In Over My Head? (Long Spoon)

[Buckterrier]

Hey spoon lovers. I just bought a pre-ban receiver. Thought I'd attempt to make myself an AR15. Any words of wisdom?
Also what are the best parts to go with. Will be looking online and ask the LGS but I know you guys are the best when it comes to things like this, (where's Sniper when you need him).
Thanks in advance

[MotoSook]

Pre-bannd receiver...$$$?

DPMS lower parts kit is good to go for about $60. Try JSE Surpluse for good prices. Assembling to lower is easy. Just take your time and don't lose one of the small detents or springs. Depending on the stock you chose, you will need a wrench for the buffer tube. Besides that you need a set of punches and a screw driver.

ar15.com has a step by step instruction with pictures.

Hardest part will be the little roll pin for the bolt catch. Use tape to prevent scratching the receiver and tap with care to get the pin started. Use oil and you might consider rounding the roll pin end a bit so it will start easily.

[Buckterrier]

Thanks Soukus. I've been on AR15 but didn't look for it. I was at the shop yesterday and was perving over a Stag Arms Model 3. Couldn't pull the trigger, (pun intended), on the price. Stop by today on the way to the range and the shop had just received these. Suffice it to say I paid as much for just the receiver as the 3 would have cost. But I can have at it now!

[tabs]

Noveske upper...wt SS B polygonal rifling...

[Tim Hancock]

Several years ago when I bought my RockRiverArms AR, I first bought the lower and a lower parts kit, then a few weeks later I went back to the same shop and bought one of their pre-assembled flat-top uppers. While I could have pieced the upper together with parts from all over, I went the easy route and ended up with an all RRA component rifle. I had about $600 in it initially IIRC which was about $150-$200 less than buying the same RRA configuration pre-assembled. Prices for RRA are probably higher now as I bought mine way before Obama.

Seems like most folks come out alright when they piece these things together to build plinkers, but there are a boatload of companies building AR parts and some of them are likely crap.

[MotoSook]

Assembling an AR lower is so simple you'll never want to buy a full rifle unless you got a good deal and don't plan to change the grip, trigger guard and stock. I'm on my phone now but I'll try to put up a link. I would not go with a supper expensive upper. I've assembled several and they are not that difficult either. Although some assembled uppers are damn cheap these days. DSA has a. 300 Blackout upper for $325! If you're not familiar with the 300 blackout, its a hot new round that that fires a .308 bullet from a shortened. 223 case using a standard AR bolt. Only difference is the chamber and barrel. JSE has some low cost. 223 uppers too.

.300 blackout short barrel (9") will get the job done nicely if you don't need to reach out over 200 yards. If you can't have a short barrel rifle in your state, build an AR pistol from that virgin receiver. Once you put a stock on it, there's no going back to a pistol with that receiver.

[MotoSook]

:: Guides

Information LibraryAR15.Com

DS Arms 300AAC Upper from $320.00! - AR15.COM

JSE Surplus

DPMS M16 Lower Receiver Parts Kit

[MotoSook]

Ammunition Review: .300 AAC Blackout | The Truth About Guns

[legion]

I'm partial to Rock River as well.

My M4 is a Rock River. Bought the stripped lower at a gun show in November '09, which means I paid more for it than I'd like to admit. Bought a complete RRA kit to finish it. It seriously took me like an hour in my living room to put together. Make sure you get a wrench for the castle nut, but everything else is fine by hand or with normal tools.

Pay close attention to the spring-loaded ball bearings. If you don't load (and I mean apply pressure to them) carefully, they are likely to go flying across the room never to be found again, or launch their ball bearing across the room, never to be found again. Also, do not over-tension the bolt in the pistol grip, or the safety will not work.

[Buckterrier]

Originally Posted by Tim Hancock

Several years ago when I bought my RockRiverArms AR, I first bought the lower and a lower parts kit, then a few weeks later I went back to the same shop and bought one of their pre-assembled flat-top uppers. While I could have pieced the upper together with parts from all over, I went the easy route and ended up with an all RRA component rifle. I had about $600 in it initially IIRC which was about $150-$200 less than buying the same RRA configuration pre-assembled. Prices for RRA are probably higher now as I bought mine way before Obama.

Seems like most folks come out alright when they piece these things together to build plinkers, but there are a boatload of companies building AR parts and some of them are likely crap.

Tim thanks for the insight, yes my brain is on overload. Have spent the entire evening looking at pieces/parts for these things and there are plenty, WOW. Which is actually pretty cool.

Originally Posted by Soukus

Ammunition Review: .300 AAC Blackout | The Truth About Guns

Thank you Soukus for the links. I will certainly review them. Looks like Tab's , (thanks Tabs), recommendation is a good one but above my budget, (I say that after spending x amount for the receiver!).

