AR upper and lower
- Thread starter zumer715
- Start date
madcratebuilder
New member
CMMG has good reviews from what I have read. Take your time and read all you can about the platform. There are dozens of companies selling parts and complete rifles. Check out www.ar15.com
Take a look at the M4A1 Carbine. This is a full mil-spec rifle and it's sale price is unbelievably low. It would be hard to build one at this price and quality.
Take a look at the M4A1 Carbine. This is a full mil-spec rifle and it's sale price is unbelievably low. It would be hard to build one at this price and quality.
The PSA rifle isn't a "full mil-spec" rilfe - it has no select-fire and has a 16" barrel instead of the 14.5" barrel of an M4.
That said, it's a great value for the money and about as close to mil-spec as you're gonna get. I have a PSA lower on a carbine build and the quality is very high.
Mil-spec as in parts are Mil-Spec. Not as in the rifle itself is a full fledged assault rifle.
Lowers aren't really as much to worry about as having a good upper. You can build a lower pretty easily save a little money, or get any decent brand, either will work. Saying Goes lower is a lower, just a matter of what label/branding you want on it. I myself love my BCM4 lower. Next lower i get will be PWS.
Lowers aren't really as much to worry about as having a good upper. You can build a lower pretty easily save a little money, or get any decent brand, either will work. Saying Goes lower is a lower, just a matter of what label/branding you want on it. I myself love my BCM4 lower. Next lower i get will be PWS.
madcratebuilder
New member
You are comparing a M16/M4 to the AR15. By mil-spec I mean it's a 4150 chrome lined 1-7 barrel that's mpi and hpt, a 158 mpi hpt bcg and mil-spec re. Or to put it simply the materials and inspection procedures of the major components meet mil-spec.
There are some differences in the lower parts kits. I've found the RRA kits easier to install than DPMS kits. The roll pins seem to fit looser. Otherwise, I haven't seen a whole lot of quality issues with any of the parts I've installed. There are really only two places you can seriously mess up. There is a possibility of making dings or marks on the side of the lower while driving the bolt catch pin home. A more serious problem would be breaking off one of the "ears" holding the trigger guard due to in sufficient support while driving that roll pin through. The pivot/takedown pin detents can be troublesome and are often launched into unkown places when trying to hold them and push the pin past. The Brownells tool is well worth the cost if doing more than 1 lower.
Read the sticky post on arfcom, you don't need special tools: http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_3_4/22...__GAS_BLOCK___Step_by_step_instructions_.html
Keep track of the bargain parts thread, specials are out there. Read the posts in the Build It Yourself forum, and you'll immediately learn things.
You might even read threads about torquing the barrel nut with 18" Channelock pliers.
It's not hillbilly if it's just one build, it's about understanding why the assembly specs are what they are. Armorers in the service have specific things to do DISassembling a lot of guns in the unit, machine guns in particular. Don't let the list of tools get out of hand, they aren't all for assembling M16's.
Vice grips will press in roll pins on trigger ears, old drill bits work fine as roll pin punches, and your money will go to parts, not one time tools useless for other work. If you can change a water pump on a car, you can assemble an AR. It's not rocket science.
Milspec means contract checkpoints in materials, testing, and construction, with a LOW bidder in mind. Non milspec parts are just as abundant, especially the better than Gov't stuff. Takes a bit of reading, but the info is all out there.
Keep track of the bargain parts thread, specials are out there. Read the posts in the Build It Yourself forum, and you'll immediately learn things.
You might even read threads about torquing the barrel nut with 18" Channelock pliers.
It's not hillbilly if it's just one build, it's about understanding why the assembly specs are what they are. Armorers in the service have specific things to do DISassembling a lot of guns in the unit, machine guns in particular. Don't let the list of tools get out of hand, they aren't all for assembling M16's.Vice grips will press in roll pins on trigger ears, old drill bits work fine as roll pin punches, and your money will go to parts, not one time tools useless for other work. If you can change a water pump on a car, you can assemble an AR. It's not rocket science.
Milspec means contract checkpoints in materials, testing, and construction, with a LOW bidder in mind. Non milspec parts are just as abundant, especially the better than Gov't stuff. Takes a bit of reading, but the info is all out there.
Except for a good trigger, it dosn't matter what lower you use, good vs. bad ARs are in the Upper.
Best Upper in my opinion, (I'm talking target quality) would be White Oak.
Walk up and down the line at a high power match. White Oaks are quite popular with the accuracy crowd.
Best Upper in my opinion, (I'm talking target quality) would be White Oak.
Walk up and down the line at a high power match. White Oaks are quite popular with the accuracy crowd.