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Thread: Why Do You Build?

  1. #41
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    There is a counter-point here. Typically the reason you hear from people looking to assemble their first AR is that they "get exactly what they want". On paper this sounds like a good idea, and they do typically get exactly what they want. The thing is that it's equally as often not what they need.

    In some cases they at least get quality parts after a lot of internet research, but more often they fall into the "this part looks like that part" trap and have a hard time digging out of it. "I want a rail system" turns into a YHM, "I want a red dot sight" turns into a $100 chinese knockoff, etc.

    But even with the good parts, if they don't leave enough money for magazines, ammo, and training they may be even worse off.

    I know these things happen for two reasons. The first is that I see these people every month, twice a month, at our events. They have $2k in a gun they have no idea how to use, and often have some of their top-shelf parts installed incorrectly because they don't know WHY they want it, just that they want it. Or they have sub-standard parts that look just like what they thought they wanted and they can't figure out why the bullet fairy doesn't carry their projectiles out of the gun and magic them into the bullseye.

    The second is that I did it myself. I tried at least to go about it in a reasoned way, and I researched all the parts, figured out what the top two most popular makes/models were, and bought them all. A Larue rail and a Daniel Defense, A Magpul stock and a Vltor, an Aimpoint and an Eotech, etc. and I assembled two guns with the parts, shot both, and cherry picked the parts and pieces from each that I liked best, then went and bought a Colt 6520 and combined all of the parts I liked best into that one gun. The thing was, I had no idea what to do with all those fancy parts, and only after going through all these machinations did I go and get some instruction on what to do with them. I would have been FAR better off, both in terms of becoming a better shooter AND in terms of my wallet, if I had simply bought that 6520 right from the beginning and gone and taken a basic class with it. The most expensive parts are the ones you try and get rid of at a loss because you don't like them (sometimes because you don't know how to use them correctly to begin with). So the idea that someone is "saving money" by "getting exactly what they want" is generally a fallacy as they don't know what they need and wind up changing things almost immediately once they start actually, you know, shooting.

    But, for some the owning is all about exactly that, the owning. They like the erector set, gives them something to do in the garage that isn't quite as lame as building dioramas, and as soon as they are done "building" one they are on to the next one, with virtually no trigger time on the first, but that doesn't matter because the guns aren't bullet-launchers they are wall-hangers.
    Last edited by rob_s; 08-22-11 at 07:15.

  2. #42
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    For those who buy a part here and a part there to save money, does it really save you money paying shipping everytime you order a part? One would think it would be about even if you just save your pennies and buy it all at once instead of piecemeal.

  3. #43
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    Quote Originally Posted by elkknuckle View Post
    For those who buy a part here and a part there to save money, does it really save you money paying shipping everytime you order a part? One would think it would be about even if you just save your pennies and buy it all at once instead of piecemeal.
    I don't think it's so much about saving money overall, unless you're shopping used and buying piece by piece as you come across good deals, as it is that it's easier to come up with $200 today, $200 in two weeks, etc. than it is to come up with $2k all at once.

  4. #44
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    Me too!

    I am right along the same lines as everyone else here. I first got into firearms in September of 2010 and I fell hard as I do with most things I get into. I couldn't shoot my XDm .45 enough. Few months after the purchae I started competing. Then a buddy of mine who had very little knowledge of the AR platform said I could get a smoking deal on a RRA AR. I was hooked. Started researching and checking it out. I went in to my personal favorite shop in town and asked about RRA. The look that came over my friends face said it all. "You don't want a RRA AR." "You ever hear of Daniel Defense?" he asked. "Nope" I replied. He showed me a package deal they had put up. DDM4 V2. Complete with EOTech xps, AFG, Rail Covers, MBUS. 2 days later I bought it. Another buddy of mine gave me the run down on the platform and how it functions right there in the store. I was at the very next carbine match they had. I absolutely LOVE my M4.

