Starting my first AR build

Metal god · June 16, 2012, 03:15 AM

Hey guys just bought a striped lower today . I am new to the AR platform . I do have a complete Del-Ton ECHO 316 rifle I just recently purchased. I did have some trigger problems at first but should be good now . It's on its way back from Del-Ton now .

While I was working thru the problems with the Del-Ton . I started to understand the rifle design more and how it operates . So when I saw striped lowers on sale at the local gun store for $80 I thought hey I'll buy one and build an AR my self . You put the bullet in one end it go's bang and fly's out the other end I mean HOW HARD CAN IT BE ???!!!

So my question to you all is were do I start ? I don't mean that literally , obviosly I start buying all the parts for it . Im not so much intrested in the upper at this time ( Baby steps ). I more want to concentrate on the lower .

Im not looking to shoot competition with this rifle . This will be more for plinking and just over all having fun with .

Are there parts or manufactures that I want to stay away from .I do not have an unlimited budget so I'd like to keep the price down a bit . ( I don't want to go cheap but a drop in $250 timney trigger would be a bit much for my budget ). Bushmaster , DPMS , Del-Ton and others all make complete lower parts kits . Are they all about the same or do some stand out . Should I buy each part individualy or is a parts kit the way to go .

Thanks for the help a head of time .

If there is another tread that answers my ? and you can help giude me to it that would be great

madcratebuilder · June 16, 2012, 05:05 AM

Lot of first time builders go with a completed upper and assemble the lower, LPK, RE and butt stock them selves.

I well recommend a ArmaLite two stage LPK, it's $120 and has a fine two stage trigger that is user adjustable. Plus all the parts are first rate. Pick a butt stock and build away. Brownells has a great set of assembly videos.

Coach Z · June 16, 2012, 05:42 AM

Palmetto state armory has some sales on complete lower build kits. You can get one for $90 that is EVERYTHING you need including butt stock parts grip etc. check them out. I just ordered five of them last week and very impressed with the quality

DeadCenter · June 16, 2012, 09:03 AM

The last AR build I did I bought the lower kit minus trigger from Palmetto State, then picked up a Rock River Arms NM 2 stage trigger kit from Joe Bob Outfitters. The RRA trigger is not quite as nice as my Geissele, but a pretty good 2 stage trigger if that's what you want.

bulldawg1024 · June 17, 2012, 12:34 PM

check out Palmetto State and also Surplusammo.com. The build I just did was from surplus. It turned out awesome. They sell complete uppers also.

Metal god · June 17, 2012, 09:45 PM

thanks for the help its working out great .

So i've been looking around at uppers . I see a lot of pre ban and post ban uppers and stocks . Im not seeing whats different about them . Can anyone help on this issue .

Baylorattorney · June 18, 2012, 12:05 AM

Bayonet lugs?

Coach Z · June 18, 2012, 07:08 AM

Certain states that still have "assault weapon bans" prohibit certain things on guns but if it was built before the ban you are exempt from the regulation.

A broad generalization but you get the idea.

Metal god · July 5, 2012, 10:37 PM

Well , I finished the build . I went with Midwayusa cus they had a fricking great deal on a Del-Ton complete everything except the stripped lower .It had the lower parts kit ,Butt stock and complete upper( 16 " heavy barrel , crome lined 1-7 twist ) mid length gas system for $499.99 . The complete build cost $600.00 out the door .
http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/4234/phone2010.jpg

Im still planning on putting a free floating quad rail and new gas block as well as a magpul CRT stock on it . That will put the cost at $850 for a gun if bought at a store would put you back $1,200 plus . Im very happy so far . I took it to the range and put about 300 rounds thru it . It had no problems at all .

I also had my other AR with me.This one cost me $850 out the door from tuners . http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/835/phone2011.jpg

It worked great as well . As some of you might know . when I Bought the dark earth AR it had a bad trigger group and would fire 3 and 4 round burst on slow trigger releases . I sent it back to Del-Ton and they replaced the hammer and the diconnect . all is good now .

I still have one more stripped lower to build . I think Im going to build this one from the ground up . Holy cow I have always wanted just one AR and now look at me .

Just say NO to SB-249

Marquezj16 · July 6, 2012, 12:29 AM

Congrats on your build. Looks pretty nice. $600 is a great price for a rifle.

toppermost · July 7, 2012, 09:54 PM

[duplicated info]

Justice06RR · July 9, 2012, 08:21 PM

Congrats on your build! You really saved a lot of money by doing that. $600 is excellent for a complete AR15.

