I've made the decision to buy an 80% lower and gradually build an AR-15. Once I decided to do this, I began to figure out how expensive it really is going to be. Ouch! But since I never have fired an AR-15, field stripped it or anything else I feel as this is the best way to get to know the firearm completely. I've ordered the lower, the jigs, drills, milling vise, and mill ends. I still need to buy a small drill press. I'll try to keep posting as I progress. http://pnwguns.com/images/smilies/hello.gif Wish me luck!
80% lower
aimsurplus.com has a complete upper for $499 and free trigger group plus free shipping. Ordered mine Saturday.:top:
aimsurplus.com has a complete upper for $499 and free trigger group plus free shipping. Ordered mine Saturday.:top:
Also a couple of good sources for parts is Palmetto state armory (PSA) and Surplus Arms and Ammo (SAA). SAA is based in Tacoma, PSA is somewhere down south. AR15.com is a good source of info there is a box you can click on in the home page that has written directions and exploded views. And of course YouTube.
Best of luck be safeand have fun.
Best of luck be safeand have fun.
80%
Thanks for the tips; I've been on the net looking at a lot of the common sources, but AR stuff is not something I'm familiar with. We started getting M-16's the last year I was in the Air Force in Germany (1965) but I never got to handle one or shoot one. We had the old M 1 carbines, which were probably better used as a club than a rifle.
Thanks for the tips; I've been on the net looking at a lot of the common sources, but AR stuff is not something I'm familiar with. We started getting M-16's the last year I was in the Air Force in Germany (1965) but I never got to handle one or shoot one. We had the old M 1 carbines, which were probably better used as a club than a rifle.
seems a bit overboard to do a %80 lower for your first build?
You can build a gun w/a finished lower for around $600 if your trying to do it on the inexpensive side..
Obviously builds go way up from there..
To me picking up all the tooling to finish a lower reciever for a gun/platform your not even sure if you like might be "doing it the hard way"
You can get finished stripped lowers for like $89 bucks if you keep your eyes open.
You should be able to assemble a complete rifle from scratch in a few hours?
On the other hand.. if its the challenge, then go for it..
You can build a gun w/a finished lower for around $600 if your trying to do it on the inexpensive side..
Obviously builds go way up from there..
To me picking up all the tooling to finish a lower reciever for a gun/platform your not even sure if you like might be "doing it the hard way"
You can get finished stripped lowers for like $89 bucks if you keep your eyes open.
You should be able to assemble a complete rifle from scratch in a few hours?
On the other hand.. if its the challenge, then go for it..
I say go for it. But make sure the drill press you get puts down an accurate sized hole and does not wobble at all. If it does, you will have holes that won't keep roll pins very well, your take downs will be real loose, etc. Make sure the jig is secure as well.
Measure twice, cut once, and if possible, practice on a piece of scrap billet or something similar.
My .02
Measure twice, cut once, and if possible, practice on a piece of scrap billet or something similar.
My .02