This may sound really goofy but one of the reasons I bought the pre-ban receiver was the fact that here in Ct. you can't have a bayonet lug, (I know there has been no bayonet charges since the Vietnam War), but damnit, I want a bayonet!!!

Oh, here is the receiver, a investment cast, (kept the flames low boys), piece from Essential Arms. I talked to them this afternoon. The receiver was cast for them by Ruger, which still uses cast, and machined at ES. The guy I spoke with was pretty cool saying the receiver is approx. 1987 vintage. It's never been used.

[Buckterrier]

Thanks Legion I was posting when you posted. There is a gun show in Manchester NH in January. I hope to have enough knowledge by then to purchase a few things. Will make this thread a build sheet.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Originally Posted by legion

Pay close attention to the spring-loaded ball bearings. If you don't load (and I mean apply pressure to them) carefully, they are likely to go flying across the room never to be found again, or launch their ball bearing across the room, never to be found again.

1) Wear safety glasses when doing any work. A spring-launched detent will ruin your day if it hits you just right.

2) I'm a CMMG fan when it comes to utilitarian uppers; they do good work at a good price.

3) If you've ever shot a rifle before, the standard AR-15 trigger will absolutely infuriate you after about 10 shots. The Rock River 2-stage National Match trigger is, IMHO, the best trigger you can get in the $100 range. If you're willing to spend more, Timney makes a great drop-in trigger module.

4) WEAR SAFETY GLASSES!

[MotoSook]

The bolt catch is already installed...the hardest part is done! The trigger guard pins are the next hardest..its installed unless you want a different guard. The rest are just springs and detents. I'd build a KISS rifle with that receiver. Simple and right for the age of the receiver.

My first AR is a CMMG. Over paid for it in 2009 and never bought an assembled rifle since. Matter of fact a lot has changed on that CMMG rifle. Now has a DD barrel with a BMC bolt carrier group, magpul stock, suregrip grip, magpul triggute guard, Troy sights and a DD handguard. Just like my cars and motorcycles, its worth more in parts!

Honestly, I don't think the springs and detents are all that difficult or dangerous to install. Just lay the parts outand take your time.

[legion]

Yep.

One important lesson I learned after a certain infamous toasty 944S was to plan my work, take careful notes, and don't bite off more than I can recover from.

Spoons to me are extremely simple devices that I understand almost intuitively after running the action and dry firing a few times. Cars take me a great deal of time to really understand. There are people on this BBS who can work on cars with an intuitive understanding, and spoons confound them.

When I set about working on a car, I decide at the outset what I want to accomplish that day. When I have completed that task, I stop for the day. Then I rinse and repeat the next day. I have on occasion decided that my goal for the day was to remove a given part and done it in five minutes...and I stopped for the day. I have also spent 8 hours removing a part, and been glad I didn't push on.

I had a propensity to keep working until 2 a.m., and I think that was a major contributing factor to a my 944S engine fire. When I rebuilt the brakes on the 951, it took me two weeks, but I never found myself working desperately to finish some task in the middle of the night, not paying as much attention to it as I should have. That car survived because of my learned discipline.

Spoons and reloading require an ultra anal-retentive attention to detail. That sphincter is like Gandalf declaring "You shall not pass!". You need to make Sheldon Cooper look like "the Dude".

[Head416]

I'm looking to do my first AR build soon, and I'll probably go with Palmetto State Armory

They have complete uppers with chrome lined 1:7 twist barrels starting at $400. I've read many good reviews about PSA re: quality.

[Rick Lee]

The one on top is my latest build. Spike's lower, Del-Ton upper, RRA two-stage trigger and LPK. Under $700 into it.


Lots of how-to videos on youtube for this stuff.

[red-beard]

Does "pre-ban" matter these days? There is no ban...

[emcon5]

Originally Posted by red-beard

Does "pre-ban" matter these days? There is no ban...

In some states it does, for some stupid reason. CT is one of them.

[Buckterrier]

Thanks for the pics Rick both are awesome.

I'm still learning about the laws here but from what I understand there are five criteria, large capacity, (30 round clip), flash suppressor, (anything on the end of the barrel has to be affixed to it vs. screw in), adjustable stock, bayonet, (the lug is cut off on rifles sold here), and a pistol grip that at least in Ct. make it an assault rifle. Ct says you can have a pistol grip on a rifle and that's it. Guns sold here have a 10 round clip. With the pre-ban lower receiver I can do all of the above and be legal. Can also take it into Mass and not have issues.

Good luck on your build Head.

[red-beard]

Remind me of this if I ever think of moving to the Northeast.