AR-15 kits?

Zombie time. When looking for Plum Crazy lowers, one shopping site listed them discontinued and mentioned New Frontier Armory poly lowers, starting at $99.

NFA lower

Here's a pic of my Colt M16A1 kit that I assembled a week ago. This was before I cleaned and oiled the rifle. It took a while to get a period receiver from Nodak Spud, but it looks amazing.

I have 2 more stripped lowers and 1 completed pistol lower to finish up in a few weeks.

I didn't read this entire zombie thread(referring to the age of this thread) but I saw someone asking about building AKs. It is alot different that just "assembling" an AR. I built 2 AMD65 AKs at work with the help of a guy that has been building for many years. It requires special jigs if you are building AKs using flats vs. buying completed receivers. The only tricky thing with building ARs is putting the front sight/gas block on to the barrel and drilling the holes for the taper pins. Most people buy the ARs with the sight/gas block already mounted.

neon4891 wrote: Zombie time. When looking for Plum Crazy lowers, one shopping site listed them discontinued and mentioned New Frontier Armory poly lowers, starting at $99. NFA lower

Thats a deal

In reply to Anti-stance:

Where did you buy that kit?

In reply to stroker:

Sportsmans Guide, but the kits have dried up. You may be able to find people selling kits on different gun boards or God forbid gunbroker.com. It was a kit that required patience. I bought the kit for $500 shipped less lower receiver and barrel in September. I had to wait for someone to start a production run of skinny A1 barrels then place a order for Nodak Spud's next production run of A1 retro lowers.

Price breakdown: A1 kit - $500 shipped Pencil barrel - $120 shipped(I think) A1 retro lower - $150 shipped + $10 FFL Palmetto lower parts kit $55 shipped (was easier than modifying the selector, trigger, and disconnector for those pesky ATF guys )

Grand total: $835 for a piece of AR history. (I'm not a mall ninja kinda guy)

You could always just buy a clone for a little less money but its not the real deal so to say.

For a budget AR that will still be rock solid my recommendations are simple

Aero Precision, Surplus Arms, or Ammo LOW15 stripped lower. AIMSurplus sells them for $59 all day everyday. Spikes Tactical lowers are a little more expensive, but you won't notice a difference in quality.

Follow that up with a Rifle Kit from Del-Ton Inc. or Palmetto State Armory. These kits have EVERYTHING you need to finish a stripped lower. Put on your own sights, grab some magazines and you're ready to rock.

All for under $650 usually, unless you start getting fancier kits.

Keep in mind that you're probably not going to war with these things, so it might be ok to go for a middle-of-the-road rifle. That said, I was very impressed with the Colt M4 I used, and have to lean that way.

rotard wrote: Keep in mind that you're probably not going to war with these things, so it might be ok to go for a middle-of-the-road rifle. That said, I was very impressed with the Colt M4 I used, and have to lean that way.

OTOH most lower receivers and upper receivers are built to mil spec, so for the most part even the cheapest of ARs out there are good enough for what the military would accept. The parts that really differentiate the high end and low end ARs are the trigger assemblies, bolt/bolt carriers and the front had guard (weather free float tube or not, quad rail, which has no impact on the actual rifle itself, etc.)

I have a couple ARs and have a nice 20" Bushmaster heavy barrel target gun, a 16" CAR budget build, and a 20" Coyote gun. They are all dead on accurate out to 300 yds, and to be honest I havent shot any of them farther than that.

Build it to what you want, but budget build 15" ARs are very impressive rifles for the price, especially if you only want it to plink every once in a while.

Drewsifer wrote: Aero Precision, Surplus Arms, or Ammo LOW15 stripped lower. AIMSurplus sells them for $59 all day everyday. Spikes Tactical lowers are a little more expensive, but you won't notice a difference in quality.

Exactly. I really don't understand why people buy expensive lowers, there is only about 3 or 4 companies that actually make the lowers and sell them to places like Spikes and DPMS for them to put their own stamp on them. There really is no difference in the quality. The only reason I spent $150 for my Nodak Spud receiver is because I wanted my kit to be period correct instead of just throwing an A2 lower under it for $60. I have 3 stripped lowers sitting in my safe. I can't even remember the name because I could care less about who put there stamp on there.

