Do It Yourself - kit build cost (bottom line)

[tuber]

..pretty new to this. What's the approx cost to have a kit built with new receiver?? Usually when I add the 2 together,it's very close to cost of new rifle(as in AR),w/o gunsmithing costs.

[ September 09, 2001: Message edited by: gary.jeter ]

[chas1759]

UHH! you consider the AR to be a rifle. Reciever will run $180-375, US parts (to stay legal) $150-300, parts kit $99-1700, the fun of doing it yourself priceless. They are addictive, have built 3 so far, have 7 more kits waiting for recievers, US parts, and time. HTH Chas

[derek huffman, azexarms]

kit 120 to 300 depending

rec'r 250 to 500 (Imbel or DSA, anything else is shyt)

US parts, (DSA, the only way to go) 225/235

labor, build, renumber, headspace, test-fire, return ship, lifetime warranty, 275 (parked) 350 Parkote one color.
www.azexarms.com (http://www.azexarms.com)

[TooTech]

For the basic tools for assemblying yourself:

$10 shareware payment for Gunplumber's manual
$75 receiver wrench (Casey Elliot's)
$15 apiece for "go" and "no-go" gauges
$12 for open-ended wrench for tightening barrel

$230 Imbel receiver
$180 Fed Arms STG-58 parts kit
$90 DSA hammer, trigger, sear
$35 DSA piston
$25 DSA pistol grip
$50 DSA charging handle

At this point you have 6 US parts. If you cut off the barrel threads and you are done. If you want a recoil control device replace the evil flash hider with a DSA brake for an additional $25.

So your fixed startup costs for tools is about $112, the "variable costs" for getting the gun components is about $610, for what I would consider to be the easy path to assembly. You can spend more, you can spend less. You can substitute less expensive parts but they require "minor fitting". I think that "fitting" fire control parts is best left to persons who carry liability insurance!!

[Derby FALs]

I just figured the cost of my newest project. $935 and I haven't turned a wrench. I will, however, end up with some like new spare parts. :rolleyes:

[ September 09, 2001: Message edited by: Derby FALs ]

[JJH]

My G1 Kit will cost as follows:

TAPCO G1 Kit: $124.99
DSA Type II Group Buy receiver: $320.00
FSE H/T/S: $49.99
DSA U.S. Charging Handle: $39.99
Ironwood Butt and Pistol Grip: $95.00
Rich@CGW Custom Assembly & Refinish: $260.00

Grand Total= $889.97

A steal for a custom built German G1 FAL that will be good as new, IMHO.

[screech-fnfal]

Hesse receiver-$137, Tapco G1 kit-$124, Tapco US stock kit and HTS kit-$75, assembly-$60,,,no refinish, a nice used look!
Total, under $400 :D

[gumby]

$137 for a Hesse receiver? Where do you find such? At that price, I might be willing to put up with the (reported) additional problems. BTW, FAC seems to think highly of Hesse receivers.

[screech-fnfal]

OH Shit, it was $138.00, not $137.00 from Larry Whipkey (delivered)! Yes at this price they are a bargain. Some gunsmiths will not work on a Hesse, some will rate them up there with the Imbel's and DSA's with a bit of "gunsmithing". Some smiths on this forum will assemble (install barrel and headspace)a kit and a Hesse receiver for $60. :D

[blackboots]

Who's Larry Whipkey?

[hsp223]

Larry did the Hesse group buy about a month and a half ago. Receivers were 129.00 plus 9.00 S&H to your FFL. At that price many bought Hesse receivers and now there are many threads concerning Hesse builds. The receiver that I got was probably the most out of spec of the group buy as I discussed the problems with Larry and Robert Hesse. In all farness to Hesse he agreed to take the receiver back. I decided to keep it and correct the problems myself as non of them were uncorrectable. The more I fuss with the receiver and compare it to my Imbel the more pleased I am with it. Problems that i thought were difficult turns out to be minor fitting ones that are taken care of with a little stoning. When I get this thing built I'll post a blow by blow description.

[kfranz]

$99 SA kit from Wholesale
$189 Imbel from Entreprise
$39 H/T/S follower/floorplate/PG from FAC
$35 DSA gas piston

$362 + 40ish shipping and transfer fees.

I should have gotten one of the Hesse's to assemble with the kit I got in trade for 5 AR mags...That one set me back a whopping $40 :D :D

It can be done pretty cheap if you watch for deals and don't count tool cost...

[ September 10, 2001: Message edited by: kfranz ]

[Slugger]

This round I've gathered my father and uncle into the loop. They will be helping to split up the cost of the tools required. The nice thing is that I will be the keeper of the tools.

[Bill R]

I think you might want to include the price
of a quality micrometer and a locking shoulder.please do not omit this operation and just go with the one supplied with thw kit!!