    I am currently in the process of building my 2nd M4 (1st Build). My #1 reason is I think it will be freaking awesome to build my own rifle. My #2 reason is now that I have gotten to "play" with the platform, figure out what I like/what works. Research what is quality and what is not. I know exactly what I want my next M4 to be. Middy. 14.5. Light Weight. Modular. Bad Ass. Daniel Defense. My #3 reason is I'm hoping that this will subdue my extremely strong urge to have more weapons. Hopefully...it is getting expensive.
    ATTENTION: What you just read may very well contain sarcasm! Judge me accordingly.

  5. #45
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    Because Centurion Arms doesn't make full rifles yet, and it was cheaper for me to build the upper myself than buy one of their complete ones.

  6. #46
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    Quote Originally Posted by DWood View Post
    You are right and those are good points. But, since you say you don't want those, don't you think an LMT lower for $365 is a pretty good deal and maybe not worth building a lower if you don't want the mods you mentioned?
    I say that's a smokin' deal on a complete lower and in most cases would be the way to go but this is a "why do you build thread" not a "why don't you build" thread. Some people want what they want regardless of cost and they want to do it themselves...like me. It is totally worth the couple hundred bucks I would save buying a complete upper and lower to say "I made this."
    ATTENTION: What you just read may very well contain sarcasm! Judge me accordingly.

  7. #47
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    ..................
    Last edited by DWood; 08-22-11 at 12:54.

  8. #48
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    Quote Originally Posted by AGENT TIKKI View Post
    Honestly, the time and effort and straight cash cost for milling/anodizing my 80% lowers were WAY more than just buying a stipped lower and building it up....but with the custome engraving I got on it, and my own personal serial number...there's nothing else like it in the world.

    Allright, but that's not the question. It's not about milling your own, but buying a lower and building it out.

    EDIT: sequences all messed up again. This should be post #55.
    Last edited by DWood; 08-22-11 at 12:56.

  9. #49
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    Wink

    It all began with a Glock.

    A Glock 17. I was frustrated when I learned that the other glocks could be multicaliber with a 10 second barrel change. So I sold it, and got a Glock 31 and a G33, modified it to shoot, .40 caliber, 9mm and .357 sig. Tinkered with it until I got 99.9% reliability from them. Then I started changing sights, recoil springs, trigger mods, complete trigger swaps, culminating with a G21sf .45 caliber, with a 10mm conversion long 6" slide with a Leupold Delta Point melted in the slide and supressor BUIS for cowitness. Sweet sweet shooter that just shrugs aside the recoil of full power 10mm loads.

    Then my friend let me shoot his ar15. Damn him. Damn him all to hell. Now if I can't find what I'm looking for I build what I want. Just finished a pistol build, from a 80% lower. That was a project. Ultimately very happy with it, but honestly won't be doing that again anytime soon. At the end of the day, at least I go to sleep at night thinking about my next ar build, and not my boss, my problems at work, my other boss (the nagging one...wait, they both nag), damn. I got this bug but good....

  10. #50
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    I'm a little confused as to the sequence of this thread........

    I personally have predilection for tinkering. So building is the option that I choose. The main reason why I think this ways is, its gives you and intimate understanding of how and why it platform works. Now, this probably is not for everyone. I do understand that.

    There are very good companies out there, that will make a complete lower better than I ever will. I know this. They have the tools, supplies and knowledge to do so. But if you are ever out in the field, or the range, you'll be much better prepared to solve any problems that may come up, and salvage your day.


    You bring up the the LMT, they have a great reputation. At $365 a complete lower is a great deal no doubt about it. If I were on a budget tho, and my first build was all about seeing if I can do it the cheapest way possible, I could make a complete lower from parts all from say, Palmetto State Armory with free shipping for: $80 reciever +50 lower parts kit +50 moe stock +40 complete recoil assembly for a grand total of $220 that's about $145 cheaper. That's about a 40% reduction. Is this lower better? No, not really. Well, I guess only if you can't afford the LMT. But it will be a good one reliable one.

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