Putting together an upper assembly

[Stevester]

I picked up a RRA stripped lower, lower parts kit, 6 position stock and bullet button at the gun show on Saturday. I didn't have the funds to buy an upper while at the show and have noticed that practically every shop is out of complete upper assemblies.

As I am on a budget (otherwise I would've bought a complete rifle) I am looking in the $500-600 range for a complete upper.

Can anyone tell me how much it would be to put one together myself? I'm new to the AR building hobby and the 48 components of an upper in a book I bought seems a bit unsettling in that I'm not the most mechanically savvy guy.

I will likely put a scope on it for predator hunting but would like to have the option of carry handle/rear sight and the front sight.

Also, can I buy individual upper components (i.e. x number of pre-assembled parts) to complete the whole thing?

Thanks for any and all input!

[hierro]

Putting together an upper is not hard. You can by an upper receiver with the forward assist and dust cover assemblies already put together. You can also find Bolt carrier groups that are already assembled if you are patient. I decided to save money by building my own upper. $2,000.00 later after buying components and the tools necessary to do it, I have an upper that is inferior to many of the uppers I see for sale in the marketplace section of this forum for less than I paid. With patience you can find good deals scouring the online shops and the marketplace sections of the forums. If you really would like to build your own upper though there is a really good guide here.

http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=4&t=226782

[hierro]

Not trying to totally discourage you about building your upper, just be patient and think through what you would like before spending any hard earned money on parts that don't fit in with your vision of the finished product. Otherwise you could end up with a match grade barrel, stock trigger, improperly staked gas key, free float handguard that's as heavy as my first car, wiggly BUIS, blew the budget for optics just trying to get the thing done, and afraid to fire it because you can't find anyone to check the headspace.

[uxo2]

start by looking here.

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/forumdisplay.php?f=93

bide your time and buy when you seee what you want

[veeklog]

Not trying to totally discourage you about building your upper, just be patient and think through what you would like before spending any hard earned money on parts that don't fit in with your vision of the finished product. Otherwise you could end up with a match grade barrel, stock trigger, improperly staked gas key, free float handguard that's as heavy as my first car, wiggly BUIS, blew the budget for optics just trying to get the thing done, and afraid to fire it because you can't find anyone to check the headspace.

Building a AR upper is actually pretty easy; trust me I have built plenty of them for my friends and I to know the difference, and have yet one blow up in my face! I spent $1700 USD with my first complete rifle build, which included all the AR tools (tools include vise, upper receiver block, torque wrench, Colt 5.56 Headspacing guage, front sight post taper removal block, roll pins, front detent tool, and strap wrenches), Dane Armory Lower Receiver, DPMS LPK with JP Springs that reduce the trigger pull to 4lbs, RRA six position folding stock, CAA Side Saddle, Hogue Grip, bullet button, Bushmaster 10 round magazine, Larue Free Float 7.0, CMT Upper Receiver with properly staked CMT M-16 BCG and charging handle from Denny's, CMMG 1:7 twist M-4 barrel, YHM Phantom Flashider, MI rear BUIS, Tango Down rail covers and VFG, Eotech 552 on Larue Eotech Mount. Harbor Freight Tools and and a copy of the Colt Defense Armorer's manual that a armorer friend of mine let me borrow were my best friends in my first build. After that it was all down hill

But all of my builds for myself and friends were pre-Obama, and right now there are no parts to be had. My last barrel, a Noveske 18" SPR barrel, just cost me $535 USD. It is still sitting at my house waiting for the right upper receiver and the new BCG from Anvil Arms that are to be released in July. Maybe you are right; maybe you should shop for deals because parts sources suck right now!!! I am trying to finish my last FAL but DSA receivers are so difficult to find right now.

[bender152]

Building an upper is not hard at all. However, you will need to buy a few things in order to do it. provided you already have a vice, you'll be spending clsoe to $100 for tools (upper receiver block, punch set, barrel nut wrench).

Because of that, you may end up spending more at this point to build it yourself (rather than buying a pre-built one).

Are you opposed to buying an upper online? There's a place selling complete CMMG uppers for $600 shipped in the "commercial sales" section here.

[DREADNOUGHT78]

As you may already have read it is not that hard to assemble an upper and all the tools are readily available.With that being said the problem is the availability of barrels.The only barrels that seem to be available at the moment are 16" barrels.I have seen Varmint barrels on Midway but they are above $500 for the barrel alone.In my opinion it may be more cost effective to just buy a factory upper and call it a day!

[mrhappy]

Depending on where you live, you might find a helpful fellow CG'er with the build tools and knowledge to help you out. I've built lots of AR's over the years with my trusty Wilton vise, barrel blocks, AR combo wrench, and old-school Craftsman beam-reading torque wrench, roll pin punches, snap-ring pliers, etc.