Parts kits advantages question for local veterans

[Mik_N]

I was looking at pluses and minuses of buying a complete (well, almost) parts kit, a frame and tools from the Matrix Precision Parts website, but then I tried to summarize the cost of all components and it appears that there's no advantage of building a Sig Sauer using their kit(s), a frame and tools versus buying a new Sig from a local SF Bay Area dealer. The whole purpose of my exercise would be to cut the totals, but if a NIB Sig P229 ($999 -$1200 before tax) would be less or equally expensive than a kit-based do-it-yourself Sig (minus a warranty, minus a dealer/sig's customer support/service), then ... what am I missing here?
Why would people go that way (a kit-based DIY)?


Any advise and/or suggestions, ideas from the Calguns veterans would be highly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Mik.

[shafferds]

Cause it's all yours, can make it tighter than a factory build. You know your gun from the ground up

[ar15barrels]

I was looking at pluses and minuses of buying a complete (well, almost) parts kit, a frame and tools from the Matrix Precision Parts website, but then I tried to summarize the cost of all components and it appears that there's no advantage of building a Sig Sauer using their kit(s), a frame and tools versus buying a new Sig from a local SF Bay Area dealer. The whole purpose of my exercise would be to cut the totals, but if a NIB Sig P229 ($999 -$1200 before tax) would be less or equally expensive than a kit-based do-it-yourself Sig (minus a warranty, minus a dealer/sig's customer support/service), then ... what am I missing here?
Why would people go that way (a kit-based DIY)?

Making your own gun is rarely less expensive than buying a factory gun.
Self-made guns are often not as good quality as a factory gun as many of the people making them are not as skilled as the factory is at making the parts.
Some people make their own guns so they can legally have it be untraceable, sans serial number, though that's changing with the new laws going into effect.
Other people make their own guns because they can't pass a background check to buy one the legal way.

[pklin1297]

I make them because I can make it how I want it, and I know I would pay more attention with how it is fit compared to the parts assemblers at the factory...

But I have no illusions of making them to save money. My 1911 builds have been averaging $1600 in parts alone, then add finishing costs and it is approaching $2000. That's not counting my labor of love.

[ducky_0811]

Well, to play devil's advocate with AR15Barrels, I make my own pistols bc I build them with better tolerances, the parts I want, the custom touches I want and the end result I want. If I want skip line checking on the front strap I do that for the cost of some files and time, if I want a tri top slide with my own design for serrations I do that for the cost of an end mill or two and my time. If I want an undercut trigger guard or a different grip safety, wide shielded ambi safeties, I do that for the cost of the parts and my time.

With regard to a Sig, the advantage to me would be building one without the magazine disconnect and being able to put some custom touches on it, and when someone asked me who did it, I can say I did, and talk to them about how they can do it too and take pride in craftsmanship.

[kcstott]

or you could look at it this way

$999 now plus tax, dros, delivery, dealer, prep, licensing, DMV
wait 10 days
or
$300 now
$300 next payday
$300 after that

And every pistol there after is $600
tooling is an investment not a cost..
Spend a few hours in the garage and hit the range the same day.

The whole avoid registration is BS, unless you built everything you own or bought only C&R's back in the day or some other way of legally avoiding registration they already have you on the list.
and if they want to take them bad enough they will find away. it will not how ever be the typical door to door that everyone speaks of. It will most likely be some far more subtle

[Spyder]

Nobody does things because it's fun anymore?

[ar15barrels]

The whole avoid registration is BS, unless you built everything you own or bought only C&R's back in the day or some other way of legally avoiding registration they already have you on the list.

I know a guy with half a dozen completely legally self-made firearms who has NEVER purchased a commercially produced firearm or purchased a firearm with a background check or purchased any C&R firearms.
He is completely "off the radar".

[kcstott]

I know a guy with half a dozen completely legally self-made firearms who has NEVER purchased a commercially produced firearm or purchased a firearm with a background check or purchased any C&R firearms.
He is completely "off the radar".

And that's why i mentioned that aspect. because if you have one that they know about, all bets are off.

What people fail to realize is we have no rights in this country. The constitution can be tossed out the window on a whim. No due process, No innocent until proven guilty, they can just lock up up as a enemy of the state and call it good. All by executive order,

[kcstott]

Nobody does things because it's fun anymore?

I home build because I don't want to wait ten days when i'm mad now.

then a few hours of machine time and beer calm me back down to reality

[kalibeltfeeder]

and if they want to take them bad enough they will find away. it will not how ever be the typical door to door that everyone speaks of. It will most likely be some far more subtle

agreed, much easier to tax you, prohibit you from working, seize your accounts, or etc...

I'm with SPYDER, I build for fun, also most of the stuff I'm building I cant just walk into the local store and pick one up..

[kcstott]

agreed, much easier to tax you, prohibit you from working, seize your accounts, or etc...

I'm with SPYDER, I build for fun, also most of the stuff I'm building I cant just walk into the local store and pick one up..

Yeah the stuff i build you can't buy either,

It won't be taxes, or anything you mentioned. if you want to this to a more secure channel I be more then happy to give you my thoughts as it's actually quite simple,

Just think how they renamed a DUI check point a traffic enforcement check point, and then ICE started doing the same thing for immigration on a smaller scale.

it's a far more subtle approach then you'd think. and all it takes is a little ban by default. just like they did the 50BMG

you don't have to attack directly to achieve your goals

[BucDan]

Nobody does home builds because it's just plain fun, anymore? Never really cared for staying under the radar with some guns.

I personally always enjoyed the feeling of the whole process from shopping for parts, reading posts and watching videos, and getting my non-machinist hands on some metal and get to work. Not perfect every time, but damn more happy for sure.

[kcstott]

what i find funny is some guys claim to want to build to stay off the grid maintain a low profile and yet they are the ones posting on the legal boards of why their guns got seized, why their car got searched, why why why, then he posts up a pic of his car and he looks like your typical gang banger. said he was minding his own business driving through town listening to his music, but some how his car drew the attention law enforcement and the rest is history.

look like a dirt bag, act like a dirt bag, get treated like a dirt bag if you are one or not

[kalibeltfeeder]

I disagree a little, while the MAJOR reason for me to build is just for the love and fun of building, and being able to build guns that I couldn't buy otherwise, I do see some value in having guns that 'they' do not know about. Sure they know about the guns or receivers I purchased thru FFLs, and if confiscation or forced surrendering ever occurs they'll know about them, but the other ones that I built they have no idea and won't be looking for them (sure that will be another legal can of worms that I'd be opening if that time comes, but at least I'll have options) My problem is that I like to open my big fat mouth and brag and post pictures all over the net, so... So much for OP SEC.