If you have access to a machine shop you can even buy 80% lowers for cheap from one of the lower manufacturers and not even have to FFL the thing.

Anti-stance wrote:

Drewsifer wrote: Aero Precision, Surplus Arms, or Ammo LOW15 stripped lower. AIMSurplus sells them for $59 all day everyday. Spikes Tactical lowers are a little more expensive, but you won't notice a difference in quality.

Exactly. I really don't understand why people buy expensive lowers, there is only about 3 or 4 companies that actually make the lowers and sell them to places like Spikes and DPMS for them to put their own stamp on them. There really is no difference in the quality. The only reason I spent $150 for my Nodak Spud receiver is because I wanted my kit to be period correct instead of just throwing an A2 lower under it for $60. I have 3 stripped lowers sitting in my safe. I can't even remember the name because I could care less about who put there stamp on there. If you have access to a machine shop you can even buy 80% lowers for cheap from one of the lower manufacturers and not even have to FFL the thing.

Some people like to have stuff that matches, or they like the roll mark or whatever reason. I don't fault people on it unless they go out of control with it (I have a friend who will only use Noveske Lowers).

Unfortunately it's people like my friend who have given the stereotype of "entry level ARs cost $1k" fuel.

In reply to Drewsifer:

The idea that you have to spend a bunch of money building an assault rifle with every doodad hanging off of it is why alot of the old hats that have been building AKs for so many years look at AR15.com people and shake there heads. (holy run on sentence man)

I would own an m249 instead, but it would be frownded upon.

Anti-stance wrote: In reply to Drewsifer: The idea that you have to spend a bunch of money building an assault rifle with every doodad hanging off of it is why alot of the old hats that have been building AKs for so many years look at AR15.com people and shake there heads. (holy run on sentence man)

AKs are gaining popularity though. I cringe when I hear people call it a Kalash. And just from my experience the "tactical explosion" method of accessorizing has been going down.

I only have a scope on my RRA LAR-10 .308 and this little thingy:

with a tactical/quick adjustable sling. It's great for walking around while deer hunting.

Anyone catch Cajun pawns stars the other night? Guy buys a 16" carbine for 600 bucks, then thy have a guy tell rem if they put 1500 into it, it'll be worth 2800-3000 ! Flash forward and the guy put a generic quad rail with forward grip, sling, flashlight and a $500 acog and im wondering where did the 1500 go? I'm sure some mall ninja will pay way too much for it but 3 grand?

Osterkraut wrote: *No.* A freakin' three fingered infant monkey could assemble an AR. There are dozens of books and videos about building one, get one, enjoy!

This. It's a gun, not a hadron collider. It's well documented, go ahead and build it and enjoy it.

Drewsifer wrote:

Anti-stance wrote: In reply to Drewsifer: The idea that you have to spend a bunch of money building an assault rifle with every doodad hanging off of it is why alot of the old hats that have been building AKs for so many years look at AR15.com people and shake there heads. (holy run on sentence man)

AKs are gaining popularity though. I cringe when I hear people call it a Kalash. And just from my experience the "tactical explosion" method of accessorizing has been going down.

After having help building my 2 AMD65s from my coworker(basically my gun pusher) and assembling 3 ARs now, I realize the skill and tooling that is required to build an AK. This guy at work even makes his own receiver flats out of sheet metal. Its not something you just get your parts, a couple of hand tools, go on youtube for instructions, and put together. But with that said, most people making the move from ARs to AKs will probably just go buy a complete rifle from one of the big companies like J&G since it it is still cheaper than assembling a barebones AR for 600ish unless you start talking specialty AKs like Krinkovs.

I like both rifles but try to stick to building clones of actual issued rifles. I like the historical value more so than the check out this new optics that "company X" just came out with type of mentality. The said coworker calls rifles that have all of the new bells and whistles on it "bubba'd out". lol

The AR isn't my favorite rifle, but it has become very common and has some good characteristics for me. I'm familiar with the M16/AR15 family (Thanks, US taxpayers!), they can be very accurate, the ergonomics are pretty good, and then there is the Mr. Potato Head aspect. So, I've been thinking about getting an AR or three.

First, a CMP legal rifle for CMP and NRA service rifle matches. Full-length semiauto M16A2 lookalike, heavy stainless barrel with a twist for heavier bullets, all the match goodies but none of the tacticool stuff.

