Newbies: How did your first "build" turn out?

[Celtic warrior]

I did one a few years back and I just wondered if you guys thought it was easy hard etc?
Just curious...

Greg O

[MAINER]

It's only easy if you know what you're doin' or at least have instructions. Having neither made it a bit harder, but probly more fun. Best think about ARs is not needing a lot of expensive tools and no welding, riveting or blasting and parkerizing.

First build was from a bunch of parts, "complete except lower receiver" from a guy in Lake Zurich, ? He had a small ad in Shotgun News and it took 5 or 6 months to get them. All military parts, and an upper with a 'K"
Put it together on the only lower available at the time, an EA.

Had fun putting it together, just like an erector set, as someone said. Other than changing the upper to an A2 (better rear sight) it's still as it was, 20" A2 config. with no bells or whistles.

Never cared for the M16 we had in Nam, with the skinny barrel and triangle handguards. When th A2 came out my interest picked up.

Local PD got tried of phone calls telling them" there's some guy shootin one of them vietnam machine guns down here at the range".

[TheOtherChris]

I started building ARs about 25 years ago. The first ones went together smooth as could be. They were like Legos. If you couldn't put together an AR you had no business building ANY firearm.

About 1989, as the new AWB loomed in Calif, the parts manufacturers were putting out product so fast that QC was really beginning to suffer.
During that time, I spent a lot more time fitting FCGs, upper/lower, barrel allignment & tight mag wells than ever before.

Haven't built one in over 10 years, but I've had to fix a several that others have built.

[tracyballard]

I've only built one, on a Superior Arms lower, DPMS internals, 3/4" full length heavy barrel, DPMS bolt, carrier, etc, a cheap 4x sporter scope, 4 rail gas block, removable carry handle & front sight. I had about $650 in it and someone bought it from me for $950. I'll be building more as soon as I can afford a couple of lowers. I need to buy some AK receivers first so it may be this summer...

[kerplode]

I did a build with all Bushmaster parts about 10 years ago that went together without issues. I tried again a couple weekends ago with a Superior lower and a DPMS LPK and busted the lower trying to install the TG. Roll pin wedged solid and I busted the ear off trying to get it back out.

I spoke to a gunsmith about that and he said that "building" an AR is a little more complicated today than it was in the past...Apparently there are variations between all the different companies making parts that can lead to problems during assembly (pins the wrong size for holes, etc). He suggested that the best way to ensure an easy build is to use only one manufacturer's parts (if that's even possible).

Scrapping a $100 lower kind of discouraged me, so I traded my remaining stripped lowers for a complete unit from LMT. I have a couple DPMS LPKs and a few buttstocks I'm not going to use now, so I'll probably sell those in the MP at some point.

[tracyballard]

I broke off a roll pin punch putting one of the pins into my Superior lower, it was pretty tight but went in, that was my only issue.

[1811GNR]

Kerplode, you didn't scrap a lower just because of the broken TG ear did you?

[kerplode]

Well...Not really. I still have it and it isn't damaged beyond the busted TG.

Eventually I may pick up one of the MIAD grips you suggested in my other thread and finish assembling it. For now, though, I think I'm just going to sit on it.

[tracyballard]

that doesn't sound comfortable...

[kerplode]

:p

[GOVT1911]

I've thrown several together in the last few months. 3 for me and 4 for friends. (they bought everything and brought'em over, no straw purchase. LOL) Mostly DPMS lowers but one Stag and one from Del-Ton. (Del-Ton lowers were only $90 + tax at the last Raleigh GS a few weeks ago)

Not really any problems, except for 2 friends brought over different sized buffer tubes/buttstocks. I had thought they were all the same but guess cheapies are different and not "MILSPEC"

Kerplode, had one buddy break off ear on his TG also. built it without TG and he keeps saying he's gonna try to have a weld done to repair it. Dunno.

