Looking To Build AR 15

jabraun98 · March 19, 2013, 09:53 AM

I'm looking to just build the lower and buy a complete upper... Any reccomedations on a quality lower receiver and a lower parts kit? Im looking to keep it under $400
Thanks

Gunnutfn49 · March 19, 2013, 12:49 PM

I have three DSArms uppers. they are entry level pricing, yet I have not had any FTF's or FTE's (qualifier, between the three uppers I have fired approximately 3k rounds total with various types of ammo [tulammo and the federal valupack from walmart at about a 3:1 ratio] and find the uppers and assembled bolt carriers to be great entry level uppers).

I would recommend cleaning after every shooting outing, though.

They also produce a large amount of FN FAL materials and those too I highly recommend.

Fishbed77 · March 19, 2013, 03:33 PM

Look no further than Palmetto State Armory. They actually have most of what you need in stock, and their prices have not suffered too much as a result of the madness.

Skans · March 19, 2013, 05:22 PM

I just did a build with SI Defense billet upper/lower receiver set - I'm pleased with the way it turned out; but I haven't had a chance to shoot it yet...that's the real test.

Metal god · March 20, 2013, 10:54 AM

PSA : The lowers have been in stock for $120 but they sell out fast . You need to check every day .

Stripped lower $120
http://palmettostatearmory.com/index...r15-lower.html

Complete MOE lower build kit $180
http://palmettostatearmory.com/index...build-kit.html

lagavulin62 · March 20, 2013, 07:40 PM

well that lower is already sold out. I will keep checking. but thanks for the link.

Justice06RR · March 21, 2013, 03:40 AM

+1 on the PSA stripped lower.

you can also go with a Core15 lower parts kit for $75, then buy a UTG stock kit for around $60.

Tough part right now is catching them in stock. Good luck on your build.

p.s. If you wanted to just go with a complete AR15, Smith and Wesson's M&P15 Sport are selling for $839. I went ahead and bought one for that price because I'm tired of trying to wait for parts to be in stock for a build, and at least with the M&P15 you are buying a good AR from a reputable manufacturer.

lagavulin62 · March 21, 2013, 06:06 AM

Justice,

I am doing the same as you. I just purchased an M&P Sport and waiting for it to arrive at my FFL. I still am going to do the build even if it takes me forever, I just don't want to spend money on anything until I at least get a decent lower. I don't plan on building the upper, will just buy one complete. Pretty addictive this hobby.

Mobuck · March 21, 2013, 01:03 PM

Assembling a few loose parts and pushing two pins is NOT "building".

Metal god · March 21, 2013, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Assembling a few loose parts and pushing two pins is NOT "building".

IMHO the upper is not much different then the lower . Couple pins , couple springs tighten the nut correctly . The only real difference I found was you need a few more special tools to make it easier .

What is building an AR to you ? I'm assuming you mean machining the parts your self . Short of making all the parts your self , your just assembling the gun .

Quentin2 · March 21, 2013, 02:26 PM

I agree that PSA is a great source of parts. I used their LBK to "build up" my stripped billet lower plus have their stock kit on another lower and their 16" midlength upper. Great quality, great prices and milspec. They can be slow but that's a problem most places lately.

To me an AR build is much like a PC build. You do your research, educate yourself then select the parts best for your build then assemble and configure. If you do your homework you'll end up with a custom build much better than something off the rack at your LGS.

Skans · March 21, 2013, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Assembling a few loose parts and pushing two pins is NOT "building".

Ehhh, that's what its commonly called. You are "building" it because you have to give considerable thought as to what you want the AR to be like when you are finished. It's not like ordering an AR15 kit from China that comes in a box with labeled parts and step-by-step assembly instructions printed in 27 languages.

When someone builds a house, do they also form their own concrete blocks, mine their own limestone for cement, and forge their own nails? I would say that if you are milling your own receivers, or even finishing an 80% receiver, then you stepped into the realm of fabricating.

Gunnutfn49 · March 21, 2013, 04:31 PM

Ehhh, that's what its commonly called. You are "building" it because you have to give considerable thought as to what you want the AR to be like when you are finished. It's not like ordering an AR15 kit from China that comes in a box with labeled parts and step-by-step assembly instructions printed in 27 languages.

When someone builds a house, do they also form their own concrete blocks, mine their own limestone for cement, and forge their own nails? I would say that if you are milling your own receivers, or even finishing an 80% receiver, then you stepped into the realm of fabricating.

