The idiot's guide to the AR-15 rifle (or an idiot building one)

Looking good Shotty! I have been doing some research about building my own AR 15! This thread is great! Good luck on your build and looking forward to more pics!
 
Soon as I get an upper the real fun begins.

Still trying to decide if I want to build the upper or buy one complete.

Can't see how I could build it any cheaper than the price of the complete units.

$650 for a Daniel Defense setup.
 
shotgunner11 said:
Soon as I get an upper the real fun begins.

Still trying to decide if I want to build the upper or buy one complete.

Can't see how I could build it any cheaper than the price of the complete units.

$650 for a Daniel Defense setup.
Click to expand...

That’s a pretty good price for a DD Shotty. By the time you get the tools to do it, you’d probably be better off just buying an upper. I don’t run heavy guns with a bunch of crap hanging off them, so stock uppers with a few mods here and there get my by pretty well.
 
I'll take whatever I can get from DD. I'd like a rifle length handguard but quality comes first.

If I can get a better stick by sacrificing a few of my preferances I'm all over it.

I don't plan on adding anything but a light to mine. Only thing I have against DD is that most of their uppers are going to come with a ton more rail space than I really wanted.

I really just wanted the super light and comfortable Magpul forend.

Got to play with a mid and rifle length prototype and it was really sweet.

I love cheap quality.
 
Mike;

I know this isn't part of building your AR, but send me your address (I've lost most of my E-mails) and I'll have some Bushmaster 10-round magazines for you. I'm not sure exactly how many I have, but you're welcome to them as I no longer have an AR-15.
 
JNieporte said:
Mike;

I know this isn't part of building your AR, but send me your address (I've lost most of my E-mails) and I'll have some Bushmaster 10-round magazines for you. I'm not sure exactly how many I have, but you're welcome to them as I no longer have an AR-15.
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Thanks man, very cool of you, E-mail sent.:thumbup:
 
shotgunner11 said:
<snip>
I don't plan on adding anything but a light to mine. Only thing I have against DD is that most of their uppers are going to come with a ton more rail space than I really wanted.

I really just wanted the super light and comfortable Magpul forend.

Got to play with a mid and rifle length prototype and it was really sweet.

I love cheap quality.
Click to expand...

For now, but your preferences may change. You may find you want a sling attachment in a different spot. You may find you want to add a short stubby vertical foregrip. After you take a training class, you may find you wish to do a variety of different things.

The having rail space doesn't mean you HAVE to fill them... idea of it is to have the flexibility to make changes as you need them. The rails themselves are also as light as regular handguards usually.
 
Yea...I did a lot more reading today and decided that shelling out the extra cash for a cold hammer forged barrel just isn't worth it. Maybe further down the line when I git gud.

Gotta set up my secondary system first. Having a hell of a time trying to decide between a M&P 9mm or SA Loaded 1911.
 
penenpitsu said:
Yea...I did a lot more reading today and decided that shelling out the extra cash for a cold hammer forged barrel just isn't worth it. Maybe further down the line when I git gud.

Gotta set up my secondary system first. Having a hell of a time trying to decide between a M&P 9mm or SA Loaded 1911.
Click to expand...

Glock?


Glock?


Glock?


:D
 
shotgunner11 said:
Glock?


Glock?


Glock?


:D
Click to expand...

hahahhahaa. I was tempted to get one, because they are the guns that the cool kids have (they all have either G19, or 1911), and because I know they are dead reliable as nuts.

Someone recommended to me that I just pick one handgun platform that fit me best, and train extensively with that platform. That way I wouldn't have to deal with buying different mags and holsters for every handgun I had. + The money I spend on other guns could be spent on ammo and training. (I really want to go to one of Magpul, Clint Smith, or Larry Vicker's classes. I heard Front Site teaches a modified weaver, but I shoot iso)

Soooo I was debating between CZ P-01, Glock 19, and S&W M&P 9mm. I made my way to the local gun store and groped them all. The P-01 seemed solid, and pointed well, but I didn't like it so much that I could overlook the small slide and lack of aftermarket support. I've shot the G19, but something about the grip and trigger bothered me. The S&W 9mm felt and pointed much better in my hands, so that ruled out the Glock.

