"Custom" 3 Gun AR on a Budget - Picture Heavy

[zghorner]

This is a guide of sorts for those of you that are like me and have more time than money. Ill admit that so much of the "budgetness" comes from finding a good deal on a base AR to build on. The main thing you need to budget modify a gun like this is patience (wait for the right gun and deals on the parts) and elbow grease (where the "custom" part comes from).

Step 1) Find the Gun

I bought the above rifle as pictured with 3 pmags for $550 about a month ago from a forum member. PSA freedom upper with stainless barrel and nickel boron BCG...definitely a steal that doesn't pop up every day and why I mentioned earlier it pays to be patient and have cash ready to go when I deal comes up.

Step 2) Sell the Parts You Don't Like or Don't Need

- Grip/Guard $15
- BAD lever $20
- Sling $10
- Scope $140
- Everything Else $125

TOTAL $310 - $550(rifle) = $240 in the naked gun.

Step 3) Make a Parts List and Start Looking For Deals

X JP Yellow Springs $11
X Set Screw $1
X Ladder Rail Covers $2
X Muzzle Brake $49
X Offset Sights $35
X Oversized Trigger Guard $10
X Free Float Hand Guard $70
X A1 Pistol Grip $6
X Extended Charging Handle Latch (strike industries) $15
X Adjustable Gas Block $25 (JBO)
X BCM QD socket/mount $18
X Krylon Camo Paint $10
X A2 Stock Assembly FREE FROM BUDDY

Step 4) Customize to Your Liking

I bought the handguard below from amazon:

I hate the continuous rail along the top. I wrap my thumb over the top of the HG when shooting (because youtube told me to ) and don't like the way the rail feels...and I'm not about to drop $200 on a Midwest industries or SLR HG like I did on my last build. Solution:

aaaaaaaahhhhh that's all better. Now what about that plain ol A2 stock? Its kinda heavy and not really what I would call custom...

ENTER HOLE SAW AND PADDLE BITS

Crazy huh? looks kinda funky but ill take kinda funky over "meh, whatever" any day. quick clean up with a razor blade and its ready for paint.

Continued...

 

[zghorner]

Step 5) Assemble & Paint

I did my usuall junk yard trigger job with a set screw, hammer bob, JP springs, and light surface polish. Didn't get too aggressive with this one but the trigger has very little creep and breaks crisp around 4#. The previous owner of the gun painted the barrel black and that just wont work so I polished it back to bright stainless.

I'm a rattle can cowboy for sure and love the way guns look after the paint wears from heavily used areas.

Step 6) Create Long Winded Thread Because You're Mega Proud And Wanna Show Off

Introducing: Down Town Charlie Brown

Completed as it sits I'm in the gun for UNDER $500 (not counting the vtac sling I took off another gun). Still a pretty cool machine for that kind of money. I have a vortex strike eagle and aero mount heading my way for another $352 so complete with a good mount and decent scope it will be ready to rock and roll for about $850. You could go into details about the amount of money I spent on gas meeting people to sell parts and energy running my compressor and shop lights etc... but please don't ruin my fun

hope yall like it.

 

[NikatKimber]

Very nice!

I snagged an upper from PSA with a pencil profile 16" middy barrel and Midwest Industries G2 K-mod 12" handguard for $299. Built it with an MFT collapsible stock. Haven't done any trigger work on it yet, but the CMMG parts kit I used has one of the better triggers I've used out of the box so I'm not incredibly rushed to fix it. I plan on running it in mock dissipator form with a front fixed sight and A2 rear. Also have a slick side upper (no FA, shell deflector or door) to swap for less weight.

 

[Burk Cornelius]

Very nice job

 

[twoguns?]

Very cool....Thanks for the write-up...

 

[zghorner]

Very nice!

I snagged an upper from PSA with a pencil profile 16" middy barrel and Midwest Industries G2 K-mod 12" handguard for $299. Built it with an MFT collapsible stock. Haven't done any trigger work on it yet, but the CMMG parts kit I used has one of the better triggers I've used out of the box so I'm not incredibly rushed to fix it. I plan on running it in mock dissipator form with a front fixed sight and A2 rear. Also have a slick side upper (no FA, shell deflector or door) to swap for less weight.

The JP springs and set screw mod are worth the trouble if you decide to mess with the trigger. I dig the standard fixed front sights a lot...my SHTF upper has one with a Daniel defense fixed rear. I just wanted an adjustable block on this gun or I would have rocked the A2 like you.

 

[Biggsly]

I like it. You did a great job with it.

 

[dennishoddy]

Nice looking job man!

 

[NikatKimber]

The JP springs and set screw mod are worth the trouble if you decide to mess with the trigger. I dig the standard fixed front sights a lot...my SHTF upper has one with a Daniel defense fixed rear. I just wanted an adjustable block on this gun or I would have rocked the A2 like you.

I have the JP springs, grip screw trigger adjuster set screw, and ALG QMS trigger in my 20" rifle. I plan on doing the same for this gun sooner or later. I do want to do the set screw mod in front of the trigger for over travel also.

 

[YukonGlocker]

nice work!!!