AR time.. build or buy?

[nickf829]

So I just got a new job that pays less but has much more of a future than my current job and pays for school. That means my gun budget that was minimal before, will be even less, so I need to get the most bang for my buck. I really want an AR and then I will be "done" with my firearm purchases, until I find my next "can't live without" gun, which doesn't seem to take long. I've looked at some prices for building AR's and it looks like you can get a pretty good deal for around $750 with pieced together parts from various websites, however I can't seem to find any AR Lowers local. Any ideas where I can find a lower? Also, what do I need to look for if I do buy a used lower? Any known issues, or brands I should look for or avoid?

other option: just buy one. I've seen some in the $700-$800 range online, however I am unsure of quality and they seem to be from brands I've never heard of(which means nothing). My local shop has a Panther Arms DPMS (no model # given) for only $660 but it has a verbal hold placed on it for a few days. I might go back in this weekend and see if it was picked up.

Any suggestions on where to start are appreciated

[Taggure]

If I was you I would check the threads here on the forum for the type of AR you are interested in as there is plenty of advice already on the site.

Here are a couple of links to the discussions I found under the Rifles section for you to start on

http://vagunforum.net/rifles/223-again-t5557.html
http://vagunforum.net/rifles/remington- ... t3750.html
http://vagunforum.net/rifles/two-new-ar ... t1818.html

[grumpyMSG]

The answer to where to get the lower, close to you, is Ashby Arms in Harrisonburg. As for building the rifle, when you purchase the barrel or upper receiver assembly, purchase the bolt at the same time and make sure the headspace is checked. As for the Panther Arms at $660, you probably aren't going to get a better deal, provided the rifle is in decent shape. Good luck chasing your dream...

Don't forget to post a picture of your new toy

[rromeo]

I have "built" the two AR rifles I have owned. The AK guys say that ARs are assembled, not built. I partly agree. The first one, I bought the lower with the parts kit assembled, the I added the rest. The second, I bought the stripped lower, and assembled the parts kit, with the first as a visual aid.
What is your closest gun show? There is slight differences amongst the brands of lowers, but most of them are very much the same, just pick one that you like the looks of. Aero Precision, Spike's, Stag, S&W, all pretty good. Zombie Defense is an 07 FFL over in my area, and he has some lowers with his brand on them for $125. He has them made, and I'm not positive, but I have a really good idea who makes them, and if I'm correct, they're right up there will the others in quality.
Don't bother building an upper, just buy a good one. If you have money right now, Bravo Company is very good quality, and they're on sale right now. You can get a BCM complete right now for just under $600. Otherwise, Stag, Spike's, Bushmaster, are decent mid-range brands for $400-500.
Stay away from Blackthorne, and Model 1 sales.
I have heard mixed things about DPMS, but they have been around a long time, so something must be right. The only reason I stay away from them is that they don't offer chrome lined barrel. It's a snob reason. The chrome lining probably doesn't matter to most shooters, but it might add to the life of the barrel.
CMMG also has a good reputation, and they have some "bargain" rifles for $600 right now. They rounded up all of the random parts laying around, and assembled rifles. They're all new, but you don't know exactly what you get, other than a functional rifle.

[jrswanson1]

I "built" the three ARs I have. Building a lower is easy with the right tools.

My last lower breakdown in cost:

Stripped AeroPrecision lower: $95
RRA Lower Parts Kit: $60
Buffer, tube, spring: $50
Stock: $20

You could probably find a lower price on the LPK, but not by much.

None of the three uppers cost me more than $605. Two were around $500. Prices are dropping. That same stripped lower cost me $115 earlier this year and the LPK cost me $75.

Two places you don't want to scrimp if you care about accuracy, the trigger and the barrel.

If you take a look at vaguntrader.com, you'll see people in your area selling their firearms. I've seen Colts for $1000 and others for even less. And you can snag parts from some folks who are selling extras.

Jim

[nickf829]

Assemble is a better word, yes, as it's mostly just drop-in stuff. But that is what makes the AR so much more attractive than the AK. Who wants to have stuff machined

Thanks for the help. I had looked through all the threads you referenced already, they were a bit of a help, but mostly just scattered bits of information.

Next time I'm in H'burg I will have to stop by and check out Ashby Arms, I havn't been there yet.

As for gun shows, I plan on going to Chantilly in a month, hopefully there may be some decent deals to be found, although I'm not holding my breath.

[gunderwood]

Assemble is a better word, yes, as it's mostly just drop-in stuff. But that is what makes the AR so much more attractive than the AK. Who wants to have stuff machined

Machining an AK! You are a funny man.

Seriously, break out the hammer and go to town on some sheet metal and you have an AK. For the stock, just grab some trash 2x4s from a building site.

The only part that requires some skill when assembling an AR is the whole barrel/chambering/headspacing-timing on the receiver. It really depends on what you want. If you can build it for less than buying the same thing (make sure you are comparing apples to apples), ask your self how much your time is worth. However, that ignores the value you could derive from doing it yourself and also the fact that while it may only cost you $x more to buy it vice assemble it, you may not have $x available.

Don't stress it too much, you will end up with several anyways.

[RocKor]

Machining an AK! You are a funny man.

Seriously, break out the hammer and go to town on some sheet metal and you have an AK. For the stock, just grab some trash 2x4s from a building site.

And grab yourself a hammer, an aluminum sheet and some cheap plastic and you've got an AR, right?

[rromeo]

DPMS has a sale on rifle kits right not. $400 for everything except the stripped lower. That's a $500 AR if you have patience to do it all yourself.

[wbtrunx]

$800 for a Spike's Tactical MIdlength.
It's a better deal than Stag, DPMS, and other sub $1000 rifles.
As soon as the finances are available, I'll be picking one up.

[Casull]

You might want to check with Bud's Gunshop. They have complete Doublestar AR's for $659 with free shipping to your FFL.

[gunderwood]

Machining an AK! You are a funny man.

Seriously, break out the hammer and go to town on some sheet metal and you have an AK. For the stock, just grab some trash 2x4s from a building site.

And grab yourself a hammer, an aluminum sheet and some cheap plastic and you've got an AR, right?

Na, for an AR you need $10M of CNC tooling just to rough it in.

[Diomed]

And grab yourself a hammer, an aluminum sheet and some cheap plastic and you've got an AR, right?

Close, that's for the AR18.

[nickf829]

DPMS has a sale on rifle kits right not. $400 for everything except the stripped lower. That's a $500 AR if you have patience to do it all yourself.

I'm not seeing that kit for $400. Do you have a link?

[grumpyMSG]

Instead of buying a $400 kit and a $100 lower and some specialty tools needed to assemble an AR take a look at:
http://cmmginc.secure-mall.com/item/Chr ... ch-M4-1490

CMMG Bargain 16 inch Carbine.jpg (75.71 KiB) Viewed 3621 times

or
http://cmmginc.secure-mall.com/item/W.A ... ch-M4-1402
Personally I would recommend going with the chrome lined 1 in 7 twist over the WASP 1 in 9, but either rifle would serve you well for years...

[grumpyMSG]

by gunderwood » Fri, 03 Sep 2010 22:59:14
Machining an AK! You are a funny man.

Seriously, break out the hammer and go to town on some sheet metal and you have an AK. For the stock, just grab some trash 2x4s from a building site.

I am shocked that gunderwood would say that, everybody who knows anything about AKs know that OEM stocks were Laminated construction ( fancy name for Plywood). As for machining, the places that could crank out AKs the easiest in the U.S. with their stamped, riveted and welded construction with a few pieces in need of machine work, would probably be a NASCAR sheet metal shop/ garage...