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re: If you want to own an AR-15, you should build it
Posted on 6/11/12 at 10:07 am to USMCTiger03
Posted on 6/11/12 at 10:07 am to USMCTiger03
For those who have built their own: how much did you spend from start to finish? I've been weighing this option for a little while now, but am not sure if it makes sense if you take the sentimentality out of it.
Do you think the money you saved is worth the lack of warranty or potential resale value?
Do you think the money you saved is worth the lack of warranty or potential resale value?
4
Posted on 6/11/12 at 10:54 am to CaptSpaulding
you can build one for cheap or you can build an expensive one. it really just depends on the parts you buy. i built my last one and still spend a little over $1300.
resale value wont be affected.
resale value wont be affected.
Posted on 6/11/12 at 11:06 am to CaptSpaulding
quote:
For those who have built their own: how much did you spend from start to finish?
Around $600, but this was a couple of years ago.
quote:
Do you think the money you saved is worth the lack of warranty
No concern of mine.
quote:
or potential resale value?
I know I could make money if I wanted to sell.
Posted on 6/11/12 at 12:27 pm to CaptSpaulding
quote:
For those who have built their own: how much did you spend from start to finish? I've been weighing this option for a little while now, but am not sure if it makes sense if you take the sentimentality out of it.
Maybe around $600-$800.
quote:Not really worried about warranty. Reresale value is good, maybe better for someone who knows their stuff because the components I used are each highly rated.
Do you think the money you saved is worth the lack of warranty or potential resale value?
Aside from sentimentality, with the knowledge and familiarity gained from building my own, I can troubleshoot/repair/replace anything with it. The only other way to learn that would be by taking one completely apart and putting it back together, which most people are too lazy to do.
Posted on 6/11/12 at 12:31 pm to Loanshark
quote:One of my lowers. It's excellent. And for a very reasonable price during the height of the Obama gun scare in 2009. A lot of companies were jacking up their prices, but not EA.
found essential arms after i ordered my lower and pretty much all parts except upper and just ordered upper from them. has anyone dealt with their products?
Posted on 6/11/12 at 12:35 pm to USMCTiger03
In the one that I have finished, I have probably $1000-$1100 in but it has a good stock and quite a few mags. I also bought a chrome bolt/carrier for it.
ETA; In the one that I'm working on now (6.8 spc) I'll have $1500 or so in it.
ETA; In the one that I'm working on now (6.8 spc) I'll have $1500 or so in it.
This post was edited on 6/11/12 at 12:36 pm
Posted on 6/11/12 at 12:44 pm to CaptSpaulding
quote:
For those who have built their own: how much did you spend from start to finish?
More than I would have just buying one, but Ive changed several things and now have a parts bin that fills a room.
quote:
Do you think the money you saved is worth the lack of warranty or potential resale value?
Im not really worried about warranty, but resale is a killer. If anyone thinks someone is going to pay anywhere close to retail for a home build they are crazy. And Im talking an actual build, not buying a lower and upper and pushing two pins.
Posted on 6/11/12 at 2:12 pm to kengel2
Build it for what you want, not in hopes of selling it later on and getting your money back.
This post was edited on 6/11/12 at 2:59 pm
Posted on 6/11/12 at 2:54 pm to Skywalker
Don't worry about a warranty. You buy the parts if something doesn't work, you just return the piece.
Resale would be great. For the most part, you can put these things together cheaper than they are sold complete. That is if you buy them in pieces and not just an already assembled lower and upper which doesn't really count.
The best thing is you really get to know a bit of the gun and feel much more comfortable dealing with it. Also, the gun means a bit more because you put it together.
I built my future father in law for christmas this past year and he loved it.
And if you don't like one of the parts you buy, swap it out with another one.
Damn, I can't believe this thread came back from the dead. I guess that is from this being indexed in the stickied thread above...
Resale would be great. For the most part, you can put these things together cheaper than they are sold complete. That is if you buy them in pieces and not just an already assembled lower and upper which doesn't really count.
The best thing is you really get to know a bit of the gun and feel much more comfortable dealing with it. Also, the gun means a bit more because you put it together.
I built my future father in law for christmas this past year and he loved it.
And if you don't like one of the parts you buy, swap it out with another one.
Damn, I can't believe this thread came back from the dead. I guess that is from this being indexed in the stickied thread above...
Posted on 6/11/12 at 6:28 pm to thetempleowl
I trade for all my guns. Just picked up a Essential Arms one not too long ago. Just gotta deck it out now. Trying to find a cheap place to buy my stuff.
Posted on 6/12/12 at 8:53 pm to iwyLSUiwy
A complete PSA rifle can be had for $640 OTD, almost impossible to beat, and it's all mil-spec.
Posted on 7/6/12 at 2:29 pm to thetempleowl
In the OB's opinion, if I was looking to spend bewteen 600-800 dollars, what would be the best way to go about building it?