[tracyballard]

Originally posted by GOVT1911
no straw purchase.

it wouldn't be a straw purchase anyway, you can buy something for yourself and then sell it the next day if you want, as long as the person you sell it to can legally own it. here's the definition of a straw purchase:

A straw purchase is any purchase where the buyer is not eligible to own the purchased item according to the law and therefore purchases the item through a proxy buyer.


So, yes, if you buy a gun for a convicted felon because he can't pass the NICS check, that's a straw purchase. If you, as a private citizen, buy a gun legally at retail with a NICS check, you can then immediately sell it to anyone else who could also pass that NICS check.

[gds]

Putting one together from parts is fairly easy. When you try to make your own receiver is when it gets a little harder. I "built" 2 receivers. The first one is a topped with a 9mm upper. The Lower has a "custom" Magazine catch with an elongated magazine catch slot, for use with a magazine block and modified Sten Gun Mags.

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j243/gdsjr/AR%20weapons/AR9mm.jpg

The Shorter Mag is one I modified to hold 20 rounds. It actually holds 23. But who's counting.

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j243/gdsjr/AR%20weapons/AR9mm2.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j243/gdsjr/AR%20weapons/AR9mm3.jpg

The Second one I "built" Into an M4 type.

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j243/gdsjr/AR%20weapons/M4G2.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j243/gdsjr/AR%20weapons/M4G.jpg

It was definitely challenging, especially with my very limited Machining knowledge. The hardest part was probably drilling and tapping for the buffer tube. the next hardest part was anodizing, only because it was completely new concept for me.

[GOVT1911]

Thanks TracyB,
I guess I always thought that just buying a gun "for" or with the intent that it's for someone else was kinda how I had interpereted a straw purchase. I guess thinking about it some more my definintion would preclude giving a gun as a gift.

[pinpointshot]

Great, you can find books on how to do it but I used the build threads with pics on AR15.com.

[Bugs]

A couple of reto builds I did.


Worst thing about putting the receivers together are the damn springs and detents. Make sure you know where they are flying.


http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/209/img1168yf4.th.jpg (http://img525.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img1168yf4.jpg)http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/5158/img1169yp3.th.jpg (http://img525.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img1169yp3.jpg)

Model 603 XM16E1 Clone - Colt M16 upper on Nodak Spud XM16E1 Lower

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/4038/img1166vi1.th.jpg (http://img525.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img1166vi1.jpg)http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/6627/img1167bi1.th.jpg (http://img525.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img1167bi1.jpg)

Model 652/654 Clone - Colt SP1 Carbine Upper on Nodak Spud M16A1 Lower

[usmcdoc14]

Originally posted by Bugs

Worst thing about putting the receivers together are the damn springs and detents. Make sure you know where they are flying.

do it inside a gallon ziplock bag :D
untill I got good at it that was the way I prevented them from launching everywhere .

[Dawgtraxx]

not too bad, had a rifle length gas tube on an m4...turned it into a silly straw, other than that ..pretty smooth

[MarkBall]

Put together a DPMS lower with assembled Model 1 upper 3 years ago, dropped together easy as pie. Only problem I had was I put the hammer spring in upside down & the pins kept walking out. Also had to re-stake the gas key to the bolt carrier. All mags drop free, both 20 & 30 rounders.

Just finished putting together a Rock River lower a few minutes ago. Man is this thing tight. Going to have to use some sand paper on the mag well so the mags will insert & drop free, they are dragging something awful. Use a Brownell's AR lower kit I had layin around & the pins are tight, springs were tight in the holes. Roll pins are tight too. Trigger guard has no play in it what so ever & when swung open, it takes an effort to move it. Probably just needs turned or taken back out & polished a bit.

Otherwise, they just fall together. If you're gonna do it for the first time, make sure you get detailed photo assembly instructions, it will help tremendously.

Right now, I'm saving money for a mill so I can "build" my own receivers. Don't know if I can do it, but I want to try. Would love to have a "non-tracable" AR in my hands. And the satisfaction of creating something from a chunk of Aluminum would be priceless.

