Why Do You Build?

DWood · #1 08-15-11, 10:06

Forget all the budget AR receivers and parts for this question. With the availability of almost any combo of options you could desire in the top tier ARs available like DD, BCM, LMT, and to a lesser degree to customize but a good base rifle in the Colt 6920, why do you choose to build?

Can you put a DD or BCM together cheaper than buying a factory upper and lower? Is it the "not currently available" of the top tier guns? The satisfaction of making your own from the parts of top makers? Nobody makes a rifle with the specs/options you want? Other?

I have two high quality rifles. Oe all LMT SBR and one LMT lower /BCM upper mid length 16". I could easily build a new upper and would actually enjoy it but the question still stands for me, why do you guys build your own instead of factory with warranty?

markm · #2 08-15-11, 10:12

It's easier to pick up the components a little at a time... financially.

DWood · #3 08-15-11, 10:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by markm

It's easier to pick up the components a little at a time... financially.

Ah yes, something I had thought of and forgot to list. Really, that may be one of the best answers I can see. Thanks.

rob_s · #4 08-15-11, 10:24

I think most will tell you it's because they can get "exactly what they want", whether or not they know what it is that they want.

As an example, I was assembling a rifle for my fiance. Nobody was selling a complete gun with the exact parameters I wanted for her, and in some cases things like the CAR stock aren't available on new guns at all. The Noveske Thunder Ranch model is similar to what I was putting together for her but was still way more expensive than what I made with a DD barrel and Les Baer upper.

DWood · #5 08-15-11, 10:49

If I remember that rifle you were trying to go very light?? What DD barrel did you end up using?

rob_s · #6 08-15-11, 11:03

14.5" lightweight carbine gas DD. the shorter gas tube weighs less and allows ms to use a shorter handguard and still cover the gas block.

jet80tv · #7 08-15-11, 11:06

for me it was a combination of the availability of the features I wanted on a rifle to financial ability at the time. Also I really enjoyed assembling the entire rifle from parts from little things like roll pins and springs to barreling my upper, sure I had to deal with some trial and error

but I think I came away with a better understanding and appreciation for the operation of this rifle, how different parts work in conjunction with each other to make this gun run. But it is addicting, now I'm in the process of building my next one. And no I dont think I can build a better rifle than BCM or DD etc. but it sure is nice to mix and match the components of the manufacturers that I do like.

DWood · #8 08-15-11, 11:06

thanks

C4IGrant · #9 08-15-11, 11:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by DWood

Forget all the budget AR receivers and parts for this question. With the availability of almost any combo of options you could desire in the top tier ARs available like DD, BCM, LMT, and to a lesser degree to customize but a good base rifle in the Colt 6920, why do you choose to build?

Can you put a DD or BCM together cheaper than buying a factory upper and lower? Is it the "not currently available" of the top tier guns? The satisfaction of making your own from the parts of top makers? Nobody makes a rifle with the specs/options you want? Other?

I have two high quality rifles. Oe all LMT SBR and one LMT lower /BCM upper mid length 16". I could easily build a new upper and would actually enjoy it but the question still stands for me, why do you guys build your own instead of factory with warranty?

The main reason is that I build a better gun than some guy making $12 an hour on an assembly line. My "give a shitter" is very high.

I can also cherry pick the best from each company.

C4

kdcgrohl · #10 08-15-11, 11:13

Paying less taxes? Said jokingly but could impact someones decision.
Pay tax on a $130 lower(not that I have anymore $130 lowers...), or tax on a $1800 rifle...

For me, it's the satisfaction of doing something myself
an excuse to buy more tools,
and getting the exact configuration I want.

As a plus, if I get a part I don't like or just doesn't work for me, having built said rifle, it's easier to change said part out to something that will work better.

Failure2Stop · #11 08-15-11, 11:17

Not a single one of my current ARs comes as a complete package.
I could probably be just as good (or bad

) with one of the basic out of the box packages, but I find that over a few iterations I start to build preferences and opinons, and those generally turn into progress of some kind.

I try to be cost effective and maintain a favorable cost:benefit ratio. Sometimes this means range time and driven practice, and sometimes it means spending a bit more on a barrel or buttstock. I want to have as "perfect" a weapon as possible without being afraid to shoot it and build a twin of it, just in case.

I also have more AR lowers than I have the ability to carry if they are complete, and fairly few people have won gunfights with a stripped lower. So I tend to buy upper receiver groups and mate them to the lower that best fits the application of the upper.

Joeywhat · #12 08-15-11, 11:20

I usually just like to do it myself. Always loved dicking around with Legos when I was younger (and still do, to a lesser degree) there is a certain amount of entertainment value and challenge in building an AR.