+1

lagavulin62 · March 21, 2013, 08:55 PM

Ha! We may have to take up milling if things don't become available before the Gun Grabbers catch up. in the meantime it sure wouldn't hurt to pick up the proper tools. What would I need specifically for the lower and the upper if I assemble that too? Thanks in advance and my apologies to the OP for the deviation of the thread, but I think it's all related.

Skans · March 22, 2013, 07:23 AM

To assemble an AR, you will need a punch set; an armorer's tool, allen wrenches, maybe a screw driver. An upper receiver block (for clamping the upper receiver when installing the barrel) and a vice would be nice, but I wouldn't say absolutely necessary. Note, however, without them you run the risk of messing up your upper receiver when torquing the barrel nut.

I'm a minimalist - these are the tools I had to assemble a stripped upper, stripped lower, gas block, buffer tube, stock, etc.

Oh, I found that a micrometer was helpful for determining some of the dimensions of my barrel, since I was using an older AR15 government profile barrel. I also had to use a dremel (is this a naughty word?

) to modify the feed ramps on the barrel extension to give it an M4 profile. I had to do this since my upper had the M4 notches in it.

bcarver · March 22, 2013, 08:23 AM

Assembleing is closer to the proper term.
For you first time. Buy a lower and a rifle kit.
Don't mess with the upper until later.

CTS · March 22, 2013, 09:23 AM

Quote:

For you first time. Buy a lower and a rifle kit.
Don't mess with the upper until later.

Why do you say that? If you know how to use a torque wrench, assembling an upper is a lot easier than assembling a lower with all those little springs and detents and such.

lagavulin62 · March 23, 2013, 01:35 PM

I am looking at Aero Precision lowers. They sell them for 200. I also see Del-Tons for 175. Do you think these prices are ok or should I wait a little longer? Both are very nice looking lowers and with the Aero it doesn't seem to hard to acquire a stripped upper to fit it. What do you guys think?

Just out of curiosity(and yes a newbie ? but found nothing in research) why does Del-Ton not finish that small area in the middle of their lower. I know it's aluminum so no biggie but why would they leave it bare?

Metal god · March 23, 2013, 04:44 PM

Not sure what your talking about with Del-Ton and not finishing the lower complete .I have one and it looks like all others on the market . Can you give a link so we can see what your talking about . As for quality of DT , They seem just as good as most . I have zero issues with my lower and 2 complete rifle kits . I have never used or even handled Aero parts so I have nothing for you on those . The prices on both are high . I just paid $160 for a lower and thought it was a little much .

lagavulin62 · March 23, 2013, 05:01 PM

not sure how to post links so you may have to copy and paste. if you enlarge the photo you will see the bare spot in the middle. I have checked other sites and they have this too. seems weird.

http://fatboytactical.net/cart/index...artsfinder.com

Metal god · March 23, 2013, 05:18 PM

I see it and it even looks like that on there web site . Mine does not look like that and is completely finished . I would think they are finished complete and it's a bad picture . I'll post a pic of mine as soon as my computer stops acting up

Metal god · March 23, 2013, 05:34 PM

Here is a pic of mine and if you compare the two . You can see the stamp is different now . I bought this last year . I'm thinking there pic is very old . and does not represent the product now.

lagavulin62 · March 24, 2013, 09:32 AM

The bare spot is probably nothing but I may call anyway. I had read someplace that when changing out parts on a complete AR it wasnt' unusual to find bare metal hidden behind some part of the receiver. When I saw that I wondered if that was what they were talking about and was hoping maybe someone could chime in. I am going to give it a few more weeks and see what happens. My fully assembled/built M&P Sport is due at my FFL Thursday and I have Friday off. I suspect I will really want to start my project soon.

On a related note, even for a newbie AR guy I can't believe all the polymer lowers being offered online. I'm guessing you had many speculators who bought these when they first came out and see the current situation as their only hope to unload them? On Tx Guntrader you would laugh at what they are trying to sell off on I suspect newbies who have not done even the most basic of research. I realize many 22's use a polymer lower but I wouldn't even build a 22 with one. Then again I don't even own a Glock so maybe that doesn't mean much?

March 19, 2013, 09:53 AM	#1
jabraun98 Member Join Date: October 28, 2012 Posts: 41	Looking To Build AR 15 I'm looking to just build the lower and buy a complete upper... Any reccomedations on a quality lower receiver and a lower parts kit? Im looking to keep it under $400 Thanks

March 19, 2013, 12:49 PM	#2
Gunnutfn49 Member Join Date: January 3, 2013 Location: PR of Kalifornia Posts: 77	I have three DSArms uppers. they are entry level pricing, yet I have not had any FTF's or FTE's (qualifier, between the three uppers I have fired approximately 3k rounds total with various types of ammo [tulammo and the federal valupack from walmart at about a 3:1 ratio] and find the uppers and assembled bolt carriers to be great entry level uppers). I would recommend cleaning after every shooting outing, though. They also produce a large amount of FN FAL materials and those too I highly recommend. __________________ "...and which is worst of all, continual fear and danger of violent death, and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short."-Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan ...What he meant to add was, "unless, of course, all responsible citizens are armed to the teeth."

