The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Competition Rifle -- Build or Buy?

dakota.potts · November 27, 2013, 03:57 AM

I'm a man with the beard to prove it

A lot of people think Dakota is a girl name but I've met a ton of guys (and dogs, for some reason) named Dakota but never a girl or woman.

I am small, however. All of 5'6 and 115 lbs.

I am interested in going the build route because I can put money in as I get it and have a more tangible feeling of that savings going somewhere. I've found a great deal on a stripped lower (Anderson from PSA for $50) and barring information that it would somehow be inferior, it looks like I could save money that way. If I figure $90 for the parts kit and $200 for the lower furniture, I'm looking at just over $1,000 after buying the upper. I can buy a RRA trigger for $120-$180 or even get something like a Geissele. That puts me at around $1,200 for the full rifle rather than $1,450. Plus I get to have pieces of it before I can afford the full thing, I get learn how to put it together, and I get to select the parts to go in.

However, with that, I should ask:
Is there any disadvantage to a different lower? How much does lower quality affect the gun, and how much does it vary?

Will I need anything for the build besides the stripped lower, parts kit, complete upper, and furniture?

How much do I give up with a 5.56 chamber instead of a .223 Wylde? I'm hearing the Wylde is more accurate but I'm not sure how much of that is hype.
EDIT: Pretty sure it's the upper that has the chamber, not the lower, so disregard my noob question here.

How hard is it to put together an AR-15 and have it work as well as a factory one? I'm new to the experience so I don't know much about gas vs. piston driven or different length buffer tubes or really much about the internal engineering.

I think those questions will end up being the difference in the decision.

November 27, 2013, 03:57 AM	#15
dakota.potts Senior Member Join Date: February 25, 2013 Location: Keystone Heights, Florida Posts: 3,084	I'm a man with the beard to prove it A lot of people think Dakota is a girl name but I've met a ton of guys (and dogs, for some reason) named Dakota but never a girl or woman. I am small, however. All of 5'6 and 115 lbs. I am interested in going the build route because I can put money in as I get it and have a more tangible feeling of that savings going somewhere. I've found a great deal on a stripped lower (Anderson from PSA for $50) and barring information that it would somehow be inferior, it looks like I could save money that way. If I figure $90 for the parts kit and $200 for the lower furniture, I'm looking at just over $1,000 after buying the upper. I can buy a RRA trigger for $120-$180 or even get something like a Geissele. That puts me at around $1,200 for the full rifle rather than $1,450. Plus I get to have pieces of it before I can afford the full thing, I get learn how to put it together, and I get to select the parts to go in. However, with that, I should ask: Is there any disadvantage to a different lower? How much does lower quality affect the gun, and how much does it vary? Will I need anything for the build besides the stripped lower, parts kit, complete upper, and furniture? How much do I give up with a 5.56 chamber instead of a .223 Wylde? I'm hearing the Wylde is more accurate but I'm not sure how much of that is hype. EDIT: Pretty sure it's the upper that has the chamber, not the lower, so disregard my noob question here. How hard is it to put together an AR-15 and have it work as well as a factory one? I'm new to the experience so I don't know much about gas vs. piston driven or different length buffer tubes or really much about the internal engineering. I think those questions will end up being the difference in the decision.