AR15 build

ar15.com is a good forum as a resource

midwayusa.com and palmettostatearmory.com have pretty decent online prices for parts.

I got my lower from here: http://www.sundevilmfg.com/pricelist.php But they've gone up since I built, well everyone has (this was around '05 I think). I think I paid around $100-$125 for my lower.

There are many possibilities for the AR-series firearms. Figure out what you'll use it for and what you'll need to accomplish that.  I won't comment much on the upper receiver assembly because I buy those pre-assembled so that I don't have to deal with barreling the receiver. 

The lower isn't too bad. Find a quality stripped-lower and pick up a parts kit. Do you want a regular trigger or a match trigger? When I built one of mine I found a good lower from a reputable company, a DPMS parts kit, and I don't remember what brand match trigger. The parts kit had an "exploded view" of a lower, and I used that as my guide for assembling the whole thing. I just swapped the DPMS trigger parts for the match parts. I ordered a POF piston upper (they were one of the very few companies with the piston option at the time) and it was cake.

Figure out what caliber you want and how much work you're willing to do. The lower isn't difficult to put together, just a touch challenging with a couple of the springs and detent pins. I've not assembled an upper from scratch, so I don't know how difficult that is. I'm not comfortable setting head space and don't have the right tools for barreling an action, so I just pay the extra to order one already put together.

I hope that helps. Not as much technical information as you might have been looking for, but that's available from so many sources more qualified than I that I figured I'd just provide an overview of what I experienced.

Thanks to everyone for the responses.

I will check out the web sites, especially the ar15.com. Looks like there as many options to this as there are to cycling if not more...... I guess I'll get an edumacation on this. It'll probably be a slow work in progress. For the most part, it doesn't look like there are a lot of pricy specialty tools.

A couple of questions 1. Barreling an action, not sure what this refers to. 2. the GF is a leftie and likes to shoot, what are some of the things that can be done to make it more ambidextrous? 3. Any opinions on the Black Rain lower, it looked kinda cool.

Thanks again and have a great week everyone.

Oh, as far as what my intentions are would be mainly to go to the desert and shoot. I guess I'll need a sling so I can throw it over my back while I ride my bike out to the desert.

Linked my way ar15.com to this parts list and crapton of videos , http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/lid=11007/learn/

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/avs%7CMake_3=AR-15zz1zzM4/guntech/

Budsgunshop.com is a great place to purchase (no, I don't work there).  My preference is to stay away from plastic (polymer) lowers.  For fun shooting, you can get a lower that will take a 5.56/223 and a .22 cal uppers so you can save money with shooting. 

I've purchased some items from Buds, good place, fast shipping, low prices good customer service. I hadn't thought about a polymer lower. hmmmmm

I'll second ar15.com as a good resource on building an AR.  There should be several threads on there with step by step details.

As RBesecke said, decide what you plan on using it for before building.  NRA or CMP competition has specific rules on the external configuration that needs to be adhered to.  Internal mods such as heavy barrel (under the handguard), competition trigger and free floated barrel (special handguard) are allowed.

There are tons of different stocks, handguards and sights that can be used for different specialty builds.  Research what will work for your purpose so you're not buying anything twice.

Building is very straight forward.  The stripped lower receiver is the part that needs to be purchased/transferred through an FFL.  Everything else you can buy yourself.  Take your time and you shouldn't have any problems.

Headspace is determined by the bolt and barrel extension combination, no reaming or specialty tools involved for building an AR upper. (other than the barrel wrench)  It is worth picking up a set of go/no-go gauges to verify the parts are in compliance.(I've never personally run into a mismatch, but I still check)

I built my AR from parts and I used AR15.com. What you have to decide is do you want to piece it together say like and upper, lower, stock or do you really want to build it and install the barrel, put together the bolt, and build the trigger group.

It is now cheaper to just buy the upper and lower separately but I liked building it because now I know how everything works. The tools you will need besides the basics are a AR wrench, upper holder, and a torque wrench.

Where did you get a lower?  I didn't think you could just order them online.

You can buy an assembled lower in NV from most stores from $150 up. I had to buy mine then build the trigger group but thats because I'm in CA.

Well yeah.  I can get a lower just down the street.  I misunderstood and though you got one that web site...

The AR15.com site is more of a message board has has very good "how to" stuff on there. I did buy the DPSM trigger group from online because 6 years ago there was no local places that sold them here.

You certainly can order lowers online and have them shipped. They just have to be shipped to an FFL for proper transfer. Search your area for FFL people and pay them the fee (usually around $20). 

Just found this and was wondering what ya all thought of the polymer lower?

I think the 5.56 has a lot more pressure than most pistols with the same material. I'm inclinded to think it's not a bad way to go for the budget conscious.

$40 one from PSA now