Assembling your own stripped AR-15 lower -- 56k killer

[Duct Tape]

This is the best way to do DIY instructions by far!  The clear pics along with detailed explanation make it easy to understand for anyone, even those of us who have never taken an AR completely to pieces before.

 Well Done Sir!

I agree, I've never touched an AR let alone built one and I understood every step %100. Changed my mind about building my own.

[meema4780]

this is some great building info!
just for an addition, I have a Bushmaster DVD that covers the building process.  If anyone is interested in borrowing it ive got no problems as long as the person pays shipping
so hit me with a PM and ill see what I can do

[jeffdorr]

Recoil wrote:

I don't recall which midlength you're talking about, but yeah, I put a midlength upper on it.

    There is a thread on the firearms section from a couple months ago discussing the building of a mid-length carbine. That's the one I refer to.And you did. I didn't notice the carbine's length at the end of the pics, silly me :oops: !

    Jeff

[jeepgirl]

OK!!!! I am impressed! Now I want one even more. Gud and I went out shooting his brand new one about a month ago(brand new, I shot first he he) and I fell in love. Then, of course he told me I had to learn to take it apart and clean it. I wasn't thrilled...at first. Once we started tearing it down, I gotta say I was in heaven. Loved it! Seeing those pics was amazing and I was amazed at how much of it I remembered. Thanks Recoil

[Recoil]

Now I want one even more. Gud and I went out shooting his brand new one about a month ago(brand new, I shot first he he) and I fell in love.

As it's well-known around here, I'm a substantial advocate of the AR platform.  In it's current incarnation, it's damn near the perfect rifle in my estimation.  It's small, light, very accurate, reliable, easy to maintain, infinitely modifiable, extremely lethal within any range that will matter for a civilian--and all for a decent price that beats pretty much any other modern semi-auto rifle out there.

All these features come together in a package that is delightful to own and shoot.  They're so damn easy to run, and look bad-ass at the same time, that the AR-15 is a confidence building weapon for new shooters.  I have never--NEVER--introduced anyone to shooting, especially girls, who weren't enamored with the AR after pulling the trigger.  Part of the fun and excitement is that girls have their own power fantasies too, and the AR helps fulfill that.  

It's a fulfilling rifle, plain and simple.  And I'm glad you love yours.  

Seeing those pics was amazing and I was amazed at how much of it I remembered. Thanks Recoil

Not a problem, at all.  Any help you need getting setup with yours, just say the word.  The fact that this thread has you and others excited about building your own makes it all worth it.

[localfiend]

Well, I'm off to a gunshow tomorrow morning to see if I can find concerning cheap Rem 870 barrels and some AR15 lowers if they have any.  I want to be able to get the lower without the hassle of transfers and such.  

Anyway - about differing LPK's....  Any opinions on what is good, and what I should run away screaming from?  And for this rifle, I think I'd like to go with a better trigger.  Supposedly the RRA two stage is quite nice - I just wanted to know how much it would change the actual assembly of a lower.  Anything significantly harder, or are more tools needed?  I doubt there's any huge difference in assembly, but figured it wouldn't hurt to ask.

[Recoil]

I want to be able to get the lower without the hassle of transfers and such.

How is it a hassle?  You have to do a 4473 transfer no matter what.  The only extra work is a phone call to the FFL that has the lower you want to buy it, and a phone call to your local FFL to fax a copy of their FFL to the other FFL.  Big deal.

Anyway - about differing LPK's....  Any opinions on what is good, and what I should run away screaming from?

Stick to name brands.  RRA seems to be the de facto standard, but DPMS makes a good LPK too.

And for this rifle, I think I'd like to go with a better trigger.  Supposedly the RRA two stage is quite nice - I just wanted to know how much it would change the actual assembly of a lower.  Anything significantly harder, or are more tools needed?  I doubt there's any huge difference in assembly, but figured it wouldn't hurt to ask.

Just drop it in and tap the pins in.  It's less work than a regular USGI trigger because you don't have to fight the spring.

[localfiend]

How is it a hassle?  You have to do a 4473 transfer no matter what.  The only extra work is a phone call to the FFL that has the lower you want to buy it, and a phone call to your local FFL to fax a copy of their FFL to the other FFL.  Big deal.

I believe that in my state a 4473 is not yet required for gun shows (maybe I am wrong but I think thats how it still is).    I'm gonna go do some checking now - I really thought it wasn't required here.  That and I won't have to pay the extra 25 bucks they charge for a transfer around here.

And thats good to know about the two stage triggers, easier is better.  I'll probably shop around and see what I can find in that area.  And as far as uppers go (as I am assuming they can't just be assembled the same as a lower) I think I'll have to give Mark a ring and see if he still has any good deals.

[Recoil]

I believe that in my state a 4473 is not yet required for gun shows (maybe I am wrong but I think thats how it still is).    I'm gonna go do some checking now - I really thought it wasn't required here.  That and I won't have to pay the extra 25 bucks they charge for a transfer around here.

