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thinking of building an ar #6133786
01/21/18 10:31 PM
01/21/18 10:31 PM
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 25,692
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adam m Offline OP
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adam m  Offline OP
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This year, Which will be my first build. There's so many choices options etc.... thinking 223/5.56 maybe 308 possibly 6.5 Creedmoor or 9mm .
Has anyone used the carbon fiber poly mixed lower? Not sure if I'll use that or billet.
What should I look for in barrel quality?
I don't want to break the bank either

Last edited by adam m; 01/21/18 11:03 PM.
Re: thinking of building an ar [Re: adam m] #6133801
01/21/18 10:39 PM
01/21/18 10:39 PM
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,622
Warren co Mo
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hrdtoflw Offline
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hrdtoflw  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,622
Warren co Mo
Whew, I read the title, thinking the k was missing, and you were starting on an ark. Lol


If your mind draws a blank, turn off the sound, because ya can't learn a thing if you're doin all the talkin
Re: thinking of building an ar [Re: adam m] #6133830
01/21/18 11:03 PM
01/21/18 11:03 PM
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 25,692
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adam m Offline OP
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adam m  Offline OP
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Joined: Feb 2014
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smile

Re: thinking of building an ar [Re: adam m] #6133858
01/21/18 11:26 PM
01/21/18 11:26 PM
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 1,087
Wright county, Minnesota
Birch Tree Offline
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Birch Tree  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 1,087
Wright county, Minnesota
I would not use a polymer lower on an AR build. Any aluminum lower that is "mil-spec" will work, I have used Anderson, Spike's Tactical and Palmetto State Armory lowers and none have had any issues but they are all "mil-spec" lowers. Right now you can get a PSA lower for 5.56 for 39.99, you can get their stripped lower for .308 for 89.99 last I saw and they offer a Glock magazine 9mm lower in billet but are out of stock at the moment.

PSA customer service isn't the best but I personally haven't had any issues with them, they also offer the best prices on kit guns minus the lower receivers.

If you go with a 5.56 build then get a barrel with the .223 Wylde chamber as it will fire both .223 and 5.56 with great accuracy, it is hard as heck to get a 20 inch barrel with the .223 Wylde chamber unless you want to pay through the nose for it but I have a stainless 18 inch .223 Wylde I am making into a varmint rifle. Also the 1:7 twist is for heavier bullets from 62 grains and up, the 55-grain loads will work but not give very good groups if you want to drive tacks. If you want to shoot cheaper ammo and get good groups then go with the 1:12 twist in a 20-inch barrel but you have to choose .223 or 5.56 chamber for that set-up unless someone makes that twist/lgth in the .223 Wylde I don't know about.

6.5 Creedmore is a more expensive build but you can put a 6.5 Creedmore PSA upper on their .308 lower and switch out between the 2, I have a .308 and 4 5.56 builds and working on my .223 Wylde as I get extra funds for it. It is very addicting to build these rifles!


Mark Skokan, Buffalo MN.

MTA and NTA Member.
Re: thinking of building an ar [Re: adam m] #6133869
01/21/18 11:35 PM
01/21/18 11:35 PM
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 3,067
Wyoming
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cmcf Offline
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Wyoming
White Oak, for the upper, you will not be disappointed. A lot of competitors use them. Mine is very accurate.


“The world is governed by very different personages from what is imagined” B. Disraeli

Re: thinking of building an ar [Re: adam m] #6133873
01/21/18 11:41 PM
01/21/18 11:41 PM
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 20,914
North East Kansas
Marty Offline
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Marty  Offline
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Posts: 20,914
North East Kansas
With the low prices of new I would only build if you really want to.....do not skimp on parts.

Bravo Company has great barrels and other components.

Ambi safety.....Troy alpha hand guard, rifle length.

Troy folding sights....h&k style front(round aperture).

Vltor stock or similar...

No plastic upper/lower.

Chambered for 5.56 not just .223.

Good luck!