Posted on 7/6/12 at 2:59 pm to Aaron Burr
Buy a stripped lower and a lower parts kit and a complete upper. Unless you want to build the whole thing from scratch. There are a few special tools your going to need to build an upper from scratch.
Posted on 7/6/12 at 3:45 pm to Aaron Burr
quote:
In the OB's opinion, if I was looking to spend bewteen 600-800 dollars, what would be the best way to go about building it?
Go back to the beginning and look at my first post. I think I spent around 650 or so for my first build not counting optics.
You really didn't give enough information for many here to help you.
Are you looking for a lightweight gun? Are you looking for a long range accurate gun? Are you looking for a competition piece?
There really are lots of options out there. Some manufacturers produce great parts. Some make great parts for the money. Some make cheap parts for low prices. It would be tough to succeed or be around for long by making pieces of crap in this rather competitive area.
As I have said before, I happen to like the gun buying club I am a member of. It pretty much always gets me a very low price and I don't have to go around looking or buying from eight different people or checking 60 different websites.
Posted on 7/6/12 at 7:45 pm to thetempleowl
I actually bought mine from windham weaponary. The next ones i will build myself, i just wanted one to reference and windham makes a fine gun. 
Posted on 7/10/12 at 7:41 pm to bulldog95
Sorry to bump an old thread, but I'm starting to get the AR itch and could see myself starting something soon (always looking for a summer project)
I'l looking through the websites and trying to get a preliminary idea of what I would want/need and had a question about ordering all of this.
Is the Lower the only part that has to be shipped to an FFL? Does it matter whether its a complete or stripped lower?
Thanks
I'l looking through the websites and trying to get a preliminary idea of what I would want/need and had a question about ordering all of this.
Is the Lower the only part that has to be shipped to an FFL? Does it matter whether its a complete or stripped lower?
Thanks
Posted on 7/10/12 at 8:27 pm to fillmoregandt
Lower has to go through ffl, stripped or complete. upper does not.
Posted on 7/10/12 at 10:47 pm to gmrkr5
Thanks. I think the AR bug has finally hit me (surprised it took this long honestly).
I will be stopping by my local ffl this weekend to get shipping info to begin.
I will be stopping by my local ffl this weekend to get shipping info to begin.
Posted on 7/11/12 at 10:18 am to thetempleowl
I would like something lightweight but no, not for competition. Just for fun. I think I'd like to buy a stripped lower, lower parts kit and complete upper. I just can't make up my mind on which manufacturers to use. There are also good deals on complete lowers as well. Too many options. 
Posted on 10/20/12 at 9:43 am to thetempleowl
I've completed my lower and am contemplating which upper to buy. I was going to build it completely but don't feel comfortable with that (yet). The one I'm looking hard at is the Yankee Hill Machine YHM-7810. Anyone have any experience with YHM?
Specs:
* Mil. Spec. Forged 7075-T6 Aluminum YHM Flat Top Upper Receiver
* "T" Marked Upper Receiver
* Forward Assist
* Mil. Spec. Bolt Carrier Assembly
* 16" 4140 Steel Barrel, Heat Treated to RC 25-32
* Chambered in 5.56 N.A.T.O., Chrome-Lined with either a 1:9" or 1:7" Twist
* YHM Diamond Fluting Improves Rigidity and Aids in Barrel Cooling
* YHM Phantom 5C2 Flash Hider / Compensator (YHM-28-5C2)
* YHM Specter Length Diamond Handguard (YHM-9637-DX)
* YHM Forearm Endcap (YHM-9484-A)
* YHM Low Profile Gas Block (YHM-9384)
* YHM Forearm Mounted Flip Front Sight (YHM-9627)
* YHM Flip Rear Sight (YHM-9680)
My lower:
Essential arms Stripped Lower
DPMS LPK
Magpul CTR Stock Dark Earth
Specs:
* Mil. Spec. Forged 7075-T6 Aluminum YHM Flat Top Upper Receiver
* "T" Marked Upper Receiver
* Forward Assist
* Mil. Spec. Bolt Carrier Assembly
* 16" 4140 Steel Barrel, Heat Treated to RC 25-32
* Chambered in 5.56 N.A.T.O., Chrome-Lined with either a 1:9" or 1:7" Twist
* YHM Diamond Fluting Improves Rigidity and Aids in Barrel Cooling
* YHM Phantom 5C2 Flash Hider / Compensator (YHM-28-5C2)
* YHM Specter Length Diamond Handguard (YHM-9637-DX)
* YHM Forearm Endcap (YHM-9484-A)
* YHM Low Profile Gas Block (YHM-9384)
* YHM Forearm Mounted Flip Front Sight (YHM-9627)
* YHM Flip Rear Sight (YHM-9680)
My lower:
Essential arms Stripped Lower
DPMS LPK
Magpul CTR Stock Dark Earth
This post was edited on 10/20/12 at 9:49 am
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