We kinda have the same taste on the Magpul FDE. Mine looks about the same as your Delton, minus the MOE handguard which I plan to buy anyway.

Just a small advice on posting pics, use the code with the [IMG] on it so it will directly post the pics within the thread.

Metal god · July 9, 2012, 09:05 PM

Thats pretty sweet . I was planning on doing someting like that to my dark earth AR .Then I bought 2 more stripped lowers so im going to put YHM free float quad . magpul CRT stock , gas block , scope and now maybe a new RRA trigger on the new black AR I like to call ( little evil ) . See if I can make it a good shooter .

First I should put a scope on it and see how good it shoots as is . That way I'll know if putting all that money in to it was worth it . We'll see cus I can't stop sinking money in to my guns .

Metal god · July 16, 2012, 09:30 PM

PSA is the worst company I have ever delt with on the net .I Placed my order 10 days ago ,they took my money 8 days ago and still have not shipped my items . I've sent 4 emails and they have not told me anything but when it will ship and then that day passes , twice . My order still says prossising . Everything I ordered was in stock so whats going on over there .

It would be diferrent if had not billed my card . The fact that they took my money makes those items mine and no longer theres and I want them . Has anyone else had bad service with PSA.

Metal god · July 29, 2012, 10:01 PM

WHOO HOO ROCK & ROLL

New stuff - YHM ( Tod Jerret ) free float rail , double Rail gas block , red dot , bi-pod , flip up sights , CTR stock , magwell grip . Hogue grip . On a Del-ton upper and a PSA lower .

Total cost of the build to date $1,030.00

June 16, 2012, 03:15 AM	#1
Metal god Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2012 Location: San Diego CA Posts: 6,875	Starting my first AR build Hey guys just bought a striped lower today . I am new to the AR platform . I do have a complete Del-Ton ECHO 316 rifle I just recently purchased. I did have some trigger problems at first but should be good now . It's on its way back from Del-Ton now . While I was working thru the problems with the Del-Ton . I started to understand the rifle design more and how it operates . So when I saw striped lowers on sale at the local gun store for $80 I thought hey I'll buy one and build an AR my self . You put the bullet in one end it go's bang and fly's out the other end I mean HOW HARD CAN IT BE ???!!! So my question to you all is were do I start ? I don't mean that literally , obviosly I start buying all the parts for it . Im not so much intrested in the upper at this time ( Baby steps ). I more want to concentrate on the lower . Im not looking to shoot competition with this rifle . This will be more for plinking and just over all having fun with . Are there parts or manufactures that I want to stay away from .I do not have an unlimited budget so I'd like to keep the price down a bit . ( I don't want to go cheap but a drop in $250 timney trigger would be a bit much for my budget ). Bushmaster , DPMS , Del-Ton and others all make complete lower parts kits . Are they all about the same or do some stand out . Should I buy each part individualy or is a parts kit the way to go . Thanks for the help a head of time . If there is another tread that answers my ? and you can help giude me to it that would be great

June 17, 2012, 09:45 PM	#6
Metal god Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2012 Location: San Diego CA Posts: 6,875	Pre ban and post ban thanks for the help its working out great . So i've been looking around at uppers . I see a lot of pre ban and post ban uppers and stocks . Im not seeing whats different about them . Can anyone help on this issue .

July 5, 2012, 10:37 PM	#9
Metal god Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2012 Location: San Diego CA Posts: 6,875	Done ish Well , I finished the build . I went with Midwayusa cus they had a fricking great deal on a Del-Ton complete everything except the stripped lower .It had the lower parts kit ,Butt stock and complete upper( 16 " heavy barrel , crome lined 1-7 twist ) mid length gas system for $499.99 . The complete build cost $600.00 out the door . http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/4234/phone2010.jpg Im still planning on putting a free floating quad rail and new gas block as well as a magpul CRT stock on it . That will put the cost at $850 for a gun if bought at a store would put you back $1,200 plus . Im very happy so far . I took it to the range and put about 300 rounds thru it . It had no problems at all . I also had my other AR with me.This one cost me $850 out the door from tuners . http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/835/phone2011.jpg It worked great as well . As some of you might know . when I Bought the dark earth AR it had a bad trigger group and would fire 3 and 4 round burst on slow trigger releases . I sent it back to Del-Ton and they replaced the hammer and the diconnect . all is good now . I still have one more stripped lower to build . I think Im going to build this one from the ground up . Holy cow I have always wanted just one AR and now look at me . Just say NO to SB-249

