Building my first AR15

[hardluck]

Also check out Riflegear.com uppers, good prices & they are built using DD parts.
Plus you can get your BB @ the same time + some 10/30 mags as well. Then again you have a great AR store up there named Sacramento Black Rifle.
Good luck

[Anchors]

Also, according to BCM, they don't ship their lowers to California.
Their page says to order them from www.GRtactical.com

[951temec]

So I know what I want, I just don't know the best route of how to order it.

Want list:
BCM mid-length upper
BCM lower
Troy Flip ups
Magpul CTR stock
Magpul MOE grip
Magpul MOE handguard


I would just order a complete rifle from BCM but they are completely back ordered and I realize that it would be more expensive this way. So since I am a complete noob at this. What is the cheapest way to order this stuff? Thanks in advance.

I'm not an expert on ar's amd iim building my first one myself
i was hoping to build a cost effective alternative to a ruger mini-14.

NOT THE CASE

i'm already almost at $400 for the complete lower, Ordered the PSA kit with the magpul moe furniture in it for $130 + then needed to order a stock wrench , then bought the newer gen 2 mbus, had to buy the bullet button, had to buy a roll pin kit, had to get a magazine for it.

still on the list:
-bravo company bolt
-Upper either BCM or DD when they're back in stock
-MOE FDE hand guards
-Charging handle

with shipping thats another $700ish

keep in mind my new $1100+ riffle does not have a primary optics/sight, sling, sling mount, BAD, etc

it might be cheaper to get a gun from an actual gun manu.

[SacTown]

Yea I totally hear you.. you can definitely build your rifle for cheaper than buying it complete but once you start getting carried away customizing it with upgraded parts it starts adding up real quick.

Anyways I decided to just go local for my stripped lower and DROSd a spikes tactical lower at SBR yesterday. Still trying to figure out the upper but as of right now it looks like I'm just going with a Spikes Middie LE upper. Makes more sense because it is definitely cheaper than a BCM. BCM uppers don't include the BCG or charging handle...

One thing I noticed is that the Spikes says it comes with the ST-T2 buffer...

http://www.spikestactical.com/new/z/spikes-tactical-16-midlength-le-upper-556-p-392.html

Does this mean I only need to buy the buffer tube, castle nut, latch plate, and buffer spring?

[Akers]

Yea I totally hear you.. you can definitely build your rifle for cheaper than buying it complete but once you start getting carried away customizing it with upgraded parts it starts adding up real quick.

Anyways I decided to just go local for my stripped lower and DROSd a spikes tactical lower at SBR yesterday. Still trying to figure out the upper but as of right now it looks like I'm just going with a Spikes Middie LE upper. Makes more sense because it is definitely cheaper than a BCM. BCM uppers don't include the BCG or charging handle...

One thing I noticed is that the Spikes says it comes with the ST-T2 buffer...

http://www.spikestactical.com/new/z/spikes-tactical-16-midlength-le-upper-556-p-392.html

Does this mean I only need to buy the buffer tube, castle nut, latch plate, and buffer spring?

As for the rear of the gun, your correct, if this is the buffer you want to stick with them you only need the tube, spring, castle nut,plate, stock and the buffer spring and pin from your lpk.

Something else that many should back me up on is the pin and spring for your rear teackdown pin. I personally like to cut a few notches off the spring and tap the hole with a 4-40 and run a allen screw into it. This keeps the spring in place if you pull off your plate.

[SacTown]

As for the rear of the gun, your correct, if this is the buffer you want to stick with them you only need the tube, spring, castle nut,plate, stock and the buffer spring and pin from your lpk.

Something else that many should back me up on is the pin and spring for your rear teackdown pin. I personally like to cut a few notches off the spring and tap the hole with a 4-40 and run a allen screw into it. This keeps the spring in place if you pull off your plate.

Thanks for the confirmation. I will definitely look into that before assembling the lower. Thanks for the heads up!

[951temec]

Yea I totally hear you.. you can definitely build your rifle for cheaper than buying it complete but once you start getting carried away customizing it with upgraded parts it starts adding up real quick.

Anyways I decided to just go local for my stripped lower and DROSd a spikes tactical lower at SBR yesterday. Still trying to figure out the upper but as of right now it looks like I'm just going with a Spikes Middie LE upper. Makes more sense because it is definitely cheaper than a BCM. BCM uppers don't include the BCG or charging handle...

One thing I noticed is that the Spikes says it comes with the ST-T2 buffer...

http://www.spikestactical.com/new/z/spikes-tactical-16-midlength-le-upper-556-p-392.html

Does this mean I only need to buy the buffer tube, castle nut, latch plate, and buffer spring?

Don't the H buffers (st-t2) have problems with the mid length gas systems?

i heard that if you use an H buffer in that setup your bolt doesn't hold open on the last round making it so you have to pull the charging handle after every magazine change to get the bolt all the way back

i don't know if you saw this but its a bravo company lower, that has the LPK installed (so you don't scratch up the bolt catch area that EVERYONE who builds their lowers have )

if you get the "blemished" lower you save $71

http://www.gandrtactical.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=LWR-BCM

I priced it out, and once i purchased everything from my lower, the parts kit, the tools i didn't have, and the transfer fee and taxes i paid locally i could have saved a significant amount of money going that route

[dieselpower]

^ agree

I wouldn't be putting an H buffer on a Mid or Rifle length gas system, but if you are ONLY shooting 5.56, in 62gr or above, it will not be an issue. I don't think you will be able to shoot .223 or 55gr anything.

[SacTown]

Don't the H buffers (st-t2) have problems with the mid length gas systems?

i heard that if you use an H buffer in that setup your bolt doesn't hold open on the last round making it so you have to pull the charging handle after every magazine change to get the bolt all the way back

i don't know if you saw this but its a bravo company lower, that has the LPK installed (so you don't scratch up the bolt catch area that EVERYONE who builds their lowers have )

if you get the "blemished" lower you save $71

http://www.gandrtactical.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=LWR-BCM

I priced it out, and once i purchased everything from my lower, the parts kit, the tools i didn't have, and the transfer fee and taxes i paid locally i could have saved a significant amount of money going that route

Hmm, I did not realize this... Well this guarantees that I will not be ordering a Spikes complete upper. Not to mention I called them today and they are out of their mid-length barrels and it would be about 7-8 weeks before they can build a complete upper. There's no way in hell I can wait that long...

So if the H2 buffer doesn't work with the mid-lenght system. What does?

Also since I'm now not going with Spikes or BCM because both are in such high demand right now and backordered... What is the next best (complete) upper to go with that is has milspec HP tested, MPI BCGs? DD? LMT? I really don't want to spend a ton of money... Spikes seemed like such a good deal but 8 weeks? Is that worth it? I'm wayy too impatient for that... I think I'm just going to have to find something local... haha

[SacTown]

^ agree

I wouldn't be putting an H buffer on a Mid or Rifle length gas system, but if you are ONLY shooting 5.56, in 62gr or above, it will not be an issue. I don't think you will be able to shoot .223 or 55gr anything.

Yea I don't believe this buffer is going to work for me.. I like the fact of shooting the more cheaper .223 55 grainers... What buffer should I be looking at that has the best performance from 55 grain .223 to heavier loads in .223 and 5.56?