E
'Honey Badger Militia'
Sleep, the anti woke adote.
Re: thinking of building an ar [Re: adam m] #6133905
01/22/18 12:26 AM
01/22/18 12:26 AM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,761
Central, SD
Law Dog Offline
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Law Dog  Offline
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Central, SD
I have several one has a polymer lower nothing wrong if you get a better grade one like the old Calvary Arms type but keep a eye out at PSA and build a blem on the cheap you can build one for very little that way~


Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!

Jerry Herbst
Re: thinking of building an ar [Re: hrdtoflw] #6133977
01/22/18 06:12 AM
01/22/18 06:12 AM

K
krispcritter
Unregistered
krispcritter
Unregistered
K



Originally Posted By: hrdtoflw
Whew, I read the title, thinking the k was missing, and you were starting on an ark. Lol


Me too. Thought oh, no we need to round up the critters 2 x 2

Re: thinking of building an ar [Re: adam m] #6133989
01/22/18 06:55 AM
01/22/18 06:55 AM
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 2,967
Ohio
OhioBoy Offline
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OhioBoy  Offline
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Ohio
You could buy a new optics ready bushmaster .223/5.56 over xmas for $350.

Re: thinking of building an ar [Re: adam m] #6134211
01/22/18 12:37 PM
01/22/18 12:37 PM
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 25,692
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adam m Offline OP
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adam m  Offline OP
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Great info thanks. Keep them coming

Re: thinking of building an ar [Re: adam m] #6134221
01/22/18 12:59 PM
01/22/18 12:59 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 658
Omro, Wisconsin
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Cooncuff Offline
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Posts: 658
Omro, Wisconsin
I would recommend the 6.5 Grendel, uses a standard ar15 lower and the ballistics are impressive...just my 2 cents


In youth we learn, In age we Understand.
Re: thinking of building an ar [Re: adam m] #6134231
01/22/18 01:13 PM
01/22/18 01:13 PM
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 8
MI
M
MI Dirthole Offline
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MI Dirthole  Offline
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MI
What do you want the gun to to?

If your looking to just build and fun shoot, there’s lots of options. For leisure shooting, Home defense, and predator/varmint hunting, the 223/556 will be your cheapest option to build and shoot while filling all those categories pretty well. You might wana favor a larger caliber if you plan on using it for hunting larger animals.

I would also suggest a 223wylde if the 223/556 is what you decide to go with. Go with a free float rail for improved accuracy. The barrel and bolt will have the largest impact on accuracy. A descent milspec aluminum upper and lower will work fine, no real need for billet unless you really like the look or idea of it. An upgraded trigger is a good option.

My upper and lower are forged aluminum milspec with a decent barrel and bolt. My hand loads shoot 1/2in groups at 100yds.

One of the best things about ARs is you can make exactly what you want. Build it for what you want.

Re: thinking of building an ar [Re: adam m] #6134296
01/22/18 02:45 PM
01/22/18 02:45 PM
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 18,386
Green County Wisconsin
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GREENCOUNTYPETE Offline
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Green County Wisconsin
my advice is buy a Anderson lower , my dealer has them in a blister pack on the shelf for 69 dollars not even behind the counter you do need to fill out a 4473 , actually you are purchasing it as an "other" this means you can build it into rifle or pistol.

I have done a few Anderson lowers they work well and cost is very reasonable

buy a lower parts kit , and a complete upper 223/5.56 is a very good choice for a first AR you can cut your teeth on that build and then you have the lower you have the upper and you can start experimenting replacing parts customizing

you need a roll pin punch and I recommend a roll pin starter this has a female hole the right size for the bolt hold open/release lever roll pin to fit in and you get a good strait start on it , a magazine vice block and a roll of painters tape. you will also want a AR-15 armorers combo tool or buffer tube wrench to tighten the lock nut on the buffer tube. often if you know anyone who has build before you may be able to borrow these tools but if not it is not a huge investment and then you have everything you need to work on most everything on an AR if your doing barrel swaps you need a upper receiver vice block.

good build video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8sY5CQmlHI

I tape the side of the reciver when I am tapping in the bolt catch pin , if you slip tape is a cheap way to insure no scratches

I don't use a pivot pin install tool , I just hold the spring an detente in with the tip of my pocket knife while I slide in the pin


barrel ,free floating the barrel , trigger , optics are where you spend the money but honestly so many barrels that are Melonite or Nitrided will shoot about MOA with good ammo that it really isn't necessary to spend more on a barrel unless your looking for sub minute.

bulk ammo in my experience shoots to about 1.5 moa so don't be frustrated if your gun won't do better until you reload or buy better ammo.