Well, that's a private sale in that case, and unless they have what you want on hand at the gun show, you're SOL anyway.

And thats good to know about the two stage triggers, easier is better.

Man, if you think installing a USGI trigger into a mil-spec AR-15 lower receiver is hard, you need to sell your guns and take up a different hobby like...Like watching TV all day or something.  :wink:

And as far as uppers go (as I am assuming they can't just be assembled the same as a lower)...

They can, they just require some specialized tools.  If you're just going to build one or two ARs, it doesn't pay to buy the tools and assemble the uppers from parts.  However if you're planning on building several, the tools pay for themselves after a couple rifles.

[localfiend]

Well, that's a private sale in that case, and unless they have what you want on hand at the gun show, you're SOL anyway.

Yah, I think most of the dealers at this particular gunshow are going to be unlicensed so everything is private.  Heck, its worth a shot - I can think of worse ways to spend a morning than drooling over guns.  :wink:

Man, if you think installing a USGI trigger into a mil-spec AR-15 lower receiver is hard, you need to sell your guns and take up a different hobby like...Like watching TV all day or something.  :wink:

 :lol: Tried that, but I only get 4 channels out here so I think I'll stick with guns.  :lol:
Anyway - perhaps I am portraying my caution as ineptitude.  Easier and simpler is just better when you're going to be building something that explodes in your face everytime you pull the trigger.

They can, they just require some specialized tools.  If you're just going to build one or two ARs, it doesn't pay to buy the tools and assemble the uppers from parts.  However if you're planning on building several, the tools pay for themselves after a couple rifles.

Ah, ok.  It'l probably be best for me to simply buy a complete upper - because as much as I would like to build a bunch of AR's, its just too expensive.

Hopefully I'll be putting your directions to the test pretty soon.

[Recoil]

Anyway - perhaps I am portraying my caution as ineptitude.  Easier and simpler is just better when you're going to be building something that explodes in your face everytime you pull the trigger.

Considering that hundreds of millions of AR-15s/M16/M4s have been built in this country over the last 40-50 years, I'd say the gun has a pretty good track record of working properly when assembled--even by dipshit soldiers and civilians.

Besides, if the trigger isn't installed right, the upper probably wont go on, and/or the bolt/bolt carrier wont travel properly, and/or the weapon wont fire in the first place.  And besides that, the exploding part happens inside the barrel and you should be more concerned about installing the buffer and buffer spring properly as that's what locks the bolt into the chamber.  :wink:

Quit being a pansy ass and install a USGI trigger then upgrade later, then you'll at least have a spare for when the match trigger goes tits up (they have a higher rate of failure, compared to the USGI trigger's essentially non-existant ROF).

Ah, ok.  It'l probably be best for me to simply buy a complete upper - because as much as I would like to build a bunch of AR's, its just too expensive.

They're not expensive if you buy and build over time.  If you amortize the cost of the rifle by buying one or two pieces at a time, they're the cheapest rifle you can buy.  ARs are the cheapest modern semi-automatic military rifle you can buy assembled anyway!

[localfiend]

Quit being a pansy ass and install a USGI trigger then upgrade later, then you'll at least have a spare for when the match trigger goes tits up (they have a higher rate of failure, compared to the USGI trigger's essentially non-existant ROF).
!

Didn't know I was being a pansy - just liked that the part I wanted (two stage trigger) was easier (no extra tools needed) to install.  I hadn't heard that the two stage triggers were not as reliable, figured that there wasn't a huge difference.  Perhaps I will just save myself the trouble and get both (I guess its good to have backup parts for your backup weapon).

Anyway, I picked up a striped DPMS lower this morning so I'll hopefully be ording an LPK tonight and building sometime next week.  Went with the DPMS as I like the one I have and it looks quite a bit nicer than the others that were available.  They had a couple of olympics and a Vulcan.

[Recoil]

Didn't know I was being a pansy - just liked that the part I wanted (two stage trigger) was easier (no extra tools needed) to install.  I hadn't heard that the two stage triggers were not as reliable, figured that there wasn't a huge difference.  Perhaps I will just save myself the trouble and get both (I guess its good to have backup parts for your backup weapon).

Oh, it's not that they're bad; on the contrary.  But I have heard of them breaking a few times, whereas the USGI trigger hasn't that I've ever heard.

Again, spare parts are always good.  You could always just order a second LPK and stash it away.

They had a couple of olympics and a Vulcan.

Thank God you didn't get either of those...Especially a Vulcan!  :shock:

[localfiend]

Thank God you didn't get either of those...Especially a Vulcan!  :shock:

Yah, that was my thinking.  All I've ever heard about those two brands was that they are about as bad as you can get.

[AMilitiaOf1]

Great Job . To bad i had to do the same thing without  great pics 2 years ago ...


A+ job .