AR build guide (First timer)

[weaverftw]

https://www.smith-wesson.com/product/mp-15-sport-iii-ca-compliant

Back in December I saw this rifle at my LGS and was pretty impressed. I was out of the gun game for awhile and the last M&P sport I saw and held was the Sport II, my neighbor bought it back in about 2013 or so for about $900. So to see something like this amazed me.

I have an m&p sport (bought like 8-9 years ago) and it’s been flawless, haven’t done anything other than a larue single stage 3lb trigger and never had any issues with it, pretty accurate too! Glad I didn’t buy a super expensive ar

 

[Deleted member 16735]

when you know how an AR works and what makes it reliable and accurate, you don't have to spend much at all. The receivers and handguard for most purposes are completely irrelevant and you can upgrade basically any rifle with a better barrel, trigger and BCG.

 

[OmOpLaTa]

I have an m&p sport (bought like 8-9 years ago)...Glad I didn’t buy a super expensive ar

About a year ago, I saw a used M&P Sport II complete upper for $250 and bought it. I plan to get the Midwest Industries 2-piece free float hand guard and test it's accuracy.

I will use the delta ring assembly towards a NHS dissipator clone build!

 

[CaptainLevi]

What’s up fellas. I’m new to the “Gun community” and don’t have a rifle yet. My current firearms i own are a G21SF Gen 3, Full-size Echelon and a VR80 which is just something to have fun with. My next build i want is an AR-10/15 build. I can’t decide yet what I want. I’m not sure if i should buy one or try and build my own. If anyone can give me some build tips on what the best rifles to buy, uppers, lowers etc… Budget is around $1200ish but wouldn’t mind spending a bit more for quality.

I also have a question for the community. What do you guys recommend for a AR Lower parts kit for an HK416 AR pistol. The upper can be purchased whole. The lower needs a good build. Hope I can find a HK style grip too

 

[Deleted member 16735]

I also have a question for the community. What do you guys recommend for a AR Lower parts kit for an HK416 AR pistol. The upper can be purchased whole. The lower needs a good build. Hope I can find a HK style grip too

parts kits are annoying because I don't like mil spec bolt catch, mag release and selector, and especially trigger. You can usually get an "oops" kit for the springs and detents and then I like the Geissele maritime bolt catch, the cmmg ambi magazine catch and whatever ambi selector you want, you will also need the takedown pins and the trigger guard. But there aren't any kits that have all good stuff, even if you get a geissele parts kit it costs way too much and still has a bunch of mil spec stuff that you don't want and somehow it's the most expensive mil spec stuff on earth.

 

[CaptainLevi]

parts kits are annoying because I don't like mil spec bolt catch, mag release and selector, and especially trigger. You can usually get an "oops" kit for the springs and detents and then I like the Geissele maritime bolt catch, the cmmg ambi magazine catch and whatever ambi selector you want, you will also need the takedown pins and the trigger guard. But there aren't any kits that have all good stuff, even if you get a geissele parts kit it costs way too much and still has a bunch of mil spec stuff that you don't want and somehow it's the most expensive mil spec stuff on earth.

Can you link me to a kit bro. I am going to get an AR Maglock too

 

[Deleted member 11316]

If you own tools build it from scratch. You’ll need an upper and lower vice block like the ones VISM sell. I use them and think they’re great.

If you don’t own tools like that, buy a complete upper, and a complete lower. Get a maglock system of your choice and install that.

Get a decent quality upper. White Oak Armament is my pick as far as bang for buck goes.

The lower just find something around $200-300 I guess.

From there, install the maglock and shoot it for awhile. Swap parts here and there. Tear it down and rebuild it. Clean it. Become one with your rifle.

Once you’re confident in how it works and everything then I’d go ahead and build one from scratch. By then you’ll know exactly what you want, what you need and don’t need, etc.

Buying complete rifles is a waste of money IMO. They don’t come with super great stuff unless you’re spending like $3000. And at that price point you might as well build something from scratch. Just my $0.02

 

[weaverftw]

Oh and about the tools, don’t let that discourage you if you already have basic tools. I’ve seen threads where people say you need $500 in tools but most of it is not specialized…

I already had a torque wrench, small vice, and basic hand tools and all I had to buy was: cheap AR armorers tool ($15-20), cheap plastic vice block for the upper ($17), and a cheap punch set ($17). Even if you don’t have the torque wrench or vice, cheap harbor freight versions can be had for like $50 each probably. You don’t need high quality tools that cost hundreds of dollars each to do this job, those are for folks who use the tools daily.

 

[Skilly]

once you have gone through it a couple of times, you will start to get a feel of what you like...triggers, bolt carriers, spring systems, tuning becomes part of the puzzle. I started with a builders kit from PSA and a friend coached me on parts. I think Ive built about 7 now, and what I choose for a build is very different from where I started.

Plus one on all of the tools - the only thing I would add is if you think you will do more than one or two, dont go cheap on the tools....quality will help.