Also for someone like me, I often times trade for parts, or find used stuff for a good discount, which saves a good amount of money.

And when I first started out I was constantly updating my rifle, changing it to reflect what I'd been learning in the various classes I take. What I started out with and what I have now are two VERY different rifles, and there was a pretty long and complicated path between both points.

All that being said, at this point in time, where I have a solid grasp on what I want out of my rifle and how I like it to be set up, I could probably find a factory rifle that is 90% to my liking, and would only require minor changes like adding an optic and minor furniture changes. Having thoroughly taken apart and put back together my rifles more times then I can count, I'm not really that 'into' it anymore, so I wouldn't have a problem buying a factory rifle that fitted me well.

johnson · #13 08-15-11, 11:40

I've bought 2 complete BCM uppers and the first one wasn't so bad (just a basic middy) but the other was with a DD LITE 12.0 rail for $875. I couldve easily saved myself $100 or more by buying that rail on the used market and putting it together by myself but I didn't know anything about AR's at the time. Found out that I didn't like the LITE 12.0 and sold it for near $100 loss. Never again.

As time goes by I learned that there are some things I want and some things I don't so I wait and try to get the item used or on sale.

mtdawg169 · #14 08-15-11, 11:59

I just started a new build. My reasons are twofold, I can spread the cost out over time and I can put together a combination of parts that is otherwise unavailable in the commercial market. In this case, I'm using an MUR1A, URX III and a 17" Noveske 3-groove barrel with rifle gas length.

SteveL · #15 08-15-11, 12:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by markm

It's easier to pick up the components a little at a time... financially.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rob_s

I think most will tell you it's because they can get "exactly what they want", whether or not they know what it is that they want.

These two pretty well sum it up for me.

It also gave me a much better understanding of how the rifle works, and it was a lot of fun.

MidwestRookie · #16 08-15-11, 13:09

I didn't so much build mine, as I only bought a separate lower/upper and picked out a charging handle and BCG that was available, but being able to spread the purchases out and still get what I wanted was my main reason over buying fully assembled.

I have my eyes on a complete 16" Larue PredatAR next tho..

DWood · #17 08-15-11, 14:01

Having changed out enough parts like buffer tubes and FF rails, and stripping a SBR lower to send off for engraving, I have learned that working on an AR is not real complicated. There is a lot of good info here on the forums and on youtube (although there are some hooples posting videos but they are pretty easy to spot), I forsee a build for an upper in my future.

The ability to collect parts as $$$ permit is good, plus if you pay attention there are always deals on the forum's EEs. I also like the challenge of putting the parts together to complete a rifle to meet a role in my world. thanks for the input.

ColtJ · #18 08-15-11, 14:12

Above posts pretty much cover it.

For me it was building exactly what I wanted as far as components, aesthetics and purpose. I knew what I wanted and nothing else would work; in my little world that is.

DWood · #19 08-15-11, 14:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by ColtJ

Above posts pretty much cover it.

For me it was building exactly what I wanted as far as components, aesthetics and purpose. I knew what I wanted and nothing else would work; in my little world that is.

Just to get an idea of degree of want/need, what was different on a rifle you built VS what was available? It seems like DD and BCM have many, maybe not all, bases covered. What was the "deal breaker" that put you over the edge to say I'll build it myself?

ColtJ · #20 08-15-11, 15:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by DWood

Just to get an idea of degree of want/need, what was different on a rifle you built VS what was available? It seems like DD and BCM have many, maybe not all, bases covered. What was the "deal breaker" that put you over the edge to say I'll build it myself?

IIRC, when i weighed it out, I could have started with a BCM, DD or Colt but would have to swap parts more or less. I wanted a stainless heavy barrel, low profile gas block, SJC brake, Troy TRX 15" rail, PRS stock and the GA SDE trigger which were the main parts that I would have to do some form of swapping if I started with a complete rifle regardless of who I went with. I also wanted everything in FDE.

I find it too annoying to buy something just to take it off and sell it, IE: stock parts. You can say they would come in useful for another build, etc... but I haven't decided on the layout of the next build yet so I see them as useless (rails, grips, etc... not bolts or magazines).

There was also the added wait time of ordering a custom rifle from a manufacturer if I went that route, which was a turn off.

All the parts I wanted were readily available and it was just so much easier to order and build, all parts delivered within two to three weeks (picked up a few lowers at a local gun show). While putting together an AR is not hard by any means, I also enjoyed receiving parts and putting it together.

My goal was to try my hand at precision shooting and wanted it a certain way, this was also a big factor when deciding. Whatever experience I gain from this will go into the next build when that time comes.

On the other hand if I wanted a standard carbine with iron sights, I would definitely purchase from one of the manufacturers i've already mentioned; actually, I already have (done so before the build mentioned above).