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September 28, 2012, 07:06 AM | #1 |
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Join Date: March 21, 2009
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Advice on an AR-15 Build
I'm a fairly experienced pistol shooter, but I have been thinking about getting a semi automatic rifle for a while now. I've flirted with the Ruger Mini-14 but now I'm considering a AR-15.
While I'm not that experienced with rifles, I have worked on guns in the past, so I'm confident in my ability to assemble an AR myself. My goal is to buy a stripped lower and a full kit online. If anyone else has a better idea, let me know. I want to build something with an A2 configuration. 20'' barrel, fixed stock, fixed handle, old school hand guards etc. Can someone point me in the right direction? There seem to be a ton of sites selling kits and I have no idea which way to go. I really don't need anything fancy, I just want a retro AR. Any assistance would be much appreciated.
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September 28, 2012, 08:08 AM | #2 |
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First off see if there is a local shop that sells lowers at a reasonable price. It might be cheaper to buy the lower locally rather than buying online and paying the FFL transfer fee.
But as far as parts go, my favorite sources are Palmetto State Armory and JSE Surplus. |
September 28, 2012, 08:15 AM | #3 |
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Join Date: March 21, 2009
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That's a good idea, I plan on looking for a lower at the LGS. Lot less fuss than dealing with a transfer. Palmetto State Armory is highly recommended, but they hardly seem to have any stock available and they don't make an upper kit with a fixed carry handle.
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September 28, 2012, 08:35 AM | #4 |
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Rguns and Model 1 sales has retro stuff.
Do you want a A1 or A2 upper? Lot of places have the retro hand guards, grips and stocks. I got this Bushmaster off a guy some time ago, A2 furniture with the A1 upper. Changed the furniture and muzzle devise, retro enough for me. |
September 28, 2012, 09:17 AM | #5 |
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Join Date: February 8, 2008
Location: Denver, CO
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^ Very nice. I'm slowly putting together parts for a build like that myself. So far I have the A1 handguards and pistol grip, which I think will be the hardest parts to find...
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September 28, 2012, 09:22 AM | #6 |
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Join Date: February 19, 2012
Location: A wheat field in Kansas
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Do it! I am in a build right now and put one together with a buddy a few months ago. Its pretty easy with a little common sense and basic armorer tools (regular tools work ok). I now have buddies building four more.
I will warn you... Make sure you have plenty of cash because youll pribably build a second one very soon! The hardest part for me was to pick from over 60 caliber options! Good luck and have fun with your build.
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September 28, 2012, 12:12 PM | #7 |
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Join Date: January 21, 2009
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There are a lot of sites that sell parts, but the thread on arfcom for the latest deals sure helped. It's in the Build It Yourself forum. Note the stickies at the top on how to assemble things. It doesn't take a bunch of special tools, some of us just used what we already had in the garage.
The fixed carry handle sight is problematic - you basically use it that way, and forget about mounting a scope at the proper height. It can't. Otherwise, most AR15 builders use the A4 flattop with rail, as it's far more versatile. You can mount the M4 carry handle sight for the retro look, or use flip ups, and then add a red dot, too. Otherwise, it will still shoot, but you won't be able to use any optic well. Other than that, it's basically time consuming research to discover what are the best deals out there. Assembling the gun is about 5% of the effort. Research and read, it's difficult to say what you prefer until you see what's available. Then pick your parts and find the best vendors. |
September 29, 2012, 06:16 AM | #8 | |
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Quote:
There's nothing retro about a removable carry handle |
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September 29, 2012, 02:30 PM | #9 | |
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Location: NorthWest USA
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Quote:
Years ago I was very tempted to go with an A1 since it was much like the M16 I carried in Vietnam but now I'm glad I went with the A4 design instead. Of course none of this means a thing if you really, really want the fixed carry handle. |
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September 30, 2012, 06:43 AM | #10 | |
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Quote:
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September 30, 2012, 12:57 PM | #11 |
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Buy a flat top upper receiver you can get a detachable carry handle. You can mount an optic on a rifle with a carry with the right kind of mount but its kind of awkward. You are depending on the nut in carry handle mount to stay tight. The flat top is better because I can add a carry handle or mount an optic right on the receiver and the mount is going to keep it there.
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October 9, 2012, 06:16 PM | #12 |
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Join Date: October 9, 2012
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Palmetto State is not my friend
Ordered a complete upper a la carte BCG and Magpul handgaurds on Aug29. PSA said 10-15 business days to ship, got it on Oct9, no BCG, MOE handgaurds but no stock handgaurds. But still all the charges. So 28 business days later I am with a gun that can't shoot and missing $160 worth of merchandise. Throughout all the conversations I've had with PSA's so called customer service, no one has given me anything(answers) other than sorry. I will never do business with them again.
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October 9, 2012, 09:22 PM | #13 |
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Join Date: June 24, 2002
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I've had the opposite experience from Palmetto. Every order has been delivered when they said it would and the order was right.
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October 10, 2012, 02:22 AM | #14 |
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Location: San Joaquin Valley, CA
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I love the A2 AR-15 I assembled with the Palmetto upper on an Anderson Manufacturing lower.
I am selling it though, as I don't get to the rifle range enough to make it worth while. But it was fun to craft it and use it. Hmmm. Maybe I should take it to the range one last time... . I love the A2 look myself, but I did go with the A4 upper in the A2 configuration for customizing it down the road. |
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