 

[Deleted member 16735]

I would say definitely get an action rod vs a vice block though, the rod locks into the barrel lugs. You do need a vice block to do 9mm barrels though

 

[DBilleb]

What’s up fellas. I’m new to the “Gun community” and don’t have a rifle yet. My current firearms i own are a G21SF Gen 3, Full-size Echelon and a VR80 which is just something to have fun with. My next build i want is an AR-10/15 build. I can’t decide yet what I want. I’m not sure if i should buy one or try and build my own. If anyone can give me some build tips on what the best rifles to buy, uppers, lowers etc… Budget is around $1200ish but wouldn’t mind spending a bit more for quality.

Before all this stupid parts drama, I’d say build without question. Now…..i don’t know. I’ve built a bunch and you really get to personalize your gun the way you want.

You could do it for $1200 but realistically you’d probably be spending $1500-$1700 for what you want. It’s pretty easy if you are mechanically inclined. Not too many tools needed.

-dale

 

[Plenty_Pack_556]

I paid an acquaintance to teach me using their tools. That way I could see what is actually needed before spending money on things I won't need. If you know somebody who's willing to teach you, build it. I ended up spending about $500 in good tools. Let me tell you there was a lot more elbow grease needed to get the roll pins and barrel seated in my cerakoted upper than I would have ever expected. If I was going to purchase a basic AR I like the Springfield Armory Saint Victor.

MI URR - $75
HF Vise - $30
Vism/NcStar AR Tool - $30
Pin/Punch Set - $20
Front Takedown Pin Tool - $10
HF Torque Wrench - $20
Aeroshell 64, BN grease - $10

Is all you need.

 

[Plenty_Pack_556]

Buying complete rifles is a waste of money IMO. They don’t come with super great stuff unless you’re spending like $3000. And at that price point you might as well build something from scratch. Just my $0.02

just gotta look for deals. Deals to be had in ppt.

I bought a Noveske Gen 3 MK12 Variant complete AR a year or so ago for 1.4k.

End of last year, I sold the Upper only minus the Badger Ord. G3 CH and BCG for 1.35k

For essentially $50, I got to keep a Noveske Gen 3 Complete Lower with Noveske pins, Geissele HSNM Trigger system, Badger Ord. G3 CH and Badger Ord. BCG.

 

[Deleted member 11316]

just gotta look for deals. Deals to be had in ppt.

I bought a Noveske Gen 3 MK12 Variant complete AR a year or so ago for 1.4k.

End of last year, I sold the Upper only minus the Badger Ord. G3 CH and BCG for 1.35k

For essentially $50, I got to keep a Noveske Gen 3 Complete Lower with Noveske pins, Geissele HSNM Trigger system, Badger Ord. G3 CH and Badger Ord. BCG.

I agree with PPT deals existing. That works if you have a general understanding of the market and what is quality. Not very accessible for a first timer without research, but also definitely not impossible.

This site is a great resource for that, but good deals are very short lived

 

[PAGANSAINT71]

MI URR - $75
HF Vise - $30
Vism/NcStar AR Tool - $30
Pin/Punch Set - $20
Front Takedown Pin Tool - $10
HF Torque Wrench - $20
Aeroshell 64, BN grease - $10

Is all you need.

You can buy things cheaper but I buy quality tools I think will last. I prefer not to struggle for lack of the right tool for the job. Im pretty sure it can be done with less just not my style.

MI Lower Receiver bench block $40
Wheeler P-Handle screwdriver set $70
Wheeler bolt catch punch set $20
MI AR15 action rod $125
MI armorers wrench $70
Avid pivot pin tool $14
Fix it Stix torque driver set $125
Wheeler master roll pins punch set $50
Horudsy flat head punch set $20
1/2" drive Torque wrench $25-$200
Small rubber mallet $10
Aeroshell grease $10
A vice if you don't have one

 

[Experimentalist]

If you're building your own lower receiver up, make sure you have a fair sized plastic bag handy, big enough to accommodate both the lower and your hands with tools.

That way when - not if - you wind up launching a spring loaded part, it is caught in the bag. Rather than launching into the great wide open, never to be seen again.

 

[2muchsoysauce4allthisrice]

What’s up fellas. I’m new to the “Gun community” and don’t have a rifle yet. My current firearms i own are a G21SF Gen 3, Full-size Echelon and a VR80 which is just something to have fun with. My next build i want is an AR-10/15 build. I can’t decide yet what I want. I’m not sure if i should buy one or try and build my own. If anyone can give me some build tips on what the best rifles to buy, uppers, lowers etc… Budget is around $1200ish but wouldn’t mind spending a bit more for quality.

Any experience working on cars or suspension; as well as owning tools such as torque wrench? Do you have a bench vise/clamp? Feeling like being a garage hang out boy again? Today’s the day to get it squared away. Blue masking tape comes in handy for slips, nicks, and dings.

 

[PAGANSAINT71]

Any experience working on cars or suspension; as well as owning tools such as torque wrench? Do you have a bench vise/clamp? Feeling like being a garage hang out boy again? Today’s the day to get it squared away. Blue masking tape comes in handy for slips, nicks, and dings.

My set up