Desire to build an AR.

[okie]

instead of google being your friend I would suggest youtube more than anything. I used it for my first build and went smooth. Also add to the tools kit would be a small pair of needle nose pliers, small brass hammer, and get extra springs and detents. Once those things go flying across the room you may as eel give up and get more. For hog hunting you could look into a 300 blk over the 6.8. I'm in SA also and have all the tools needed to assemble and AR.

 

[Mreed911]

I have a torque wrench for "normal" work, but how are people measuring torque with the barrel wrench? That seems like a technique I don't know about.

 

[okie]

in the armorers wrench there is a square hole for the torque wrench to clip into. its usually around 40lb to get the hole on the barrel nut to line up for the gas tube

 

[mosin]

I built my lower and bought an upper, it's all psa. Only tools were some pliers, a drill bit the size of a detent pin, a hammer, and an armors wrench for the castle not. "right tools" make it easier but it's doable with the above if you go slow.

I didn't find it especially rewarding or much cheaper building the lower but I did get to learn how it works and fits together. I'd probably just buy a completed lower next time. I'd be hesistant on buying a complete gun only because there are so many designs and options it's best to just buy the exact stock, upper style and such you want from the get go then spend a year swapping parts and doubling the cost invested.

 

[Anger]

I'm also in this same predicament. Do I purchase a complete lower and upper assembly, buy a complete AR or buy a rifle kit and stripped lower and do it myself. I'm confident I can assemble everything, but do I want to. Decisions decisions.

what mosin said above "I'd be hesistant on buying a complete gun only because there are so many designs and options it's best to just buy the exact stock, upper style and such you want from the get go then spend a year swapping parts and doubling the cost invested."

build one if you want custom selected components. If you just want a rifle thats ready to use and you have no opinions on components, buy a ready to shoot AR.

 

[tpepper70]

About all I want is a flat top, 14" free float hand guard and chambered in 7.62x39. Oh, and no poly lowers. I'm not gonna shoot thousands of rounds a year. Just want a good shooting rifle chambered in readily available ammo with plenty of punch for deer and hogs because this will be my main hunting rifle. Most all my shots are less than 200 yards and I already have a 224 caliber rifle. Now if I could just get some stuff sold I'd be in business.

 

[jtw2]

the good thing about building vs buying is if you have a bit of time before you want it. you can keep an eye on parts and as they go on sale (and they do) or you find a good deal on a part you can pick them up over time and assemble your rifle as you go. That way you can pay for the rifle over time. Otherwise you don't really save a significant amount of money over just buying a complete lower and a complete upper or a complete rifle. Often times you can buy a complete build kit at a very good price that is only missing the lower receiver.

 

[Robb in Austin]

About all I want is a flat top, 14" free float hand guard and chambered in 7.62x39. Oh, and no poly lowers. I'm not gonna shoot thousands of rounds a year. Just want a good shooting rifle chambered in readily available ammo with plenty of punch for deer and hogs because this will be my main hunting rifle. Most all my shots are less than 200 yards and I already have a 224 caliber rifle. Now if I could just get some stuff sold I'd be in business.

This. Somewhat.

As part of this process, I've almost decided I want a Mini 30 instead. Meets pretty much all my requirements(can take most game, cheap-ish, cheap ammo, semi-auto) without most of the stuff I don't want('evil black rifle').

Ugh. Too many choices.

 

[okie]

Trigger, bcg, barrel are where you put your money. The rest are just looks and are all basically the same. You can get a stripped lower for $50 these days get a cheap lpk even one without the trigger and buy that separate. you can even do a stock trigger and get jp springs and that will help a little bit.

 

[PhulesAu]

AR10 picks up the one feature of major caliber while losing most of the benefits of the AR15.

Could you elaborate?? I shoot .308 bolt and am looking at a semi-auto, in the same caliber.

 

[mosin]

About all I want is a flat top, 14" free float hand guard and chambered in 7.62x39. Oh, and no poly lowers. I'm not gonna shoot thousands of rounds a year. Just want a good shooting rifle chambered in readily available ammo with plenty of punch for deer and hogs because this will be my main hunting rifle. Most all my shots are less than 200 yards and I already have a 224 caliber rifle. Now if I could just get some stuff sold I'd be in business.

Not to be "that guy" but if you want it in in x39 why don't you just go buy a quality AK like a Vepr or Vepr hunter instead of dealing with the headache of finding x39 AR mags and other issues associated with those half breeds. Also maybe one of the cheaper AR10s like the DPMS if you want an AR with more punch.

 

[tpepper70]

I found an AR place close to me that has 2 x39 complete uppers and plenty of mags. However, an AR10 is interesting. Can you get a 243 barrel for the 10? I like the x39 because of the cheap ammo. 1k rounds for $265 is nice. I like having lots of ammo "just in case." I don't know much about AK's but have read that scopes are not friendly to mount. But, I don't know much about them. School me if you don't mind. You can pm if you want so we don't high jack this thread.

 

[okie]

to my knowledge they don't make a 243 barrel for the AR platform but could be wrong.

 

[ray22]

to my knowledge they don't make a 243 barrel for the AR platform but could be wrong.

http://www.impactguns.com/dpms-ar-15-243-20-inch-heavy-barrel-19rd-mags-lr-243-884451000280.aspx

There has been a few made just never much interest in them.

 

[mosin]

I have no hands on experience so sopefully someone else can set you straight on scoping AKs but I believe the vepr hunters have a standard pictanny mount that is quite good. I believe the stardard vepr have side rail mounts like some aks.

 

[tpepper70]

Thank you. Gonna do a little research.

 

[M. Sage]

Not to be "that guy" but if you want it in in x39 why don't you just go buy a quality AK like a Vepr or Vepr hunter instead of dealing with the headache of finding x39 AR mags and other issues associated with those half breeds. Also maybe one of the cheaper AR10s like the DPMS if you want an AR with more punch.

Kinda pricey, but if you want 7.62x39mm in an AR, this is the way to go: MGI Military | The Future of Small Arms Development | (207) 817-3280 Takes AK magazines. Reliable, too.

And there's always 7.62x40mm, too.

 

[M. Sage]

I have no hands on experience so sopefully someone else can set you straight on scoping AKs but I believe the vepr hunters have a standard pictanny mount that is quite good. I believe the stardard vepr have side rail mounts like some aks.

Scoping AKs sucks. The platform really isn't set up to take optics and there are very few solutions that even approach "ideal." The AR might not have been designed to take optics originally, but the way the rifle was designed, it was an easy modification (flat top receiver) to make it seem like it was meant to.

 

[ArmyZach]

And there's always 7.62x40mm, too.

I've been looking at that for my next build.
Deciding between 6.5 Grendel and 7.62x40.

Sent from my AN/PRC-77 using Tapatalk.

 

[tpepper70]

What the heck is the 7.62x40? Never heard of it.