[splogan]

Here it is, just got it done.


http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t265/splogan21/SANY0015.jpg

[cimarron]

Well mostly done.
If I could fine one of those elusive left sided green handguards, it would be done.

FIRST AR Build!

New parts:
NDS 601 lower receiver-GREAT RECIEVER!
Lower part of trigger is new
Hammer is new
Trigger guard-new
retro mag catch from heatnbeat

Old parts:
original old style gas tube
Original Type A 601 type B buttstock-green
Original 601 Pistol Grip-green
Original 601 Right handguard-green
another set of furniture-Set of old black furniture with some moddling in them
Original 601 upper receiver with rearsenaled windage wheel
Original 601 ejection port cover
Early chromed slickside bolt carrier assembly
Large-head firing pin
Colt 601 1/12 twist barrel
Original rear and front dimpled pins with original finish.
Original three prong duckbill flashider
Original grenade spring-not pictured on gun yet.
Original old buffer tube with two holes and rounded end-has been modified to wrench fit
Original selector switch with original finish
Original triangular charging handle
Edgewater buffer

Upper with Norells colt grey-very nicely done!
Lower still in the same color it came from NDS
I might have the whole thing refinished later just wanted to see what it would look like!

STILL LOOKING FOR A LEFT GREEN HANDGUARD!!! HINT HINT!!!

Top picture in the origninal green furniture the bottom pics in original steppin out black!

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/3993/1000614tw6.jpg

http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/2703/1000633ol8.jpg

http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/3707/1000643vd3.jpg

updated the wheel to correct type for build

http://img371.imageshack.us/img371/2187/1000652zt0.jpg

[Bug Tussell]

My first build started in 1992 with a Bushmaster lower. I bought that rifle in parts as funds became available. It took almost two years to get it to completion. I bought the military maintenance manual for instruction. Bought a barrel nut wrench and a pair of aluminum barrel blocks from Bushmaster.
Barreled the upper receiver at a friend's house cause he had a vice - called Bushmaster about headspace. Went out and fired it.

I consider that build (assembly) my "gateway" build. :wink:

[Thorgrimm_the_Vain]

Hello, my name is Thorgrimm and I own a mousegun.... First was this rr assembled from parts. In the process of putting together a match with a 20" bushie hbar for the lil lady.

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u67/Thorgrimm_the_Vain/P5030066.jpg

[Blackmore]

2 lowers built with lower parts kits: an RRA and a Superior using DPMS LPK's. Both took less than an hour and would have taken even less time if not for the tight triggerguard rollpins. I can definitely sympathize with Kerplode, but I managed not to break the ears. Just took it very, very slowly, with solid support for the lower and between the ears.

A trick for installing the bolt catch rollpin without scratching the receiver or losing the rollpin:

Cut 1/2" off the empty end of a plastic stick pen ink refill. Insert your rollpin 1/4" into one end and your roll pin punch in from the other until they meet. Hammer away. The flex in the plactic "holder" allows you to raise the punch a few degrees above the plane of the receiver side but still be able to drive the pin home.

[heyzeus]

My first AR build just ignore the 10/22

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/pbcHeyZeus/100_1003.jpg

[onebigelf]

I thought it was exceptionally simple. Like the leggo of gun kits. I've done several now and everyone I've helped build one was amazed at how simple it is. Even the stripped upper build-up is easy to do. All have gone together and headspaced fine.

John

[deth502]

Originally posted by Bugs

Worst thing about putting the receivers together are the damn springs and detents. Make sure you know where they are flying.



+1!!!

ive put a few together and found it pretty easy. first one was a "real" parts kit. only thing assembled was the fsb was on the bbl, i had to do everything else.

i went through about 3-4 sets of springs and detents till i got the front takedown pin in!!!!

other than that, as long as you have some good instructions, its a piece of cake!!