Okay, in the market for an AR, but do not know where to begin. Is it actually cheaper to build one than it is to buy one complete?

So far I am interested in a DI carbine.

 

I wouldn't say it's cheaper to build one but you will get exactly what you want if you build it to your tastes. I had mine built exactly how I wanted it and I'm very happy with it and the only thing I'm going to change is the optic because I was running out of money at that point and I cheaped out and went with a Bushnell ACOG clone.



DPMS upper and lower.
Rock River hardware kit
Yankee Hill barrel, flip up front and rear iron sights, and free float hand guard
Magpul adj stock

I'm sure that I'm forgetting a bunch of stuff but that's what I can remember off the top of my head right now.

 

I looked at an AR15 a few years ago, and was shocked at how heavy the barrel felt; compared to the M16A1 or A2 that I am used to. Is it possible to get one that matches an M16 (minus full auto so its legal)?

 

Yes you can get them with a lighter barrel and components to get it into the 5-6lb range.

Red Jacket makes one similar to what you are thinking of or you can build one like it.

http://www.redjacketfirearms.com/ind...emart&Itemid=6

 

Dave, thx for the link. Looks like a good site/company. Need to start doing my research on AR's. Appreciate the help.

 

You can check Red Jacket on the discovery channel's Son of Guns. I'd be surprised if they're the cheapest.

-NSCU

 

They're definitely not the cheapest! If you are looking for a cheap, very lightweight AR, look at Bushmaster's Carbon 15...that thing is light as heck!

 

If you are going to build your own, the only part controlled is the lower reciever. Everything else can be bought on line. I bought a DPMS lower and parts kit, and sent trigger and springs to Bill Springfield http://www.triggerwork.net/ for polishing. I will probably be buying parts from one of these guys.

http://mapartsinc.com/
Several guys at work have purchased kits, and parts from them.

http://www.pkfirearms.com/
Great reviews, decent prices on some higher end complete uppers.

http://www.rainierarms.com/
My uncle, in Washington State, has bought a couple of complete ARS from them.


There are about a million companies making AR parts, including DPMS, Rock River, Stag, USA Tactical, Delton, Lewis Machine Tool, etc.

A good source for info is http://www.ar15.com/

 

My first ar15 was a rock river arms elite operator it was a sweet rifle. I sold it a few weeks ago to fund my new project I'm building a 300 BLK suppressed sbr. I'm having a billet lower from Quentin defense cut, running a billet LAR Grizzly side charge upper, 6.5" barrel, 10" seekin precision BAR hand guard, all rock river internals, magpul parts, and suppressed armament 7" titanium suppressor.

 

Two words that seldom go together in the same sentence with good end results in the gun world are cheap and good. If I'm going to trust my life to something it's damn well going to be the best that I can afford and I will blow the budget to do so and figure out a way to pay for it later or wait until I have enough money for the best.

It's most likely not going to be cheaper to build one but you get to choose from the best parts to put your rifle together so you get better quality end product than say buying an off the shelf AR. Right now I'm waiting to build my next AR because the end cost is going to cost me between $3,000 to $4,000 to build what I want and half the cost is going to be the glass that get's mounted on it.

 

I basically stole my rock river arms elite operator from the gun shop I paid 750 for it back in July 2011 and sold it last month locally for $1500. My 300 BLK I'm building ill have about $3000 in it but that's with (2) $200 dollar tax stamps and a $800 dollar suppressor. That is not including my optics either ill have another $1000 in optics.

 

Umm... I have a few starting points to lead from now. thanks for the input!

 

Check out rockriverarms.com

 

Don't be afraid to build one yourself. It's pretty easy and the coolness factor of being able to say you did it yourself is way up there!

 

http://www.migunowners.org/forum/sho...d.php?t=165183

there is a whole upper. for 275. find a lower local and pay about 100-150 bucks for a whole lower *do paper work as well the lower has the serial number* pop the 2 pins and bam you have an AR-15 for 375-400 bucks.

i have an AR-10 i found for 950 guy never fired it but bought it new so i jumped on it because they retail for 1,350 love shooting .308 thoe but for some people its to pricy