Next, a space gun. 24" heavy stainless barrel, tube guard, match sights, adjustable butt, etc. Set up per NRA Match rifle rules, but with provisions for scoping it for any-sight matches, hunting, load development, and precision plinking.

Then, maybe, a more basic carbine / truck gun. Light, 16" barrel, maybe a red dot sight or some such. I don't trust batteries on a firearm, so it's gotta have backup iron sights. Hmmm ... Maybe I ought to get this one first.

Strizzo wrote: Anyone catch Cajun pawns stars the other night? Guy buys a 16" carbine for 600 bucks, then thy have a guy tell rem if they put 1500 into it, it'll be worth 2800-3000 ! Flash forward and the guy put a generic quad rail with forward grip, sling, flashlight and a $500 acog and im wondering where did the 1500 go? I'm sure some mall ninja will pay way too much for it but 3 grand?

Typical for TV gun sales. However I would like to point out I don't think there's any ACOG under $900. But yeah, I hate that on gun shows. Take generic AR, add generic parts, neva ben dun befo, $3000 price tag.

Anti-Stance said: After having help building my 2 AMD65s from my coworker(basically my gun pusher) and assembling 3 ARs now, I realize the skill and tooling that is required to build an AK. This guy at work even makes his own receiver flats out of sheet metal. Its not something you just get your parts, a couple of hand tools, go on youtube for instructions, and put together. But with that said, most people making the move from ARs to AKs will probably just go buy a complete rifle from one of the big companies like J&G since it it is still cheaper than assembling a barebones AR for 600ish unless you start talking specialty AKs like Krinkovs.

I was shocked when I saw how hard it is to 'build' an AK. I like AKs too, and when my situation permits I already know which three I'm going to buy! In order, Arsenal SLR-106, Interarms AK74 Poly, and an Interarms AKM Wood.

Here is a great show all about the AR platform. It's on the Sportsman Channel and called Modern Rifle Adventures: http://www.rifleshootermag.com/modern-rifle-adventures/

slantvaliant wrote: The AR isn't my favorite rifle, but it has become very common and has some good characteristics for me. I'm familiar with the M16/AR15 family (Thanks, US taxpayers!), they can be very accurate, the ergonomics are pretty good, and then there is the Mr. Potato Head aspect. So, I've been thinking about getting an AR or three. First, a CMP legal rifle for CMP and NRA service rifle matches. Full-length semiauto M16A2 lookalike, heavy stainless barrel with a twist for heavier bullets, all the match goodies but none of the tacticool stuff. Next, a space gun. 24" heavy stainless barrel, tube guard, match sights, adjustable butt, etc. Set up per NRA Match rifle rules, but with provisions for scoping it for any-sight matches, hunting, load development, and precision plinking. Then, maybe, a more basic carbine / truck gun. Light, 16" barrel, maybe a red dot sight or some such. I don't trust batteries on a firearm, so it's gotta have backup iron sights. Hmmm ... Maybe I ought to get this one first.

You basically described my three ARs. One is a 24" bull barrel w/scope and no iron sights(the closest to mall ninja I have), the M16A1 Colt kit pictured above, and a M4 lookalike. With one of my stripped lowers, I am going to be assembling a M16A2 lookalike, another one I am planning on making a 9mm carbine out of, and the third lower I have now I assembled as a pistol lower. Just waiting on my tax return to do the M16A2 lookalike and get the pistol upper.

Has anyone on here assembled an AR pistol?

Here is my current AR15 "situation"

Sorry for crappy cell phone pic.

Last week's Shotgun News (SGN) had an article on how to assemble an AR for under five bills. It was a good read. Not a "put this spring in here" kinda article, but a "buy a cheap lower, get an upper like this..." article. It might be next week's in the store SGN, as the subscribers get them a week or two ahead.

In reply to Dr. Hess:

Thanks for the heads up, I'll make sure to look for it.

Finally looked at this thread... Honestly, I was afraid to.

The PSH on the first few posts was funny

(pants sh!tting hysteria)

Honestly, to me building AR's is a little boring. They are SO simple, if you've built an engine a AR will be yawn-worthy. If you want some fun and a challenge building a rifle, Get a FAL kit. I just got done building my first STG. 58. Tougher build, takes some fab work and fitting, plenty fun.