Building my first AR

[iainb]

I'm building my first AR and am looking for some opinions and suggestions. I'm not going completely from scratch so for now I'm looking at complete uppers, lowers, BCGs and charging handles.

The rifle will be for range use and maybe eventually some carbine classes.

I already have my lower, it's a PSA Complete MagPul MOE lower.



Right now I'm looking at the following parts for the rest:

Complete Uppers
PSA 16" Midlength 5.56 NATO 1/7 SQR15 Pencil Melonite Freedom Upper - $300
PSA 16" Mid-length Freedom Stainless MOE BLK - $220

BCGs
PSA 5.56 Premium Full Auto BCG - $80
PSA 5.56 Full Auto Nickel Boron BCG - $100

I'm not sure if I'll spend the money for a BCM charging handle or just buy a standard $15-20 one, depends on what I spend for the upper and BCG really.

Any opinions on the above? Other places I should look with similar quality at these price points?

Thanks!
iain

[M1A4ME]

I bought an upper from PSA for my wife's rifle. I used the lower from an earlier .300 black out build (that I haven't shot in a year or two) and it's a nice shooting rifle.

I've also bought a couple of pistol uppers from PSA (and pistol lower kits) to put together a couple of .223 pistols with lowers bought from Quantico Tactical. They are also great shooting guns and reliable so far.

PSA seems to be selling good stuff. At a really good price.

[WVUBeta1904]

To echo M1A4ME, PSA does make some great products. I'm on their website pretty often, as they always have good sales/deals.

The PSA Mid-Length SS Freedom Series is a popular product, and one that comes recommended. Regarding your BCG, don't waste your $$ on Nickel Boron - invest it elsewhere (ammo, scope, reflex/dot). As long as you remember to clean your rifle and BCG on a regular basis, you won't have any problems.

Good luck - let us know how it turns out.

[iainb]

I ended up going with a complete upper from Ando Corp Ind after seeing their thread over at ARF.

Jason was super helpful over email yesterday and the phone today. He said to go Magpul the FSB has the gas block integrated. Because of that I just went with their quad rail. I'll see how I like it and I can always swap it out easily down the road if I want something different. They have a nice hybrid rail by SLR but it's another $125 or so on the price.

So $379 shipped for:

- 16" Ballistic Advantage 4150 Chrome Moly Vanadium barrel
- 1/7 Twist
- M4 Feed Ramps
- Mid-Length Gas System with Pinned Low Pro Gas Block
- QPQ Corrosion Resistant Finish
- A2 Flash Hider
- 1/2-28 Threaded Muzzle
- M16 BCG HP/MPI Tested with Viton O-ring
- ACI 15″ Forearm Quad Rail
- Dry Film Lubed Upper w/ T-Markings
- Standard Charging Handle
- Forward Assist & Ejection Port Assembly

I'll post pics when it comes in.

[MarcSpaz]

So, I have a question for you... 1.) Any more pics? LOL 2.) why did you do this? I under stand the use... but why buy a complete upper and a complete lower and not just a complete AR?

I ask, mostly because people build ARs for a few reasons, but typically it its a purpose built system to get a combo of features or functions not available in an OTC rifle. An example would be, I bought a complete Brovo Company AR lower and a AAC 300 Blackout upper. I wanted to have a 300 BO AR pistol that I could legally conceal carry the AR. Not on my person, but in my truck. Then I SBR'd my SIG 516 M4 clone, so I could move my 300 BO upper from a pistol to rifle configuration for more long distance shooting.

[iainb]

So, I have a question for you... 1.) Any more pics? LOL 2.) why did you do this? I under stand the use... but why buy a complete upper and a complete lower and not just a complete AR?

I ask, mostly because people build ARs for a few reasons, but typically it its a purpose built system to get a combo of features or functions not available in an OTC rifle. An example would be, I bought a complete Brovo Company AR lower and a AAC 300 Blackout upper. I wanted to have a 300 BO AR pistol that I could legally conceal carry the AR. Not on my person, but in my truck. Then I SBR'd my SIG 516 M4 clone, so I could move my 300 BO upper from a pistol to rifle configuration for more long distance shooting.

I'll post pics when I receive the upper.

Why do complete upper and lower? This is my first AR and I wanted to get the most bang for my buck. I didn't want some (crummy) DPMS Panther or a even a S&W Sport that I would have had to spend another $200 on to get how I wanted. I have a complete rifle, how I want it, for $538 that is comparable to a $800-1000 off-the-shelf rifle. That seems like a win in my book.

I actually wanted to do a complete build but I would have spent most of my savings just on tools just to put it together. I'll end up having to buy the tools as I go anyway so maybe next time.

[MarcSpaz]

You definitely made out price wise. I have owned 3 DPMS rifles within a year and I will never buy one again. They all sucked. The cheap S&W's are just that... cheap. So, yea, I see your thinking for sure.

Like you said, sounds like a win.

[iainb]

[MarcSpaz]

Hahaha! Nice! When I look at that gif, I hear Tom Jones "It's Not Unusual" playing in my head.

[iainb]

[MarcSpaz]

Very nice!

Have you weighed it yet? I'm wondering if its under 8 lbs with that rail on it. I like the looks, but I have been using shorter ones to keep it between 7 and 8 lbs.

[iainb]

Our bathroom scale says it's 6.5lb. I just set it down on the scale on the buttstock.

It does feel pretty heavy though...

It will eventually get a nicer rail, I just couldn't swing it right now.

[Jeff82]

Try weighing yourself and then again holding the rifle. Subtract. Sometimes real low weights throw off a scale.

Sent from my Galaxy S5 Sport using Tapatalk.

[iainb]

Oh, I had weighed it that way too and it came out the same.

FWIW, the 15" quad rail is 20oz (1.5lb). The high end rails appear to be from 10-14oz depending on length. So it's really not too bad considering.

[OakRidgeStars]

Nice flat top!

[iainb]

7.5lb with 20rds of .223 in the mag.



I'm going shooting this weekend in NC, I have a set of FDE Magpul MBUS sights in the mail from Amazon that will be at the in-laws' house when we get there. I can't wait!

[MarcSpaz]

Lookin' good brother! Have fun!

[iainb]

The gun shot great. My buddy who owned the farm has a bunch of ARs that he built and he was really impressed with the overall gun and was shocked at how little I spent on it.

He also had his AR with a bump-fire stock, it was bananas. I'm working on a video.

[MarcSpaz]

Nice! looking forward to the video.

I have a bump-fire / Slidefire stock that I bought more than a year ago and haven't used it yet. None of the ranges I go to will let me. I plan on having a bit of fun with it at Randy's though. What's the ramp-up on learning how to bump-fire? Is it easy/natural or something you have to put some effort into?

[iainb]

It's super simple. First try you'll fire a few rounds to get the hang of it. Then it's full auto goodness after that. Keeping it on target takes practice though, you have to apply forward pressure to the front of the rifle which makes it a little awkward at first. You definitely want a forward grip on your rail.