Soooo I want to build an AR - Where to start

[Ignored Member]

Is nobody going to throw out 9mm as as option? With a 9mm you can make the barrel as short as you want and it's easy to suppress. Pure fun gun right there.

 

[chr_edw]

Thanks for the links and suggestions. There were several things I had never considered.

I guess my ultimate goal is to make something that can add to my home defense shtf line up and maybe shoot some 3 gun some day. If I can make something better and for less money than something pre-made that would be even better. Looks like you can spend as much as you want on each part.

Like the idea of the 9mm for ammo cost. What about the 3.08 compared to the typical choices?

 

[ez bake]

Thanks for the links and suggestions. There were several things I had never considered.

I guess my ultimate goal is to make something that can add to my home defense shtf line up and maybe shoot some 3 gun some day. If I can make something better and for less money than something pre-made that would be even better. Looks like you can spend as much as you want on each part.

Like the idea of the 9mm for ammo cost. What about the 3.08 compared to the typical choices?

Here's my opinion...

You should figure out a few things first (sounds like you've got a pretty good idea so far):

1. What is your budget (this will change - you will change your mind about things halfway through also - be prepared)
2. What style of gun do you want to go for - this sounds stupid, but if you want a varminter, then stay away from the tactical advice, if you want a close-quarters home-defense carbine, then a 3-gun setup might not be best choice (optics, barrel length, etc.), and if you want to seriously 3-gun, the tacti-cool advice is not always good. A lightweight setup is going to cost you more in some areas, but you'll thank yourself later if you ever have to haul the thing around for hunting or at a match.
3. What can you live with/without for now? Reason I ask is that you might want to go shoot some other folks' ARs and see what you like. There are plenty of guys on the board that will go shooting with you and a lot of them have ARs (myself included). You can get a basic setup going for not too much and upgrade later.

I'd stick with 5.56/.223 for your first build. If you want to do a lot of cheap plinking, there are .22lr kits available for the .223/5.56 versions that are reliable enough to have some fun with for cheaper than 9mm (not that I have anything against a 9mm build, but it's almost always better if you SBR it, and that's sort of a semi-permanent/expensive-to-change-your-mind decision). .308 is a different animal (AR-10), but you could use one of the 6mm cartridges or even the new .300AAC Blackout (my next build).

At the end of the day, there are more goodies and options out there for .223/5.56 and you will be able to sell it (or parts) easily if you aren't happy with anything - just make sure you get a good deal on the parts you select (and I try and buy decent-quality parts so that my re-sale value isn't shot should I not be happy with it and want to sell).

There are several local spots to get parts (and several good online places). I'd shop around for what you want - a lot of "who has the best price" depends on what you're looking for. If you want a basic carbine, then you've got the most options (std handguard, fixed Irons, flat-top, M4 Stock) for vendors as almost everyone and their dog makes parts (and most are decent quality or better).

The most important parts on an AR are:

1. Barrel (and properly spec'd aligned gas-block/tube)
2. Bolt / Carrier Group
3. Trigger - this one is debated, but there are actually horrible triggers out there that are even less fun than the Mil-spec M4 trigger.

If you want to build something fancy, then my best advice is to spend more money on quality parts where you absolutely need them (the above stuff is important, but if you've got a great AR, but go with a crappy optic/railed-handguard/iron sights/sling/sling-mount, you'll regret it. I'm not saying that you have to spend the most money out there, or that anyone's brand is better than another, but there are problem vendors out there that I usually like to avoid.

If you're on a budget, then I'd get whatever stripped upper/lower you want (avoid a few names out there, but I'd say that 90% of the vendors are making acceptable parts), get a good Lower Parts Kit (LPK) which is where your trigger assembly will be, a good barrel (you can get a good one on sale for around $200 if you shop around, otherwise, it will run you up to about $300 - I prefer mid-length gas system, but it's up to the individual), and get a good bolt-carrier-group ($120-$150).

Then - the sky's the limit. I've got some extra plain-jane parts laying around if you need them (I know I've got a pistol grip and some standard mid-length Shielded handguards - I think I got rid of my old factory M4 stock).