Last edited by GREENCOUNTYPETE; 01/22/18 02:56 PM.

America only has one issue, we have a Responsibility crisis and everything else stems from it.
Re: thinking of building an ar [Re: adam m] #6134465
01/22/18 06:12 PM
01/22/18 06:12 PM
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Posts: 25,692
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adam m Offline OP
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adam m  Offline OP
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Great info and a lot to consider. One thing I don't have to worry about is the tools as several buddies have all the tools needed.

I'm leaning on the 223/556 and want it as an all around gun.

I think I found the free float rail I want. Looking at barrels and the 1:12 is not as common as 1:7 1:8 & 1:9. Would the 1:9 do the job as all around and various weight ammo?

I'll go with milspec lower and have been looking at both stripped and complete.

Re: thinking of building an ar [Re: adam m] #6134466
01/22/18 06:13 PM
01/22/18 06:13 PM
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 981
Alaska Northwestern
That Fool Offline
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That Fool  Offline
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Alaska Northwestern
Build one using aluminum receivers, like many said, get a quality barrel, I got a wilson combat 204 and love the upper I built with it. I use magpul acs-l stocks for my lower receiver builds. Anderson and aeroprecision receivers. The 6.5 grendel is very accurate and a great round.

Re: thinking of building an ar [Re: adam m] #6134514
01/22/18 07:16 PM
01/22/18 07:16 PM
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Posts: 25,692
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adam m Offline OP
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adam m  Offline OP
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How do you all determine quality barrels? Most companies lay claim they have the best and most accurate barrels.

Re: thinking of building an ar [Re: adam m] #6134530
01/22/18 07:27 PM
01/22/18 07:27 PM
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 20,914
North East Kansas
Marty Offline
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Marty  Offline
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North East Kansas

Its probably best to get all Mil-spec parts/components....for example mil-spec bcg's will be chrome lined but most commercial are not....world of difference.



E
'Honey Badger Militia'
Sleep, the anti woke adote.
Re: thinking of building an ar [Re: adam m] #6134581
01/22/18 08:06 PM
01/22/18 08:06 PM
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 613
Northern Missouri
Northmocats Offline
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Northmocats  Offline
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Northern Missouri
Use a good Barrel and depending on the weight of your build Id go with a 20 inch. I wouldnt do Polymer materials either.. Next dont skimp on the Trigger. I run an Ar10 in 308. I bought a Geissele ssa-enchanced trigger its one bad rig.... And like others Advised Go Mil spec parts is best ..

Re: thinking of building an ar [Re: adam m] #6134698
01/22/18 09:13 PM
01/22/18 09:13 PM
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adam m Offline OP
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Thanks. From the looks of it mil-spec isn't much more and would be wiser.

Re: thinking of building an ar [Re: adam m] #6134896
01/22/18 11:40 PM
01/22/18 11:40 PM
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 8
MI
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MI Dirthole Offline
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MI
In many cases milspec just means a certain tolerance level or size. For most manufacturers it is the starting point for quality and things go up from there.

A 1:8 or 1:9 should be a good all around barrel twist. The 1:9 might not be able to handle the heaviest of .223 like up into the 77gr, but that depends on each individual barrel. My 1:7 does surprisingly well with 40gr bullets.

Quality barrels usually mean a high price, but not always. WOA, Noveske, Wilson Combat, there are countless AR barrel manufacturers. My barrel that shoots very well was just a middle end PSA that I think was made by FN. Find something you like and then look at reviews and use your judegement. Some places like Rainier Arms will give you an accuracy guarantee when using match ammo.

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