AR Build

This is a Bushmaster C-15 Superlite flat top in 5.56. Sells for $649.95 paid $599.00 on sale at Gander Mt. around Christmas. That's for the basic rifle, 2- 30 round mags, Bushnell Mini-Red Dot, Hard Case, 2- Risers, Sling and lock. I changed out parts Hand Guard for Quad Rail, Pistol Grip (could not stand the one that came with the rifle), Butt Stock, Vertical Grip, Bipod and flash light holder for about $130.00 more. S&W M&P15's go on sale now and then for $599.00 or so, if you find one, jump on it.

Both are good starter guns, a build will cost you between $800 to $1,400 depending on what (who's) parts you put on it.


Good Luck.
Jim

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hmmm...

You should be able to pick up a complete Plum Crazy composite lower for about $150, mate it to a pencil thin M4 upper from R&T or Model 1 for $399 and you should have a decent gun for under $600.

Personally, I would just buy it slowly over time as your budget allows. I also believe it makes good sense to invest in a quality bolt and barrel as these are the things that could prevent an accident. And last but not least, from the shooters point of view the trigger break is what is going to make the gun.
 
Jim243,

I'm going to a gun show this weekend and hopefully will be able to spot a M&P15 Sport for $499-$599 (that's the price range I've been getting). If I can't find one or anything around that price range at the gun show, then I'm going to start building one (not all from individual pieces, but I'll probably do a complete upper, and build the lower. As this is my first one, I know it's not going to be superior, but I'm just starting out and don't need a superior rifle right now. Hopefully after I get more comfortable with the AR and learn more about all the parts, how it all goes together, etc., then I'll build my ultimate one.

Thanks everybody, keep the suggestions all coming. They are all very useful.
 
What does forward assist mean? An upper I was looking at says it doesn't have forward assist, dust cover, or brass deflector. Are those necessary?
 
There are after-market brass deflectors and very easy home-made also. Forward assist- 10 years army through desert storm- never needed one. Dust cover.... again can be made for cheap. Only use it while stored or walking through tight jungle giggle bushes that you can't shoot through any-how, another part not needed. Here is a great brass catcher bag that velcros around the hand guard.
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forward assist, dust cover, or brass deflector. Are those necessary?
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The short answer is no they are not a necessity.

First AR I owned was a 1965 Armilite AR-15, no such thing as a forward assist or brass deflector on those puppies. Did not know I was missing anything. Because of poor cleaning of their M-16s in the jungle, the bolt would not always go to full battery, the forward assist pushes the bolt close so the gun could then go to full battery. Never needed it or used it in over 50 years, just keep your rifle clean and in good shape. Most new lowers do have them and if left off, the mfg is just cutting corners to reduce their cost. I would be very hesitant on any lower that does not have them on it, not that they are needed, but what other thing is the mfg cutting corners on? Now, AR-10 uppers (308 not 5.56) do not have any of these items on it.

Not sure why they put the shell defector on the gun. If you use weak loads the case will come back into your face. But most decent ammo will go strait out at a 90 degree angle and a little back, you are more likly to hit the guy sitting to your right at the next shooting station with a hot shell than getting hit with one yourself. Weak "EJECTOR" springs would be a cause to need the shell deflector.

Dust Covers, now these I think are a necessity. It's only closed when you manually close it. But keeps all the crud around you when the rifle is NOT BEING USED out of the gun. This is a good idea since it covers the ejection port on the rifle and protects the bolt from crud and binding up (non-functioning rifles at the wrong time.)

Hope that helps.
Jim
 
Before optics I thing I have about $640 total in my Double Star AR. It has a Chrome 20" barrel and a collapsable stock. I ordered the lower through a LGS and an AR savvy friend ordered everthing else for jtdistributing.

Check out jtdistributing and Doublestar. I'm very happy with my rifle. It is completely reliable and very accurate. I just took it out shooting at beavers on a lake. I missed by nothing, but it was my fault not the rifles'.
 
Forward assist - ugh.


Basically it is to help push the bolt carrier forward in the event that it doesn't go all the way forward.


If you look at a picture of the bolt carrier you see notches on the side. The forward assist lever is suuposed to engage those notches and push it into place.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oHx6qdteFY&feature=related

Gotta love these:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0HjEkZ6Vr4&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpkbORiOXbo&feature=related
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eemyE2JQ5W4&NR=1

Adams Arms animation & ad:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3TVsekcFWo&playnext=1&list=PL61149A43DB056CD8
 

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I was asking because I saw an DMPS upper that I liked, but somebody said that it didn't have any of those things.

Has anybody used DS Arms? Are they good?
 
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What does forward assist mean? An upper I was looking at says it doesn't have forward assist, dust cover, or brass deflector. Are those necessary?
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The three things are parts on the upper. If you look at the left side of an AR-15 upper, you will see them:
1) Forward assist- furthest to the rear. It is a button that you can use to help pound the bolt carrier back into battery. Generally, it is now vestigial... if you have the pound it into the chamber, exactly HOW do you plan to get that fired case OUT of the thing? It can mean a little more shooting of an extremely gunked up weapon, but it will also likely tie things up that much worse if you use it. While the current thinking is not to bother using it (if you need it, it's time to clean), it's one of those things I'm not sure I'd leave off.

2) Brass deflector- just in front of the forward assist. It is a bump molded in to the side of the upper to keep brass from coming straight back and bonking the shooter. Not mandatory, but nice to have.

3) Dust cover- that little hinged hatch over the ejection port that keeps gunk out of the rifle when not being fired.

All three of the the things increase the cost of the upper- the forward assist and dust cover add parts that much be bought and installe. Not one of them is really mandatory (rifles without them are usually real bare bones ones at the lowest possible cost, like the DPMS Sportical... you're generally also giving up things like a chrome lined barrel too). IMO, if you're buying a plinker you don't need them, but if you're buying a rifle that you might intend to use for defensive purposes, then at least the dust cover and brass deflector are nice to have.
 
An upper I was looking at says it doesn't have forward assist, dust cover, or brass deflector. Are those necessary?
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At least 2 of those you will probably never need, but its nice to have them JUST IN CASE.
 
If I bought an upper that didn't have these, are they something I could add myself?
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Nope. They're molded/machined into the upper. In order to add them to a rifle that doesn't have them, you'd need to put on a new upper receiver.
 
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