March 20, 2013, 10:54 AM	#5
Metal god Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2012 Location: San Diego CA Posts: 6,876	PSA : The lowers have been in stock for $120 but they sell out fast . You need to check every day . Stripped lower $120 http://palmettostatearmory.com/index...r15-lower.html Complete MOE lower build kit $180 http://palmettostatearmory.com/index...build-kit.html __________________ If Jesus had a gun , he'd probably still be alive ! I almost always write my posts regardless of content in a jovial manor and intent . If that's not how you took it , please try again . Last edited by Metal god; March 20, 2013 at 11:02 AM.

March 21, 2013, 04:31 PM	#13
Gunnutfn49 Member Join Date: January 3, 2013 Location: PR of Kalifornia Posts: 77	Ehhh, that's what its commonly called. You are "building" it because you have to give considerable thought as to what you want the AR to be like when you are finished. It's not like ordering an AR15 kit from China that comes in a box with labeled parts and step-by-step assembly instructions printed in 27 languages. When someone builds a house, do they also form their own concrete blocks, mine their own limestone for cement, and forge their own nails? I would say that if you are milling your own receivers, or even finishing an 80% receiver, then you stepped into the realm of fabricating. +1 __________________ "...and which is worst of all, continual fear and danger of violent death, and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short."-Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan ...What he meant to add was, "unless, of course, all responsible citizens are armed to the teeth."

March 22, 2013, 07:23 AM	#15
Skans Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2008 Posts: 11,132	To assemble an AR, you will need a punch set; an armorer's tool, allen wrenches, maybe a screw driver. An upper receiver block (for clamping the upper receiver when installing the barrel) and a vice would be nice, but I wouldn't say absolutely necessary. Note, however, without them you run the risk of messing up your upper receiver when torquing the barrel nut. I'm a minimalist - these are the tools I had to assemble a stripped upper, stripped lower, gas block, buffer tube, stock, etc. Oh, I found that a micrometer was helpful for determining some of the dimensions of my barrel, since I was using an older AR15 government profile barrel. I also had to use a dremel (is this a naughty word?) to modify the feed ramps on the barrel extension to give it an M4 profile. I had to do this since my upper had the M4 notches in it.

March 19, 2013, 03:33 PM	#3
Fishbed77 Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2010 Posts: 4,862	Look no further than Palmetto State Armory. They actually have most of what you need in stock, and their prices have not suffered too much as a result of the madness.

March 19, 2013, 05:22 PM	#4
Skans Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2008 Posts: 11,132	I just did a build with SI Defense billet upper/lower receiver set - I'm pleased with the way it turned out; but I haven't had a chance to shoot it yet...that's the real test.

March 20, 2013, 07:40 PM	#6
lagavulin62 Senior Member Join Date: June 19, 2008 Location: Montgomery, Texas Posts: 222	well that lower is already sold out. I will keep checking. but thanks for the link.

March 21, 2013, 03:40 AM	#7
Justice06RR Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2010 Location: Central FL Posts: 1,360	+1 on the PSA stripped lower. you can also go with a Core15 lower parts kit for $75, then buy a UTG stock kit for around $60. Tough part right now is catching them in stock. Good luck on your build. p.s. If you wanted to just go with a complete AR15, Smith and Wesson's M&P15 Sport are selling for $839. I went ahead and bought one for that price because I'm tired of trying to wait for parts to be in stock for a build, and at least with the M&P15 you are buying a good AR from a reputable manufacturer.

March 21, 2013, 06:06 AM	#8
lagavulin62 Senior Member Join Date: June 19, 2008 Location: Montgomery, Texas Posts: 222	Justice, I am doing the same as you. I just purchased an M&P Sport and waiting for it to arrive at my FFL. I still am going to do the build even if it takes me forever, I just don't want to spend money on anything until I at least get a decent lower. I don't plan on building the upper, will just buy one complete. Pretty addictive this hobby.

March 21, 2013, 01:03 PM	#9
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	Assembling a few loose parts and pushing two pins is NOT "building".

