New and starting to build, any tips?

[notorious r6]

Hey everyone, just signed up yesterday, i got turned here by a friend and also some youtube videos of builds. I'm new from the Irvine area in Southern California. I'm thinking of building a California Legal AR-15. Im starting out with the lower and i'm just wondering what you guys think for the brand of lower i should get? Im going to try too build the whole lower, trigger assembly and stock myself. I know i'm a newbie and this is going to be my first build so, any information would help me greatly!

ive been studying up and planning on the build off these videos that show me step by step:

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/lid=11004/GunTechdetail/How_to_Build_An_AR_15_Video

-What kind of (brand) lower should i go for? Good Quality and Affordable. obviously not he ones that are banned and a bullet button installed.
-Wheres a good gun shop that you would prefer for good costumer service? (Preferably near Irvine)


thanks calguns!

[acorn]

Rifle Gear in Fountain Valley will steer you in the right direction.

[notorious r6]

Alright ill check them out Friday
Since I'm not 21 I can't buy a stripped lower and build it myself.
I'm looking at the daniels defense full lower.
Any one have any experience with these lowers?

[clcolin81]

Some things to look out for is the size of the pivot and take down pins, and the buffer tube. Make sure they are mil-spec, not commercial. Well, you can get commercial, but most uppers are built for mil-spect pins. You'd be narrowing your possibilities. Buffer tube size I guess isn't as critical, since I see a lot of manufactureres making stocks in both sizes, but I'd still rather go mil-spec. Unless you want extra bells & whistles like ambi-mag and bolt releases, any brand that is mil-spec should be fine.

[notorious r6]

.250" pivot and take down pins right? so if i get an A1 upper than it will fit the A1, A2, or A3 lower.
also i know im a noobie, but is mil-spec=military spec right?

[clcolin81]

Correct. I believe commercial is .370 ish, if memory doesn't fail me. And also, the trigger and hammer pins are going to be smaller on the mil-spec too, but don't ask me what those diameters are.

And yes, military spec.

[bruceflinch]

You're going to "assemble" an AR, just for the Record...

[notorious r6]

Correct. I believe commercial is .370 ish, if memory doesn't fail me. And also, the trigger and hammer pins are going to be smaller on the mil-spec too, but don't ask me what those diameters are.

And yes, military spec.

the trigger pin would be .1540" thats standard
thanks alot for the help!

[acorn]

You're going to "assemble" an AR, just for the Record...

Think Lego's!!!

[notorious r6]

the only thing stopping me is $