July 7, 2012, 09:54 PM	#11
toppermost Senior Member Join Date: November 21, 2010 Location: Arizona Posts: 224	[duplicated info] __________________ k.i.s.s. Last edited by toppermost; July 7, 2012 at 09:55 PM. Reason: im an idiot

July 16, 2012, 09:30 PM	#14
Metal god Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2012 Location: San Diego CA Posts: 6,875	Palmetto state sucks PSA is the worst company I have ever delt with on the net .I Placed my order 10 days ago ,they took my money 8 days ago and still have not shipped my items . I've sent 4 emails and they have not told me anything but when it will ship and then that day passes , twice . My order still says prossising . Everything I ordered was in stock so whats going on over there . It would be diferrent if had not billed my card . The fact that they took my money makes those items mine and no longer theres and I want them . Has anyone else had bad service with PSA.

June 16, 2012, 05:05 AM	#2
madcratebuilder Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2007 Location: Northern Orygun Posts: 4,923	Lot of first time builders go with a completed upper and assemble the lower, LPK, RE and butt stock them selves. I well recommend a ArmaLite two stage LPK, it's $120 and has a fine two stage trigger that is user adjustable. Plus all the parts are first rate. Pick a butt stock and build away. Brownells has a great set of assembly videos.

June 16, 2012, 05:42 AM	#3
Coach Z Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2011 Location: RI Posts: 795	Palmetto state armory has some sales on complete lower build kits. You can get one for $90 that is EVERYTHING you need including butt stock parts grip etc. check them out. I just ordered five of them last week and very impressed with the quality

June 16, 2012, 09:03 AM	#4
DeadCenter Senior Member Join Date: September 17, 2006 Posts: 105	The last AR build I did I bought the lower kit minus trigger from Palmetto State, then picked up a Rock River Arms NM 2 stage trigger kit from Joe Bob Outfitters. The RRA trigger is not quite as nice as my Geissele, but a pretty good 2 stage trigger if that's what you want.

June 17, 2012, 12:34 PM	#5
bulldawg1024 Member Join Date: June 11, 2008 Posts: 25	check out Palmetto State and also Surplusammo.com. The build I just did was from surplus. It turned out awesome. They sell complete uppers also.

June 18, 2012, 12:05 AM	#7
Baylorattorney Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 2011 Posts: 177	Bayonet lugs?

June 18, 2012, 07:08 AM	#8
Coach Z Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2011 Location: RI Posts: 795	Certain states that still have "assault weapon bans" prohibit certain things on guns but if it was built before the ban you are exempt from the regulation. A broad generalization but you get the idea.

July 6, 2012, 12:29 AM	#10
Marquezj16 Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2011 Posts: 2,088	Congrats on your build. Looks pretty nice. $600 is a great price for a rifle.

July 9, 2012, 08:21 PM	#12
Justice06RR Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2010 Location: Central FL Posts: 1,360	Congrats on your build! You really saved a lot of money by doing that. $600 is excellent for a complete AR15. We kinda have the same taste on the Magpul FDE. Mine looks about the same as your Delton, minus the MOE handguard which I plan to buy anyway. Just a small advice on posting pics, use the code with the [IMG] on it so it will directly post the pics within the thread.

July 9, 2012, 09:05 PM	#13
Metal god Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2012 Location: San Diego CA Posts: 6,875	Thats pretty sweet . I was planning on doing someting like that to my dark earth AR .Then I bought 2 more stripped lowers so im going to put YHM free float quad . magpul CRT stock , gas block , scope and now maybe a new RRA trigger on the new black AR I like to call ( little evil ) . See if I can make it a good shooter . First I should put a scope on it and see how good it shoots as is . That way I'll know if putting all that money in to it was worth it . We'll see cus I can't stop sinking money in to my guns .

July 29, 2012, 10:01 PM	#15
Metal god Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2012 Location: San Diego CA Posts: 6,875	More done-ish WHOO HOO ROCK & ROLL New stuff - YHM ( Tod Jerret ) free float rail , double Rail gas block , red dot , bi-pod , flip up sights , CTR stock , magwell grip . Hogue grip . On a Del-ton upper and a PSA lower . Total cost of the build to date $1,030.00 Last edited by Metal god; July 29, 2012 at 10:15 PM.