March 21, 2013, 02:26 PM	#11
Quentin2 Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2009 Location: NorthWest USA Posts: 1,996	I agree that PSA is a great source of parts. I used their LBK to "build up" my stripped billet lower plus have their stock kit on another lower and their 16" midlength upper. Great quality, great prices and milspec. They can be slow but that's a problem most places lately. To me an AR build is much like a PC build. You do your research, educate yourself then select the parts best for your build then assemble and configure. If you do your homework you'll end up with a custom build much better than something off the rack at your LGS.

March 21, 2013, 08:55 PM	#14
lagavulin62 Senior Member Join Date: June 19, 2008 Location: Montgomery, Texas Posts: 222	Ha! We may have to take up milling if things don't become available before the Gun Grabbers catch up. in the meantime it sure wouldn't hurt to pick up the proper tools. What would I need specifically for the lower and the upper if I assemble that too? Thanks in advance and my apologies to the OP for the deviation of the thread, but I think it's all related.

March 22, 2013, 08:23 AM	#16
bcarver Senior Member Join Date: February 22, 2007 Location: Jackson,Mississippi Posts: 838	to begin Assembleing is closer to the proper term. For you first time. Buy a lower and a rifle kit. Don't mess with the upper until later.

March 23, 2013, 01:35 PM	#18
lagavulin62 Senior Member Join Date: June 19, 2008 Location: Montgomery, Texas Posts: 222	I am looking at Aero Precision lowers. They sell them for 200. I also see Del-Tons for 175. Do you think these prices are ok or should I wait a little longer? Both are very nice looking lowers and with the Aero it doesn't seem to hard to acquire a stripped upper to fit it. What do you guys think? Just out of curiosity(and yes a newbie ? but found nothing in research) why does Del-Ton not finish that small area in the middle of their lower. I know it's aluminum so no biggie but why would they leave it bare?

March 23, 2013, 04:44 PM	#19
Metal god Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2012 Location: San Diego CA Posts: 6,876	Not sure what your talking about with Del-Ton and not finishing the lower complete .I have one and it looks like all others on the market . Can you give a link so we can see what your talking about . As for quality of DT , They seem just as good as most . I have zero issues with my lower and 2 complete rifle kits . I have never used or even handled Aero parts so I have nothing for you on those . The prices on both are high . I just paid $160 for a lower and thought it was a little much . __________________ If Jesus had a gun , he'd probably still be alive ! I almost always write my posts regardless of content in a jovial manor and intent . If that's not how you took it , please try again .

March 23, 2013, 05:01 PM	#20
lagavulin62 Senior Member Join Date: June 19, 2008 Location: Montgomery, Texas Posts: 222	not sure how to post links so you may have to copy and paste. if you enlarge the photo you will see the bare spot in the middle. I have checked other sites and they have this too. seems weird. http://fatboytactical.net/cart/index...artsfinder.com

March 23, 2013, 05:18 PM	#21
Metal god Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2012 Location: San Diego CA Posts: 6,876	I see it and it even looks like that on there web site . Mine does not look like that and is completely finished . I would think they are finished complete and it's a bad picture . I'll post a pic of mine as soon as my computer stops acting up __________________ If Jesus had a gun , he'd probably still be alive ! I almost always write my posts regardless of content in a jovial manor and intent . If that's not how you took it , please try again .

March 23, 2013, 05:34 PM	#22
Metal god Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2012 Location: San Diego CA Posts: 6,876	Here is a pic of mine and if you compare the two . You can see the stamp is different now . I bought this last year . I'm thinking there pic is very old . and does not represent the product now. __________________ If Jesus had a gun , he'd probably still be alive ! I almost always write my posts regardless of content in a jovial manor and intent . If that's not how you took it , please try again .

March 24, 2013, 09:32 AM	#23
lagavulin62 Senior Member Join Date: June 19, 2008 Location: Montgomery, Texas Posts: 222	The bare spot is probably nothing but I may call anyway. I had read someplace that when changing out parts on a complete AR it wasnt' unusual to find bare metal hidden behind some part of the receiver. When I saw that I wondered if that was what they were talking about and was hoping maybe someone could chime in. I am going to give it a few more weeks and see what happens. My fully assembled/built M&P Sport is due at my FFL Thursday and I have Friday off. I suspect I will really want to start my project soon. On a related note, even for a newbie AR guy I can't believe all the polymer lowers being offered online. I'm guessing you had many speculators who bought these when they first came out and see the current situation as their only hope to unload them? On Tx Guntrader you would laugh at what they are trying to sell off on I suspect newbies who have not done even the most basic of research. I realize many 22's use a polymer lower but I wouldn't even build a 22 with one. Then again I don't even own a Glock so maybe that doesn't mean much?