For optics, if you're on a budget - then Primary Arms or Vortex Optics are the way to go.

Good luck with your build and most importantly - ask a lot of questions before buying/taking a wrench to it!!!!

 

[Ignored Member]

Here's mine I use for 3 gun.
18" stainless double fluted barrel made by Satern with mid length gas. Very accurate and light weight.
VLTOR rifle stock with rifle buffer tube. Reduces felt recoil.
Troy TRX extreme 13" free float handguard. Very strong and light weight.
Speed hammer that's been stoned along with the trigger with JP springs for a 3.5lb trigger pull.
I put it together for accuracy and lightweight. Once I get a different optic it will shed more ounces. It could be used to clear the house in a home defense situation, but it's really geared more towards competition.
I'm around $1800 in this one so far. The 9mm a couple posts above is sitting around $1900 after the tax stamps and suppressor. You can spend some serious money in it if you want to. I built mine piece by piece so I wouldn't cry so much for spending all at once.

 

[gillman7]

I would stick with 223/556 for a first build, most inexpensive, lots of options, reasonable cost. Probably do a M-4 setup. Build your lower, buy an assembled upper. RRA has some great kits for around $700? All you would need to add is the LPK.

After I finish my 9mm build, my next one is going to be a 300AAC Blackout. I really really like this round. Thinking about a 10" barrel suppressed for Home Defense, range play, and my Tactical Bug Out, Zombie Invasion, On the Run, All Purpose, Super Cool gun. Did I mention that I really like this round. Good ballistics for distance, nice ammo choices, is real quiet with the SS stuff.

 

[NikatKimber]

Here's mine I use for 3 gun.
18" stainless double fluted barrel made by Satern with mid length gas. Very accurate and light weight.
VLTOR rifle stock with rifle buffer tube. Reduces felt recoil.
Troy TRX extreme 13" free float handguard. Very strong and light weight.
Speed hammer that's been stoned along with the trigger with JP springs for a 3.5lb trigger pull.
I put it together for accuracy and lightweight. Once I get a different optic it will shed more ounces. It could be used to clear the house in a home defense situation, but it's really geared more towards competition.
I'm around $1800 in this one so far. The 9mm a couple posts above is sitting around $1900 after the tax stamps and suppressor. You can spend some serious money in it if you want to. I built mine piece by piece so I wouldn't cry so much for spending all at once.

This is an example of a great compromise. I really like this setup. However, that compromise between weight and precision cost an extra grand minimum over a base 16" AR-15.

 

[Ignored Member]

This is an example of a great compromise. I really like this setup. However, that compromise between weight and precision cost an extra grand minimum over a base 16" AR-15.

It definitely cost me more, but it's also exactly what I needed for the uses I have for it. 3 gun and home defense. Put a 1-4x scope on it (saving funds currently) and it could be a great varmint gun as well.

 

[NikatKimber]

It definitely cost me more, but it's also exactly what I needed for the uses I have for it. 3 gun and home defense. Put a 1-4x scope on it (saving funds currently) and it could be a great varmint gun as well.

I wasn't knocking it. And I'm not far from your setup on my build list for my next AR. I was just illustrating that getting both lightweight and precision in one rig is a compromise, and the better (in terms of getting both) of a compromise it is the more it will most likely cost you.

 

[Ignored Member]

I know you weren't knocking it.
I was just trying to say to the OP that you'll have to spend a little more to get it exactly where you want it to be. The barrel alone on mine cost $375ish, but it's a badass barrel and exactly what I needed.

 

[NikatKimber]

I know you weren't knocking it.
I was just trying to say to the OP that you'll have to spend a little more to get it exactly where you want it to be. The barrel alone on mine cost $375ish, but it's a badass barrel and exactly what I needed.

And there's the kicker. Did you know exactly what you would ultimately want/need when you got your first AR? Which is why I think someone new to ARs should start with a basic rifle, and not spend a ton of money on something that still ends up not being what they want.

Oh, and $375 is a good price for a Satern barrel, where'd you find that?