And thennn...I saw the Loaded Parkerized 1911 in the case next to the Glocks.

more1911002.jpg


I felt something happen. That heavy feeling coming from the top of your gut that seems to pull your heart and breath away, and literally drew me toward it, compelling me to ask the guy behind the counter if I could hold her. The last time I felt this was flirting with a girl I really, really wanted. Even if this 1911 were a little above my budget, I'd wait until I could afford it. It will be mine one day.

I think I've answered my own question. o.o
 
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I know the feeling, I went through two 1911's before sticking to Glock. Like your buddy said you wanna find one platform and get good with it before expanding your collection. I will most likely have another 1911 one day. However, 45 ammo gets expensive if you want to train a lot. I would stick with 9mm for your training and many hours of shooting gun, your wallet will thank you. Not to mention its nice to have double the mag capacity of a 1911. Did you try the Glock 17, if you are looking at full-size 1911's why not full size glocks. If you truly have nixed Glock then I say go M&P. The triggers are a little rough at first but time at the range will smooth it out or you can do like me and polish the internal mechanisms with a dremel. Good luck!
 
$650 for a DD upper? Thats good shotty! Bravo Company had the DD-XV upper for $499 around christmas, But no more... :(

Update on my AR plan, Hopefully I'll have enough money to get mine around May. It's gunna take some hard core saving skills on my part. (especially hard with all these new RATs, Beckers, and FFG FRN Spyderco E4 and D4s)
 
Looks like I'm gonna get an RRA lower parts kit and a A2 buttstock for the AR I'm gonna build. There don't seem to be much difference between the different lower parts kits that I've seen so I'll probably just go with who I can get the best deal on it.

I'm undecided on uppers right now Bravo Company, Daniel Defense, and Noveseke all look good but I've seen a few pretty good deals on some others. DS Arms has a really good price on theirs but I need to do some more research on them first. Luckily I'm in no big rush on building this thing.
 
I didn't forget about this thread!

I got my upper, a Daniel Defense DDXV or whatever it is. Got it direct from DD Military sales division. My buddy Joe Marler took good care of me.

It went together just like it should as far as I know. The very slightest bit of play between the upper and lower, not nearly enough for me to care.

IMG_0661.jpg


There she is in all her AR-15ee goodness.

IMG_0664.jpg


Mmmmmmmmm.......Daniel Defense.

IMG_0662.jpg


I like the A1.5 fixed rear sight. Well, as much as I can like irons.

IMG_0663.jpg


This is a front sight post.....Not really sure why I took a pic of it but there it is.

So that was the basic gun. I was so freaking excited to finally have my complete rifle that I totally neglected to post pics of it before I started changing it.:D

First up was replacing the terrible stock grip with a Magpul MOE.

IMG_0667.jpg


Completely changes the feel of the rifle, much, much better and worth twice the $20 asking price.

Next up was to ditch the monsterous front handguard.

IMG_0669.jpg


Yet again, MOE, much, much better in fit and finish, comfort and ergonomics.

IMG_0666.jpg


I really like how the handguard covers the front sight a bit. It's supposed to deflect hot gasses but it also allows me to get my hand further out on the barrel.

Finally, the stock stock had to go and yet again, I turned to good old Magpul MOE.

IMG_0668.jpg


And again, night and day difference. A much better part with superior ergonomics and function.

I had planned to do a step by step on the upgrades but they are so simple to install that it took me all of 5 minutes to put on all three.

The finished product:

IMG_0665.jpg


I have a Magpul ASAP and MR2 sling (I'm becoming quite the Magpul whore) on the way to me along with some rail sections to attach my light.

Now I'm on the lookout for an optic.......
 
nice! that's a beautiful toy shotty!

this thread's given me the ar bug. good thing i'm broke... i did order some duracoat for my 870, and i've been looking at sight systems, but right now the plain ol' bead seems fine.
 
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