level as it was on sale and fit my needs (plinking and varmits).
In summary: It took me about 40 hours of reading different forums to get the AR15 bug really bad!
In fact I was consumed about research and found that I enjoyed learning about the AR15 platform so much that I wanted to build one for the experience and comradre (a neighbor is helping).
Now I have ordered all the parts (that I chose myself) and am excited about the Road Map to my first AR15. I could of bought a Colt for $1,000 or a Sport for $650...But I never would had the same level of knowledge or personal enjoyment that I have received out of my experience.
At the end of the Day, I feel great about what I have done thus far. And I also feel confident that when my gun is put together, it is going to go Boom when I pull the trigger!
Cheers
Lamorinda
Thanks: Forrests, Garys, Mc5aw & JayKellog,
