A little help please....

[SD-DAVE]

Well, I have been chomping at the bit about getting myself an AR.
I have done alot of checking and trying to gather as much info as I can prior to making a purchase. I have a couple of questions that you all may be able to help me out with. Just looking for some feedback/past experience/IMHO stuff is all.

question 1:
Being a FNG, should I just purchase a complete rifle. (like to M-4, flat-top style) or should it go with an assembled upper and lower?

question 2:
If i chose to try and build it myself, (being a FNG) will I be wasting my time? to be clearer, FNG+building an AR= crap....
*ideally, I would like to buy all the parts needed and then have/pay someone to help me put it together (thereby hopefully learning a correct way of doing it).

question 3:
How good are the prices at the gun show (in San Diego). Are they good enough to wait and buy there?

sorry in advance for the long thread, but any info/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks.

[aplinker]

Hi and welcome.

Have a look through the thread in my signature. I'd highly recommend building. If you can paint by numbers you can build an AR lower. You will gain a substantial knowledge base you'll want/need for maintenance and simply understanding your rifle. It takes me about 15 minutes to build a rifle from parts.

In my signature is a good description of how to get started. There are guides linked in the 1st post of that thread.

Gun show prices are not generally good. It;s very difficult to comparison shop, as opposed to online. Very knowledgeable buyers can make deals, but they're few and far.

[Faust]

Dave, welcome to Calguns.
Build it.

[Turbinator]

Another vote for building it, but you may want to have an experienced person sitting there with you for moral support.

Building it will give you a better appreciation and understanding of the rifle, in my opinion.

Turby

[Rem1492]

I'd vote for building IF you know somebody who already has an AR so you know what to copy/do. I am sure a local calguns guy would help.

The benefit being that you can make a rifle setup you really want and like.


The buying a whole rifle option is a good one too in that it is all factory made, and hopefully test fired. If there are any issues it can be returned, warranty etc... Good news for a first and maybe only rifle.

Just go slow as you will probably change it around in time and make mods to it, the more you hang out and read the forums.

If you live near a harbor freight, go get the punch set they have as it is a great tool for rifles and building.

[Greg-Dawg]

I built this:




You'll get help along the way.

[Lone_Gunman]

I built my first AR from info on this site. I watched the Brownells video and got a parts diagram from arfcom. I read everything I could find on this site and put it together my self. Couple things.
1. Support the ears when installing the trigger guard roll pin.
2. Tape up the receiver when installing the bolt catch roll pin. I used electrical tape.
3. The bolt catch spring and the disconnector spring look very similar. They are not the same. The disconnector spring is flared at the bottom.

Putting the lower together is easy. I did buy a complete upper rather than building one as the tools are more expensive and it seems more complicated.

You won't find good prices at a gunshow as a rule.

[Rob454]

I would personally build one. All you are really building is the lower. the upper usually is a complete purchase. Unless i came across a crazy deal for a complete rifle I rather build one with parts that I want.

[Rukus]

Generally deals are few and far between at the San Diego gunshows. However if you do go look for JD Machine they were the makers of the Calguns lowers and sometimes have smokin deals on lowers ($99)

[SD-DAVE]

Thank you everyone for your input.
I really appreciate it. I am leaning towards building it myself. Great info and posts from all of you.
Great info from aplinker, thank you.
One last thing, is this the correct forum to post questions should I run into any problems during the build?
Also, I am going with a JD machine lower (local company with food reviews)

thanks again.

[Lone_Gunman]

The rifle forum would be the one to post build questions in. Good luck with the build. Be sure to post pics when you are done.

[aplinker]

yeah, this should be in the centerfire rifles forum.

We SHOULD have AR and AK specific forums, but.......

[j1133s]

Well, I have been chomping at the bit about getting myself an AR.
I have done alot of checking and trying to gather as much info as I can prior to making a purchase. I have a couple of questions that you all may be able to help me out with. Just looking for some feedback/past experience/IMHO stuff is all.

question 1:
Being a FNG, should I just purchase a complete rifle. (like to M-4, flat-top style) or should it go with an assembled upper and lower?

question 2:
If i chose to try and build it myself, (being a FNG) will I be wasting my time? to be clearer, FNG+building an AR= crap....
*ideally, I would like to buy all the parts needed and then have/pay someone to help me put it together (thereby hopefully learning a correct way of doing it).

question 3:
How good are the prices at the gun show (in San Diego). Are they good enough to wait and buy there?

sorry in advance for the long thread, but any info/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks.

Buying a complete rifle you get the warranty and generally (at least 10 yr ago) not much more expensive than building your own. "building" (or assembling) an AR is like assembling your own PC, use quality components and you'll save yourself many headaches

[SD-DAVE]

Hey,

Just an update.

Purchased a stripped JD Machine Tech lower - to start my build!!

[SJgunguy24]

If you change a tire and tie your shoes you can assemble an AR. Just remember to use some masking tape when you install the bolt carrier release. It gets tight when hammering that in.

Nobody showed me a thing, I watched a youtube video a couple of times and then just went about it slowly. When you install the trigger guard roll pin, be careful and support the ears until the pin is all the way through.

Remember your assembling, not building. It's more like building a Lego house verses 2X4's and plywood into a house.