Winter Hobby.....................Building AR15

Garth Reckner

Garth Reckner

Moderator
Joined
Dec 13, 2004
Messages
9,061
Deer season has pretty much wrapped up with the exception of archery and a short muzzle loading season so I have decided to turn my attention to other projects to keep me occupied during the cold months.

Have started putting some AR15s together. Have 3 or 4 going and hopefully I can get them finished up by the time it is warm enough to shoot comfortably again. Here is one that is close to done. Still need to find a scope to top it off.

This one is chambered in 6.8 spc. Ace stock and match trigger. Should be a shooter for sure.

68ar.jpg


Anybody else into AR 15 building? I would love to see what you guys have come up with. I will try to get more pics of the others up as I finish them.

Garth
 
Looking good, Garth.

Do you build them from bottom up, or buy assembled uppers? I've never assembled an upper, but lowers are relatively simple.

What do you have planned for optics on the 6.8? What configurations are the other 3?
 
The AR on top is my 2nd lower build. I just buy the uppers.

RMD2.jpg
[/IMG]

Thinking my next build MIGHT be a 7.62 x 54 in the AR platform.

Steve
 
I've built a couple. Mostly just plain jane 5.56's. I have used assembled uppers and pieced together uppers, depends on time and money, and what parts I've traded for. Been working on building ak47s more lately, lot of cheap parts and goodies to build those with too. Only gun I'm working on at the moment is my daughters new glock 26. Need to do a trigger job and extended slide release on it. Maybe some tritium sights later.

Did this one on a ESEE lower a year or so back
73823_1715529254515_1426711158_31749963_550830_n.jpg


It would be fun to do a run of Busse hog lowers sometime.
 
cricketdave said:
I've built a couple. Mostly just plain jane 5.56's. I have used assembled uppers and pieced together uppers, depends on time and money, and what parts I've traded for. Been working on building ak47s more lately, lot of cheap parts and goodies to build those with too. Only gun I'm working on at the moment is my daughters new glock 26. Need to do a trigger job and extended slide release on it. Maybe some tritium sights later.
Click to expand...

Your riveting AK lowers (flats or bent)? I thought they were heat riveted (I know I'm using the wrong terminology, sorry)?

Steve
 
Done both flats and bent, some are riveted and some welded. A buddy has a full set up to weld them up with jigs and all the machining to put it all together. Our last joint venture was a belt fed 1919 with a tripod we set up to fit in the back of his golf cart. Yeah it was a real boozy day out when we came up with that one. Recoil just about shakes the golf cart sideways.
 
I have two receivers on their way this week. Gonna try to get a Colt A2 kit for the first one and either build the other part by part or get a Stag 3G, haven't decided yet, gotta figure out whats out there when I am ready to buy... I will definitely post pics when I get them going...
 
Not into building. About to buy my first AR 15, a Colt 6920. Next, after that I will get a mid length, maye a Noveske.
 
BBQ BOY said:
Not into building. About to buy my first AR 15, a Colt 6920. Next, after that I will get a mid length, maye a Noveske.
Click to expand...

Excellent choice on the 6920. It's often considered the standard by which others are judged.

Here's two, though I've since sold one to fund another buy.
colt6920s.jpg


Here is a gratuitous pic of the "other buy" mentioned above, one of my "grails", a Knights Armament SR15/E3
SR-15001.jpg


I have 2 stripped uppers (Spikes) sitting in the safe. One of these days I'll get around to slapping them together. (Too many expensive hobbies.)
 
I don't have my pics with me, but I enjoy building AR's too. Maybe we could have a build off competition for Knob Creek next year?

I have a few friends who could make the Busse lower happen if you guys wanted to. Garth or Jerry, just let me know. It would be pretty easy, only hassle would be the FFL part. Maybe an upper would be simpler?

I have a few builds I'm "working" on now. My next one will be a 300 Black Out SBR. Should make a great deer gun for a 100 yards and in. Already have the suppressor for it. With an adjustable gas block to make it single shot, it should be quieter than most pellet guns... Fun, fun, fun....
 
Here is a build I did earlier this year.
This one is my version of a MK12 Mod 1. This one is a shooter and gives great groups.

6303632018_ff5567d0c9_z.jpg


The nice thing about building them is you can get the exact parts you want.
 
Nice specimens fellas. I too enjoy building these type rifles. Always have one "on the bench" in some state of build and always tweaking / tinkering with the others. As winter intensifies I'll find the time to get them the way I like. It is good to see others with more and more common interests to my own.
 
winmagfrog said:
I don't have my pics with me, but I enjoy building AR's too. Maybe we could have a build off competition for Knob Creek next year?

I have a few friends who could make the Busse lower happen if you guys wanted to. Garth or Jerry, just let me know. It would be pretty easy, only hassle would be the FFL part. Maybe an upper would be simpler?

I have a few builds I'm "working" on now. My next one will be a 300 Black Out SBR. Should make a great deer gun for a 100 yards and in. Already have the suppressor for it. With an adjustable gas block to make it single shot, it should be quieter than most pellet guns... Fun, fun, fun....
Click to expand...

A competition sounds fun! You should get the photos posted before hand so they know what they are up against. :D
 
Here is a dumb question. "I am not sure, what does "build an AR " means ?"

1. Is it buying all the parts, IE. buy a complete upper and complete lower put them together and accessorize with scopes and grips and other doo dads ?

2. Or buy a stripped lower, a stripped upper a put it together with a parts kit add grips and doo dads

3. Buying a 80% lower and milling it to completion, the same with the upper, buying a barrel and all the little parts and putting it together.

I have done 1 and part of 2 ( I have not put a parts kit in yet) and part of 3 (but I will not mill the upper, easier to just buy one), but now sure where I would fall
 
In my mind, I consider building a rifle to be number 2. Starting with a stripped lower, stripped upper, a big box of parts and going from there.
 
I've assembled about a dozen, mostly in 5.56, but also one in 6.8SPC and one in .458SOCOM.

And by "assembled" I mean starting with a stripped lower and usually a complete or near complete upper. I've also snapped together a few complete lowers and complete uppers, but I don't think that counts.
 
Drumrboy said:
In my mind, I consider building a rifle to be number 2. Starting with a stripped lower, stripped upper, a big box of parts and going from there.
Click to expand...

I agree. However, depending on the parts you want...special armorer tools may be needed. For example, not even all smiths have the tools to install a KAC URX rail system. It's just easier to buy the upper.

I added the BCG, handguards and charging handle to my upper...does that count as assembly? :p

Drumr...nice Mk12. I need one :thumbup:
 
Garth Reckner said:
Deer season has pretty much wrapped up with the exception of archery and a short muzzle loading season so I have decided to turn my attention to other projects to keep me occupied during the cold months.

Have started putting some AR15s together. Have 3 or 4 going and hopefully I can get them finished up by the time it is warm enough to shoot comfortably again. Here is one that is close to done. Still need to find a scope to top it off.

This one is chambered in 6.8 spc. Ace stock and match trigger. Should be a shooter for sure.

68ar.jpg


Anybody else into AR 15 building? I would love to see what you guys have come up with. I will try to get more pics of the others up as I finish them.

Garth
Click to expand...

Now I know why my custom shop order is still "2 weeks" out. :p
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top