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Thread: Skills To Build?

  1. #1
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    Skills To Build?

    Gents,
    I've enjoyed my quality rifles from a couple of reputable companies we all talk about, but now I'd like one that is exactly what I want in every detail. I'm thinking of building my own to achieve this.

    I've been a long time forum reader and I believe I have a firm grasp of what quality parts I want (whenever they become available again). My question is, do I have the skills?

    The extent of my rifle building experience is putting together a lower, sans trigger group.

    Could I, with QUALITY parts, proper tools, and a video from AGI, Make Ready, or some along those lines, put together a QUALITY rifle?

    I'm sure that a good rifle is more than the sum of its parts, but how much of it is the feel and experience of a SME?

    If I can't do it then that's the way it is. There are good rifles out there that are pretty damn close to what I'm thinking of, and certainly close enough if I'm left with a hunk of worthless steel after an unsuccessful attempt at doing it on my own.

  2. #2
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    If you want to get into building AR15s, the best thing you could do to start out would be to take a class from someone who knows what they are doing and really learn the ins and outs of the system. (Taking a class from IraqGunz with Semper Paratus would probably be a great start) Learn what you need to do, and how to do it properly, with the right tools.

    Your going to have to start somewhere, as everyone who works on them has. Your first attempt may not be an overwhelming success, but it is part of getting that experience and building your knowledge base. There's no shortcuts to that. It takes experience to build proficiency at working on AR15s (Just as with anything else. Jimmy Page wasn't born a guitar virtuoso and IG didnt come out of the womb as a master of the AR. It takes experience to gain experience.). The best thing you can do is start off the right way, by getting quality instruction by someone who does have the experience. You'll learn faster and gain proficiency by learning how to do it the right way the first time rather than how to do it the wrong way multiple times.
    Last edited by LtNovakUSA; 05-06-13 at 20:46.
    ________________________________

    What anti gun people need to understand about gun control: It's like peeing in your pants on a cold night in Ranger School. It feels pretty good at first, but it is certainly not a solution to anything.

  3. #3
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    yes. firstly, i am not master gunsmith or even remotely near it, period. that being said, i think assembling an ar15 is about the same difficulty level of changing oil in a car. proper tools and info is all that you need.

  4. #4
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    i'm a c5 spinal cord injury in a wheelchair with very limited hand mobility.
    i very much enjoyed building 2 ar's. i needed a little help from wife putting trigger in. i used my sons toy hammer for bolt catch role pin. brownells has a helpful video series. http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/lid=11004/learn/
    so far to the left i must be right.

  5. #5
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    You can probably build one. The main issue I see often is that people do not have the proper tools and do not want to invest the money in them for one time use.

    At a minimum I believe that you need to have the right punches (starters, roll pin and flat) as well as the receiver blocks. The Geissele reaction rod is a good step and a magwell block is good as well. In addition you need a good solid vise mount. Then the minor stuff like bolt catch installation tool, pivot pin tool, etc.... So you are talking about 400.00 dollars or so. You could of course sell them off afterwards, or keep them for future builds.



    Owner/Instructor at Semper Paratus Arms

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SemperParatusArms/

    Semper Paratus Arms AR15 Armorer Course http://www.semperparatusarms.com/cou...-registration/

    M4C Misc. Training and Course Announcements- http://www.m4carbine.net/forumdisplay.php?f=141

    Master Armorer/R&D at SIONICS Weapon Systems- http://sionicsweaponsystems.com

  6. #6
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    As others have said, take an armorers course. I "built" a couple AR's with the advice of some armorers (Marines) and fidled with this and that. When I had the chance to take the class that Iraqgunz gives it was a huge eye opener. There were a lot of things that I had done wrong due to a lack of knowledge and not having the right parts. You tube videos do no better job to help a person build a rifle than they do to help someone perform a vasectomy, worthless.

    The investment of the class and tools is a good bit, however as long as you shoot and spend time around others that shoot it will be worth it.
    USMC MSGT Ret. 1371

    SEMPER PARATUS Certified AR-15 Armorer


    "The best we can hope for concerning the people at large is that they be properly armed." -Alexander Hamilton

  7. #7
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    The parts is up to you. Battle rifle or range plinker only? Are there any gun clubs locally you can get involved with. I started hanging out with one sponsored by the local gun shop and have helped build at least 20 at last count. It is most definitely not hard. I spent my first couple of military years a very long time ago working depot level maintenance at the USAF Gunsmith shop. Id spend one week converting a few thousand A1s to A2s and then the next welding M60 receivers when they failed the pull test but you learn quickly that this stuff is a lot easier than it looks. With the right tools you can build an AR in a very short amount of time so if someone close has the tools you are halfway there already.
    Last edited by AFshirt; 05-07-13 at 07:50.

  8. #8
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    Buy the tools.

    That will set you up for future builds and there will be future builds. You will honestly start to find deals on barrels, uppers, and parts. I bought the tools to do one handguard install and that has led to countless builds for myself and my family.

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by STAMarine View Post
    and a video from AGI
    Forget that AGI crap. Sign up for Iraqgunz's armorer's course.

    A deeper understanding of how/why/what of the system is much better than just the lego mentality.
    "You people have too much time on your hands." - scottryan

  10. #10
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    Download the military manual. Buy the tools. Go.

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