1st build help.

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O4L

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After building two (and from advice from many on here) the essential stuff for your first build are this:

A good roll pin punch set
lower receiver vise block
a good upper receiver vise block
a good vise
patience

For the lower receiver I've not seen any difference between the cheap mag well style vise block and anything else. For the upper receiver there are several styles that are good, you just want to make sure they use the star lock or the bcg area as their torque point and not the take down pin tabs. This is the one I use:

https://www.amazon.com/NcSTAR-VTHAR...7030768&sprefix=upper+receiver,aps,194&sr=8-1

As for the components of the build, that is like asking which soda to drink for the most part. Best thing to do is make a budget, then research the parts you want and balance the cost vs quality. Just be careful, I set my budget for each build then went over by almost $200 on both lol.
NOTICE: The upper receiver block in the link is for an AR-10.
 

jackary

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I have used this one as well as the clamshell style blocks. Not sure if anyone else has mentioned to the original poster but invest in a front pivot pin tool they are cheap and it will save you a giant headache.
 

Tanis143

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I have used this one as well as the clamshell style blocks. Not sure if anyone else has mentioned to the original poster but invest in a front pivot pin tool they are cheap and it will save you a giant headache.

Yep, got mine and my first build it took me 45 seconds to put my front takedown pin in, and 30 seconds of that was figuring out how the tool worked without reading the instructions :D
 

jackary

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Yep, got mine and my first build it took me 45 seconds to put my front takedown pin in, and 30 seconds of that was figuring out how the tool worked without reading the instructions :D
My first build I shot the spring and detent across the room located the spring but never found the detent. Had to get a replacement detent and I bought the install tool for the second attempt.
 

Butters

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Which lower did you go with. They have a lot of cool options. Are you going to make an M4 style AR or are you going to do something with a free float and longer barrel?
I went with a PSA stripped lower. I was going to go with a PSA upper as well, but like I said it was sold out because I took too long. Any recommendations on an upper? I was looking at the premium uppers. The CHF, double chromed lined, etc.
 

MilitantBEEMER

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I went with a PSA stripped lower. I was going to go with a PSA upper as well, but like I said it was sold out because I took too long. Any recommendations on an upper? I was looking at the premium uppers. The CHF, double chromed lined, etc.
The PSA uppers go in and out of stock every couple days. Get on there mailing list and you will get notification couple times a day.
The CHF versions are made by FN.
They are a premium.
 

Butters

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The PSA uppers go in and out of stock every couple days. Get on there mailing list and you will get notification couple times a day.
The CHF versions are made by FN.
They are a premium.[/QUOTE
I noticed the premium part! I watched a melt down video with the PSA CHF upper. And the gas tube blew. Obviously I could upgrade the gas tube, but I thought that might be a bit advanced for a first build.
 

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