To build or buy

[BRamberg]

Hi all. I'm new to this forum and this is my first post. Recently I've been considering building an AR15. Besides the personal satisfaction of building something, what are the advantages to building your own rifle? Can you save on the cost (always a plus)? What legal hoops have to be jumped through, registering, taxes, etc.? Any info would be a big help?

Thanks in advance,
Bob

[Saginaw79]

By all means build


All you have to do is buy the lower, your FFL will transfer it to you like any gun

You can build a good gun for less than $800, a friend did a build for $500 but caught a great deal on the upper and bolt(Surplus M16A1)

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

I go for the build its cheeper and you get to pick all the parts your self so you know there are know corners cut when it comes to qualty.

[Mr.Goodtimes]

build it! i built a really nice gun for $900 bucks!

[wargasm]

Go ahead and build one up! There's no shortage of information and guidance online.

[FromMyColdDeadHand]

Building an AR is like building a 1911, you should build one for the experience of building one. You may save money, IF you don't have to buy the tools to complete the upper, but only if all the savings don't get eaten by shipping charges. If you are going to make a platoons worth, you might be able to get some deals.

Lowers are easy, TOS has a great how-to, and I'll suggest tape wrapped plier method for the bolt catch.

Grant has some cheap builds, or had some cheap builds a while ago. It's not like it was a few years ago, with few options and set models. Most places will build the upper if you buy the parts from them.

Build because you get exactly what you want.

[bkb0000]

Building an AR is like building a 1911, you should build one for the experience of building one. You may save money, IF you don't have to buy the tools to complete the upper, but only if all the savings don't get eaten by shipping charges. If you are going to make a platoons worth, you might be able to get some deals.

Lowers are easy, TOS has a great how-to, and I'll suggest tape wrapped plier method for the bolt catch.

Grant has some cheap builds, or had some cheap builds a while ago. It's not like it was a few years ago, with few options and set models. Most places will build the upper if you buy the parts from them.

Build because you get exactly what you want.

tape wrapped plier for bolt catch? to squeeze the roll pin in, i assume?

[Caeser25]

Build because you get exactly what you want.

+1...

[Eric Shelton]

Somebody posted this thought on a Colt thread I read a few days ago. I may be wrong, I think the Colt in question was a 6920. They said,
"You can build a better rifle. You can build a cheaper rifle.
You cannot build a better, cheaper rifle."

It's like when I was hot rodding cars. You can make 'em fast, dependable, and cheap. Pick two of the three.

As long as you get into your build project with realistic expectations, it's hugely rewarding. I spent somewhere around $1500 on mine, over the course of two years. I waited for deals on certain parts and all, of course, but my main cost savings was that I built it from a stripped lower- not a complete rifle. I don't have two handguards floating around, for example. I bought what I wanted the first time. That's the main cost savings- not paying for some components twice. I obviously could have bought a complete rifle for less.

It's the knowledge of the system that's the real value in building one yourself. Stupid little moments when I said, "So that's how the delta ring assembly works!" I know every last spring, detent, and roll pin in my rifle. I've never had that kind of total systems knowledge of one of my firearms before. It's a really cool feeling.

[Jay Cunningham]

My opinion:

If this is your first/only AR, buy a good one first. Use The Chart as a reference, but I's recommend a colt carbine.

Building is a great thing, but I would not build my first/primary carbine.